— Joyce Moulis

Introduction

It was early January 1949: President Harry S. Truman prepared for inauguration following his unexpected victory over Thomas E. Dewey; RCA Victor announced the release of the new "big-hole" 45 RPM record; the first Emmy was awarded to "Pantomime Quiz Time;" Frederick Bonham was serving as the third president of the American Orchid Society (A.O.S.); the A.O.S. announced that the first monthly scheduled judging session would begin on January 19^th in New York City; Kansas City had just celebrated its centennial and the future looked bright as the building boom was about to go into high gear; a notice in the Kansas City Star announced "A Meeting of Orchid Enthusiasts, January 28, 1949 at 7:30 p.m. at the Phillips Hotel." From that January in 1949, area orchidists have regularly met as The Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City to share their enthusiasm for one of nature’s grand creations -- the orchid.

Acknowledgments

Since 1997 the archives have been searched and OSGKC members (past and present) have been asked to share their memories to compile and preserve the colorful history of the Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City. We are grateful to these people and also to anonymous members who documented OSGKC’s activities through minutes, notes, letters, newspaper articles, and photographs. The information compiled is a work in progress: it is not yet complete and will be modified as dates, places, and names can be verified. Readers are asked to share additional information with us. We are particularly in need of information from 1950 through 1972. Our hope is that this is just the beginning of the discovery of our past. We call on you to help us write this history with your memories of the past and to be part of the OSGKC present and its future. ~Joyce and Tom Moulis

As part of the celebration of the Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City’s Golden Anniversary and in honor of all those who have contributed to over 75 years of orchid growing in Kansas City, the 1999 and 2000 editions of the OSGKC News contained a monthly column highlighting significant events about OSGKC and the accomplishments of its members.

Over 75 Years of Growing Orchids in Kansas City

 

The Constitution Preamble: "This Society shall be known as the Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City. Its object shall be to bring together those who are interested in the care and culture of orchids so that experience and knowledge may be shared to the benefit of all. All persons who may be interested in the care and culture orchids may be eligible to membership in the Society..."

By post-WWII 1949, orchids were moving from botanical curiosities to the flower world’s crown jewel. Proms, weddings, and special events were punctuated with orchid blossoms, air shipments of Vanda blossoms arrived from Hawaii for U.S. "grand opening give-a ways," and orchids decorated Pasadena parade floats. Hundreds of orchid nurseries were being established in Hawaii, California, and Florida producing hybrids to satisfy the growing demands of the plant and cut flower markets. But for the orchid hobbyists, plants, supplies, and culture information were not readily available.

"A meeting of orchid enthusiasts in Kansas City Missouri area interested in forming a local society was held on January 28, 1949, 7:30 p.m., at the Phillips Hotel at which time fourteen people attended. Much interest was displayed in organizing and tentative plans were made to hold another meeting in February. Mr. William K. Young, 4440 Jarboe, Kansas City, Missouri was appointed temporary chairman. A question and answer discussion was held on the various orchid problems prevailing. All interested people are asked to contact Mr. Young for information." (A.O.S. Bulletin, Vol. 18, No. 7. July 1949.)

While the exact identity of these fourteen orchid enthusiasts has not yet been discovered, we can speculate they lived in metropolitan Kansas City and surrounding urban and rural communities, and that they represented various professions. At least one was a commercial greenhouse owner. Mr. William Young, who organized this first meeting and was named temporary chairman, was subsequently elected to serve as the first president of the Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City. He was proprietor of Young’s Greenhouse and Aquaria. The reasons these fourteen orchidists came together are universal and timeless: to discuss orchid growing problems, to gather news about the latest hybrids, and to establish sources for acquiring plants.

1959 OSGKC Members
Top row - John Wood, Francis Dolph, Art Oastler, Mrs. Dolph, Takumi Kono, Harlod Martin, Mrs.Oastler
Seated - Mrs. Arnold, Betty Martin and Mrs. Wood

1969 OSGKC Officers

Members at 1980 Des Moines show.

Affiliation

Twelve months after the first fourteen orchidists gathered for an informal meeting about orchid growing, the group had organized itself, written a preliminary constitution, became affiliated with the American Orchid Society, and initiated educational activities to show orchids and share orchid care information with the public.

On January 12, 1950 The Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City became the 22^nd orchid society to receive affiliation status with the AOS.

By July of the same year the Society had gained local recognition as a valuable resource in the field of orchid care, and was invited to participate in the Spring Flower Festival published a description at the Municipal Auditorium as part of Kansas City’s Centennial Celebration. The July 1950 edition of the AOS Bulletin of the display: "The back panel was hung with deep maroon velvet framed by white wrought iron fabricated by Burge Wire and Iron Works for this special occasion OSGKC member, Miss Janice Winton loaned a hand-painted orchid (picture for the display). John’s Greenhouse furnished over $500 worth of rare and beautiful tropical houseplants and these formed the base. Mr. Bob Wehner, one of (the) young members, supplied the Wardian case which, although hand-made, is well done and caused much interest. The Table in front, covered with maroon velvet, held an educational display on the growth of an orchid from seed to bloom. The seed was shown under a large magnifying glass. A seed flask, community pots, individual seedlings, and plants of various ages completed the display.

The Orchid Society kept at least one member in the booth at all times, conducting an educational discourse and forum. The President of (the) Society...received a special invitation to enter a display in the Missouri State Fair. ...It seems (the) young society is already a husky youngster of whom great things are expected." (AOS Bulletin, Vol. 19, No. 7, p. 318, July 1950.)

