Hello to all: We are writing this lengthy letter so that those of you who are AOS members can see how the organization deals with donations. For the past thirty years, we have been growing orchids, as a hobby/addiction. As an offshoot of that, we started collecting Orchid Antiques and Collectibles. Some of the categories of our acquisitions: Advertising, Ashtrays, Bed Clothes, Books, Bowls ,Buttons, Calendars, Candles, Candle Holders, Canister Sets, Chamber Pots, Chests, China Sets, Christmas ornaments, Chromolithographs, Cigarette Silks, Cigar Bands, Clocks, Clothes, Coasters, Cocktail Shakers, Coins, Comforters, Creamers, Cream Toppers, Curtain swags, Decorated Gourds, Dinner bells, Dishes, Dispensers, Donkey Cart, Drawer Pulls, Drawings, Etchings, Fan pulls, Glasses, Golf Bag, Greeting cards, Handbags, Hat Pin Holders, Ice cream moulds, Jardinihres, Jewelry, Jewelry Boxes, Key Chains, Lamps, Lighters, Match Books, Memo Holders, Mirrors, Money Bills, Mugs, Music Boxes, Musical Instruments, Napkins, Paintings, Paper Plates, Pie Bird, Pillows, Pin Holders, Pitchers, Plates, Playing Cards, Postcards, Purses, Salt & Pepper Shakers, Sculptures, Silverware, Snuff Bottles, Sofas, Soaps, Soap Dishes, Stained Glass, Stamps, Table Clothes, Tea Pots, Tiles, Tins, Towels, Trays, Vases, Umbrellas, Watches, Wines. Among the really rare ones- original paintings by Caroline Harrison (president B. Harrisons wife) and Nellie Roberts (the RHS painter mentioned in Dr. Griesbachs article last month.) The following letter describing our dealings with the AOS was sent to Dr. Robert Griesbach, AOS president. To date, we received neither response nor acknowledgement We wrote this, to the AOS board and, specifically, to its president. Dear AOS member: It is with concern and disgust we are writing this letter. As you can see from the enclosed correspondence between us and Lee Cooke, we were interested in donating our huge collection of orchids antiques and collectibles after we die. This was a suggestion made by Mr. Merritt Huntington many years ago. This collection is, to the best of our knowledge, the largest and most comprehensive of its kind anywhere. We first contacted Mr. Lee Cooke on September 30, 2003, and a copy of our letter to him is enclosed here. By November 2003, since we heard nothing from Mr. Cooke either in response to our letter or our email to him, we wrote an angry letter to the board of directors of the AOS. Apparently no one on the board took the time to respond, but, this time, Mr. Cooke sent a letter of apology. We accepted this, as you can see in the enclosed copy of our letter to him, dated December 10, 2003. Later, Mr. Cooke notified us of his busy schedule in December and January. We went on a cruise, and, upon our return, sent him a few emails to let him know we were back. As we had no response from him, we wrote him a letter on March 20, in which we asked him to let us know by the months end when he could come. We explained that our schedule for the year has been becoming very busy. Still no response. As potential donors and as members of the AOS we are amazed by this lack of response; this is a show of total irresponsibility on the part of the AOS. Can the AOS afford to turn away donors, by its behavior? If yes, why have the dues been raised? After our death, chances are that our children will sell the collection, as they have no interest in it. This would be a shame, as thousands of pieces would be separated. If the board still wishes to discuss this, make sure that Lee Cooke is not the one to contact us, as we want nothing to do with his style. Also, editor, please publish a summary of this, so that other AOS members are aware of the boards behavior. Dr. Daniel and Mary Porecki Again, to date, no response from the AOS
_______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids
