Bobbi Ecker-Blatchford’s children, Bruce and Cyndi, accept her Hall of Fame Award on her behalf during SAF Palm Springs 2018.
While the 91st Academy Awards ceremony celebrated the latest and greatest talents in film on Feb. 24, the floral industry honors outstanding achievement among its professionals in September — and the application deadline for many of those accolades has been extended to March 18.
The Society of American Florists recognizes excellence in the floral industry with a range of awards and professional designations. SAF will bestow the 2019 honors during the Stars of the Industry Awards Dinner at SAF Amelia Island 2019, SAF’s 135th Annual Convention, Sept. 18-21 at The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island, in Amelia Island, Florida.
March 18 is the deadline to apply for these honors:
- American Academy of Floriculture:AAF has carried out SAF’s effort to encourage, measure and recognize those members who have committed their time and energy to both the floral industry and their local communities. The application requires community and industry service documentation and two recommendation letters from AAF members.
- Century Award:Any business or organization that has served the floral industry for 100 years or longer qualifies.
March 18 is the deadline to nominate individuals for the following honors:
- Floriculture Hall of Fame: As the industry’s highest honor, SAF’s Floriculture Hall of Fame establishes a symbol of recognition that encourages high standards of service and responsibility in members of the floral industry.
- Paul Ecke, Jr. Award: Established in 1984, this award is given to a person in recognition of exemplary devotion to profession, industry and community. Previous named SAF’s Golden Bouquet award, this award was renamed in 2002 in memory of Paul Ecke, Jr., AAF.
- Gold Medal Award: Honors the originator or introducer of a widely distributed plant or flower that has become established as an outstanding product of significant horticultural and commercial value.
- John H. Walker Award: Named in honor of SAF’s former long-time Executive Vice President, the John H. Walker Award recognizes floral association executives for the role they play as leaders of the industry.
- Alex Laurie Award for Research and Education: SAF’s Alex Laurie Award for Research and Education is presented annually to an individual who has made broad-scope, long lasting contributions to research or education in the floriculture industry.
June 4 is the deadline to apply for Floral Management’s Marketer of the Year Award. Judges look for unique, innovative and successful marketing efforts undertaken in the last 5 years to increase sales, customer base and/or customer perception of a business, including but not limited to advertising, direct mail, public relations, merchandising and display and image enhancement. The entry form requires a narrative of the campaign’s successes and sample sets of promotional materials if any were used.
The Professional Floral Communicators – International (PFCI) membership application and Tommy Bright Award nomination deadlines ended on Jan. 31.
Get the Award applications and nomination forms from safnow.org/awards. For more information, contact SAF’s Jenester Corbin 703-838-5234; awards@safnow.org.
Jenny Scala is the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Society of American Florists
