About the Denver Orchid Society

About the Denver Orchid Society

The Denver Orchid Society was organized in December of 1951. Current membership is over 200. Society meetings are held monthly (except July and August) and feature programs by orchid experts from across the country and around the world. Members attending meetings are able to check out books and videos from the Society's library, bring and/or see flowering orchids from collections throughout the region at each month's "Show and Tell" and have opportunities to obtain orchid plants inexpensively.

In addition to monthly meetings, the Society sponsors two orchid shows each year. There are also special activities and programs held periodically for new members specifically designed to answer their questions, encourage their participation and get them off to a good start in the hobby.

During our summer hiatus, a Society event is usually held. Often it's a tour of several member's growing facilities followed by a potluck supper. The December meeting is reserved for the Annual Meeting, elections of Board members and the holiday potluck.

Meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month (except July and August, and this year the December meeting is on Wednesday the 5th — our anniversary date). We meet at the Denver Botanic Gardens. The Society invites the participation of all who are interested in orchids, from beginning hobbyists to professional growers.

Guests and interested individual are always welcome at any regular meeting, but non-members should not attend more than two meetings in a calendar year without applying for membership. The Annual Meeting (December) is open only to members.

Membership, according to the Society's By-Laws, requires that the names of applicants be published in the monthly newsletter (Orchid News From The Rockies) and then be affirmed by the Society's Board of Trustees.

Dues are $20 per year for individual membership and $30 per year for a dual (household) membership and are payable at the time of application. Renewal is due each within 30 days of the January meeting. The dues of new members accepted after September 1 cover the balance of the current year and all of the following year.

The Society was issued a Certificate of Incorporation as a nonprofit corporation in 1985 by the Colorado Secretary of State. Tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service was granted in 1985 under the Internal Revenue Code Section 501(C)(5). In 1990 provisional 501(C)(3) status was granted allowing acceptance of tax-deductible contributions.

DOS Objectives

The Denver Orchid Society was organized in December of 1951 to:

• encourage appreciation of and interest in orchids.
• stimulate the study and culture of orchids.
• promote conservation of native orchids.
• disseminate information of interest and help to our members.
• maintain affiliation with the American Orchid Society and other similar societies and associations.

Affiliations

American Orchid Society (AOS)
Orchid Digest Corporation (ODC)

Other Area Societies

Boulder Orchid Society
Meets the 4th Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. For information and directions to meetings call: Denise at 303-642-0510 or Rich at 303-666-9534.

Colorado Springs Orchid Society
Meets the 4th Saturday of most every month at 9:30a.m. For information and directions to meetings call: Robin Boutilier (719) 685-9034
E-mail: bloomnjim@msn.com

Hi-Country Orchid Club (Fort Collins)
Meets the 3rd Sunday of each month at 2:00 p.m. For information and directions to meetings call: Dennis Gatlin (303) 223-2987
E-mail: dgatlin@aol.com

High Desert Orchid Society (Grand Junction)
Meets the 4th Wednesday of each month at 7:30p.m. For information and directions to meetings call: Debra Foster (970) 263-4183
E-mail: fosterdd@bresnan.net