President of American Orchid Society to Speak February 5

President of American Orchid Society to Speak About Paphiopedilum Orchids

Growing up in Minnesota, Sandra's only exposure to orchids was that prom corsage. After graduating with a degree in nursing, she moved to California and ended up in Santa Barbara. She worked in many fields of nursing including the hospital, office, school, Head Start program, gastroenterology laboratory, and finally, for the past twenty years as a senior research analyst doing health care policy research for the government and foundations.

She started her orchid life as a pot washer for her husband Al and became fascinated with the history of her husband's complex paph collection which included many of the oldies like Paph. F.C. Puddle.  Al's knowledge, love, and enthusiasm for orchids were contagious and when they built a second greenhouse, she decided it would be hers and that was the moment that orchids became an important part of her life.

Sandra is currently President of the American Orchid Society (AOS).  She has served six terms on the board of trustees and two terms as vice president of the AOS. She has been chair of the Outreach, Publications, Education and Website Committees. She coordinates the Question and Answer column in ORCHIDS magazine. Sandra is an accredited judge in both the American Orchid Society and the Cymbidium Society of America judging systems and is treasurer of the AOS Pacific South Judging Center. She is the present Editor in Chief of the Orchid Digest. She was president of the Cymbidium Society of American and co-chair of the annual Cymbidium Society Congress. 

Visitors Always Welcome.  For more information: 760/510-8027 or www.palomarorchid.org