COC Certificates Awarded

COC Certificates Awarded at 2010 AGM

A highlight of the COOS AGM and Show was the presentation of COC Certificates to two special people who have each worked over ten years for the COC, fulfilling key roles that have provided members and hobbyists with essential information and services. These two outstanding individuals are Jerry Bolce, our hardworking COC newsletter editor and webmaster and Lynne Cassidy, the instigator and operating genius behind the very successful COC insurance program. A presentation was made to Jerry at the meeting and Lynne’s certificate was mailed to her society for presentation at their show which is the Oct 22-23 weekend. Congratulations to these two very deserving first recipients of the COC certificate.

The citations and certificate contents follow:

Jerry Bolce

Today the COC honours Jerry Bolce, long serving newsletter editor and web master of the Canadian Orchid Congress. In 1999, Jerry agreed to take on the role of webmaster and newsletter editor for two years. Eleven years later he is still doing it, and both newsletter and web site have grown and expanded into the readily accessible, interactive and content packed tools used by societies and orchidists on a daily basis. In these important dual roles, he has played a key role in advancing the dissemination of services, tools and information available to Canadian orchidists. His reach stretches beyond the COC and Canadian borders as it is not unusual for him to receive requests from and give advice to orchidists far beyond our borders. As one of the longest serving members of the present COC board, Jerry also plays an important role as chief archivist of all COC’s important history. His judgment, understated humour and sound advice have been appreciated and sought by fledgling Board members and his low key collegial approach has made him a treasured colleague. In his role as webmaster, Jerry has established the COC as an important source of orchid services, culture, education and conservation. As newsletter editor, he has presented breaking news and interesting articles on culture, orchid happenings and COC news His newsletters are eagerly awaited and read by Societies for both engaging style and content. Indeed he has been the sticky glue that in many ways has helped keep the COC together by providing an information and service focal point for Canadian orchid societies and their members. Jerry’s activities outside the COC have also been impressive. An orchid grower of some note for over 20 years, he was a founding member of the Central Ontario Orchid Society and continues to be active in executive positions on their executive today. It gives me great pleasure on behalf of the COC to present this award to Jerry Bolce for his long and exemplary service to the COC.

The certificate reads:

Lynne Cassidy

Today the COC honours Lynne Cassidy of the Fraser Valley Orchid Society for her many long and dedicated years of service to orchid societies and orchid growing in Canada. In 2003, when the COC became incorporated as a not for profit corporation, she became one of the 6 founding directors of the corporation. Lynne served COC as vice president in 1999 and president in 2000-2. The duties in 2000 were particularly onerous as the COC and WOC were held in Vancouver, a meeting that took 5 years in the planning and was a brilliant success which established Canada’s credibility as serious or hid growers. Since its inception in 2004 Lynne has managed the very important group insurance program adopted by most societies. She has negotiated and established terms of reference, affordable rates such that the program has become a key service offered by the COC. Lynne continues to be active in the Fraser Valley Orchid Society oversees the management of a Canadian fund for orchid conservation research and maintains a large collection of orchids in her personal greenhouse. It gives me great pleasure on behalf of the COC to present this certificate to Lynne Cassidy for her exemplary service to the national orchid community in Canada.

The certificate reads: