newsContents
The sun was shining, the weather warm and the orchids arranged in glorious displays. Thus was the pleasure enjoyed by that those attending the Annual COC meeting held in conjunction with the Vancouver Orchid Society Show and Sale, `The Orchid Traveler'. Well done Vancouver and in particular Jennifer Smith and her committee of very busy and willing workers. Thank you for all that you did to make the visitors to Vancouver and your Show feel welcome.
It was at this meeting that a change of Officers took place. Many kudos must go to Ingrid Schmidt-Ostrander for her years of leadership and dedication to the COC. Ingrid, thank you for piloting us through the procedures needed to finally secure federal registration of this national body. Your vision and perseverance made it all happen. We know that you will never be far away for help and guidance.
Highlights of the COC meeting held on Sunday morning were the ratification of the new COC Constitution and By-laws; the introduction of group insurance for all member societies of the COC and plans made to compile a Canadian Speakers List to be composed of Canadians from across Canada willing to visit Canadian societies to speak on some aspect of our favorite topic, orchids. Mark Elliott is heading this project so don't be surprised when you are contacted and asked to recommend someone you know, or to let your own name stand. Please give Mark all your suggestions. He will take it from there.
As with all new things, there are questions to be raised and answered to make sure that the new Constitution and By-laws fit the COC exactly and at the same time conform to our new regulatory body, the Canada Corporations Act and attendant legislation. It was moved and seconded that one member from each society in Canada be appointed to a by-laws committee to work with the executive to review and introduce changes, as needed to this new Constitution and By-laws. Each society will be contacted and asked for to name a member of this committee from their society so that work may begin at once to make this new `shoe' fit us all comfortably. Please be sure you respond quickly when contacted so that your society's voice will be heard.
Janette Richardson, our capable Treasurer, will be your contact for insurance coverage as well as the lady who receives your annual society membership fees. It was disappointing to learn the four societies had not, as of the date of the annual meeting, renewed their membership in the COC.Our Conservation Officer, Marilyn Light will be bringing us news of new import regulations as well as producing a slide program on Orchid pests and their Control. I am sure that will be a must see for every society member.
Our newsletter editor, Jerry Bolce asks for your input to continue to make the newsletter, interesting, informative and `a good read'. Perhaps you who love to write would do articles and send them directly to Jerry. I know that he will never complain about receiving too much information. All societies in Canada would benefit from your knowledge and interest by printing, from the COC newsletter to their society newsletter, your words of wisdom. Contact Jerry when the urge to write strikes you please.
The secret of any good organization is communication and the ability to recognize that there is never just one right answer to any question. As photographers must do to shoot the perfect picture, they must refocus, change perspective or even change lens. Let us all aim for that perfect picture, the COC, through communicating our society thoughts, views, wishes and answers on a timely basis. We need to hear from you and receive your input to ensure that we are accomplishing what you would like us to do.
Please contact me at any time, telephone is good, I have an answering machine, and e-mail is great…. I try to read it at least once each day.
Happy growing...may your plants enjoy their summer vacations outdoors just as you enjoy your vacation.
Margaret E. Blewett, President COC
The COC, in the person of Ross Otto, has produced a set of twelve orchid culture sheets. The sheets are available on the COC website as html files for viewing and PDF files for printing.
Lycastes by Ingrid Ostrander
The program consists of 68 slides plus background on Anguloa, Ida and Lycaste. The first part of the program deals with the description, habits and culture of the three closely related genera of Anguloa, Ida and Lycaste. There are two versions of this - one a little longer than the other. The second part is a slide program showing potting procedures, Anguloas and their hybrids, the newly separated Idas, and Lycaste species and hybrids. Each slide comes with a short comment about the picture shown. To present the whole program should take about 40 to 50 minutes. Information on ordering the programs is available on the COC website.
