Co-Presidents’ Letter

May 2026

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First of all: Welcome all our new OSWP members, who joined at the show. We hope you can attend our monthly meetings and learn more about orchids and the OSWP and grow better and get involved with the orchid society. Welcome!

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And what a great orchid show we just had! So many of our members make it happen with their incredible work and ideas, all headed by the Show Chairs or maybe Show Managers: Kathy McCafferty, Lawrene Neel and Mary Ann Pike. Without everyone’s hard work, it would never have happened. Thank you all very much.

 

Thanks to Carol Panza and Carolyn Bolton and the team members who helped with the OSWP exhibit. It was awarded an AOS Show Trophy. Congratulations! Also many thanks to all our members who did their own exhibits, many for their first time. Great growing and great work!  

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Typically, the slate of candidates is presented at our April meeting. However, due to the timing of our Spring Show this year, the Nominating Committee, Don Ammon, Sheila Nathanson and Carol Panza will present the slate of officers at our May meeting. Elections will be conducted at our June Annual Meeting. Once again, we thank the Nominating Committee for their work on this important effort.​

 

Kathy Collins is currently seeking two assistants—one for Membership and one for Secretary—to help share the workload. It would be especially helpful if the Membership Assistant resides in the western portion of our area. These are Board-appointed positions, and we encourage members to step forward and assist.

 

We hope to see you at our OSWP monthly meeting at the Spartan Event Center off Second Avenue in Hazelwood on May 17th.​

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We look forward to seeing you there, and remember:

Think Orchids!

Gary VanGelder and Demetria Marsh