This Issue: - Georgia State Florist

This Issue:
-New Floral Education Course
-Revamped Georgia Master
Florist Certificate Program
-Calendar of Events
-Details on 2010 Convention
-Recap of 2009 Summer
Symposium and 2009
Southern Retail Florist
Association
Letter from t
he President
Wow! Summer has flown by! School has
started, Fall is out in the shop and Christmas
merchandise has arrived.
Bring on the
Holiday Season! Putting the slow summer
months behind us!
I want to apologize for the last message. It
was very long! Sorry.I didn't realize how long
it was until I had finished. Oh well you all
know I have the gift of gab. So this one will
not be quite as long. Maybe.
well
as
on
the
www.georgiastateflorist.com.
web
site
Speaking of the web site, new things are
happening there. As of last week, convention
registration can be purchased from the site.
Along with the Floral Education Course and
GMF Certification, you can even make a
donation to the Julian Bridges Education
Fund on the site. We are finally getting there
and more are to come! Thank You Richard!
Education is the driving force of GSFA. We
have educational programs taking place all
over the state. From Monthly District Meeting
to the Regional Programs. Check out the
"Events" section as well as the Regional
programs slated for the next few weeks.
Convention 2010 is coming right along! We
have a lot of buzz generating within the
industry. You don't want to miss it!
Congratulations to Lynn Vallotton GMF! She
represented GSFA at Southern Retail in their
Designer of the Year competition and placed
2nd Runner up out of 8 states. Lynn, you
made GSFA proud.
I am so excited to announce the Floral
Education Course that is now available to
GSFA Members. It's a course that consist of 9
online course and a hands-on workshop.
Open to any GSFA member. The Floral
Education Course is also Phase One of the
New GMF Certification Program. In an effort
to strengthen the level of quality and to bring
the program up to standards recognized by the
industry, changes have been made to the
certification program. Complete details are
available in this issue of the News Flash as
I know I said I would keep it short and I will. I
do want to take this time to say THANK YOU
to everyone for all the hard work and
support!!!! I truly appreciate you all!!! Let us
keep pressing forward! As always, Thanks for
all you do for GSFA and our Industry!
Randy Wooten AIFD, GMF
GSFA President
Georgia State Florist Association
2009 Regional Education Programs
Randy Wooten, AIFD, GMF
Jeff Lott, AIFD, GMF
Sherry Moon, AIFD, GMF
$20 Registration
$15 For each
additional person
from the same shop
Sout
hern Region
Registration 9 am
Announcements 9:45 am
Program 10 am
September 13,
South Georgia College
100 West College Park Dr.
Douglas, GA 31533
"Fall Harvest"
Sherry Moon, AIFD, GMF
"Pricing for Profit"
Jeff Lott, AIFD, GMF
"Sympathy Celebrations"
Cent
ral Region
Jeff Lott, AIFD, GMF & Sherry Moon, AIFD, GMF
October 18, 2009
Fort Valley University
151 Osigian Blvd.
Warner Robins, GA 31088
"Fall Harvest"
Sherry Moon, AIFD, GMF
"Surviving Today's Market: Sympathy"
Randy Wooten, AIFD, GMF
"Party Collaboration"
Sherry Moon, AIFD, GMF &
Randy Wooten, AIFD, GMF
2010 GSFA Convention
March 12th - 14th
Marriott Macon City Center
Old Roots.....New Growth
through Education and Determination
FEATURING:
Friday Night with Our Partners, 4 Main Stage Design Programs,
3 Hands-On Workshops, President's Ball, Scholarship, Fellowship, Networking and Fun
Andy Hopper, AIFD Birmingham, Alabama
"Wedding and Event Designs"
Deborah De La Flor, AIFD, PFCI
FTD Design Instructor
"Memorial Flowers with Lasting Memories"
Burton Cup 2010
Interpretive
Competition
Theme:
"The Rebirth
of the
Empty Chair"
Sponsored by FTD
Design Program
Sponsored by Winward
To be Announced
Permanent Designs
Design Program
Sponsored by Teleflora
To be Announced
Complete Details on Convention, Scholarships, Vendor Booths, Program Ads
and Registration can be found at www.georgiastateflorist.com.
You can now pay for registration and all GSFA's classes/events
online using the GSFA web site.
Check out the
Website!
www.georgiastateflorist.com
GSFA Scholarships
The Georgia State Florists' Association
awards several major scholarships to
deriving members of the association.
The purpose of GSFA scholarships is
to educate florists so the quality of
floral work in Georgia will continue to
be some of the most outstanding
professional work in the country.
These competitions for scholarships
are open to all members of GSFA.
The rules and regulations are set forth
by the scholarship committee and
approved by the GSFA Board of
Directors.