These "expectations for greatness" predicted in the Society’s earliest days have been validated through its activities over the decades. In January 1999 the Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City received a Certificate of Recognition from the American Orchid Society:

In the early 1950s as the young Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City was holding monthly meetings, attracting members, and hosting orchid exhibits, Mr. Gordon Dillon and other AOS Trustees concluded the time was right to host a world orchid conference. Only two years after the inception of the idea, in October 1954 the AOS, with support and cooperation with the Missouri Botanical Garden and the Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis, hosted the First World Orchid Conference. The standard established at the First World Orchid Conference continues today. The triennial conference hosts orchid hobbyists, commercial orchid firms, hybridizers, and conservationists from around the world and includes world-class orchid displays and topical symposia. Among the 600 First World Orchid Conference registrants were Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City members Elsie Jackson, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Quear, Tony Koehler, William Young, and a young honeymooning couple, Pat and Fred Bergman.

By 1955, the OSGKC membership had grown to more than 35 and monthly meetings were held alternately in public facilities and members’ homes. The group hosted orchid displays at the Annual Kansas City Flower shows, Home Federal Bank, Brotherhood State Bank, and First National Bank and sponsored an educational orchid display at the Shawnee Mission High School. While in Kansas City as guest speaker at the May 1958 OSGKC meeting, Mr. Robert Gillespie (co-author of The Biology of the Orchids) encouraged the membership to collaborate with other midwest orchid societies and orchid growers to form a regional organization that would host orchid shows and encourage orchidists to become AOS judges. In October 1959 OSGKC President Dick Helmer asked Tom Larkin, a young and eager member, to attend a planning meeting with him in St. Louis. Presidents and representatives from various regional orchid societies met to consider the formation of The Mid-America Orchid Congress (MAOC). Today MAOC serves more than 54 societies in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and the Florida Panhandle, as well as Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario. Each spring and fall a MAOC member society hosts an orchid show and sale in conjunction with the Congress meeting. MAOC sponsors an annual essay contest, recognizes an outstanding Orchidist of the Year and published The Biology of the Orchids. MAOC generated funds helped restore Lankester Gardens in Costa Rica, assists with funding of World Orchid Conferences, and contributed to the Orchid Identification Center and AOS Education and Research. MAOC supplies computer software and hardware to its judging centers and provides an annual stipend to defray judging expenses. (The American Orchid Society Celebrates its Diamond Jubilee, AOS, 1996 p. 20, 23, 24, 25)

As the Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City celebrated its 10^th anniversary, its members had established a benchmark for all who follow: a membership founded in mentorship, a respected community resource for orchid care and culture information, an affiliated society of the American Orchid Society, and a founding member of the Mid-America Orchid Congress. Today, OSGKC activities strive to maintain this high standard.

Early Accomplishments and Pursuits

The second decade (1960) would be a time of growth, change, and accomplishment for the Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City. The Society would be led by presidents George Risch, Tom Larkin, John Gard, Everett Johnson, Charles Walker, J.M. Wiggins, Bob Polen, Clif Walters, Melvin O’Dell, and Dick Martin with a supporting cast of untiring members and understanding spouses. The second decade would witness publication of the Society’s first newsletter, Pinnacle, the rewriting of the bylaws, and the organization’s most ambitious project to date: hosting the Fourth Mid-America Congress and Show! By the end of the decade several Society members had been accepted into the rigorous student-judging program at the recently opened Regional Judging Center in St. Louis, Missouri, with hopes of one day becoming an accredited AOS judge. Other members built greenhouses and entered into commercial orchid growing ventures.

Even though the Society had grown to over 45 members, meetings continued to be held in members’ homes, including trips to Springfield, Missouri and Atchison, Kansas. The hosting member provided refreshments, which sometimes resembled mini-banquets, at each meeting. In addition to monthly meetings, the group displayed their orchids at regional and local events, conducted information seminars, and held monthly raffles and plant sales to build local interest and a treasury which would support future events.

The Pinnacle, a 27-page monthly publication, was written, illustrated, edited, produced, and mailed by a small staff of dedicated Society members. Volume 1, Number 1 was printed in September 1960 by Tom Larkin, Editor; Imogene and John Gard, George Rish, Dick Helmer and Henry Holmes, Contributing Editors; Virginia Helmer, Illustrator; and Barbara Larkin, Stenographer. The Pinnacle’sfirst issue stated its mission was "...to promote and retain local interest in orchids...to be an informative letter to other societies on the happenings in the Midwest." The publication was "available to anyone at 20 cents per copy or $2.00 per year." The Pinnacle featured articles about orchid genetics, breeding trends, corsage making, fertilizer and chemical use, greenhouse construction, culture tips, a question/answer box, humorous stories, poems, meeting minutes, orchid show schedules and show reports, highlights of past and previews of future meetings, and commercial orchid firm advertisements. Lady Cattleya, a featured editorial cartoon drawn by Virginia Helmer, offered orchid advice with a sense of humor. The Society’s president wrote a monthly column sharing fun and friendly orchid gossip. Considering the technology of the day, and the Pinnacle’s size and content, its publication was no simple task. The following excerpt from an article written by Virginia Helmer and published in the Pinnacle, Volume 2, Number 1, January 1961, provides a snapshot of the "The Versatile Pinnacle Staff."

"I (Virginia Helmer)...am going to...give you a small insight into one day of putting out this (Pinnacle) magazine. The day starts on Saturday about 10 a.m. when Tom & Barbara Larkin arrive. They are always a little late because first they have to dress, feed and take their four children to the baby sitter, gather up everything it takes to put out the magazine, such as stylus, paper, stencils, articles, typewriter, ink, staples, correction fluid, etc., then drive 45 miles to get to the Gard’s potting house where they store the mimeograph machine. They have already worked about 3 evenings editing and typing various articles to make it easier when the final day arrives."

