The Central Ontario Orchid Society

Celebrating its 25^th Anniversary

The Central Ontario Orchid Society is a non-profit group of orchid enthusiasts centered in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. The Society has over 100 members, stretching from Stratford to Orangeville and from Arthur to Brantford. The club holds meetings ten months of the year in Kitchener, presents an annual show in Cambridge(Hespeler), publishes a monthly newsletter and organizes trips to a number of orchid events each year. Membership is available to individuals of any age or expertise who show a sincere interest in orchids.

Membership in COOS will give you the opportunity to socialize with other orchid enthusiasts while you learn more of the beauty, culture and history of orchids. There are special courses for beginners as well as other programs for the more experienced orchid grower. We invite you to attend our meeting as a guest and see for yourself the excitement that orchids generate and while there, inquire about membership.

Meetings

At our meetings, we have a regular programme of guest speakers, slide shows, and demonstrations. There is also sales of orchids and orchid supplies, a raffle table, a show table of member's plants, and refreshments. The Society maintains a borrowing library of orchid related literature for use by the members. The meetings provide an opportunity to tap the wealth of experience represented by our more experienced members. Our club members are very friendly, and always open to questions regarding orchid culture. You may also pick up various orchid potting supplies, fertilizers, books and plants at very reasonable prices. We also have a few social events each year, including the annual potluck Christmas party.

Newsletter

Our newsletter comes out a week before each meeting, and notifies members of upcoming meetings, orchid shows and other club events. We also have informative articles on orchid culture, conservation, club events, and other issues of interest to members. You can view some previous newsletters.

Orchid Shows

Our society and other orchid societies in the area each put on an annual show at which we put together a display using member's blooming orchids. Here is the opportunity to participate in the major social events in the world of orchids, meeting other orchid enthusiasts, growers, vendors and judges. These orchid shows are ribbon judged to find the best flowers in the show in each class. They are also judged by judges of the American Orchid Society to find the best flowers in North America. You could enjoy the thrill of winning an award for your favorite orchid.

Our annual orchid show and sale is held the last weekend of September. This is a great chance to see hundreds of orchids in full bloom in the show area, pick up some new plants in the large sales area, see how orchids are used in artistic displays, buy a raffle ticket, attend some educational seminars on orchid culture, and learn more about the club.

Orchid Judging

COOS supports the Toronto Judging Centre of the The American Orchid Society. Flowers in displays at orchid shows are usually presented for AOS judging, however there are times when one would like a flower judged outside of a show. You can take your plant to the Toronto Judging Centre. The Toronto Judging Centre monthly judgings are open to all orchid growers. You need not be a member of AOS or SOOS. You can bring your plants to the Civic Garden Centre before one o'clock on the designated Saturday of each month. Plants are judged for AOS awards in accordance with the Handbook on Judging and Exhibition. If your plant is awarded there is a charge by the AOS (about $50.00 US). Non payment forfeits the right to future judging.

The Centre welcomes interested persons to come and observe the judging. There are opportunities to assist in plant research and administrative chores.

How To Join

Dues are held to a minimum and normally cover the expenses associated with programs that are put on at each meeting. Membership fees cover the period from January through December. The fee is $15 for an individual or $20 for a family. To join the Society please come to our meeting where you can register, or contact the membership person on the Society Executive listed below.

For more information, contact anyone listed on the COOS Executive below.

Our Orchid Show and Sale

COOS Orchid Show for 2010

The Annual COOS Orchid Show and Sale will be held at the Cambridge Hespeler Arena, 640 Ellis Road, Cambridge, ON

COOS will be hosting the Annual Meeting of The Canadian Orchid Congress.

For the latest on the show.

Meeting Program for 2010

Meetings are held in the basement hall of St. Joseph's Church at the corner of Courtland and Madison in Kitchener on the fourth Monday (unless pre-empted, see the program dates below). Meetings begin promptly at 7:00pm; arrive from 6:30pm for social time and sales. Parking is at the rear of the school; the entrances are off Madison or Cedar. Guests are welcome.

Meeting dates are listed below with the programme, usually a guest speaker or slide show.

The COOS Newsletter

• June 2010
• May 2010
• April 2010
• March 2010
• February 2010
• January 2010
• November 2009
• October 2009
• September 2009

The COOS Executive

Please address Society mail to: COOS, Box 40074, 75 King St. S., Waterloo, Ontario, N2J 4V1

Links

The Society is a member of The Canadian Orchid Congress, The Mid-America Orchid Congress and The American Orchid Society.

For Orchid culture information and extensive links to other related web sites see The Orchid House.

The Canadian Orchid Congress maintains a list of Canadian Orchid Vendors
and also the Canadian Orchid Shows

The Central Ontario Orchid Society Constitution and Bylaws approved January 2008.

COOS History

The Central Ontario Orchid Society was founded on May 26, 1985 when nine orchid growers met at a home in Kitchener to organize a local orchid society. Of the nine, only one could claim to be an experienced orchid grower, yet all were anxious to learn all about orchids. A name for the society was chosen. An executive was elected. Plans were made to draw up a constitution, publish a newsletter and find a meeting site, all to be done by September. The first Society meeting took place at the Kitchener Public Library and was attended by 17 amateur orchid growers.

We first exhibited that year at the Niagara show and had our own first show on April 25, 26 1986 at the Stone Road Mall in Guelph. At the end of that first year our membership had reached 54. In the following year we became an AOS affiliated society and achieved a membership of 98.

Webmaster: Jerry Bolce,