ALEXANDRIA, VA — Planning on attending SAF's 37th Annual Congressional Action Days (CAD) on March 13-14? The Society of American Florists is encouraging attendees to share the experience with a colleague, with an offer for a free registration for first-time guests of attendees.
"We started this offer in 2014, as a way to grow our presence on Capitol Hill and also give more people in the industry the chance to experience this very unique event," said SAF President Martin Meskers, AAF, of Oregon Flowers, Inc., in Aurora, Oregon. He hopes many of those 2016 first-timers (27 in all) will plan to attend as "veterans" this year.
Camille Dolloff, office manager and logistics coordinator of Artistic Blossoms Floral Design Studio in Boston, attended CAD as a guest last year. Since joining SAF, she heard a lot about the event and jumped at the opportunity to go with her mother, the shop's owner Kelly Dolloff.
Although Camille didn't know what to expect, she found CAD to be both informative and enjoyable.
"The experience was incredible," she said. "Between the meetings with our members of Congress and discussions within the SAF group — learning about the laws and regulations directly affecting our industry, as well as meeting others in the floral industry from all around the country — what we learned and took home with us was invaluable."
In addition to bringing your guest to meet lawmakers in the House and Senate, you both can enjoy some downtime during CAD networking events. Tanner Wheat, manager at Lafayette Florist, Gift Shop & Garden Center in Lafayette, Colorado, also attended CAD for the first time as a guest of his father, Brian Wheat, AAF, PFCI.
For Tanner, the opportunity to network with other florists was the perfect way to end a busy day of lobbying.
"My favorite part of attending CAD was interacting with other industry professionals. I recognized many faces from stories in Floral Management magazine, and it was great to shake hands and exchange experiences with people I've only read about," he said. "In the following years, it was great to meet back up with these people in D.C. We all have a common goal of bettering our businesses and industry, but the dinners and socials at the end of the day are where you make lifelong business connections and friends."
Last year, Shirley Lyons, AAF, PFCI, owner of Dandelions Flowers & Gifts in Eugene, Oregon, brought her nine-year-old granddaughter, who was "thrilled to learn first-hand about the process and feel democracy in action." Lyons says the grade-schooler attended all the SAF meetings, as well as a White House briefing, and then met with congressional officers from her own state. Afterward, they stayed a few extra days to take in all the Washington, D.C. sights with her mother and brother.
"It was an opportunity that I might not have shared with her otherwise, and one that we both will treasure always," Lyons said.
CAD deadlines: The cut-off date for guaranteeing the SAF room rate at the CAD hotel is Feb. 17. Early CAD registration ends Feb. 21. Your registration includes an additional FREE registration for a second person from your company who has never attended CAD before. For details and to register for CAD, visit safnow.org/cad.
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About SAF
The Society of American Florists is the leading organization representing all segments of the floral industry. SAF is proud to provide marketing, business and government services to its members, including growers, wholesalers, retailers, suppliers, importers, educators, designers and allied organizations. The association was chartered by an act of Congress in 1884. To learn more about SAF or to join, visit safnow.org.
Source: The Society of American Florists
