In a news item published today in the Palm Beach Post : "Group's director wants to share beauty of orchids ... Lee Cooke has a soft spot for nonprofit organizations. He had been working for the American Automobile Association, in Washington, D.C., when he was invited to move to West Palm Beach and become director of the American Orchid Society.
The society was moving from Cambridge, Mass., to West Palm Beach. "They asked if I was interested in applying (for the executive director's job) and moving. I didn't get the job. ... Lee Cooke is executive director of the nonprofit and volunteer-based American Orchid Society. ... "A year later, they called again. They had hired an orchid expert to run the business, and it didn't work out. They decided to hire a business person to whom they could teach orchids." He moved to Florida in 1985. As executive director, he handles everything from business and personnel decisions to marketing. The AOS then was off Olive Avenue in West Palm Beach. Eventually, the group felt stymied by zoning restrictions, and moved to western Delray Beach, near the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. The 3.5-acre facility is called The American Orchid Society Visitors Center and Botanical Garden and features two 4,000-square-foot greenhouses and a Mediterranean-style visitor's center. "We promote the hobby and business of orchids," he said. "We've added the AOS Visitors Center and Garden, so now we have the added responsibility of making that grow, too. The society is nonprofit and volunteer-based. "We have volunteers across the country," Cooke said. "They lend us knowledge and a camaraderie and spirit that's extraordinarily special." The society recently introduced a glossy magazine and a new Web site: www.aos.org, as it seeks to attract new members and build awareness of its activities. ... Cooke's goal is to bring more visitors to tour the gardens. ... he said. "I love what I do. I have a passion for the orchid community and for Palm Beach County. ..." ... Cooke forgets to stop and smell the orchids sometimes. "I have to kick myself out of my office sometimes and get out into the gardens, to be reminded of the beauty around me," he said. ... What's the best advice you've ever received? "... Treat people the way you want to be treated." ... What would you do if you won the Lottery? "... I'd make sure the AOS got its library (a future expansion plan.)" http://www.palmbeachpost.com/delray_beach/content/neighborhood/delray_beach/epaper/2005/09/14/npd4_cookepro_0914.html ********** questions : 1) who was the orchid expert who was unable "to run the business" ? 2) what is the present salary of the AOS CEO ? 3) how many volunteers work at the headquarters ? / how many paid-employees ? ********** Regards, Viateur _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
