Honors, Awards & Recognition

The June meeting of the Orchid Society of Santa Barbara was a special meeting. It was something extraordinary not only for our society, but for any orchid society. In June, those of us present witnessed the presentation of the American Orchid Society's highest honor: a Gold Medal.

Prior to our June meeting, there had been a mere 52 Gold Medals presented in the 80 year history of the AOS.
Only 51 people have rated the AOS's highest recognition. (Merritt Huntington has received two Gold Medals for his tireless involvement in the AOS.)

Let's do a little math here. That averages to less than one Gold Medal a year. Furthermore, Gold Medals usually are presented at AOS Trustees Meetings rather than local society meetings. And, to emphasize the rarity of what we witnessed in June, consider that there are some 500 societies and organizations worldwide affiliated with the AOS. There are an awful lot of monthly society meetings out there that will never be graced by the presentation of a Gold Medal.

We were lucky. Past-AOS president Milton Carpenter, our June speaker, was the perfect presenter of the award. Ned Nash was the perfect facilitator. I have been told that Nash, who lives locally now after working in Florida for the AOS, can talk almost anyone into almost anything. He talked the recipient, Leo Holguin, into coming to our meeting, and somehow did so without spoiling the surprise. And Leo Holguin was the perfect recipient.

Holguin is one of the big names in cattleya breeding from an era past, a man who helped push cattleyas into the world of meristem cloning. He and Ernest Hetherington (another Gold Medal recipient) worked at Armacost and Royston, one of the finest nurseries of its time. Later, when Armacost and Royston became Stewart Orchids and moved to Carpinteria, Leo Holguin was there, working tirelessly at the nursery. His hybrids are many of the big names in cattleya awards and cattleya breeding. Growers of cattleyas might recognize the names C. Irene Holguin or Lc. Persepolis, just two of the many fine crosses he made.

At our June meeting, Milton Carpenter described Leo Holguin as a great teacher – a link, along with Ernest Hetherington, to the great orchidist B. O. Bracey from the early part of the 20th century. Holguin served in local societies and on the executive committee for the 5th World Orchid Conference, held in Long Beach . Moreover, Holguin was respected by both hobby and commercial groups.

Ned Nash, who worked at Stewart Orchids for Leo Holguin for 18 years, described Holguin as a man who made those at the nursery feel like family. Fred Stewart declared that Holguin was the best manager of people he'd ever seen. And Ernest Hetherington, a previous Gold Medal recipient, observed that he and Holguin worked together for the same company virtually all their lives. (Holguin was hired September 1935, Hetherington, February 1936.)

It is a spectacular honor to be awarded an AOS Gold Medal. Perhaps the sweetest moment of the evening came when a tearful Holguin admitted he had never expected to receive one. This was a fitting comment from a man widely known for his humility.

For those of us in attendance in June of 2002, it was an opportunity to witness the recognition of someone who has given so much to the orchid world.


Honors and Awards	Dr. Albert C. Svoboda Jr. heads Orchid Show board March 3, 2004 article in the Santa Barbara News Press Dr. Albert C. Svoboda Jr. has been elected board president of the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show. Dr. Svoboda is a senior scientist at the Sansum Diabetic Research Institute, where he is also a member of the board of directors. He practiced medicine in the gastroenterology department at Sansum Medical Clinic for 30 years prior to his retirement in 1996. He is an accredited judge with the Cymbidium Society of America and president of the organization. He is also active in the American Orchid Society, Slipper Orchid Alliance and Paphiopedilum Guild. Dr. Svoboda is also a past president of the Orchid Society of Santa Barbara. Other officers include Sandra Svoboda, vice president, and Jim Sloniker, secretary-treasurer. New board members include Mike Owen and John Ernest. The board sponsors the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show. The 59th annual event, "Wonderful World of Orchids," took place March 19-21 at Earl Warren Showgrounds. Information: 967-6331.

*American Orchid Society Trustee* – Our own *Past-President Sandy Svoboda* has been elected to the position of Trustee for the AOS. She was elected to this position in Sept 2001 for 3 years. It is quite an honor. Sandy is also chair of the AOS Outreach Committee and her husband Al Svoboda is Chair of the Conservation Committee.
July 2002: Paul Gripp Featured as an Orchid Digest Doer. Congratulations to our own Paul Gripp, who appears as a “Digest Doer” in the current (July-Sept. 2002) issue of the Orchid Digest! In every issue, the magazine highlights a prominent orchidist who leaves his or her mark on the orchid world. Just in case you didn't know, Paul Gripp has been president of the Cymbidium Society of America and President of the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show (4 times!), plus a member for 15 years of the Research Committee of the American Orchid Society. He has spoken at World Orchid Conferences and traveled all over the world to see orchids in their native habitats.

