BALTIMORE – Over 900 floral design artists from around the world gathered together in San Francisco, Calif. July 4-9 to celebrate ‘Imagine,’ the 2011 National Symposium of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD).
The AIFD Symposium was an action-packed educational extravaganza that featured 10 design education stage presentations, four special event meals with abundant floral decor and a multitude of other spectacular events.
“The Symposium was an incredible success this year,” exclaimed AIFD’s new President Tom Bowling AIFD, PFCI of Fairfield, Ohio. “From the educational programs to the receptions to the opportunities to network with one another, ‘Imagine’ gave each person an opportunity to open his/her eyes to new ideas and possibilities within the floral design industry.”
Coordinated under the direction of David and Leanne Kesler AIFD of Portland, Ore., AIFD’s 2011 Symposium was a balanced collaboration between design artists that provided attendees the ability to truly “Imagine” taking their floral design talent to a new level.
AIFD’s San Francisco event kicked-off with the Institute’s annual Professional Floral Design Evaluation (PFDE) on Sunday, July 3 in which floral designers attempt to demonstrate their design capabilities in an effort to achieve the coveted status as a Certified Floral Designer (CFD) and/or an invitation to become a member of AIFD. The candidates were each required to make five designs in four hours. Their work was then evaluated by a panel of AIFD members who consider such critical criteria as creativity, mechanics, elements of design, use of floral product and more. Results of the evaluations will be announced in mid-August.
After the PFDE, AIFD members conducted numerous Institute business sessions including those of their board, committees, regional chapters and the annual membership meeting. New officers for the Institute were elected and installed. Elected as officers were President Tom Bowling AIFD, PFCI of Fairfield, Ohio; President-Elect Ann Jordan AIFD, AAF of Windham, Maine; Vice President John Kittinger AIFD of Lexington, Ky.; Secretary Tim Farrell AIFD, AAF, PFCI of Drexel Hill, Pa.; and Treasurer Richard Salvaggio AIFD, AAF of Los Angeles, Calif. Joyce Mason-Monheim AIFD of Tucson, Ariz. was appointed to serve as the membership chairperson and Sylvia Bird AIFD, AAF, PFCI of Fort Myers, Fla. will be AIFD's 2012 symposium coordinator.
Then it was on to the future of AIFD and the floral industry as student designers from 15 universities and colleges in the U.S. and Canada competed in the annual AIFD Student Design Competition on Monday, July 4. Their creative works became the focus of the Symposium’s opening welcome reception as they were placed on display for all Symposium attendees to see and vote for their favorite designs.
The schools that competed in the competition this year were: California Polytechnic, City College of San Francisco, College of San Mateo, College of Sequoias, College of Southern Nevada, Gateway Technical College, Golden West College, Joliet Junior College, Kishwaukee College, Mississippi State University, Ohio State University, Seneca College, SUNY Cobleskill, Texas A&M University and the University of Illinois.
The Overall School Award went to Joliet Junior College led by student advisor Donna Theimer AIFD, ICPF. Kathrynn Wahl and Elizabeth Cangiano, both students at Joliet Junior College, tied for first place for the Overall Contest Winner Award. Jamie Brunetti of City College of San Francisco took home the People’s Choice Award. For a complete listing of 2011 Student Competition winners please visit www.aifd.org/NewNews/2011Symposium/2011SAIFDResults.htm.
Exciting as the initial events were, they were only the preliminaries to the spectacular final four days that included the fabulous stage presentations and meal events of Symposium.
Launching the celebration on Tuesday, July 5 was “The Pickle Principle” a motivational program featuring Bob Farrell. AIFD’s annual Partners Expo and Book Fair followed in which industry representatives from over 30 companies displayed their latest products and services. AIFD Industry Partners support the work of AIFD in advancing the art of professional floral design through their membership and contributions to Symposium.
The morning of Wednesday, July 6 the stage curtains opened and the educational programs began with such dynamic presentations as “Design through the Centuries” featuring René van Rems AIFD; “Influences” featuring Jim Hynd AIFD with guest presenters Rachelle Nyswonger CFD and Philip Rice CFD; “Inspiration in Sogetsu” featuring Soho Sakai AIFD; and “Exuberant Floral Art on a Large Scale” featuring Natasha Lisitsa.
