President's Message—July 2020

What a great presentation Alan Koch gave to the Society last month. I was trying to take notes but barely recorded 50% of what I wanted. There was so much information, I could not write fast enough. Thank you, Board of Director Secretary Sue Usseglio for putting together the Zoom meeting.

While these are virtual presentations, we do pay a speaker fee which is less than hosting the speaker in person, but a club expense nonetheless. Please tune in and take advantage of these opportunities. I know nothing takes the place of meeting face to face, but it is the best solution we currently have.

After reviewing the results of the membership survey, it’s apparent that many of you are not yet comfortable meeting at the Old Town Hall. Our July meeting will be another virtual meeting. Steve Beckendorf will present “Sex, Lies and Parasites.” He is a geneticist and developmental biologist at the University of California, Berkley. His talk will focus on the elaborate ways orchids deceive their pollinators in their attempt to reproduce. It sounds fascinating, so please join us and “Zoom in!”

Before the speaker, the board will discuss several important items at its monthly board meeting. This is an open meeting and anyone can listen in without comment. Items under consideration include the October show dates, the proposed budget for 2021, the Annual meeting and the auction. Following Steve’s presentation, I will give an update of our decisions, so please stay online to participate. We welcome your comments and your valuable input as we move forward to meet the needs of our society.

As mentioned in my two previous president’s messages, two trustee positions on the board will need to be filled. Serving on the board is a perfect way for to learn about the Society. All that is required is your presence at board meetings once a month, to listen and discuss proposals, and vote. Please speak with Andrea Deachman our nominating chairperson, if you are interested.

We cannot continue to do business and operate as a Society if we don’t have people willing to serve on the board. And, if I do say so myself, I think we are a pretty fun group. It can be intense, occasionally, but that goes with the job. While we may not always agree, we respect each other’s opinions and act in the best interests of our Society. Please consider running for one of our open positions.

Thank you and see you on July 11^th.

Anita Walker, President