AN AFFILIATED SOCIETY OF THE AMERICAN ORCHID SOCIETY
ROS IN THE NEWS
On September 18–19, 2005, the Ridge Orchid Society hosted its 43rd Annual Orchid Show at the Lake Mirror Auditorium in Lakeland, Florida. As usual, our show was a success, but for this show we may have had an added distinction. Our show chair, Dane Thompson, was the youngest in the 43-year history of Ridge Orchid Society shows. Perhaps he was the youngest Show chair anywhere. When he took on the responsibility of organizing our show “Orchid Treasures” in April 2004 he had just turned 16. He proved to be an excellent show chair, demonstrating his competence by his ability to organize committees and to deal in an effective way with experienced members.
Thompson joined Ridge Orchid Society in 1997 when he became a member at the age of eight. His introduction to orchids was through his grandmother, JoAnn Morris, as well as through a long-term member of our society, Jonnie Hutchinson. Hutchinson would bring spikes of orchids from his extensive orchid collection to the Bartow Court House to share with the employees. Thompson’s grandmother worked at the courthouse, and one day, brought home a Vanda bloom to show her grandson. Knowing his interests, she made arrangements to take him to see Hutchinson’s orchid collection. As the young man remembers, “Mr. Hutchinson gave me about 12 orchids, and the rest is history.” His current collection has 150 or more orchids, including Paphiopedilums, Cattleyas, Cymbidiums and Phalaenopsis.
As a high school student, Thompson has participated in several activities that have helped him acquire self-confidence that allows him to accomplish his goals. His organizational skills and ability to deal with the public have been honed by being active in the Future Farmers of America and the Future Business Leaders of America. Through these organizations, he has been involved in public speaking competitions, as well as taking on leadership roles. He was also an active member in his school’s chorus and band. He also helps out at his grandparents’ plant nursery and volunteers in his community as an active member of the aforementioned organizations.
The experience of organizing and working with such a large number of people to produce our show has whetted Thompson’s appetite for the future. He would like to be the show chair for our 50th orchid show. He says, “The orchid society has done so much for me that I want to repay the kindness and help that have been shown to me. I enjoy big events and would really look forward to organizing that particular show for ROS.” Adding that he has learned that one person can’t do it all, he says that the social skills he’s learned through this experience will be valuable to him in the future.
Upon completing high school, Thompson plans to attend Polk Community College for two years and then go on to a four-year university. His sights are set on the University of Florida, where he would like to pursue a goal in corporate business and law.
If Thompson gets his wish, what might merely have been a once-in-lifetime experience will be repeated if he becomes the Ridge Orchid Society’s 50th show chair. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he might already have the theme picked.
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