This month we will have three AOS judges conducting a live AOS judging session! Blooming orchids will be individually discussed and potentially awarded. This presentation will give the audience a very close up and personal look into how the AOS judging system works. Judges will discuss why or why not orchids are awarded and, as part of the  interactive program, will encourage questions and answers from the audience. Members are also encouraged to bring in their blooming plants so they can be discussed by the team.

The Pacific South AOS Judging Center will also be providing the plant table as well.

This evening’s program and raffle table is being brought to you by The Pacific South AOS Judging Center completely free of charge to the society and is an unique opportunity to get inside look into the awarding process of orchids.  Please join us for this first of its kind presentation at the OSSC!

Click to see more information on OSSC's regular monthly meetings.

• WE'VE GOT A NEW LOOK!: [Submitted by OSSC Webmaster Ted Augustyn on April 18, 2012] As of March 30, anyone visiting the OSSC Facebook page saw a new look, brought about by a new format standard introduced by Facebook. The new look features a beautiful, page-wide photo of a Cattleya taken by OSSC Member Charles B. Boco. Check it out at http://www.facebook.com/orchidssc . In a related development, OSSC now has over 200 "likes" on Facebook. If you haven't already done so, you can add to that number by clicking the "Like " button found to the right of this story. Thanks!
• IN MEMORIUM: [Submitted by Mary Ann Yanes on February 1, 2012] 

  Jim E. Yanes passed away on January 11, 2012. He was always a nature lover. Flowers and plants were his passion.

  Jim became involved with orchid societies from 2003 to 2009, first with the San Fernando Valley Orchid Society then with the Orchid Society of Southern California in Burbank. Jim had a hot house and grew all types of orchids. He was able to grow cymbidiums outdoors. He also loved to photograph his orchids.

  He was also an avid golfer and belonged to several golf organizations. He is truly missed by all his friends and love ones.

  Jim’s wife Mary Ann has generously donated Jim’s orchid collection to our society. The society truly appreciates this donation, and conveys its sympathy to Mary Ann for her loss.

• 2011 ROSTER AVAILABLE: [Submitted by OSSC Webmaster Ted Augustyn on July 25, 2011] The 2011 OSSC Roster has been distributed, first sent to all members with email addresses, and then offered in printed form to all other members beginning at the August meeting. Members who need a printed roster can get one from Membership Chair Linda Bailey.
• NEW MEMBER BENEFIT: [Submitted by OSSC President Ted Augustyn on July 12, 2011]. Starting this month, every new member and their sponsor will each receive a certificate good for one 1-gallon Cymbidium orchid, courtesy of Rudvalis Orchids in Carlsbad, CA. The society expresses sincere thanks to Barbara Rudvalis for this generous offer.

(Most recent articles listed first.)

• American Orchid Society to close headquarters in Delray Beach
• The Los Angeles Daily News highlights OSSC's 1st and 2nd VPs a week before the 2011 Orchid Auction.
• Orchid Mimics Carrion to Attract Flies
• Orchid’s secret note
• Record $100,000 fine in Vancouver for illegal import of threatened orchids
• Keith Richards's smoking habits and the death of a rare orchid
• Reforestation may be key to rare orchid's survival
• Santa Barbara Orchids
• The easiest orchids to grow
• GARDENING: Orchids aren't as difficult to grow as one might think
• Cymbidium Orchid Care Secrets You Need To Know
• Homemade Orchid Fertilizers, The Smart Way of Orchid Caring
• Orchids fake aphid stench for pollination purposes
• A simple way to water orchids
• Breeding orchid species creates a new perfume
• One Nation Under Arrest: The Unlikely Orchid Smuggler
• New orchid species is discovered in the UC Botanical Garden collection
• Cricket Pollination Discovered for the First Time
• World's Smallest Orchid Discovered (By Accident)
• Study reveals the reason why orchids use sexual trickery to lure insect pollinators
• Foodie Freak: Vanilla, the x-rated information
• Orchid named UK's most popular houseplant
• Wayanad, hot spot of rare flora, shows up 3 new species
• Houseplants in the Home
• American Orchid Society west of Delray says 'we're open, come visit'
• Unique orchids discovered in Vietnam
• National Geographic Feature Article: Orchids: Love and Lies
• Heard on NPR: Orchids: 'Inflatable Love Dolls Of The Floral Kingdom'
• Rare orchid find sets off frenzy
• Orchid growers hope for technological boost
• Sneaky Orchid Drives Wasps Wild
• Snow white orchid among 353 new species discovered in Eastern Himalayas, WWF report
• Phragmipedium manzurii, a.k.a. the discovery orchid
• American Orchid Society closes doors to public
• Burma’s Vanishing Orchids
• Orchids Through Darwin's Eyes
• December floods cost orchid farm millions of dollars
• Taranaki couple to play part in Obama's big day
• It’s a Corsage Nightmare: An Orchid as Big as a Car
• Orchids: nature's sexy sirens
• A few words about Coelogyne by past OSSC speaker David Banks
• Sexually deceived by orchids? Well I never!
• Tracing Tahitian vanilla
• Ted’s keen nose catches out rare orchid thief
• Bee Prefers Sex With Orchid Over Females
• Orchid sexual deceit has male wasps in a loved-up frenzy
• Orchid Species Now Extinct in Burma