And what he said to me, I will never forget. I actually remember it like it was yesterday. Welcome to the business and pleasure of flowers. We're your hosts, Vonda LaFever.
Lori:and Lori Wilson. And we believe that business and fun are a perfect combination. Kind of like us Vonda
Vonda:Hey, cliquers and AIFD family. I'm so happy you joined me for this episode in the series featuring AIFD. Now this will be our last series of this great month. And in less than 11 months, AIFD, friends and family will gather at national symposium in Washington, DC. God-willing and I'll be there. I really wouldn't miss it. If you've never experienced an AIFD symposium, you should plan to join. As you heard, Jackie Lacey AIFD, president and Jodie McCloud in our episodes on leadership both mentioned what an extraordinary symposium. This is going to be nowhere, I'm saying nowhere in the world, Is there an event that is so inspiring, educational and motivational as AIFD national symposium. Today, we're going to hear a few voices of new AIFD members and why they wanted to be part of AIFD. But first I want to walk down a little AIFD memory lane. You'll get to know a little bit about me and hopefully get a little chuckle on some of this. But I reflect back to my very first symposium, San Francisco, 1987. Wow. Many of you weren't even born yet, but if you're listening and you have been to a national symposium, your first more than likely as something you'll never forget. You know what I'm talking about. If you're listening here 1987, I was a young mother from a small town in Iowa, working at Everts flower shop in Ames, Iowa. You've heard me talk of Everts before I was hungry to learn. So I volunteered at the local wholesale house. It was called flora supply in Des Moines, Iowa. Whenever there was a design show, I said, please let me come help. So I had the opportunity to work with some pretty fabulous designers who encouraged me to attend a national symposium and pursue AIFD. One of those wore some pretty big hats and brought sunshine wherever she went. You guessed it. That was Bobby Ecker. She was one of my biggest encouragers as she was to hundreds of now accredited members of AIFD. You might be one of those. In San Francisco, I was there by myself. I knew no one. So I decided I was going to take a bus tour, you know, small town girl. I thought let's see San Francisco on that bus tour. I met David Schober and we began our AIFD bond way back then David spent his life sharing his time and talent, which were many with AIFD. And I think that very next year, after becoming an AIFD member, he presented a program at national symposium. And I thought, wow, I wasn't that confident. I certainly couldn't have pulled off something like that. The very next year or for many years to come, we lost an amazing designer and all around great person this year, rest in peace, David, you know, we love you. So back to my very first symposium, I was blown away truly in awe. Those were the days of actual film and cameras. And I took and developed over 250 pictures. I still have those. I met a lot of industry icons. I sat in the front row watching, you know, looking up at that stage thinking, wow, this is just amazing. And I sat next to a really sweet lady. She had a cane and she would speak to me occasionally. Very nice. All I know was her name was a little unusual. Ulayla. Yeah. Some of you have never heard that name before and I have to admit it wasn't until several years later that I learned that this woman was Ulayla Overmeyer and she was a past president of AIFD and truly an icon and built so much for AIFD as a first time attendee. It didn't show that she was somebody really important. I thought she was just like me and wanted to sit in the front row and take it all in. But that's where I was exposed to floral art designer built these really huge picture frames and canvases. And it was just like, I could walk right into these pictures. They were like fields of flowers. I was so close to that stage. I felt like I could just reach up and touch them. There was so much depth and texture and Oh my gosh, there were amazing. And the designer was really shy and she could hardly talk about her work and she had to have help describing what it was interesting enough that was Hitomi Gilliam and look at her now. Wow. I look back and think, Oh my gosh, how we all grow over the years, there were many first that year, but I had the opportunity to meet a man who I really admired. And I didn't think he would talk to me, but I got up enough nerve. And I went up and said, hi, my name is Vonda. And I just wanted to introduce myself and say, I really enjoy your articles. You see this man wrote a column for PFD magazine, which was the professional floral designer magazine one that I would never miss. I would never miss his editorial because it was something that was very thought provoking. It made you think about not only design, but about business and in the industry as a whole, that man's name was Herb Mitchell. And I can remember he him talking to me like, you know what I'm saying? You're like, Oh, he's gonna really talk to me. You're just in awe of that. And what he said to me, I will never forget. I actually remember it like it was yesterday. And I took what he said to heart. He said, AIFD is a great organization. It's like no other you'll learn a lot and it can help you in your career. But I want to share a bit of advice. Of course, I was all ears. Now, Herb Mitchell is sharing advice with little old me. He said, don't try to meet and befriend people that you think will help you get somewhere. Be yourself, learn and grow here and get to know people. They will become lifelong friends, ones you can count on for anything. Interesting. Huh? In other words, don't use people connect with those who are naturally drawn to you. Work hard and friendships will happen. Don't force it. That was such great advice. And I still use that today. This is a perfect time to take a little break and listen to one of our newest AIFD members and a little message to why AIFD
Lindsay:Hi, my name is Lindsay Milky and the reason I wanted to come a member is I believe education is key to our success and the floral industry and so many talented designers and is such an elite wonderful group of people. And I wanted to be a part of that group. For individuals, one team to join or test. They need to just do it, have faith in themselves. You know what you know, and test. And if you don't succeed, try again.
