The AFE 43rd Annual Fundraising and Recognition Dinner was held during the SAF Annual Convention in Amelia Island , Florida on Thursday , September 19 , 2019 .
During the eventide , AFE reported on meeting the $ 1.5 million goal for The Thrips and Botrytis Research Campaign and also on the new consumer marketing written report funded by the Floral Marketing Research Fund ( FMRF . )
The highlight of the evening was AFE ’s “ fill up the Vase ” run . This campaignwas created on the concept of individual prime coming together to make a beautiful , full vase ; single industry members come together to make a difference in the industry ’s future by making a donation to AFE of any amount .
During the dinner , every attender invite a undivided rose . Each rose represented the somebody fill the seat – a member of the floral industry . The industry really came together as the meeter pose their roses link up with their contribution cards into a vase , to make beautiful arrangements .
Tim Noble , President of Hortica Insurance declare a gift catch for the first $ 5,000 donated as a part of the dinner party contributions ! Dr. Marvin Miller of Ball Horticultural Company quickly followed suit on behalf of Ball to fill and even raise their match to $ 6,000 .
Both the matches were see , and in total over $ 41,000 was pledged as a part of the Fill the Vase campaign in just one night .
The Fill The Vase fundraising campaign will continue through December , so even if you were n’t there , you could still help oneself fill our metaphorical vase by making a donation atendowment.org/donate .
Smithers - Oasis / Floralife announce their committal to a third - year talent - mates of $ 20,000 for AFE ’s twelvemonth - end campaign . aid us reach this end !
AFE also announced new Officers andTrustees to the Board . Randy Tagawa of Tagawa Greenhouses will do as Secretary / Treasurer as Laura Shinall of Syndicate Sales move into her fresh role as Chairman - Elect . Dr. Megan Bowman of Ball Horticultural Company and Gustavo Gilchrist of Kennicott Brothers Company were welcome as novel members of the AFE Board . Dr. Marvin Miller of Ball Horticultural Company and Ken Altman of Altman Plants were honored as they completed their full term on the Board .