The COC has arranged for a Group Insurance Policy which covers societies in all provinces with exception of Yukon, NWT, New Brunswick, P.E.I. and Newfoundland. The policy covers all shows, meetings and any society sponsored activity.
The coverage is:
$2,000,000 Public liability (per society) Includes $1,000,000 Directors and Officers errors and omissions liability.
$2,000,000 liability on a decreasing scale per year. (If a member was injured due to activity of the society)
The COC will purchase the policy and will limit each society's cost to $2.00 per member for the first year. If enough societies subscribe, the cost may be lower.
Riders Available:
Coverage for books is as a rider to the policy and is based on the value of the books. There is a $500 deductible. This would be a cost to the individual society wishing this coverage.
Coverage for show supplies and equipment is based on the value and again would be an additional cost to the society wishing this coverage.
For information on joining please contact:
Janette Richardson
38 Straub Cr.
Regina, Sk. S4T 6S6
(306) 543-0560
Lynne Cassidy
The COC is trying to put together a list of speakers from across Canada who would be interested in travelling to other societies within Canada to give lectures. It is hoped that this list will aid societies in putting together their speaker's programs as well as to help promote Canadian speakers amongst the various Societies across this rather large country of ours.
In the near future I will be contacting the COC Reps from each of the Societies asking for help in identifying who in (or outside of) their Society gives talks. We may get duplication of names but that is OK, we want to ensure that we don't miss anyone. So please, when I contact you please help by sending me the name and contact information (email address would be great if available) for anyone you know would be interested. You may also contact me at any time via email at melliott@mrl.ubc.ca. Your help and co-operation in putting this list together is greatly appreciated.
Thanks - Mark Elliott, Chair, Education Committee
Please send your show dates and any changes to your Executive for the new season to Jerry Bolce at jerry@uwaterloo.ca
The COC is open to suggestions of how we might help your society. Newsletter articles are available to be reprinted but do you have anything to share? Look at the COC website. What additions would be of use? Can you offer something?
I am looking for old issues of the Canadian Orchid Journal. Do you have any contact or source where I could ask for back issues. I miss the journal in my library. I would be most happy if I could get some help from your side in this matter.
Thanks a lot in advance and best regards
Rudolf Jenny rjenny@io3s.com
The meeting called to order by President Ingrid Schmidt-Ostrander.
After some opening remarks by Ingrid and a roll call, a motion by Margaret Blewett that minutes of last meeting be accepted was passed.
A motion was made by Lorne Heshka that Incorporation of the COC be accepted as presented. There followed considerable discussion on individual membership versus society membership. By-laws to be clarified regarding this. At present the constitution is a standard form put out by the incorporation authority as a guideline. It must now be changed to suit the needs of the COC. A motion that a constitution committee be formed to make amendments to the constitution was carried.
Canadian speakers list was not available at the meeting.
Marilyn Light reports on her activity with the orchid safari discussions which are available on the web.
Ross Otto compiled educational culture sheets. These are available on the COC web.
All societies are to be encouraged to display the COC poster at meetings and at their shows.
There will be an outline on requirements for holding a COC show.
REPORTS
Financial Statement - Janette Richardson Treasurer presented the audited financial statement. Accepted. Janette Richardson advised that there are still pins available which can purchased at $1.00 per pin plus shipping. Janette advised there are four societies that have not paid their membership dues. The Westman Society seems to have dissolved.
Education Mark Elliott There was no report available.
Conservation Marilyn Light Submitted printed report to Executive.
Speakers tours - Yves Aubry, Ontario East Excellent results. Bill Bischoff, West Has been unsuccessful in procuring speakers, due to the distances. Speakers are reluctant to take on 10 days to 2 weeks on the road.
Newsletter- Jerry Bolce has been working on the website. Has also produced CDs of the Oncidium slide program. Will work on the rest. Lorne Heshka will edit the Hardy Orchids slide program.
Auditor - Motioned by Janette Richardson that Wuchke CMA remain as auditor for the COC and carried.
