Passing the Gavel

Last Saturday night was very chilly (not nearly as cold as it will be tonight, thankfully) and clear, and it was the night of the annual meeting/banquet of our local orchid society at a local country club. For the past two years we've had a downpour of rain that night, so I felt we really were lucky. You've heard a little of my "gritching" about being president this year, but I've served my debt to the society, and was looking forward to walking away a free woman. When I looked at the pictures afterward I was surprised to see myself smiling so much.




This was my fifth of these banquets, and I have to say it was the best food ever. I won't bore you with all the details of the menu, but the petite filet mignon and shrimp scampi absolutely melted in one's mouth. It was all terrific, and the service was excellent.







During the business meeting one of the members who has been there forever moved to have a table top show at the end of March, which seriously is not enough time to prepare adequately, but it was seconded, and a rather intense debate followed. Cutting to the chase: the motion carried 12 -7.

(Side note: We have over 60 members, but many live a distance away from here. 27 members attended the banquet + 10 guests; only 19 of the 27 voted. Sometimes I wish the apathetic would just go ahead and vote no because their apathy indicates an unwillingness to participate. Even those who voted no will ultimately help, but everyone could have been saved this extra effort with enough no votes. We have a major show scheduled for Sept. anyway. Oh, well.)




Awards were presented, and the installment of new officers followed. When I sat down at the end of all this hoopla the man to my right, the husband of one of our members and an attorney, said, "I know I'm not a member and don't attend the meetings, but I never realized there was ever any controversy in this group. You really handled that well." That really made me feel good, maybe even better than the plant the society gave me for my service as president.




Dinner was followed by a competitive game which was great fun won by Table 2 (my table). The gorgeous centerpieces were won when guests checked the bottom of their saucers for a sticker. (I didn't win.) Of course, the centerpieces were bouquets of orchids---so lavish and all donated by our members.







Wish you could have won one.