Thank you everyone for your help and support. Orchids in the Park was a great success, with admissions up considerably over last year. We are still working on the numbers, but the initial calculations suggest we were profitable. Congratulations everyone. I would like to take a moment to thank a few people who put in an extraordinary effort.

Tom Perlite, who did much of the organization of this show behind the scenes-inviting the vendors, organizing the set up, and arranging for a terrific article in the Chronicle, and many other tasks needed to put on a show like this. The members of the SFOS-Strategic Planning Committee, who brainstormed ideas for several months before the Orchids in the Park. From these strategic planning meetings came a new idea-the Razzle Dazzle Orchid Raffle. This event was spearheaded by Linda Tripp with the assistance of Lynne Murrell. Linda and Lynne worked very hard for a few months prior to the meeting getting donations, visiting neighboring orchid societies and in general getting the word out.  At the show Linda and Lynne set up the Razzle Dazzle table, displayed the prizes beautifully and sold tickets throughout the show. We sold lots of tickets, and the raffle raised much needed funds for the society. Thank you also goes to Marni Turkel, who donated numerous items for the raffle, and babysat the Phragmipedium kovachii until it was raffled off. Many of our members and vendors donated various items to the auction, among them Gary Meyers (the Phragmipedium), John Leathers and Bob Hamilton (the Dracula), Cindy Hill (the Cymbidium), Tom Perlite (bark and other supplies), Ron Parsons (Masdevallia book). Also thank you to Ron Parsons for providing one of your photos for the postcards and advertising. Thank you to Frances Larose for your help with getting the word out about the show, and to Stanford Stapleton for all of his efforts in getting emails out to our attendees. Thank you to Kay Klumb for her efforts in organizing the member sales table, another major money maker at the show. I am also very grateful to Jean Lee for her efforts and experience which were of great support throughout the show, and to Bob Christensen who organized the volunteer effort. Thank you Maddie Parks for making the delicious sandwiches and organizing the food for the vendors and volunteers. And thank you Dan Peter for keeping track of our expenses, income, paying the bills and all the other financial tasks.

This show could not be put on without lots of support from our members (as well as some non-members) who helped out with various functions. Thank you to the volunteers: Heidi Arno, Debra Atwood, Steve Beckendorf, Loren Bialik, Judy Bley, Margaret and Terry Boomer, Judy Carney, Anna Chai, Chuck Chan, Tristan Crane, Kevin Daly, Mike Drilling. Ellen Edelson, Adam Elvenfeuchter, Noble Emery, Mary Futey, Ilie Gaceu, Chooi Eng Grosso, Jeff Harris, Dave Hermeyer, Florence Inserto, Walt James, Renate Johnson, Todd Kennedy, Jacob Knecht, Ricki Kohn, Alek Koomanoff, Yanson Leung, Hillary Lounsbury, Alan MacRae, Susan Mak, George McRae, Chris Mende, Valerie Mountain, Elsie Mueller, Brad Nguyen, Mary Nisbet, Dennis Olivas, Karen Olson, Yunor Peralta, Dan Peter, Mike Rector, Tina Saravia, Jean Scott, Paula Shiu, Gerardus Staal, Stanford Stapleton, David Stickley, Mark Sullivan, Angela Tsai, Russ Varnado, Eric Wells, Dennis Westler, Miki White, Pav Wilkinson, Youngjae Woo, and Carol Zoltowski, Claire Zvanski. My sincere apologies if I missed anyone.

Thank you!
Mary Gerritsen
President, SFOS