Vonda:What a great message. Just do it. Spoken from somebody who's recently gone through all of this. Now let's continue on with my story. I also met a young lady whose name was Marie Ackerman. It wasn't until years later that our paths would cross again and we would become such good friends. So I left there thinking I'm going to do this. I am going to pursue AIFD membership. Back in those days, we had to submit a portfolio of designs and they were evaluated by the membership committee. If your portfolio was approved, you would move on to phase two and designed onsite. So there were a couple of places you could go. You would bring all your products with you, the flowers, your hard goods, whatever you needed. And you traveled far away with your box of flowers and supplies. The reason I bring this up, many designers have looked into AIFD accreditation and said, Ooh, that's so expensive from hiring a photographer to bring in the flowers with you. It was much more expensive back in the day, but it's a deal comparatively like any higher education. If you want to achieve that higher level, you will reap the rewards. Let's fast forward. I moved on to phase two, designing on site with people I didn't know, nervous as ever. And some guy kept playing the song and singing the song. Don't worry. Be happy. Don't worry. Be happy. So it kind of livened things up a little bit. And that was Fred Chan. And I passed. That was the good news I passed. And I was inducted into AIFD in 1989. And I remember the theme was the era of old Chicago. So obviously it was in Chicago. I actually rented a flapper dress. You know, I wanted to be in the theme and dressed for that. And I think actually I was the only one, not in a formal dress. Oh, well that was the beginning. I was inducted with some pretty special people that year, like Tom Bowling, Lorie Novak, Keith Harveson, Mary Linda Horn, Tommi Ferris, Emmett Odell, Kirk Pamper, Darla Pollick, David Schober, Howard Silver. And so many more that I couldn't find the whole list, but those are the ones that you look back and you go, yeah, I know those people in now. Most of them I can call friends and not because I forced myself as Herb Mitchell said, it's just because you work hard. You get to know somebody and you respect each other. And the friendship comes. This is a great time to take a break and hear about the journey of a new AIFD member.
Joanna:Hi, flower friends. My name is Joanna Kalina. I wanted to become an accredited member of AIFD because I wanted to know for sure what I was capable of becoming AIFD certified has been a dream of mine for most of my eight years as a floral designer, I finally took the plunge and decided now was a good time to try. If I didn't try, I might never know what I was capable of. For those of you thinking of taking that next step, know that you are capable, but you need to know that experience is a great teacher too, make sure you're familiar with the principles and elements of design in the design room, as well as in your head study your book, do mock tests, prepare. If you're serious about going through the whole process, jump in knowing that it's going to take some blood, sweat, and tears to reach the other side, but it's so worth it to know that after all of the preparation and execution process, I made it and I am capable.