"The potting house is always clean and neat, all mess from the last issue is cleaned up and a big pot of coffee is made and waiting. Of course, John Gard makes at least a dozen more pots before the day and night are over. Tom starts lining the whole thing up and making titles and a hundred other things. Barbara sits down to type and does it for about 8 hours. It’s quite a bit harder to type on a stencil because you have to hit the keys hard and sharp to get clear printing on the mimeograph machine. Tom glues...Imogene Gard proof reads...by the time we are ready to print Immie’s eyes feel like they are full of sand. ...the stencil is cut, pictures & titles inserted, illustrations drawn, and layout glued without wrinkles so it fits smoothly and will go through the press. That one page done... a couple have been started. ...Our day has everything. In between all the talk necessary to put out the Pinnacle, is orchid talk. How hard we all laughed when I let it slip that I had "borrowed" two back bulbs off Dick's (Helmer) prize plant and how nice everyone was to swear it was an accident and call the next day to see if I was still OK. You wouldn’t believe eight people could laugh so hard... Typing, talking, arguing and laughing goes on from 10 a.m. until 9:30 p.m., when the editor calls out, "This is it!" ...after that call, a bunch of angry hornets have nothing on us. Gathering up cups, throwing away trash, corking ink, clearing the table, setting up the press and starting to roll them, checking page numbers, several practice sheets must go through. Each piece (must) be run through twice...then fold...and stuff while Dick helps Tom with the temperamental machine and John (Gard) makes more coffee. About 12:30 a.m., with only one more page to go, the machine breaks down. Dick, our mechanic, steps in and gets it going again. We finish about 1:00 a.m. and go home with a feeling of a job done as well as we can do it. If it sounds like we have fun, you're right, we do."

The Pinnacle remained in publication through the mid '60s-- a labor of love by its staff who not only recorded the growth and events of the Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City but the joys, sorrows, accomplishments, and pursuits of its members. It documented an orchid society and lifetime friendships growing side by side.

A History of Hospitality

PROCLAMATION

"...NOW, THEREFORE, I, H. Roe Bartle, Mayor of the City of Kansas City, Missouri,

do hereby proclaim the period of March 26-April 1, 1962 to be ORCHID WEEK in Kansas City and do urge all of our citizenry to take special note and cognizance of this significant event and to participate by their attendance and appreciation in the special events arranged on this auspicious occasion."

This proclamation made by the mayor of Kansas City honored the First Heart of America International Orchid Show and Fourth Mid-America Orchid Congress hosted by the Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City. Homes Savings Association located at 10^th and Grand Avenue served as sponsor and show site. Public orchid displays depicting the show theme, "Take Me to Your Heart", occupied two floors of the bank building, including lobbies and teller’s cages.

Thousands of hours of preparation culminated on a cold, snowy spring weekend in Kansas City. Forty-two exhibitors from Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco, Malibu, Honolulu, Corpus Christi, Boynton Beach, Guthrie, Springfield, Signal Mountain, Eldorado, Lexington, as well as international exhibitors from Bankok, Thailand, Selsfield, England, and Boisse St. Legar, France transformed the Homes Savings Association into Kansas City’s first international orchid show. Kansas City Star photographs documented lines of visitors on the sidewalk awaiting the show’s opening.Honored guests and speakers included Mr. Charles Plaxico, President of the Mid-America Orchid Congress from Nashville, Tennessee; Mr. Gordon Dillon, Executive Secretary of the American Orchid Society (AOS); Mr. & Mrs. Lewis Vaughn Chairman of the AOS Affiliated Societies from West Palm Beach; and Mr. Robert Gillespie, of the Missouri Botanical Gardens.

Over 400 registrants attended the show and Congress meetings. The exhibits and flowers were registered in the 36 judging classes and reviewed by visiting AOS judges and clerks. Two Highly Commended Certificates (HCC/AOS) were granted: one to a pink phalaenopsis grown and exhibited by Santa Cruz Tropical Gardens, and the other to a miniature Cymbidium Alice Williams, grown by Earl Boone from Nashville. The AOS Show Trophy was awarded to the Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City for its exhibit over 25 square feet.Exhibitors who were awarded Best of Class designations received silver trophies. Some of the OSGKC members who garnered Best of Class awards included:

Mr. & Mrs. Larkin, Orchid Plants 100 Sq. Ft.
Mr. & Mrs. Helmer, Cut Flowers
Harold Martin, Best Genera in Show
Richard Helmer, Educational Exhibit
Everett Johnson, Educational Exhibit
Fred Bergman, Best Cattleya

In addition to the orchid displays, the event included educational presentations, a tour to the Truman Library, and an awards banquet at the Hotel Muehlebach. After Saturday’s luncheon,Mr. Harry Truman received the group touring the Truman Library. Mr. John Lines, an orchid grower and hybridizer from Signal Mountain, Tennessee, told Mr. Truman he wanted to name a recently-made cross in his honor. Mr. Truman replied, "So many things have already been named after me, would you name it after Bess?" Thus, Cattleya Bess Truman (C. Clotho x C. Ardmore, a white Cattleya with dark magenta lip and yellow throat) was named and registered by John Lines.

The weather may have been cold that early spring weekend in Kansas City, but all who attended were warmed by the beauty and elegance of the orchids, the displays, and OSGKC hospitality-- hospitality that would become both a Mid-America and OSGKC trademark.

