T.J. is a retired computer systems specialist and systems analyst. He designed computers and wrote computer software to manage hotels. His love for orchids began when he lived in Southern California and started growing Cymbidiums in his yard. For quite a few years, every secretary in the company where he worked received, anonymously, a Cymbidium blossom on Valentine’s Day. Since retiring to Mexico he has been rescuing orchids from downed trees and broken limbs before they are eaten by animals or washed down the streams and rivers into the sea. Much of what he knows about orchids he has learned in the laboratory of the great outdoors. The rest comes from online research and numerous books on the subject. He is on the board of directors of the Vallarta Botanical Garden. In recent years he has given talks to orchids societies in the US, Canada, England and Scotland. He has written two books: “Vanilla – The Gift from Mexico that gives Flavor and Aroma to the World” and “Stop and Smell the Orchids” plus a number of articles for “Orchids” magazine. I live in Mexico all year round, and my wife and I consider these speaking tours as a vacation. We therefore pay for our own travel expenses. In lieu of a speaker honorarium, I ask that an equivalent donation be made to the Vallarta Botanical Garden. In the US and Canada, this donation is tax deductible. My wife and I appreciate being hosted for one or two nights by one of your members. All of my talks are light and infused with some humor. I find that people are turned off by highly technical terminology, so I avoid this whenever possible.