The American Orchid Society, Inc. 
profit educational and horticultural organization 
whose basic purpose is to stimulate and develop in- 
terest in the culture, improvement, use and conservation of 
orchids, and whose primary activity is the dissemination 
of information and assistance to accomplish this aim. 
The Society was organized in 1921 by a group of 
prominent amateur, private and commercial orchid grow- 
ers, most of whom resided along the eastern seaboard. 
However, from its inception, membership included promi- 
nent orchid people from all over the world. 
In June, 1932, the Society, aware of the lack of pub- 
lished information, began issuing a quarterly Bulletin 
which proved so valuable that in 1940 it was made a 
monthly publication, with the result that it 1s now recog- 
nized as the leading orchid periodical in the world. 
In its more than thirty years of existence, the structure 
of the Society changed little. After incorporation in 1948, 
the Board of Trustees was increased in size and the man- 
agement of the Society placed in the hands of a paid Execu- 
tive Secretary. The greatest change has been in the size, 
scope and distribution of the membership itself. From the 
less than a hundred members in 1921, the membership has 
increased to over five thousand, with Florida, the West 
Coast and Hawaii surpassing the Atlantic States in num- 
bers of members. Further, the majority of the membership 
is no longer wealthy private growers, but embraces business 
executives, professional people and other discriminating 
persons of moderate income. 
The activities of the Society reflect the changing cir- 
cumstances. Whereas formerly the quarterly Trustees’ 
meetings were the major function of the Society itself, such 
meetings now are strictly devoted to the business of guid- 
ing the far-flung organization. The Society’s chief activity 
is the monthly Bulletin, whose sixty-four to seventy-two 
pages are crammed with informative and instructive articles 
embracing the interests of all orchid growers from the most 
recent novice to the well-seasoned master. 
__ In addition to the Bulletin the Society biannually pub- 
lishes a Year Book with a roster of members, as well as 
pce books and pamphlets on special phases of orchid 
interest, 
"Toe AMERICAN ORCHID SOCIETY, INC., is a non- 