In the decades that followed, the Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City again invited the Mid-America Orchid Congress and its members to Kansas City in 1977 (at Oak Park Mall), 1985 (at Metcalf South Shopping Center), and 1994 (at the Adam"s Mark Hotel). Each event was unique and staged in various locations throughout the city. The shows provided a venue for these orchid enthusiasts to display their plants for AOS judging, to partake in educational lectures presented by renowned orchid specialists, to share the incredible world of orchids with the public, and to have fun!

1977 Fall Mid-America Congress and Show
October 28-30, 1977 — Oak Park Mall
Theme: A Royal Parade of Orchids
Everett Johnson, Show Chairman
Kathryn Stitt, President

The show was coordinated with a Tele-Flora event that was MC’d by the late Raymond Burr, actor and orchid grower. The combined events attracted the greatest number of visitors to a single-day event that this newly opened regional mall had then seen. After long days of show preparation, display set ups, and judging, show registrants relaxed and were entertained with a trip to the Waldo Astoria Dinner Theater.

1985 Mid-America Congress and Show
March 22-24, 1985—Metcalf South Shopping Center
Theme: Orchid Magic
Clarke Bokermann, Show Chairman
Glenn Saddler, President

The show schedule included 177 classes for judging. Best of Class/Silver awards were original "silver point" botanical illustrations of orchid species drawn by OSGKC member/past president and artist, Ken Ensley.Guest speakers included Fred Bergman, Jim Henderson, and Russ Vernon.

1994 Fall Mid-America Congress and Show
October 21-23, 1994 — Adam’s Mark Hotel
Theme: Orchids & All that Jazz
Clif Walters, Show Chairman
Joyce Moulis, President

Once again the Mayor of Kansas City issued a Proclamation:

The show schedule included 128 judging classes. Trophies awarded to each Best of Class were pieces of the highly collectible Orchid pattern of antique Heisey crystal. Guest speakers were Mark Steen, Emly Siegrist, and William Rhodehamel.

The unprecedented advertising efforts of Paula Marinoni, show publicity chair, attracted media and public attention that brought many local visitors to the show. Before the Saturday evening banquet and festivities, KCTV5 broadcast the weather segment of the evening news live from the show displays. On Sunday show registrants relaxed and visited with friends in the hospitality room atop the Adam’s Mark Hotel while overlooking a Chiefs football game.

In the years between these major events, the Society displayed orchids for public view and AOS judging at local mini shows and regional AOS judged shows held at Loose Park Garden Center, at area shopping centers, at annual Kansas City Garden Shows, at the "Greening of Crown Center," at Macy’s on the Plaza as part of a special benefit for the Kansas City Symphony, at bi-annual "Gatherings" of the Johnson County Master Gardeners, and at the annual orchid show at Powell Gardens. Each spring and fall OSGKC members traveled to the Mid-America shows in cities from Atlanta to Minneapolis with orchid displays that earned ribbons, awards, show trophies, and the coveted AM/AOS Awards.

A History of Education

Sharing orchid information and experience is at the core of the society's mission and is the goal of its monthly programs and activities. A variety of educational opportunities are available to Society members, including programs, field trips, print and electronic publications, and member discussions.

Programs are facilitated by Society members and feature out-of-town guests who are expert on topics related to orchid care, culture, pest control, growing environments, propagation, orchid displays and arrangements, orchid judging, conservation, and photography, to name a few. Slide and video presentations produced by affiliated organizations, such as the American Orchid Society, the Mid-America Orchid Congress, and the Orchid Digest Corporation, are also utilized. Programs have been planned that blend reoccurring topics on basic culture with those on more challenging topics to interest and inform both the beginning and advanced orchid grower. Periodically the membership is surveyed to identify areas of current interest so they may be incorporated into future program offerings.

Through the years program topics have included:
Growing Orchids Under Lights, Orchids in Arrangements, Orchid Judging, Species Orchids,  Parents of Modern Hybrids, Greenhouse Alarm Systems, Companion Plants for Orchids, Greenhouse Automation, Orchids in the Arts, Casting Orchids in Gold, Panel Discussions, Orchid Travelogues, Slide Shows and Videos, Chemicals and Their Use, Controlling Pests,  Breeding Blue Orchids, Importing Orchids, Oncidiums, Orchid Displays, Phalaenopsis Culture, Mini-Cattleyas, Phalaenopsis Hybrids, Oncidium Intergenerics, Specimen Plants, "Why is a good flower good?", Epicat Hybrids, Naming Orchid Hybrids, Maxillarias,  Orchid Seed Harvest, Dendrobiums, Novelty Phalaenopsis, Practical Aspects of Orchid Growing, Fun Species to Grow, Equitant Oncidiums, Ascodendas, Native Lady Slipper Orchids, General Orchid Culture, Potting & Mounting Orchids, Photosynthesis of Certain Orchid Species,  Orchid Diseases & Growth Problems, Growing Cymbidiums, Pleurothallids-The Mysterious Orchids, Growing Orchids Insect Free, Breeding Green Cattleyas, Growing Odontoglossums,  The Orchid Environment--Another Artificial Alternative, Plant Registration at AOS Judged Shows, Bifoliate Cattleyas and Their Hybrids, PrizeWinning Orchid Display Design, Wintering Your Orchids, Pollination Syndromes in Various Orchids,  How to Incorporate Passive Solar Design & Efficiency in Greenhouses,  Growing Vandas and Ascondendas, Data Basing an Orchid Collection, Orchid Biology, Pesticides & Fungicides, Flasking & De-flasking Orchids, Planning for a Greenhouse,  How To Set Up An Orchid Display, Powell Gardens Greenhouse Tour, Warm Growing Species, Improving Your Orchid Growing Environment, Cypripediums and Other Native Orchids,  Phalaenopsis Update, What’s New in Slipper Orchids, Paph. rothschildianum and Its Hybrids, Orchid Propagation, The Golden Years of Orchids, Paphiopedilum Culture, Phragmipedium Culture,  Orchid Pollination, Collecting Orchids in Honduras, Orchid Photography, Native Orchids Field Trip

Professional growers, educators, and knowledgeable hobbyists have shared their expertise with the Society. The following are but a few of the guest and member presenters who have provided educational programs for the Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City.