OSSB Thanks its Long-Time Treasurer, Carole Cowan April 2004 meeting Report from the April Meeting. President Phil Watt on behalf of the Orchid Society of Santa Barbara thanked our long-time treasurer, Carole Cowan for her many years of service to the society. Future OSSB Fall Shows will now have a new perpetual trophy: The Carole Cowan Trophy, presented to the genus or category of Carole’s choice. Santa Barbara Orchid Estate also honored Carole with an orchid named in her honor and registered through the Royal Horticultural Society. Wayne Ferrell announced the new hybrid Sophrolaelia Carole Cowan, selected for its qualities as an outdoor grower, since Carole grows most of her orchids outdoors. Wayne noted that societies really need to show their appreciation for those volunteers who always come through to help. As your secretary and newsletter editor, Heidi would just like to add that “Carole has always been incredibly dependable. I am even more aware of her efforts for the society now that I did this year’s roster with Don Brown’s help, which Carole used to create on her own; this year, it is a month late and doubtless will need more corrections than usual.” So, Carole, on behalf of the society, Thank You!
AOS AWARDS: General Information
The AOS grants a number of awards, all of which are esteemed by orchid growers. The Award of Distinction (AD) and Award of Quality (AQ) recognize new breeding trends and improved breeding quality. Peculiar little species that might never win a flower quality award can be given a Certificate of Botanical Recognition (CBR). Plants of horticultural value might win a Certificate of Horticultural Merit (CHM). And when the judges can't figure out what sort of award to present to a plant they like, they give out a Judges' Commendation (JD). Most awards that are given out each year reflect flower quality as determined by a 100 point scale. Highly Commended Certificates (HCCs) go to blooms that earned 75 to 79 points. A flower earning a score of 80 to 89 points receives an Award of Merit (AM). The prestigious First Class Certificate (FCC) is given to flowers with scores of 90 points or more. You may have noticed that these awards all go to a worthy plant. Cultural certificates recognize exceptional growers rather than exceptional flowers. A Certificate of Cultural Merit (CCM) is given to a grower who exhibits a particularly well-grown specimen plant with lots of flowers. Recently, the AOS added a new category for CCMs of 90 points or more: Certificate of Cultural Excellence (CCE). While everyone loves an awarded plant, most hobbyists covet the cultural awards that recognize their accomplishments. Case in point: Our own Don Brown just received an AM/AOS for an Epi. falcatum, but I bet he is prouder of the 99 point CCM (pre-CCE category) he received for growing a magnificently large Dendrobium speciosum.
The ultimate recognition from the AOS is a Gold Medal. Gold Medals are not given out lightly. Like the cultural awards, the Gold Medal is presented to a person rather than a plant. A recipient of the AOS Gold Medal has had an overwhelming influence on the orchid world and the AOS.

*April 2000: Don Brown* was awarded one of the highest prizes a grower can receive from the American Orchid Society; he won the Butterworth Prize recognizing his culture for a gargantuan Den. speciosum var. hillii ‘Don Brown' CCM/AOS 99 points. This plant won the Best Plant Trophy for Paul Gripp, its current owner, at the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show two springs ago.

June 2002: Leo Holguin receives American Orchid Society Gold Medal at OSSB Meeting
The June meeting of the Orchid Society of Santa Barbara was a special meeting. It was something extraordinary not only for our society, but for any orchid society. In June, those of us present witnessed the presentation of the American Orchid Society's highest honor: a Gold Medal. Prior to our June meeting, there had been a mere 52 Gold Medals presented in the 80 year history of the AOS. Only 51 people have rated the AOS's highest recognition. (Merritt Huntington has received two Gold Medals for his tireless involvement in the AOS.) Let's do a little math here. That averages to less than one Gold Medal a year. Furthermore, Gold Medals usually are presented at AOS Trustees Meetings rather than local society meetings. And, to emphasize the rarity of what we witnessed in June, consider that there are some 500 societies and organizations worldwide affiliated with the AOS. There are an awful lot of monthly society meetings out there that will never be graced by the presentation of a Gold Medal. We were lucky. Past-AOS president Milton Carpenter, our June speaker, was the perfect presenter of the award. Ned Nash was the perfect facilitator. I have been told that Nash, who lives locally now after working in Florida for the AOS, can talk almost anyone into almost anything. He talked the recipient, Leo Holguin, into coming to our meeting, and somehow did so without spoiling the surprise. And Leo Holguin was the perfect recipient. Holguin is one of the big names in cattleya breeding from an era past, a man who helped push cattleyas into the world of meristem cloning. He and Ernest Hetherington (another Gold Medal recipient) worked at Armacost and Royston, one of the finest nurseries of its time. Later, when Armacost and Royston became Stewart Orchids and moved to Carpinteria, Leo Holguin was there, working tirelessly at the nursery. His hybrids are many of the big names in cattleya awards and cattleya breeding. Growers of cattleyas might recognize the names C. Irene Holguin or Lc. Persepolis, just two of the many fine crosses he made. At our June meeting, Milton Carpenter described Leo Holguin as a great teacher – a link, along with Ernest Hetherington, to the great orchidist B. O. Bracey from the early part of the 20th century. Holguin served in local societies and on the executive committee for the 5th World Orchid Conference, held in Long Beach . Moreover, Holguin was respected by both hobby and commercial groups. Ned Nash, who worked at Stewart Orchids for Leo Holguin for 18 years, described Holguin as a man who made those at the nursery feel like family. Fred Stewart declared that Holguin was the best manager of people he'd ever seen. And Ernest Hetherington, a previous Gold Medal recipient, observed that he and Holguin worked together for the same company virtually all their lives. (Holguin was hired September 1935, Hetherington, February 1936.) It is a spectacular honor to be awarded an AOS Gold Medal. Perhaps the sweetest moment of the evening came when a tearful Holguin admitted he had never expected to receive one. This was a fitting comment from a man widely known for his humility. For those of us in attendance in June of 2002, it was an opportunity to witness the recognition of someone who has given so much to the orchid world.

Honors and Awards

OSSB Thanks its Long-Time Treasurer, Carole Cowan April 2004 meeting

AOS AWARDS: General Information

OSSB Thanks its Long-Time Treasurer, Carole Cowan
April 2004 meeting