Rules for members
Rules for Member’s
PREAMBLE
1.These rules are based on decisions made at General and Committee Meetings and are intended to provide an easily read guide for the day-to-day conduct of the Eurobodalla Orchid Club (the Club). They are supplementary to the Club’s Constitution, copies of which are available on the Club’s Website, as are these Rules, and available also from the Secretary.
2. Membership is open to all but there is no provision for corporate membership. There is a joining fee of $10.00 per person.
3. The classes of membership and the annual subscriptions are as follows: –
a. Single membership (one adult) $10.00
b. Family/Dual membership (one or two adults
and up to five children ) $15.00
c. Junior membership ( one person under 16 ) $5.00
d. Honorary members Nil
e. Life members Nil
4. Fees and subscriptions are reviewed at the Annual General Meeting held in November. Subscriptions are due for payment from 1st January and must be paid by 31st March.
5. New Members must pay the joining fee and first subscription within one month of membership being approved.
6. Life Membership may be granted to a member who has served the Club in an exemplary manner. Life Membership is the highest honour the Club can bestow on a member and is to be restricted accordingly. Nominations, including the reasons for nomination, should be lodged with the Secretary.
7. The Committee may grant Honorary Membership to appropriate individuals for specific periods. Honorary Members have no say in the management of the Club.
or ‘Novice’ exhibitor for the purposes of Orchid Shows and monthly Club benchings. All new Members who have not belonged to another Orchid Club are automatically placed in the Novice class and will remain in that class until the Committee decides that promotion to the Open class is warranted by the Member’s knowledge, experience and quality of blooms. The Committee normally expects a candidate for promotion to have obtained first place in at least three different genera at Orchid Shows – promotion takes effect from 1st January following the Committee’s decision. A new Member who is or was an Open exhibitor in another Orchid Club will normally be classified as Open on joining the Eurobodalla Orchid Club.
An Open exhibitor may show orchids only in the Open section. A Novice exhibitor may show orchids in either the Open or Novice section for monthly benching and shows run by the Eurobodalla Club, but note that at shows run by other Clubs ‘foreign’ Novices may be required to show in the Open section (i.e. their Novice section is restricted to their Novices). Similarly most (but not all) clubs affiliated with the Orchid Society of NSW accept show entries from any member of another affiliated club – Members must study the relevant Show Schedule carefully to determine eligibility.
MEMBERS’ OBLIGATIONS
CONTACT DETAILS.
Members are required to notify the Secretary in writing of any change of contact details or of an intention to resign, in order to maintain an accurate, up to date Membership Register.
NAME BADGES.
Club name badges must be worn at all Club functions.
The badge features the Club emblem (Blc. Malworth ‘Orchidglade’).
GUESTS AND VISITING MEMBERS.
Guests of Members and members of other
Orchid clubs may attend Club functions. Hosts should introduce their guests to the President or Chairman before the functions starts.
SMOKING.
Smoking is not permitted at any show, display, General Meeting or Committee Meeting because of the risk of spreading Tobacco Mosaic Virus. Smokers must wear rubber gloves at any time they are required to handle plants and if they wish to smoke at any time during Club activities must do so well clear of the venue.
ALCOHOL.
The consumption of alcohol is not permitted at any Show, Display, General Meeting or Committee Meeting.
DISEASED PLANTS.
No Member may bring into any Club activity any plant which is suspected or shows signs of a pest, virus or disease unless it is sealed in a transparent container.
MONTHLY MEETINGS
The Club holds a General Meeting each month except January, the dates and venues being promulgated in the Club’s Newsletter. Whilst attendance at monthly meetings is not compulsory Members must attend at least two meetings per year if they wish to sell orchids at Club functions – refer to Sales Table requirements at paragraph 21. Members are required to sign the attendance book at each meeting they attend.
ORCHID GROWING COMPETITIONS
Orchid growing competitions (GROWCOMP) are held periodically to encourage Members to grow different genera of orchids; to participate in friendly rivalry; to learn from each others’ mistakes and perhaps, to win a certificate.