Guest Speakers

Gordon Dillon, Executive Secretary of the A.O.S.
Mr. & Mrs. Lewis Vaughn, of West Palm Beach, Florida and Chairman of the Affiliated Societies of the American Orchid Society
Mr. Robert Gillespie, Missouri Botanical Gardens
Charles Plaxico
Takumi Kono
Hermann Pigors, Oak Hill Gardens, Dunee, IL
David Nax, St. Louis, Mo
Dr. John Bumgardt, Executive Director, Loose Park Garden Center, Kansas City, Missouri
Lois & Henry Holmes, Minneapolis, MN
Dr. Lee Fent, Newton, KS
Ranada & Walter Stern, St. Louis, MO
George Vazquez, Malibu, CA
Fred Hillerman, Angraecum House, Grass Valley, CA
Bob Gordon, Phalaenopsis Book Author, Realto, CA
Emly Siegrist, St. Louis, MO
Carson Whitlow, Adel, IA
Bill McKinley, Winfield, KS
Craig Martin
Marcia Whitmore, Illowa Orchid Society
Tom Kalina, Fox Valley Orchids, Northbrook, IL
Doug Watson, St. Paul, MN
Marilyn & Brian LeDoux, St. Louis, MO
Frank Fordyce, Livermore, CA
William Rhoadhamel, Hoosier Orchids, Indianapolis, IN
Anita Aldrich, Galveston, TX
Louis Hegedus, Fort Collins, CO
Vince LaTona, Architect, Kansas City, MO
Billie Beck, Dodge City, KS
Carol DeBiase, Tulsa, OK
Max Thompson, Wichita, KS
Russ Vernon, Indianapolis, IN
Bryon Rinke, Wichita, KS
Bill Fritz, Washington, Mo
Pat Huval
Sam Tusi, Downs, IL
Rod Knowles
Ron Reynolds
James VanBiber
Dr. Kramer, Tulsa Okalhoma

OSGKC Member Presenters

 Dick Helmer
Bob Polen
Ken Ensley
Everett Johnson
Martha Darnold
Clif & Vivian Walters
Kathryn Stitt
Fred Bergman
Jim Henderson
Tom & Joyce Moulis
Larry Kipp
Mark Prout
Beth & Doug Martin
Gerry Dizon
Lance Jesse
Brian Roberts
Charles Frye
Lyle McLane
Jerry Hart
Dave Thomas
Joel Clark
David Bird
John Mallery

The annual growers’ tour provides special educational opportunities for members to observe locally grown orchids in large and small greenhouses, plant rooms using artificial lights, and window sill spaces, and to share the techniques used in each.

In the late 1980s, Society president Gerald Delaney initiated additional programs to serve the interests of beginner and advanced growers. An informal group for beginners was begun and continues to be held prior to monthly meetings to discuss orchid growing basics. Delaney led the first group. Paula Marinoni, Lance Jesse, Kathryn Stitt, and Doug and Beth Martin subsequently led the beginners’ group. During the '90s the Society formed several advanced discussion groups for in-depth exploration of specific genera.

Print and electronic publications have been used to inform local and distant members of current news of Society activities, member news, and upcoming orchid shows and events. The first newsletter, the Pinnacle, was published during the '60s and edited by Virginia Helmer. During the '70s and '80s, Jane Cigard and Tom Larkin edited newsletters. In the early 1990s, as the Society began preparations for hosting the 1994 Mid-America Orchid Congress and Show, publication of the OSGKC News began and has continued as the Society’s monthly publication. Joyce Moulis has served as editor of the OSGKC Newssince 1992. In the late 90s OSGKC was among the first local societies to have an Internet website (www.kcnet.com/~osgkc/~ ) The site was designed, hosted, and maintained by Tom Moulis. The Moulis team (Tom and his wife, Joyce) combined their efforts with the newsletter and website to support the Society’s educational mission.

In addition to monthly programs, special groups, and publications, the Society has organized field trips to the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Central Iowa Orchid Society’s Annual Speakers’ Day, commercial greenhouses in Chicago, and locales to view orchids in their native habitats. Members have also participated in local flower shows and Master Gardener educational events.

A History of Academic and Professional Orchid Growers

In less than 100 years collecting and growing orchids has moved from an activity enjoyed only by the rich to one of the most popular and dynamic flora hobbies in the world. The contributions of academic researchers and professional orchid growers cannot be underestimated, and undoubtedly contributed to the speed by which this process occurred. Advances made by Dr. Lewis Knudson in 1922 at Cornell University refined the techniques for growing orchids from seed; achievements in the 1940s by John Watkins led to the development of asexual propagation; application of meristematic tissue culture to orchids by Dr. George Morel and Dr. Donald Wimber opened the door to growing a million identical clones of the same orchid plant. These advancements, along with improved cultivation techniques pioneered by commercial orchid growers, have revolutionized the floriculture industry and made hobby orchid growing accessible and affordable.

Prior to World War II, membership in the American Orchid Society and local orchid societies was comprised mainly of commercial orchid growers. The Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City’s first president, William Young, was a professional grower and owner of Young’s Greenhouse and Aquaria. Over the years other OSGKC members have established both small and large commercial orchid businesses. A few include: John Gard, Bob & Doris Polen, Jim Henderson, Mike & Donna Gulling, Fred Bergman, Brian Roberts, David Bird, Tom & Barbara Larkin, and Clif & Vivian Walters.