NEW BUSINESS
Group Insurance for Canadian Orchid Societies. After much discussion it was decided that the policy be paid for one year by the COC and the cost to the societies would not exceed $2.00 per society member for the first year only. A review after one year will decide if this Group Insurance is feasible. If not enough societies join, the policy may have to be dropped, as the cost to the individual societies would be prohibitive. The starting date would be as of September 1, 2004.
Speaker Tour: A suggestion that the West be divided into two sections B.C. and Alberta/Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It was suggested that a sliding scale be used to assist smaller societies with speaker costs. This funding would be provided by the COC.
Financial assistance to societies hosting the COC Show no further action to be taken on this issue.
Slide Program: Marilyn Light will be allotted up $300.00 to produce a slide program on Pests & Diseases.
Safe Haven: A safe haven site is very necessary in Vancouver. This is a major port of entry for plants and any plants confiscated are at present destroyed. There was much discussion with no solution reached. More investigation is required.
W.O.C. funds - Report on the Foundation for Orchid Research and Conservation. The foundation has now been incorporated and has received Charitable Status. The grant given by the foundation is available to any Canadian student acquiring their master's or doctorate degree. They must make orchid research or conservation as part of their studies.The foundation will be actively seeking additional funding.
Show date conflicts - Regina Orchid Society COC Representative Terry Harty, presented their concerns on having show dates conflicting with larger societies and as a result they are unable to attract vendors to their show. The COC is not in a position to act as arbiter. The solution would have to be settled with dialogue between the societies.
Updates: When the COC Treasurer does the mailing for COC membership renewals, a form requesting society executive mailing addresses will also be included. All societies are asked to report their change of executive and show dates to: Jerry Bolce Newsletter Editor and to the President of the COC.
CITES appendix I All appendix I orchid species purchased from any vendor must carry all the pertinent permits. These must provided by the vendor and accompany the plant. The buyer must keep these as proof of legal purchase.
Slide programs: All slide program material should be edited by a person other than the author.
Future Meetings: 2005 Calgary. No further hosts at this time. Societies are asked to consider hosting future meetings.
ELECTIONS
Slate presented and accepted:
President - Margaret Blewett - OS of Nova Scotia
First Vice President - Lorne Heshka - Manitoba OS
Second Vice President - Vacant
Treasurer - Janette Richardson - Regina OS
Secretary - Terry Kennedy - Southern Ontario OS
The new President Margaret Blewett thanked the outgoing President Ingrid SchmidtOstrander for her hard work during her tenure. The message from Margaret Blewett was that the success of the COC and the societies is based on communication. The meeting was adjourned.
Lynne Cassidy
August 7-10, 2004
Our third annual Native Orchid Conference will be held in Conway, SC with field trips along the coast of the Carolinas. The presentations portion of the conference will be held at Coastal Carolina University on Saturday and Monday (August 7 & 9) with field to local areas along the coast on alternate days of the meetings (August 8 & 10).
A few of the speakers include Jim Fowler (An Introduction to the Orchids of South Carolina), Alan Weakley (Orchid Habitats of the Southeastern United States), Marilyn Light (Long Term Study - Conservation Payoff), and Lucy Dueck (The Spiranthes Genetics Project: A Preview).
Registration will be limited to the first 100 people from whom we receive mailed responses. All registration must be done by mail. There will not be any registration at the door. The conference cost is $100 per person or $175 per couple and includes lunch during the two days of meetings at Coastal Carolina University.
During the field trips we expect to see the following orchids in bloom:
Additionally, there could be an opportunity to see several natural hybrids:
To obtain further information or registration forms, please contact:
David McAdoo, Conference Chairman or Mark Rose, Treasurer
Phone: (336) 996 - 2324
Phone: (336) 656 - 7991
Email: ncorchid @ Yahoo.com
Email: nativeorchids @ Yahoo.com
Join the Native Orchid Conference web site -
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nativeorchidconference/
Its with a feeling of great sadness that I report the passing of Rebecca Tyson Northen on April 30, 2004.
