LOS History
In early 1998, I got this wild idea to find other people that were interested in growing orchids. I figured that it would be a lot of fun sharing growing tips and other information with others. It would also be a great way for me to learn more about the plants for which I had found such a passion.
My first problem was how to find these people. I talked with William Rhodehamel from Hoosier Orchids about it and he sent me a list of his customers in the zip codes around Lafayette. I put together a flyer that I sent to everyone on that list to see if anyone would be interested in forming an “orchid club”.
The immediate responses were from Mark van der Woerd and Ray Cloyd. Since they were the first to respond, I asked them if they would be interested in helping me put a “club” together. They were both eager to help.
We set up the first meeting for May at the Tippecanoe Library. At that meeting, Ray Cloyd got elected the first president of the new Lafayette Orchid Society. Mark van der Woerd was elected vice president and I was elected secretary.
Since we couldn’t meet at the Library on a regular basis, both because of the cost and the type of meeting room, we had to search for someplace more permanent and that would withstand potting demonstrations.
Our next meeting was at Kohler Bros. We had a better turn out there, but could only use their facilities the one time. In the meantime, I had been looking for a place and was talking with Doug Taylor with Habitat for Humanity Lafayette. I had been volunteering design services for them for awhile and was on good terms with him. He offered the meeting room at the office to us for our meetings. It was great! The room was big enough and there was even a kitchen for refreshments.
About a year or so later, as the society grew, we got too large for the Habitat for Humanity Lafayette meeting room and needed a new place to meet.
One of our members, Rebecca Bollinger, offered the meeting/lunch room at her factory in West Lafayette. It was terrific! It was large enough to accommodate the members with room to grow. A nice kitchen was available too. We’ve been meeting there ever since Rebecca made the offer.
And that’s how we got to the where we are today.
Respectfully Submitted,
Sharon Theriault, Founder and Past President