Re Andy Easton's response about the AOS. Andy, thanks for your informative
reply. I am not persuaded by your defense of the actions or inactions of
Messrs. Brown and Griesbach, nor would you expect me to be. Time will tell. You may
turn out to be right, though I very much doubt it. Let the our leaders give us
all the facts and let us make our own informed judgements. Instead, our
leaders have been completely uncommunicative with respect to disclosing hard facts.
But if you are wrong, the consequences for the society will be disastrous.
Unfortunately, you will not suffer a financial loss if you are wrong. The
difference in the corporate world is striking. Why not publish a twice-yearly
barchart showing the number of members, by month, and covering a 2-year period? That
would provide the members with some insight into the effectiveness of our
leaders. Also, a copy of the AOS's financial statements, at the end of each
fiscal year. After all, our leaders are merely custodian's of our money, aren't
they?
As to perennial gripes about the society in the past, there is a
difference between a situation in which the resources of the society have plummeted
and one in which they have not. And I do not follow your logic that "the AOS
.....naturally needs a facility to showcase orchids. They need greenhouses and
gardens." Others can provide those while the AOS limits itself to developing and
disseminating information about orchids. True, many people always are
unhappy, but that doesn't mean that no one ever has good reason for being unhappy.
When you say that memberships in the American Rose Society and othe specialty
plant groups also are facing loss of membership, that is not surprising. The
real issue is how are they addressing their problems.
And as for your remarks about Carlos Fighetti, I am reminded by the
response of a lover of Marilyn Monroe to a rumor that she used artificial means to
enhance her figure. The lover's reply was "Those who know her better know
better." Carlos has a long and exemplary track record of organizational ability,
leadership and astuteness that far exceeds that of any of the nominees chosen
for the top positions in the AOS. That is a well established fact. David Grove
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