- The group was started in 2002 when a conference to gather native orchid enthusiasts and show off North Carolina was organized. Presentations were held in Greensboro and attended by 75 people from as far away as England, Canada, and California. Following the meetings two days of field trips were conducted along the coast and into the mountains of NC.
- As a result of discussions during the conference, it was decided to create a formal organization. Another organization, the North American Native Orchid Alliance, appeared to have died, and there was a lot of interest from attendees in developing a replacement group. Our goal was to build a network of native orchid enthusiasts and hold annual conferences in different areas of North America.
- In October 2002 we set up a free web site to promote the organization and provide a forum for people to share information on native orchids. It is located at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nativeorchidconference/
- Our second annual conference was held in Ontario, Canada in June 2003. During that conference elections were conducted for an initial Board of Directors and By-Laws were approved.
- Subsequent conferences have been held in Conway, SC; Winnipeg, MB; Ashland, OR; Miami, FL and Morgantown, WV.
- The purpose of our group is to foster the study, conservation, and enjoyment of the native orchids of the United States and Canada.
- Anyone interested in wild orchids of the United States and Canada is welcome to join the organization or web site. As of January 2007, 450 plus members of the free group web site are from all around the world - Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada (6 provinces), Denmark, England, Germany, India, Mexico, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the US (45 states + DC).
- We incorporated in North Carolina on 21 March 2003 and are tax-exempt under Section 501 (c)(3) of the US Internal Revenue Code. We started accepting memberships in 2003 and will be publishing our fifth year of a quarterly Journal in 2008 for paid members.
Board of Directors
(Elected - June 11, 2006)
Officers:
President - Lorne Heshka, Winnepeg, Canada
Vice President - Stefan Ambs, Silver Spring, MD
Secretary - Jim Pyrzynski, Bellevue, NE
Treasurer - Christine Fleissner, Milwaukee, WI
At Large Board Members:
1 Year Term - Jim Fowler, Greenville, SC
2 Year Term - Mark Larocque, Parkersville, PA
Past President - David McAdoo, Kernersville, NC
Administrative
Journal Editor: Dr. Jyotsna Sharma, Quincy, FL
Conservation Committee Chair: Kip Knudson , Crivitz, WI
Technical Advisor: Dr. Charles Sheviak, Albany, NY