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In view of the many posts concerning the
politics at the recent WOC, it seems appropriate to relate my own experiences
there. I had been duly registered and issued judge's credentials and
was about to join my team when two of the judging coordinators,
Ric Neiryinck and Cordelia Head, discretely approached my team
captain. The team captain then took me aside and said that since three
judges had complained I was unqualified, I would not be permitted to judge, the
objectors being later identified as Robert Fuchs and two subordinates of his
entourage, Michael Coronado, his partner, and Dorothy Bennett. his designed
Judging Chairman for the next WOC in Miami. When I registered a vigorous
protest the coordinators entered into a prolonged discussion, from which I was
pointedly excluded, and then relented without explanation and said I could join
the judging in progress after all.
It is difficult to convey
my indignation as a retired Professor, for many years the most highly cited
scientist in the state of Florida, on being treated like a misbehaving
child. I was not even accorded the personal privilege of countering the
derogatory allegations with a list of my qualifications, including judging at
the last WOC. A few years ago Fuchs confiscated about $500 worth of my
orchids from a joint shipment from Indonesia and he has been angry ever since
that I let others know about it. In his strange world I believe he regards
it as an honor to be cheated by him.
The deeper significance of the incident is
what it forebodes for 19th WOC to be held in Miami in 2008, for which
Robert Fuchs is Cochairman. Many of us who share his orchid community fear
he will regard his mandate as Cochairman not so much to promote interest in
orchids but as an opportunity to reward his supporters and screw his
detractors.
Bert
Pressman
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