In the wake of the cancelation of SAF Palm Beach 2017, SAF award winners will still be recognized at the 2018 event. (Shown, Leo Roozen, AAF, receiving the 2016 Paul Ecke Jr. award for service to the industry and community).
When SAF canceled its convention on Sept. 5, a day before the four-day event was to begin, the decision elicited a simultaneous sigh of relief, based on the then-approaching storm, alongside disappointment at having to miss the much-anticipated annual event. It also prompted a flurry of questions about the myriad activities, honors and important association and industry business that was to take place during the event.
In a communication to all attendees this week, SAF Chairman of the Board Martin Meskers, AAF, answered those questions and concerns. Here’s a recap:
Annual awards and recognitions. “The announcement and recognition of SAF’s annual awards is a treasured convention tradition, so you will be glad to hear that the 2017 award recipients will receive their day in the spotlight,” Meskers wrote. The 2017 American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) and Professional Floral Communicators-International (PFCI) recipients will be honored at SAF Palm Springs 2018, alongside the 2018 inductees. The 2017 Alex Laurie, Paul Ecke Jr., John H. Walker and Floricultural Hall of Fame Awards will be shifted to 2018 and announced and honored at SAF Palm Springs 2018. Floral Management announced the winner of its 24th annual Marketer of the Year Award and detailed the campaign live, on Facebook, on September 8. You can also read about the winner in the September issue of Floral Management.
Educational programming. Meskers said that many of the classes and workshops slated for Palm Beach will be updated and featured for next year’s convention; some of them will be presented as an SAF WebBlast in the coming months. “So if you were looking forward to many of the sessions in Palm Beach, rest assured, one way or another we will get you that information!” Meskers wrote.
SAF Board of Directors elections. Typically held during the convention, the election for the SAF Board of Directors was instead held via an electronic ballot last week, with Sept. 15 at midnight as the deadline for submitting the ballot. The grower, wholesale and retail winners of the election are: Patrick Busch, Len Busch Roses, Plymouth, Minnesota; Nick Fronduto, Jacobson Floral Supply, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts; and Tim Galea, Norton’s Flowers & Gifts, Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Council Meetings. SAF volunteer leaders do some important planning work for the association during the Fall Meetings, held on the Wednesday of convention. SAF Councils will still meet, but via teleconference before the end of the month (if you’re on a Council, keep an eye out for an email from staff about a date for the call).
Tribute to Peter Moran. Meskers expressed particular disappointment at not being able to honor SAF CEO Peter Moran, who’s retiring at the end of 2017, during the convention. “I was hoping our crowd of nearly 500 would bear witness to was a special tribute we had planned at the Kick-Off Breakfast ,” Meskers said. But the SAF leadership made the most of a small dinner held at The Breakers the evening the convention was canceled, which included about 70 would-be convention attendees, the design team and some of the SAF staff. During the dinner, Meskers showed a special video, featuring comments of a wide range of industry members who’ve worked with Peter over the years.
SAF began processing refunds for convention registration earlier this week, a process that will take about three weeks total. Meskers thanked attendees for their patience as they await their refunds and, of course, did not miss an opportunity to generate interest in the 2018 event: “Thank you again for your support of SAF – we are thrilled that you chose to attend SAF’s convention and we genuinely hope to see you in Palm Springs next year. In fact, why not mark your calendars today: September 12-15, 2018.”
