Welcome to the American Orchid Society's AOS Forum, our interactive discussion board. The Society strives to make its AOS Forum the friendliest, most educational orchid-oriented discussion group in the world. Here, everyone from newbies to forum regulars swap views, news and tidbits about anything and everything “orchids,” all in a positive, enriching environment. The AOS is proud that this discussion board -- one of our nonprofit organization’s primary educational offerings -- contributes to visitors’ learning experiences about our mutual passion. Please note that the opinions and recommendations that appear in this public forum are those of the individual authors, and not those of the American Orchid Society, which neither adopts nor endorses such opinions or recommendations and disclaims all responsibility for them. When following advice or suggestions posted at this public discussion area, the individual accepts full responsibility for implementing such advice and shall in no way hold liable the American Orchid Society, its employees or associates. The AOS reserves the right to delete any messages that are contrary to the intent of this forum. The AOS also reserves the right to ban habitual offenders to our rules (see below). The rules here at the AOS Forum are few, but they are strictly enforced: 1) Profanity, rudeness, flames and other unsavory behavior will not be tolerated. The AOS reserves the right to delete any posts considered contrary to the intent of the AOS Forum, which is the discussion of orchids and orchid-related matters. 2) Products or businesses may be mentioned by name brand as an answer to a question or as a solution to a problem. Posts that blatantly and transparently promote a product, service, business or event will be removed. 3) There will be no power struggles for expert-in-residence, nor promotion of personal agendas. The AOS will not allow this forum to be monopolized by one or a few individuals. Participants come to this site for orchid dialogue, so please keep discussion of personal matters to a minimum. 4) All discussions should be about orchids, orchids, orchids -- not politics (orchid community or otherwise), not religion and not world affairs. The AOS Forum has been set up to foster a positive learning environment amongst individuals seeking to better their understanding of orchids and their culture. Other orchid-oriented bulletin boards allow such flame wars and posts -- we respectfully invite those desirous of getting into or starting such a fray to take their posts to those other fine Web sites. What about discussion regarding AOS matters? Without question, the AOS very much desires and encourages feedback (critical or praiseworthy) from its valued members, especially, but also from the greater orchid community. There are numerous avenues here at www.aos.org -- besides our AOS Forum -- through which individuals can communicate to the leadership of the AOS, and we invite you to do so. Amongst many such avenues offered here are these two: 1) the AOS’s chief operating officer ; and 2) the AOS’s president. The remedy for violations to the above-noted rules? For the first offense, a poster will receive their only warning that he/she has violated the spirit and rules of the AOS Forum. Oftentimes, that notification will also bring into play the deletion of an offending post. After a second violation, the poster will be banned from the AOS Forum. As noted above, the AOS reserves the right to block posters whose posts are habitually contrary to the intent of this Forum. Argumentative, harassing posts of profanity, rudeness, flames and other unsavory behavior will not be tolerated. This is, of course, a subjective call, but it’s the AOS’s call, solely. Personal attacks and incessant droning connected singularly with clearly inflammatory issues is uncalled for … especially when a single computer user is generating multiple responses (under four to five different names) to his/her own posts, within the same thread. Common sense and careful watching of others’ responses to such posts tell us, the administrators of the AOS Forum, that such a person is out of line and certainly not of sameness with most everyone’s expectations for an AOS Forum that is equal parts friendly and informative. Such offending individuals will be banned. Banned individuals will, thereafter, have view-only access to the AOS Forum. Banned individuals may apply for reinstatement after one year; the avenue of appeal will be spelled out to the offender. The decision on readmittance to the AOS Forum as a poster rests solely with the AOS. The AOS thanks you for taking the time to read these important particulars tied to our AOS Forum before you log on and register (just this one time) and become a participating member or lurker. Should you have any questions or comments, please contact the AOS’s chief operating officer or the AOS’s president. Thanks in advance for your contributions to our AOS Forum family! Happy Orchid Growing! American Orchid Society PS … One more thing! If you are posting a culture question, it is much easier for individuals to offer an answer if they can pinpoint the general part of the world where you live and/or what your growing conditions are. Thanks! I have read and agree to the terms of use