The Central Ontario Orchid Society

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Our Orchid Show and Sale

COOS Orchid Show for 2010

Meeting Program for 2009

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.

January 26	Renew your membership. Repotting workshop. If you have a plant or two, bring them with some potting mix.
February 23	Our homegrown experts will answer your questions. Final call to renew your membership.
March 23	Paphs by Wendy Hoffman
April 27	A demonstration on building a show display.
May 25	Gerhard Kompter and Jim Kendall will discuss putting your orchids outside for the summer. Bring your extra plants for the auction.
June 22	This month our speaker is Hans Gollek on the subject of native orchids. Last meeting before summer break.
September 14	First meeting of the new season. Getting ready for our show. Sylvia Galbraith on photography.
October 26	tbd
November 30	Our Christmas party and pot luck dinner. Bring plants for the silent auction.
December	no meeting

Meeting Program for 2010

January 25	Renew your membership.
February 22	TBD
March 22	TBD
April 26	TBD
May 31	TBD
June 28	Last meeting before summer break.
September 13	First meeting of the new season. Getting ready for our show.
October 25	Dawn Morse on "Having your Lights Go Green"
November 29	Our Christmas party and pot luck dinner. Bring plants for the silent auction.
December	no meeting

The COOS Newsletter

The COOS Executive

President:	Rennie Taylor, P.O. Box 393, St. Jacobs, N0B 2N0 Phone: 519-664-2328 Email:
Treasurer:	Ruby Chung
Secretary:	Judy Sparkes (Hunter), 813 William St., Cambridge N3H 3X2 Phone: 519-650-3231 Email:
Past President:	Dennis Souder, 1-361 George Street North, Cambridge N1S 4X4 Phone: 519-620-2388 Email:
Show Chair:	Gerhard Kompter, 123 Mauser Ave., Kitchener, N2M 3K6, Phone: 519-745-3815
Show Chair:	Frank Maine, 71 Sherwood Dr., Guelph, N1E 6E6 Phone: 519-823-1089 Email:
Editor:	Cathy Ralston, 41 Woodside Rd., Guelph, N1G 2H1 Phone: 519-763-4260 Email:
Emporium:	Ed Ratcliffe, 1137 Kenning Place, Elmira, N3B 2Z1 Phone: 519-669-2542 Email:
Exhibits:	Ed Ratcliffe, 1137 Kenning Place, Elmira, N3B 2Z1 Phone: 519-669-2542 Email:
Library:	Lisa Costello, Email:
Membership:	Dawn Morse, 8 Rosebank Cr, Kitchener, ON N2E 2Y8 Phone: 519-576-6739 Email:
AOS/COC Rep:	Margaret Hewings, 975 Warwick Court - Unit 605, Burlington ON L7T 3Z7 Phone: 905-634-7084 Email:
Webmaster:	Jerry Bolce, 2001 - 6 Willow Street, Waterloo N2J 4S3 Phone: 519-885-1888 Email:

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

Links

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

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.