Unquestionably one of the most recognizable and popular personalities in the orchid community, Rebecca, 93, was friend and educator to countless individuals throughout our fraternity. A trained biologist, Rebecca attended Radcliffe College and received an BA from Wayne State University and an MA from Mt. Holyoke College. With her late husband, a plant physiologist and professor of botany at the University of Wyoming, she traveled extensively in Central and South America studying and collecting orchids in the wild. She spoke to hundreds of groups over the years, and her wonderful articles graced the pages of Popular Gardening, Flower Grower, Horticulture, and the American Orchid Society Bulletin. In addition to the orchid bible-- Home Orchid Growing -- Rebecca wrote Orchids as House Plants and co-authored with her husband The Secret of the Green Thumb and The Complete Book of Greenhouse Gardening.
I'm sure you join the AOS staff and Rebecca's countless friends throughout the world's orchid community in extending our deepest sympathies and prayers to Phil, Betty, Tom and the rest of the Northen family.
Lee Cooke
Cordelia Head from J&L Orchids (Connecticut, US) was our guest speakers for the 2003 edition (September 27 - October 5). She spoke on miniature orchids: "How to select and grow these little jewel according to your own growing conditions". In her ten day trip, she visited seven cities and was hosted by the Nova Scotia Orchid Society, Les Orchidophiles de Québec, The Eastern Canada Orchid Society, the Ottawa Orchid Society, the Royal Botanical Garden (Hamilton, ON), the Niagara Orchid Society, and the London Orchid Society. Pre-order was arranged before the tour and helped support the tour since Mrs Head did not received any speaker's fee. The cost of the trip was equally divided between all the participating societies (final cost around $225.).
Mrs Head really enjoyed the tour despite its marathon type schedule. All societies and their devoted members contributed generously to her stay in order to make it as smooth as possible. Again many thanks to all participating societies for their help in organising this tour over a very short period of time.
This year our speaker will be Roberto Agnes from Aranda Orchids (Brazil). His talks selection will be 1) Popular Brazilian species, or 2) Intermediate to warm growing species, or 3) Improved Cattleya species and hybrids. The tour will be October 9-23 , ending in Canada with the Eastern Canada Orchid Show after which he will speak in New York and Philadelphia. This bridging will allowed us to reduce the airfare cost. There will be a pre-order organized as well. A list will be distributed to all participating societies but is also available to every Canadian society that wants to put together an order from their members. The orders will be shipped via courier upon Roberto's arrival in Montreal, October 9, 2004. This list is now available from Yves Aubry (aubrynoel@webnet.qc.ca) or directly from Roberto(roberto@aranda.com.br).
Yves Aubry
A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house." The bearer said to the pot, " Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house"
Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them.
Regards to all my crack pot friends!
As a result of the hard work and great effort put in by a large number of people, the 16th World Orchid Conference which was held in Vancouver, BC in 1999, actually came out ahead and made a profit. The WOC organizing committee has met a number of times over the past couple of years to decide what to do with this money.
The committee recommended to the Vancouver Orchid Society (the Host Society for the WOC) who agreed to the proposal, that a separate foundation be established to manage the money. Thus, the Foundation for Orchid Research and Conservation has been formed.
The Foundation has been registered as a `not for profit' organization with the BC government and has recently been granted charitable donation status by the Federal government, allowing us to issue tax receipts. The proceeds from the WOC are to be invested and the interest accrued will be used to fund orchid research and conservation projects.
To that intent, an agreement has been made with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) whereby the Foundation will be offering initially, a yearly supplement to a person holding an NSERC postgraduate scholarship involved in orchid research of any type (http://www.nserc.ca/sf_e.asp?nav=sfnav&lbi=orchid). NSERC will do the initial vetting of any proposals and pass on to the Foundation any proposals they think fulfill the aims of the Foundation.