The competition works this way: –
a. The Club purchases a number of seedling orchids (usually two genera) and sells them to Members. They then become the Members’ property. Initially plants will be offered on the basis of one per membership – any left over will then be offered on a ‘first up, best dressed’ basis.
b. Members bring their seedlings along to monthly meetings regardless of the condition of the plant. They are inspected and discussed by a judging panel and points are awarded –
1 point for presenting a plant, plus
3 points for the best plant on the night, or
2 points for 2nd place, or
1 point for 3rd place.
c. The competition continues until a Member presents a GROWCOMP plant in flower; that Member is awarded a bonus three points and the competition is concluded. A certificate is awarded to the Member with the highest number of points.
d. Dead heats all score the appropriate number of points, i.e. points are not divided.
Members who purchase more than one plant in a genus may select ONE ONLY for judging at a particular meeting but may present another at a later GROWCOMP meeting.
As it takes more than one year for some genera to flower there may be several GROWCOMPs running at any given time.
SALES TABLE
A Club Member may sell orchids at Club Meetings and Shows provided that the Member concerned is ‘financial’ and has attended at least two General Meetings of the Club in the previous 12 months. Sales are permitted on the condition that: –
a. Only well established pest and disease free plants may be offered; the Committee reserves the right to reject plants without giving a reason.
b. If space permits, the Committee may invite other growers to participate in sales.
c. The Club will not be liable for any loss or damage to the plants offered for sale.
d. Each pot must have a removable tag showing the sales price and the seller’s name or other designation agreed by the Member in charge of the Sales Table.
e. A commission of 10% of the sales price will be charged by the Club, and sales’ proceeds will be paid to Members by cheque.
21.
a. The Club may sell orchids and related merchandise at meetings, displays and shows.
b. The Club does not have a licence to sell Australian Native species and hybrids endemic to NSW to the public.
A guest speaker at a Club Meeting may sell orchids and related merchandise at that meeting in which case paragraphs 20 and 21 will not apply for the duration of that meeting. Guest speakers will not be charged a commission on sales.
CLUB BENCHINGS
Unless otherwise advised in the Club Newsletter, each Club Meeting includes a benching of Members’ orchids in much the same manner as a Show. The meeting venue is normally open from 1pm and Members must have the plants they are showing in position by 1.30. There is no entry fee and no limit on the number of plants a Member may show.
Members exhibiting plants must comply with the general provisions of the Rules and Conditions contained in the Club’s Show Schedule.
Any questions should be directed to the Show Marshal whose decision is final.
Voting is by all the Members present, with each Member nominating the plant that he or she believes to be the best in each class and selecting a ‘Plant of the Night’ in each of the Open and Novice Divisions. The votes cast are collated and points awarded to growers as per the following formula: 1-3 plants (1st only) 4-6 plants (1st &2nd,) 7+ plants (1st, 2nd, 3rd.) Also, 1 point is awarded for each class that a plant or plants are benched in. These points accumulate during the year and certificates are awarded annually.
LIBRARY
The Club maintains a library of books, periodicals, reports and other orchid- related documents for loan to Members. The library is free and operates on an honour system – cards are provided for Members to sign books out to themselves. All books must be returned by the next meeting.
SHOWS
All exhibitors at Shows conducted by the Club are to conform with the provisions contained in the Show Schedules – these are usually issued to all Members about a month before each show.
COMPLAINTS AND DISPUTES
Any Member who has a complaint or dispute with the Club or with another Member with regard to Club matters should first discuss the question with the Club’s President or Vice-President in an endeavour to find a solution with a minimum of angst. The Constitution contains provision for the formal stating of complaints, disciplining of members and the appointment of mediators but these should be used as a last resort only.
AFFILIATIONS
The Club is affiliated with the Australian Orchid Council (AOC) which is the nation peak body for all orchid clubs. The Council sets national judging standards and organises national orchid shows. It also publishes “Orchids Australia.”
At State level, the Club is affiliated with the Orchid Society of NSW which represents us on the AOC.
OoOoOoOoO
9th Edition – 21st February 2020