Today, hobby orchid growers dominate membership in both local and national societies. The professional growers generously support the activities of many local societies and affiliated groups through their participation in programs, shows, sales, and monetary contributions. Nationally renown professional orchid growers who have made generous contributions to OSGKC include Arthur Freed Orchids, Armacost & Royston, The Beall Company, William Kirch Orchids, Hausermann’s Orchids, B.O. Bracey & Company, Blue Grass Orchids, Rivermont Orchids, Margaret Ilgenfritz Orchids, Shaffer’s, Rheinfrank, dos pueblos Orchid Co., Costal Gardens, John Ewing, Great Lakes Orchids, Rod McLellan’s, Bates Orchids, Stewart’s Orchids, Zuma Canyon Orchids, r.f. Orchids, Oak Hill Gardens, EFG Orchids, River Bend Orchids, Jones & Scully, Hoosier Orchid Co., Orchidview, Gemstone Orchids, Klehm Growers, Banana Country Orchids, Everglades Orchids, and Windy Hill Gardens.

For their contributions in the areas of orchid propagation and cultivation research, technology, and entrepreneurial and philanthropic generosity, the hobby orchid grower is grateful to these academics and professionals.

A History of Service –OSGKC Leaders & Honored Members

For more than five decades the Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City has been led by dedicated volunteer members who facilitated business meetings, appointed committee chairs, oversaw financial matters, and encouraged the membership to undertake both large and small projects. The Society is grateful to the following members who provided leadership and served as president:

William Young 1949-50
W. G. McGehee 1951
Elsie Jackson (Monk) 1952-53
Ralph Johnson 1954
Mrs. Jesse Arnold 1955
Francis Dolph 1956
Paul Snyder 1957
John Wood 1958
Richard Helmer 1959
George Risch 1960
Tom Larkin 1961
John Gard 1962
Everett Johnson 1963
Charles Walker 1964
J. M Wiggins 1965
Robert Polen 1966
Clifford Walters 1967
Melvin O’Dell 1968
Dick Martin 1969
Jim Warner 1970
Ken Ensley 1971
Robert Means 1972
Cecil Oesch 1973-74
Thomas Wilson 1975
Giles Addison 1976
Kathryn Stitt 1977-78
Clarke Bokermann 1979-80
Don White 1981
Tom Moulis 1982-83
Glenn Sadler 1984-85
R. W. (Woody) Paul 1986-87
J. David Miller 1988
Gerald Delaney 1989-90
Charles Frye 1991-92
Joyce Moulis 1993-94
Lance Jessee 1995-96
Virginia Walker 1997
Larry Kipp 1998-99
Ron Daly 2000-01
Mark Prout 2002-03.

Honored Lifetime Members

The Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City has recognized its member leaders who have provided decades of outstanding service to the Society by awarding them the status of Honored Lifetime Members. These members have demonstrated exceptional enthusiasm for promoting orchid growing and conservation; participated in the Society’s activities; served as committee member or chair; executive officer or president; provided leadership for shows, events, or field trips, and served as mentor to the Society’s members. The Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City’s Honored Lifetime Members are:
 

Clarke Bokermannn
Everett Johnson
Robert & Doris Polen
Clif & Vivian Walters
Connie Zivell
Fred & Pat Bergman
Kathryn & Ronald Stitt
Tom & Barbara Larkin
Tom & Joyce Moulis.

The History of OSGKC Membership

At the heart of an organization is its membership. As in other orchid organizations, the Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City membership represents a myriad of professions, ages, genders, and ethnicities. Their common bond is their interest--their passion--for all things ORCHIDS and the desire to associate with others who want to share their interest in orchids. Society members may keep a single orchid plant or amass collections containing thousands of plants. For some, orchid passion is in the collecting of many varieties, while others specialize in a single genus. Enthusiastic orchid growers place plants on sunny windowsills and artificial light carts, in specially equipped rooms, or in elaborate greenhouses. Some extend the hobby by collecting orchid books or art. Some no longer even own an orchid plant, but continue to appreciate beautiful orchids in exhibits or simply to share time with orchid society friends. One and all of these are the heart of the OSGKC membership.

The Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City has grown and thrived for three quarters of a century through the nurturing efforts of its volunteer leadership, enthusiastic membership, and support of generous commercial orchid dealers. The combined efforts of the Society have resulted in educational programs, exhibits, workshops, shows, greenhouse tours, field trips, print and electronic publications, and conservation and community outreach activities that support its mission "...to bring together those who are interested in the care and culture of orchids so that experience and knowledge may be shared to the benefit of all."

The Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City will draw on the legacy established by its members, as it looks to future challenges and opportunities in orchid conservation and education.

