Leaders in the floral industry met in Cromwell, CT at the Crowne Plaza Hotel for the National Alliance of Floral Associations (NAFA) annual meeting October 6 – 8, 2012.
The meeting kicked off on Saturday with the NAFA National Designer of the Year contest. Contestants from CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, MI, MN, OH, TX and UT competed for the coveted national title. Each of these representatives won their state / regional design contest earning the right to compete in this National competition featuring the “best of the best”. Second place ($100) runner up was Katie Larsen from LDS Floral Services in Layton, UT. Katie was representing the Utah Professional Florists’ Association. 1st place ($300) runner up was Rick Orr AIFD, from the Rick Orr Flowers in Champaign, IL. Rick was representing Illinois State Florists’ Association. The winner ($600) and 2012 NAFA National Designer of the Year was Jackie Bockwitz, from Forever Floral in Coon Rapids, MN. Jackie was representing the Minnesota State Florists Association. Congratulations go out to all the contestants that participated, they are all winners. Teleflora sponsored the prize money. They winners were acknowledged at a dinner Saturday evening that was sponsored by BloomNet. BloomNet also provided the 1st place winner with a scholarship to their Floriology Institute.
Sunday morning the Association learning sessions began. This year CFA Executive Director Bob Heffernan put together an intensive educational session, 30 Minutes to A Great Floral Association. This program covered 16 relevant association management topics in 30-minute segments over the next day and a half.
Sunday evening attendees were treated to a special tour of the Lyman Orchards (www.lymanorchards.com). John Lyman, of the eighth generation, gave us a wonderful history of the company and it operation. This is the 14th oldest family run business in the country. We spent the evening in his grandparent’s home, which is now used for receptions and corporate meetings. It was a wonderful way to wind down after spending a couple of days in the hotel. FTD, Inc. sponsored the Sunday evening dinner.
Monday morning the meeting continued with the remainder of the 30 Minutes to A Great Floral Association program.
The meeting concluded with annual business meeting and the announcement of next years meeting location and dates. The NAFA officers agreed to meet next year in Georgia from October 4-6, 2013. The city and hotel will be announced at a later date.
Any state, multi-state, or national non-profit floral association is eligible to apply for membership. Interested parties should contact NAFA President, Bob Heffernan at (203) 268-9000 or visit the NAFA website at www.aboutnafa.com to download a membership application.
NAFA would like to thank these fine companies for their product donations and financial support. Without it this meeting would not be possible! Listed alphabetically:
- BloomNet, Carle Place, NY
- Carbone Floral Distributors, Cranston RI
- Connecticut Valley Flowers, Hamden CT
- Delaware Valley Wholesale Florist, Cromwell CT
- East Coast Wholesale, Norwalk CT
- Fall River Florist Supply, Fall River MA
- FTD, Downers Grove, IL
- FleuraMetz Wholesale, Holland & US
- Hartford Florist Supply, Bloomfield CT
- Pennock Company, West Springfield MA
- Smithers-Oasis, Kent OH
- Syndicate Sales, Kokomo, IN
- Teleflora, Los Angeles, CA
NAFA would also like to give a special thank you to Bob Heffernan and the members of Connecticut Floral Association for hosting the meeting this year!
Source: National Alliance of Floral Associations (NAFA)