The Foundation is in the process of getting up and running and will be holding a meeting at the end of May to elect the Officers of the Foundation and to establish other committees etc as required. More information on this meeting will be provided in the next newsletter.
Mark Elliott, COC Education Chair
The ideal would be to build a greenhouse that requires no power to operate. Let us look at what would be the requirements of a better design:
The long axis of the greenhouse should face south to maximize exposure to the sun in the winter. You can always put on shading to control the sun in the summer. If a southern exposure is not possible, it is better to aim the axis more to the east to catch the morning warmth rather than picking up the afternoon sun in the heat of the day.
There is no need to have a glass wall lower than bench height unless you wish to crawl under benches to tend the plants. Insulating that area saves a lot of heat loss. That area can also be below ground if the site is suitable.
The light coming in the north wall probably does not equal the light going out of the north wall, so insulate the north wall and make it white on the inside to reflect the light.
The end walls are used for doors, fans, electrical and storage so are probably best insulated also.
Because the sun is weakest in the winter and we want to get the most of it, the south roof should be angled to face directly (perpendicular) at the sun at noon for the latitude you are at. This leads to an angle of about 45 degrees. Any roof on the back side can be insulated.
Considering how poor it would be to blow excess heat out of the greenhouse during the day in the winter and then need to turn on the heat at night, the greenhouse should have some form of thermal mass like stones or tanks of water for storing up the heat during the day.
The larger the greenhouse the more slowly it will heat up and cool down. Dont build one too small.
Seeing as the winter days can be quite dull and short, consider installing high intensity lights. The cost of operating them is just the difference between the electricity rate and your regular fuel cost.
There are many choices in glazing. When water condenses on the glazing, you lose a lot of heat. A better choice in glazing will reduce the heat loss that is making the glazing so cold. For extremes of cold, insulating shutters can be added on the outside.
The width of the greenhouse is determined by the width of the bench(s) and walkway(s).
It is reasonable to build the greenhouse using wood framing. Use pressure treated wood in any areas that could be constantly wet. Think of the greenhouse as an inside-out house with all the weather components on the inside.
A tall chimney stack can generate quite a flow of hot air out of the greenhouse.
There are many approaches to efficient greenhouse design. A little research can save a lot of money in heating or cooling.The solar greenhouse does not look like a glass palace but it will certainly work better.
Good references on the web:
http://www.survivalplus.com/foods/page0009.htm
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/solar-gh.html#Basic
http://www.iseanetwork.org/
http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1983/1/83.01.13.x.html
http://www.nmsea.org/Passive_Solar/Passive_Solar_Design.htm
http://www.jc-solarhomes.com/projects.htm
Books for reference:
The Solar Greenhouse Book - J.C. McCullagh
The Complete Greenhouse Book - Clegg and Watkins
Thermal Shutters and Shades - Shurcliff
Jerry Bolce
The purpose of COC news is to inform members of the meetings, policies of the COC, to profile members, and to provide technical information regarding happenings, trends and techniques in orchid culivation across the country and around the world.
We welcome your suggestions and contributions. Deadline for each issue is one month before the issue dates previously announced.
Recipients of this newsletter are strongly urged to pass a copy on to other members of their society
Officers of the Canadian Orchid Congress
President Margaret Blewett
902-827-2614
mblewett@accesswave.ca
Past President Ingrid Ostrander
250-652-0753
ifl@telus.net
Vice-President Lorne Heshka
204-663-6850
lheshka@escape.ca
Treasurer Janette Richardson
306-543-0560
dale.richardson@sasktel.net
Secretary Terry Kennedy
905-727-3319
ourtropics@ica.net
Education Mark Elliott
604-943-6979
melliott@mrl.ubc.ca
Conservation Marilyn Light
819-776-2655
mlight@igs.net
COC Web Site -
http://www.CanadianOrchidCongress.ca/
Please send in your show information - date, location,
contact, etc.