Volunteer at the 2024 North Jersey Orchid Show and Sale
We need you! Sign up online at SIGN UP GENIUS starting November 17. If you have any difficulties with the online sign up, contact Wendy Utberg (njosmembership@gmail.com ). It is helpful to know who and how many people are coming in advance, but walk-ins are welcome.
No Experience Necessary! Everyone Welcome!
Rutgers Security requires that all cars on campus be registered. Car Registration
Tuesday, January 9, 2024
We need several cars to meet at the storage unit (access details will be provided) to load up the stuff we need for the show and bring it to Trayes Hall on Wednesday. We meet just before our NJOS meeting since the storage unit is only a few miles away.
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Begin the transformation of Trayes Hall in the Douglass Student Center into an orchid oasis. Exhibits and vendor areas are set up. NJOS members bring their show plants which are registered including orchid taxonomy verification and plant labeling. Then, the 10’ x 10’ 3600 North Jersey exhibit is built with your beautiful plants. Pizza lunch is provided. All volunteers are welcome. Sign up and come for whatever part of the day fits your plans.
Thursday, January 11, 2024
The transformation of Trayes Hall is completed with the remaining exhibitors and the vendors loading in. This may involve unpacking shipping crates, building displays, and/or assisting with registration. Exhibit and vendor areas set-up are completed. Pizza lunch is provided. All volunteers are welcome and the need is greatest in the morning.
Friday, January 14, 2024
Show Judging: Following a light breakfast, 25-30 clerk-volunteers work in teams with American Orchid Society (AOS) accredited judges to locate plants in exhibits, record awards, and place show ribbons. Orchids are put into classes by the exhibitors, and judging teams assess the orchids by class awarding ribbons based on the merits of the entries. Judging is a team activity and clerks are typically invited to participate in ribbon and trophy award conversations. Lunch is provided. Advance registration for clerks is greatly appreciated to facilitate the creation of name badges and to ensure sufficient lunch.
AOS Judging: After lunch, 1 to 2 clerk-volunteers pull selected plants from exhibits for American Orchid Society (AOS) judging and return them after judging. AOS judges evaluate orchids against an established database of prior awards. Everyone is welcome to listen in on the judging discussion and ask questions as time permits.
Guard Duty: We need 1 to 2 volunteers to monitor the doors to Trayes Hall while ribbon judging is in progress.
Welcome Table: 2 to 4 volunteers welcome visitors to the show and answer questions as needed including handing out North Jersey Orchid Society membership forms. Welcome desk volunteers work in 2-hour shifts.
Saturday, January 14, 2023
Welcome Table: See above.
Sunday, January 15, 2023
Welcome Table: See above.
Tear Down: At the conclusion of the show (4 pm), volunteers help exhibitors and vendors remove their exhibits and pack up and return Trayes Hall to its former self. Tear down typically completes by 7:30 pm.