This page describes the six parts of every monthly meeting: speaker, door prize drawings, silent auction, show and tell, raffle ticket sales and refreshments. Monthly Meeting Features The club meets in the WC 130 classroom, next to the Wertheim Conservatory at FIU on the third Friday of every month. The meetings are informal, friendly, educational, informative, interesting, and fun! Meeting attendance is a way to get to know people better, share growing tips, gain knowledge and receive free advice or help with problem plants. It is also an opportunity to acquire more orchids via the silent auction and plant raffles. Guests are always welcome. Refreshments are brought in by those members who volunteer to bring them. There is a silent auction table at each meeting, as well as a "Show and Tell" table where members bring in their beautiful flowering plants to share with the rest of the club members. At some meetings, the "Show and Tell" table is so abundant that it's like a mini orchid show. Club dues are only $15.00 a year, a real bargain!!! Guest Speaker Each month a different speaker is invited to talk to the group. These speakers are experts in many different areas relating to orchid collections and care. Silent Auction In addition to the three kinds of raffles, members have the opportunity to bid on a variety of different plants in silent auctions. Individuals furnish these plants in the hopes of being able to sell them. Door Prize Drawings In addition to the raffle, three drawings are held. One is a "members only" raffle where one wins by having the member's number drawn at random. Another drawing for a plant is for a lucky person who is a member of the American Orchid Society (AOS). The third drawing is based upon a separate ticket that is attached to the row of purchased tickets. Show and Tell Members bring in their treasured orchids to share with the group. To encourage greater member participation, ribbons are not awarded. Thus, members feel less intimidated to bring in their plants. Everyone learns through "sharing". Raffle Ticket Sales A variety of extraordinary plants are provided by the club. Raffle tickets may be bought by everyone. This is a great way to get quality plants for a nominal cost. Having fun is the end result. Refreshments On a monthly basis, members sign up to bring refreshments. Members have the chance to socialize while enjoying snacks during the break after the speaker presentation and before the "show and tell" and raffle sessions. Visit EALOC On Facebook

April Field Trip This page is dedicated to showing the photos from the club's annual field trip. This year the group was fortunate to be able to go R.F. Orchids's "Residence Garden Tour. Afterward, lunch was provided from New Jersey Sub Shop. The total experience was a gift to club members. April 2025 Return to Events Photo Review

This page is dedicated to providing interesting, informative and use website links for the orchid enthusiasts. This page will continue to add new links. Interesting, Informational and Useful Websites (Part 3) Below are website links that were selected for being interesting, informational and/or useful for orchid enthusiasts. Readers are encouraged to give feedback, as well as send additional website links to the webmaster. Please go to the "Feedback and About" webpage to offer feedback and other website links. The reader's input is the key to making this page helpful to everyone. Link FTBG - WHITMAN TROPICAL FRUIT PAVILLION . This video presents the newly renovated Whitman Tropical Fruits Pavillion, narrated by Chad Husby, Ph.D., Chief Explorer, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. The exhibit now allows visitors to walk through a rainforest cloud. Besides tropical fruit trees, orchids are displayed. When the fruit trees are not in bloom, the orchids provide visual enjoyment to the visitor's experience. Link FTBG - GARDEN EXPLORER . One is now able to explore Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden's extensive living collection with a simple search by name, family, or plot number. Finding some of our other highlights, such as our permanent Chihuly glass sculptures, ponds, and exhibits are also made easy by selecting features on the main menu. Just type in either a common or Latin name and it will locate on the garden's map where the plant. Access can be by computer or phone. If one is physically in the garden, it's a useful tool, Link The Orchid Mall - Orchid Societies The website links to orchid societies around the world by region. EALOC is also listed. Please note the many of the society sites have information on culture, plants of interest in the area and other helpful information. They are well worth "checking out." Link The Uses and Misuses of Orchids in Medicine Orchid products, the tubers, leaves or flowers, were introduced into medicine with no testing for human use, and ultimately their use has declined, not through being proven ineffective, but more through lack of evidence and changes in fashion. This article examines the medicinal uses of orchid plants in the Orient, Europe, the Americas, Australia and Africa, and concludes by examining their usage today. Link "Flower of the Holy Spirit" Orchid and Other Videos This website provides many, many videos of unusual flowers found around the world. Some of these flowers have been referenced in previous links on EALOC's website. Especially, check out the "The Flower of the Holy Spirit" orchid. Interesting Websites, (Part 1) Interesting Websites, (Part 4)

