Tim Farrell, AIFD, PFCI, of Farrell’s Florist in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, provided comic relief at last year’s SAFPAC fundraiser. This year he is emceeing the event.
As Capitol Hill enters fundraising season and an election year, the Society of American Florists’ political action committee is gearing up to make sure the industry’s voice is heard in Washington.
During SAF Phoenix 2023, a party and design challenge will raise money for SAFPAC, the only national political action committee dedicated to advocating for the floral industry. Thanks to the event’s sponsors that underwrite the costs of the event, 100 percent of the cost of each ticket for the event will be used to help elect floriculture-friendly members of Congress.
The evening’s entertainment is a floral design challenge “filled with twists and turns,” says the event’s emcee, noted designer, educator and veteran retailer Tim Farrell, AIFD, PFCI, of Farrell’s Florist in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. The event is expected raise even more funds for SAFPAC when the audience votes with their money for a contestant.
“In the last two-year election cycle, SAFPAC netted the most money raised since 2010, thanks to the support of the industry,” says SAF Senior Vice President Katie Butler. “We must keep that momentum going into the 2024 election year so we can use SAFPAC to highlight the industry’s priorities to legislators.”
In recent years, SAF has contributed to members of the House and Senate Agricultural Appropriations committees that determine floriculture research funding. Members of the Ways and Means Committee are also key targets, given the committee’s jurisdiction over trade, taxes and the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), which contains costs and provides importers and retailers with greater price certainty.
“A strong SAFPAC enables SAF to amplify the industry’s voice with members of Congress who have jurisdiction over our advocacy priorities,” says SAF Senior Lobbyist Joe Bischoff.
At SAF’s 44th annual Congressional Action Days, March 18-19, 2024 in Washington, D.C., and throughout the coming year, SAF will work to ensure the recent hard-fought increases floriculture research funding levels are maintained, advocate for retroactive reinstatement of GSP and work with the USDA to maintain access to essential crop protections amidst changing pesticide regulations, including the recent Vulnerable Species Pilot Program.
Want to learn more about getting involved with SAFPAC or the SAFPAC Party at SAF Phoenix 2023? The first step is signing a prior approval form online. “Prior approval, required by law, allows SAF to communicate with you about what SAFPAC is doing and alert you to future SAFPAC events,” says Butler. Questions? Contact Katie Butler.
Katie Butler is the senior vice president for the Society of American Florists.
