I only belong to 5 plant societies: Gesneriad Society, Pacific Bulb Society, and 3 Iris Societies for (Louisianas, Arils, Species). But I'm obsessed with so many other different kinds of plants... orchids, carnivorous plants, cacti, passiflora, tillandsias, hoyas, native wildflowers. The internet allows me to cultivate those obsessions... make friends... acquire new plant material. No way could that have happened 15 years ago! And for the most part, it's free. The throw-away plant industry isn't necessarily a bad thing either. Orchids for $5 encouraged me to buy my first Phalaenopsis 2 years ago. Now I'm utterly addicted, and successfully growing Zygos, Phrags, Cochleanthes, and other specialty mail-order kinds. I'll probably never join an orchid society (nor tillandsia, nor passiflora, nor hoya society, .....), but I'll participate actively in their mailing lists, Facebook pages, and web-forums. I'll support their local shows and buy new plants from show vendors. And my plant growing success influences other friends & family & neighbors to try growing something new. The photos I post on Facebook invariably lead to requests for seeds or cuttings. Soooooo.... (rhetorical question here)... is it more important to have flourishing traditional plant societies? Or is flourishing public enthusiasm in plants what really matters? With easy access to knowledge & material & new friends? When I get obsessed enough... I'll join a society. But really, I'd rather spend that $25 membership fee on buying more plants instead. PBS has the perfect mechanism to keep me hooked as a member for life. The Wiki & the BX. It's *amazing*!!! The PBS Wiki seduced me. The BX hooked me. I predict the PBS will have a long & prosperous future. Dennis in Cincinnati