This page describes the history of the club. About Founded in 1963 Affiliated with the American Orchid Society In 1963, the Eastern Airlines Orchid Club was formed to foster good fellowship through the common love of orchids in all their forms and varieties; to share both the knowledge and techniques of culture and the mystery and beauty of the plants and flowers. History of the Club  The above-mentioned mission statement was created by the Eastern Airlines Orchid Club which was founded in 1963. It was through the interest and hard work of O. Clyde Bramblett that the club was formed. The first meeting was held on July 21, 1963 at the IAM Union Hall at Eastern Airlines on NW 36 Street. Officers were elected for a term of one year. They were President Clyde Bramblett, Vice President Carl Gardner, Secretary Fred Stone and Treasurer Ken McCorkel. Thirty-three people signed the roster and paid their first year's dues of $1.00. The first guest speaker was Mr. Ruben Sauleda, who, at that time, had been featured in the Sunday edition of the Miami Herald because of his pollination of orchid seeds and hybridizing experiments. Later, he became Dr. Sauleda and continued his work at his former business "Ruben in Orchids" where he became well known for his hybridizing and flasking until his retirement in May 2014. Not only did the club promote education in the culture and care of orchids among hobbyists back then, but it was and continues to be very active in the community. *Note : Select "More History" To Learn More About The Club's Development Our Vision We seek knowledge through sharing and learning. Members are encouraged to bring their orchids to the monthly meetings as a means of learning through sharing. Plants are not awarded ribbons, thus, eliminating the stigma of feeling that orchids are not good enough to share. Everyone's orchids are worthy and we urge members to bring them for "show and tell". 2023 Board and Committee Chairs Board Members President - Diane Dickhut Vice President - Ralph Hernandez Treasurer - Chris Bernt Special Events - Betty Alexander Members-at-Large - Dean and Suellen Powell, Chris, Rawls, Lou Silva,, Rene Silve, Nora Robbins , Nuria Cid and Jorge Li Committee Chairs Communications - Chris Rawls Refreshments - Lou and Rene Silva Membership - Jeri Payne Raffle - Suellen Powell Silent Auction - Ralph Hernandez Sunshine - Diane Dickhut Zoo Project - Betty Alexander Show and Tell - David Foster AOS Representative - Alexis Dominguez Visit EALOC On Facebook

This is a history of the club's involvement of contributing to the the enhancement and maintenance of Zoo Miami's orchid collection. Zoo Miami Project Many of the club members were also members of the South Florida Orchid Society (SFOS). About 1985, after visiting the San Diego Zoo, Jill Sidran, the president of ths SFOS, promoted interest in having Miami MetroZoo (now Zoo Miami) designated as a rescue center for confiscated plants. After the U.S. Department of the Interior granted the designation, the Zoo built a greenhouse and the SFOS members spent Saturdays placing both donated and confiscated plants in trees and exhibits throughout the Zoo. About 1987, the SFOS felt it could no longer continue with this project. Since the EALOC members felt this was a worthwhile project, EALOC took it over and continues with it to present time. After the devastation of Hurricane Andrew, the greenhouse was rebuilt by the Zoo and the watering system was installed by EALOC members. The greenhouse is now maintained by the club. Through this project, the Zoo Miami's botanical gardens are enhanced for Zoo patrons to enjoy. In appreciation, a bronze plaque is permanently displayed in Zoo Miami to recognize EALOC's contributions. Visit Zoo Miami Website Zoo Miami Foundation

This page displays pictures of the November auction event, including plants, participants, and other bidding items. November Orchid Auction, Members, Friends, Food In lieu of the regular general meetings, November is dedicated to having the club's annual auction. This year was bigger and better. There was a record number of bids. The orchids and plants were of the best quality. A good time was had by all. The food and fellowship enhanced the event. If the reader missed this one, be certain to plan to attend next year's fun event. November 2019 Return to Events Photo Review

The user can download, view, and print the by-laws. CLUB ORGANIZATIONAL POLICY In an effort to continuously improve and enhance the success of the club, the newly amended bylaws were ratified by the EALOC general membership at the June meeting. Both EALOC members and non-members are encouraged to learn more about the club and the mission of the group. EALOC BY-LAWS 2023 Click To Download.