Vonda:Yes, very capable and with hard work and dedication. It got you where you wanted to go. Congratulations. Let's continue on with me starting to get involved with AIFD after spending many years raising a family, I started to get more involved with AIFD. Bill McKinley asked me to help with the student chapter of AIFD. We were in Illinois. And I said, yes, Eddie Payne called to ask me to be on the membership committee. First. I said, me really? Because I wasn't really sure that he knew what me, it was like, how does he know me? Why is he asking me? Right? But I said, yes. And I met Carol Caggiano. She was on the membership committee. And Joyce Mason Monheim is the one who walked me through what we do to evaluate a portfolio. More friendships, family ties were made, but the most friendships and family ties that were made were in the flower room, working behind the scenes, in that flower room. It's still my favorite place to be working behind the scenes for final night, offers some great opportunities. You can design and get to know that person beside you. That's what I did with Michelle Perry, White, who then introduced me to Sharon McGukin and many other people from there. But the friendship started there Rich Selvaggio. And I presented several AIFD steps to membership programs, course designing behind the scenes on so many programs. I was just there. That was where we wanted to be. And I know many of you were the same. Tim Farrell did a fabulous program in Chicago, that I was behind the scenes with, and then was in awe. Everything that he was doing. I designed with Wilton Hardy, Richard Milltear. Kathy Relota. I was assisting her on a program. I remember in Rockford, Illinois also assisted Phil Relota and Gregor Lurch. It's just, it just goes on. And in the love of flowers and the level of what we do binds us together. Like nothing else. Then there are things like Frank Phasia spilling spaghetti appetizers down the front of my white outfit one evening to make a memorable connection. It, I did get to know Frank a lot better like that. And every time I see him he goes, I have no spaghetti on me, so good comes out of situations like that. And you just have to laugh and love and enjoy. When I was designing in Iowa at some programs, I kept hearing about this designer who was from Iowa, because that was where my roots were and her name was Julie Polar. And I'm like, I've got to meet this Julie Polar. I've heard so much about. And when Julia and I met, we have become fast and best friends. Then we opened the circle wider and include many more. Over the years, the shine girls as Marie Ackerman's program. We were the shine girls with my daughter, Ellie and her friend. And we had Helen Miller and Julian, Marlene MacDonald. And if you're listening, you're probably in the circle. We opened the circle more each year include more and more people. And you to have that circle, we expand the circle and gain more family members, which makes it better for everyone. And it is better as we welcome new AIFD members into the family, into the circle, let's hear of another journey into AIFD.
Iraema:I have wanted to become an AIP member since 2016. When I attended and volunteered at the floral symposium in Anaheim, California, my fascination with flowers began at say, young girl growing up in Cuba where brilliant color tropical flowers, blossom almost everywhere. After retiring, I began taking floral design classes. I also participated in student competitions at other symposia and worked in the flower room. I learned about the American Institute of floral designers and their recognition worldwide. And I've benefited from the educational mission of AIFD through their foundation. Having received two scholarships, AIFD inspired me as a floral designer, giving me the opportunity to meet local and international accredited floral designers by assisting them backstage. I wanted to challenge myself to become a part of this organization and ultimately to give back to rising designers, the journey towards accreditation was not easy. I went back to my textbooks, reviewed design elements and principles and practice with different floral techniques and design styles. I also work with mentors who provided support and encouraged me to expand my design skills that PFD demands, physical and mental determination. And I successfully passed in 2019. Being recognized and congratulated by your peers is extremely rewarding. And I can't wait for the induction ceremony as well as being reunited with my floral design family at symposia in the years to come.
Vonda:We are so looking forward to celebrating with you and everyone of the new AIFD members and watch you walk across that stage and celebrate in Washington D C it's going to be a spectacular symposium, 2021. And we hope to see everyone there. This has been a great month sharing AIFD with our listeners. It's been a crazy month for Lori and I, and we've done back and forth and not really been able to be on together because of her situation with COVID touching her life firsthand. We're thankful that she's starting to get back into it. And this week she's back in full force and we will be recording our podcast for next week. And you'll hear both of us back and ready to go. Since Lori's not here, I'm going to have to be the one that steps up and say, Vonda, what's giving you life right now. Good health. I am so thankful and appreciative for good health for my family and friends. I hope and pray. All of you are healthy during this situation and that we get through it stronger than ever. And next year, I hope to see you at AIFD symposium. And if you've listened to this month, please reach out and let me know that you've enjoyed it, that you miss something or, Hey, Vonda, I'm going to look you up next year at symposium and say, I'm here. And I'm all about AIFD.
Lori:We have certainly enjoyed our time together today. And we look forward to being with you guys again, if you have any questions, concerns, comments, anything we would love to hear from you. You can always email lori@flowerclique.com. Also, if you enjoy our little podcast, go ahead and click that subscribe button. That's very helpful for us. And you can even leave a review and we hope you join us next week.
Vonda:Yes. So please come back and join us and discover how a bit of knowledge and one small change in your mindset can take you to new levels in your life and business.