Addendum

Known Members 1949 to 2003

Klaus & Mariam Abegg, Dee Acuff, Giles & Cecelia Addison, Glenn & Jeanne Alston, John & Mary Anderson, Russell & Martha Anderson, Arthur Anthony, Vera Appleman, Mrs. Jessie Arnold, Mrs. G.C. Arnold, Linda Baer, Ernest Baker, Harland & Margaret Baldwin, Robert & Jackie Barbe, Royal Barber, Charles & Irene Barger, Harley & Ione Barth, Harry Barth, Kitty Barton, Jane Barton, Harold & Lan Basye, Dr. John Baumgardt, William & Nell Beatz, Malcom & Pat Beck, Elinor Bell, Richard Bennet, Dorothy Bennett, Ed Bennett, Fred & Pat Bergman, Mrs. E. B. Berkowitz, Marian Berkowitz, Doris Berry, Lorena Bestor, David Bird, David & Margaret Birkmann, Glen Bodie, Clarke & Helen Bokermann, Larry & Jacque Borgett, Keith & Barbara Bowman, John & Ruth Bowman, Harry & Kay Bradford, Eugene & Ethel Brady, Steven Brash, Gracia Bremer, Ralph & Dona Bridges, Bill & Bea Brown, Maynard & Flo Brown, Beverly Brundidge, Oma Buchholz, Ken Buck, Ruthann Burdett, Martin & Dianne Byrnes, Dewy & Isabel Callicott, Steve Carter, Dale Case, Rachael Chambers, Josh & Amy Chandler, Victor & Cindy Chang, Anchalee Chantaramongkol, Jim Chapman, D. Maurice Chappell, Barbara Charde, Mrs. David Childs, Susannah Christenson, Tom Christiansen, Jane Cigard, Joel & Desda Clark, Mr. & Mrs. John Clark, Mrs. Cecil Coad, Mrs. B. F. Cockrell, John & Betty Coffee, Kelly Comeles, Mrs. Paul E Connor, Frank Cornelius, William & Drucella Corteville, Bruce & Maryelen Cottier, Guillermo & Garciela Couchonnal, Darlene Cowherd, Jean & Joan Cox, Karen Craft, Don & Lucille Cranor, Caryn & Sherry Curtis, Ron Daly, Charles & Martha Darnold, Gregory Davenport, John Davis, Ron & Toni Decker, Gerald & Barbara Delaney, Delores Denny, Rhonda Desch, Woodros & Barbara Dew, Gerald Diaz, Anita Dixon, Gerry & Marilyn Dizon, Francis & Georgia Dolph, Edward Drew, Warren Drullinger, Mrs. J. E. Dubois, Larry Duckworth, Damon Duran, Mrs. Jessie Ealy, Annabelle Eason, Terry Edison, Terry & Aileen Edison, Bill & Pat Ehney, Daryl & Kathy Eisenhauer, Peggy Elliott, Ben & Sandy Embry, Ken Ensley, Mike & Susan Eubanks, Pamela Felton, Anthony Ferina, Noel & Maxine Fields, Charles & Lorene Finnell, Eugene & Kara Fischer, Patricia Fisher, James Fisher, Lori Foderberg, Nancy Forbes, Wanda Foreman, Hoyt & Joan Fowler, F.D. Franklin, Dr. Jerry Freeman, Pauline Freeman, Henry Freymann, Larry & Joan Friend, Grant Fritch, Charles Frye, Jesse Garcia, John & Emogene Gard, Marvin Garner, Pat Garrison, Dayan Garst, F.P. ("Doc") & Sue Gehring, Anna Mae Gillis-Williams, Beatrice Godsmark, Ernest Goforth, Darlene Gomen, George Goodwin, George & Betty Goodwin, Jerry & Polley Green, Helen Green, Freeda Green, Mary Grimm, Mr. & Mrs. Oswald Griner, Sumner & Doris Gurley, Mary Hadley, Agnes Haire, Andrew, Linda & Jim Hamilton, Keith Hannaman, Miss Nue Hanner, Robert Hansen, Marge Harding, Margie Harmon, Jan & Florence Harpole, Anna Harrison, Dr. Jerry Hart, Christine Hartigan, Ray & Sylvia Hartqig, Don Hasselman, Simone Haverkamp, Wendy Haylett, Rosemarie Hedrick, Richard & Joanie Heitzman, Richard & Virginia Helmer, Aileen Helmer, Charles & Emma Helzler, Jim & Jan Henderson, Hazel Henick, Bill & Pinky Hensley, Mr & Mrs. Charles Hetzler, Mr. C.W. Heywood, Roger Hiatt, Sherri Hines, Robert & Mary Hix, William Hock, Melvin & Leola Hodges, Pamela Hoelzel, Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Hoffman, David & Dorothy Holland, Henry & Lois Holmes, Mildred Hoover, Earl & Grace Hornbuckle, Pat Huber, Kenny & Lee Ann Hukriede, Doris Jean Hurt, Elizabeth Irwin, Bruce & Galina Jaben, Elsie Jackson, Peggy Jackson, Dennis & Jackie Jennings, Lance Jessee, Marcella Johnson, Everett & Mary Ann Johnson, Linda Johnson, Ralph & Atha Johnson, Dougan & Dinty Jones, Susan Joyce, Michael & Blanche Kearny, Gerard & Nettie Keizer, Tom & Teresa Kelley, Peter Keniston, Jo Ann Kimbel, Dorothy King, Clud & Billie King, Rev. David Kinnish, Larry & Elizabeth Kipp, C. William & Pat Klamm, Sherrry Klein, Rod Knowles, Tina Koch, Anthony Koehler, Takumi Kono, Anjelika Kosanic, Mark Koupal, Kent Kratz, Brenda Krebs, Paul & Pam Kreutzer, Karen Laber, Lilly Lammers, Maua Landers, Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Landis, Alice Langley, Becky Large, Tom & Barbara Larkin, Dr. & Mrs Lee Larner, David Leabitt, Jim & Carolyn Lillie, Oren Lind, Don