Also in the morning AIFD’s dynamic community service program “Blooms Over San Francisco” took place as the Institute partnered with Meals On Wheels to deliver a beautiful floral surprise to over 300 Meals On Wheels recipients. Symposium participants arranged handsome bouquets and delivered them to Meals On Wheel’s recipients who were beyond thrilled to receive the amazing bouquets.
The luncheon program on the first day of Symposium was presented by AIFD Silver Partner Florists’ Review. “Namaste” featured floral décor by Sue Bal AIFD and Stacey Bal AIFD.
On the evening of the first full day of education, AIFD presented its annual Awards and Membership Induction Dinner in which 26 floral design artists were inducted into membership. Three distinguished awards were presented including Eddie Payne AIFD of Brooksville Florist in Dade City, Fla. who was recognized with the Award of Distinguished Service to AIFD; Kelly Mace of Smithers-Oasis in Kent, Ohio who was presented with the AIFD Award of Merit – Industry; and Bouquets to Art of San Francisco was recognized with the AIFD Award of Merit — Non-Industry. Floral décor for the ceremony was designed by Jenny Tabarracci AIFD, Steven Brown AIFD and Michael Daigian CFD. “Strawberry Fields Forever” the Awards/Induction Dinner Celebration was sponsored by AIFD Gold Partner Greenleaf/Kitayama Brothers.
Day two of the AIFD Symposium education presentations featured roundtable seminars in the morning, five stunning programs as well as the “Haute Couture on Union Square” Luncheon coordinated by the AIFD Foundation and sponsored by AIFD Platinum Partners Pete Garcia Company/Garcia Group and the AIFD Foundation.
The roundtable seminars included “Social Media for the Wedding Florist” with Laura Cave; “Elements of Value” featuring Gay Smith; “Floral Industry Trends” featuring Bob Williams; “The Art of Buying Locally Grown Flowers” featuring Kasey Cronquist IOM; and “Marketing Body Flowers” featuring Dan Fisher. Programs presented included “The Power of Social Media” featuring Milena Regos; “EVENTFLASH: Successful Happenings in Floral Trends and Technology” featuring Kristine Kratt AIFD and Bill Schaffer AIFD, AAF, PFCI; “Signals” Effective Messaging Strategies featuring Jerome Raska AIFD, AAF, PFCI and Robbin Yelverton AIFD, PFCI, MCF; “California Natural” featuring Gerry Gregg AIFD; and “Flowers in Your Hair” featuring Jouni Seppänen.
During the evening AIFD members took part in a public exhibition at the Westfield San Francisco Centre. This event featured AIFD members Janet Frye AIFD, Kevin Hinton AIFD, Miguel Figueroa AIFD and Kevin Coble AIFD arranging bouquets from leftover flowers from the symposium programs and handing them out to mall shoppers. The response from the public was overwhelming.
On the final day of its 2011 Symposium, AIFD offered the roundtable seminars again as well as two more dynamic education presentations and a look at the process it takes to achieve AIFD Accredited Membership. The programs that were offered included “A New Generation” featuring Hitomi Gilliam AIFD with guest presenters Lois Hiranaga AIFD, Scott Hasty AIFD, Jim Martin and Brooke Raulerson AIFD and “The Power of Passion” Your Passion – Their Wedding featuring Pim van den Akker.
AIFD would like to recognize the 2011 Symposium Partners for their financial support: Platinum Partners – Accent décor, AIFD Foundation, Norcal, Teleflora, Oasis, David Austin Roses, Garcia Group. Gold Partners – California Cut Flower Commission, FTD, Design Master, Fitz Design, San Francisco Flower Mart, Greenleaf Wholesale, Bloomnet, Hawaii’s Flowers, Syndicate Sales. Silver Partners – Florist’s Review, the knot, Flowers&, BBJ linen. Bronze Partners – Chrystal, Acolyte, Floraglas, Flora.
For those who missed the AIFD National Symposium, DVDs of the various programs are available to order at www.aifd.org. Photos from the event can be found on AIFD’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AIFD.CFD.
AIFD has already started planning the 2012 Symposium “Caliente” which will take place in Miami, Fla. July 12-16.
About the American Institute of Floral Designers
Established in 1965, the American Institute of Floral Designers is, today, the floral industry's leading non-profit organization dedicated to establishing, maintaining and recognizing the highest standard of professional floral design. AIFD and its worldwide accredited members are in the forefront of the industry in presenting educational design programs and in designing flowers for such renowned events as the Tournament of Roses Parade, Academy Awards and Presidential Inaugurations.
Source: American Institute of Floral Designers
