The Merritt Huntington Memorial Symposium
History
The Merritt Huntington Memorial Symposium began in 2005 when some members of the Tidewater Orchid Society (TOS), Peninsula Orchid Society (POS), and Virginia Orchid Society (VOS) formed a committee to explore the possibility of planning a one day orchid symposium in the Mid-Atlantic area. These orchid enthusiasts had worked together to plan the very successful 2000 Eastern Orchid Congress (EOC) in Williamsburg, VA. The committee asked Merritt Huntington to advise them and he was very excited about the endeavor. Sadly, his untimely death came early in 2005, but the committee decided to move forward and name the event in his memory.
The Merritt Huntington Memorial Symposium started as a one day affair with three speakers, a panel discussion, AOS judging, lunch and orchid vendors and was held on November 12th, 2005. It has since grown to a two day affair with a reception, speakers, and vendors on Friday evening and a full day of speakers, panel discussions, AOS judging, vendors, and lunch on Saturday. The symposium is now in its sixth year. For the first three years, it was held in Williamsburg, VA. Then in 2008, the symposium was moved to Virginia Beach, VA. The event has averaged 100 attendees per day for the first five years. By keeping the event small and easy to plan, the committee has been able to make the symposium very personal and friendly. The speakers, vendors, and attendees are all able to get to know one another and share their love and knowledge of orchids.
The American Orchid Society (AOS) "discovered" the symposium in 2007 and came on board to sponsor three speakers at our 2008 event in Virginia Beach. In 2009 they sponsored two speakers and it has been a great collaboration and everyone has benefited from it. Everyone is looking forward to our 2010 symposium which will host the AOS Fall Members Meeting, October 27th - 31st, 2010, at the Cavalier Oceanfront Hotel.
The Merritt Huntington Memorial Symposium organizing committee, which we fondly call "an alliance of Merritt's Orchid Friends in Virginia", has come a long way in 6 years. In 2009, the symposium became incorporated and received IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit status. The symposium committee has had a lot of help along the way from our local societies, TOS, POS, VOS, the more recently formed Richmond Orchid Alliance (ROA), the AOS, and other friends of Merritt that are not on our committee. We still enjoy working together and we are looking forward to future symposiums.