Lindabury, Merle Little, Fred Logston, Steven & Anita Lopez, John & Janice Macek, John, Garrick, Erika, & Paula Mallery, Sally Manchester, Kua & Ann Mandachit, Mary Manlove, Pet Manquis, Robert Mansur, Tim Marchand, Paula Marioni, Charles Martin, Doug & Beth Martin, Harold Martin, Carl Marxen, Les Mathews, Jack & Mary McCall, India McCanse, Tom & Bessie McClune, Terry McConnell, J. B. McCully, Gail & Jeanette McDaniel, Marvin & Marguerite McDole, Mr. W. H. McGehee, Mr. & Mrs. Roy McKenna, Lyle & Diane McLane, George & Marlene McPhail, Robert Means, Sara Merideth, Harry & Sally Merideth, Mrs. Jack Merriam, Jeff Metcalf, Ruth Meyers, Ann Michael, Robert & Florence Middleton, C. Ruth Miller, David Miller, Jeanette Mitchell, Seymour & Madeline Monat, Elsie Monk, Mary Montgomery, C.M. & Betty Moore, Jack Morgan, James & Lena Morgan, Brian Morley, Russell Morse, Joyce & Tom Moulis, Clarence Moyer, Mrs. Charles Moyer, W. F. & Kathleen Muir, Ms. Timothy Muldowney, Randy Mutch, Diane Neighbor, Tim Nevitt, Jeb & Jennifer Newman, RoVan & Lanthi Nguyen, Harold & Dorothy Nicholas, Harry & Cathie Nicholson, Mrs. Jack Nourse, Art & Inez Oastler, Melvin & Laurien Odell, Cecil & Mary Mae Oesch, Nobue Oka, Bill & Margaret Oldham, Mary Olendorff, Jane Overesch, Doris Overmeire, Lillian Pardo, Elliott Parker, William Parks, Jean Pasko, H. B Patchen, Woody & Shirley Paul, Rev. Don & Lorraine Peckham, Carol Pemberton, George & & Louise Perry, Mary Pickell, Mr. R.C. Pickering, Hal Pinnell, Charles Plaxico, Robert & Doris Polen, Lulla Post, Nancy Potter, Mr. & Mrs. Mihe Povala, Dr. Edwin & Billie Price, Sylvia Prince, Mark & Joy Prout, William & Lois Pulos, Leland & Dorothy Purdy, Mr. C.L. Quear, Ronald (Bill) & Kelly Rackley, Henry Ramirez, Vera Raymond, Dr. John & Louise Redford, Mrs. Norman Reed, Velta Reed, Chuck & JoAnn Refshauge, David Reisinger, John Richardson, Linda Rigby, George & Edna Risch, Brian Roberts, Rick & Joy Roberts, Marthajane Rodman, Marjorie Rogers, Jeff Ronk, Les Rosenstengel, Bob & Judy Rossi, Joyce Rothweiler, Mrs. Thomas Roundtree, Maud Rucker, Malane Rush, I. D. & Leesa Russell, Glenn & Ramona Sadler, Dr. Albert Saeger, Theresa Sahhar, Greg & Colleen Sampson, Milton & Kitty Sampson, Mrs. T. H. Sandbrook, Mary Sanford, Allen & Carla Sapp, Marguerite Schaefer, Max & Kathy Schlesinger, Dr. Daniel Schlozman, Mrs. Robert Schnug, Martha Schwegler, Francis & Mary Scott, Martha Jane Sell, Frank Serra, Edward & Helga Setzler, David Seward, Jeanne Seward, Grover & Betty Sexton, Russell Shadwick, Roy & Margaret Shay, Sandra Sheffer, John & Rita Shepherd, Gareth & Alice Shikles, Nora Shirk, Arthur Shulz, Keith & Betty Shumway, Jim Sleeper, Anna Smarker, Bill Smith, Norma Smith, Karen Smith, Troy & Dixie Smith, Paul & Rozena Smitheran, Ken & Lora Snow, Paul & Mary Snyder, Mari Southerland, Marguerite Sparks, Dick & Peggy Spears, Neil & Sandra Spector, Betty Sue Speer, Pat Stamm, Irma Starr, Gale Stetling, Dr. Ronald & Kathryn Stitt, William Stone, Ed & Imogene Straight, Calvin & Aileen Stubblefield, Rose Stuckey, Jack & Nancy Sullivan, Lee Surs, G. Dwight & Ruby Sutherin, Don Svoboda, Harry & Ethelene Symons, Kim Tappan, Tim & Valarie Taylor, Mrs. Francis Teal, Jim & Helen Thoennes, David Thomas, Dean Thompson, Mrs. R. L. Thompson, Brian & Patricia Ticknor, Phillip Toniger, Mrs. Grant Torrance, Kenneth Torres, Naomi Treller, Beatrice Turner, Russell Tyler, Ron Tyson, Dr. James VanBiber, Ruby VanDyken, Mr. & Mrs. Steve Vargo, Katie Vogel, Magda Vyskocyl, Mrs. W. J. Waddel, Dr. Kim & Nikik Wade, Frederick Wade, Charles Walker, Charles & Billie Sue Walker, Bill & Virginia Walker, Clif & Vivian Walters, Denise Walters, Judy Ward, Jason & Amy Ward, James Warner, Cora Warren, Edward Washburn, Lucius & Reva Weaver, Rodney & Ruth Webb, Bob Wehner, Robert & Nancy Weimer, Annette Weinberg, Lori Weiss, David Welty, Dr. Dean & Phyllis Werner, Mrs. Fred West, Harvey & Carolyn West, John & Kathryn Wheelock, Don & Mary White, Sandra White, Burton & Wilma White, Dr. J. M. Wiggins, James & Patsy Williamson, William & Linda Wilner, Thomas Wilson, Susie Wilson, Jim & Lucy Wilson, Janice Winton, Chris Wisecup, Tom Wojtech, Jerry Wood, John & Gladys Wood, Logan & Dorothy Woodley, Becky Wooten, Frank & family Wright, Edgar & Carol Yee, William Young, David & Peggy Young and Connie Zivell.