They include: The Clearance Memorial
Scholarship,
The
Wholesalers
Scholarship,
The
B.J.
White
Certification Scholarship, and The
Delorice Wooten Scholarship. To learn
more check out the website at
www.georgiastateflorist.com.
Become A Member!
September
Events
September 13:
GSFA Regional Design Program
South Georgia College, Douglas, Georgia
9 AM Registration/10 AM Program
September 15:
District I
"Holiday Magic" by Paul Brummer
A Wine Tasting by Lisa Poole/ The Vine Intervention
Design Contest: "Baby Girl" - Wholesale Fee of $25.00
Allen's Cartersville Florist, 471 East Main St., Cartersville, GA 30121
6:30 PM/ $5.00 Per Person/ Food Provided
September 16:
Tri-State Florist Wholesale presents
Create A Christmas for Tough Economic Times
Bill Lindeman, AIFD
7:00 pm/ 1310 North Jefferson St., Albany, Georgia
For more information call: 229-888-5423
September 27:
GSFA Regional Design Program
Reeve's Wholesale, Gainesville, Georgia
9 AM Registration/ 10 AM Program
Oct
ober
October 6:
District II- NEGFA
Seasonal Color Greenhouses, Athens, Georgia
6:30 p.m./ Drinks Provided
October 11:
Teleflora Unit Program
Tri-State Florist Wholesale, Albany, Georgia
"Holiday Designs" Wilton Hardy, AIFD, AAF, PFCI, FSMD
For more information call:
Susan Mullis, GMF 800-523-1008 or Libby at Tri-State 800-533-4654
October 13:
District VII- MAFA - at Metro Atlanta Floral Delivery Pool
Care and Handling of Orchids and Bromeliads
October 18:
GSFA Regional Design Program
Fort Valley University, Warner Robins, Georgia
9 AM Registration/ 10 AM Program
Oct
ober
continued
October 20:
District V- SWGFA
Designer of the Year Competition
Tri-State Wholesale, Albany, Georgia
October 20:
District I
Designer of the Year Competition
Reeves Floral Products, Inc.,
102588 Highway 92, Woodstock, Georgia, 770-924-5230
6:30 PM/ $5.00 Per person for District/ Food Provided
October 25:
GSFA Regional Design Program
Fort Valley University, Warner Robins, Georgia
9 AM Registration/ 10 AM Program
November
November 10:
District VII: MAFA - To be Announced
November 17:
Monthly Meeting
"Do you really understand your statement? Your POS statement?"
By Neil Blair and Suzanne Gustavel from Teleflora
Design Contest: "Christmas Wreath" / Wholesale fee of $40.00
Mike Whittle Designs, 156 Church Street, Marietta, GA
6:30 PM/ $5.00 Per person for District/ Food Provided
Our Congratulations to GSFA President Randy
Wooten, AIFD, GMF who recently received his AIFD
accreditation. Accredited membership in the
American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) is
extremely selective and can be obtained only after a
candidate has effectively demonstrated advanced
professional ability of his or her floral artistry.
Members proudly wear the "AIFD" addendum on
their name to demonstrate that their peers have
found them to be "Accredited in Floral Design."
Randy certainly has demonstrated his "cutting edge"
art by meeting specified continuing education
requirements GSFA is privileged to have a number of
AIFD accredited members!
Way to go Randy!
GSFA is excited to announce a new
education program available to its members!
Georgia State Florists' Association
Floral Education Course
GSFA’s Floral Education Course is one of the most complete educational
programs in the floral industry. It is divided into three segments:
Design Production, Design Management and Customer Care. The
program has been developed for the floral industry member with all
levels of experience. It is designed to benefit everyone from sales to
designers to shop owners. The Floral Education Course provides a
standard of professional excellence which is recognized throughout the
industry. This Education Course also serves as Phase One in the steps
to Georgia Master Florist certification.
The Floral Education Course is made up of 9 separate on-line courses,
a hands-on class and a final exam. This course allows GSFA members
the flexibility and the freedom to excel at their own pace based on
their personal needs. Courses of interest can be taken individually for
those not wishing to pursue their GMF Certification. Whether a owner
wishes to bush up on Customer Care or Visual Merchandising or a
designer wishing to learn the fundamentals of floral design.
The
member’s cost of each course is $65 and $150 for the hands-on class.
At the end of each course, an exam will be available. Note that you
will be allowed two attempts at the exam for that course. Additional
attempts will be available at a cost of $20. The written final exam will
be given at the end of the hands-on class. In order to achieve a
certificate of completion for the complete course, the member must
have received a test score of at least 90 on each course as well as the
final.
On-Line Courses -Floral Education Course
“Principles of Design” This course might well be called “Tools of Design”. These principles
are not arbitrary rules: they are constant guidelines.
“Concepts of the Care and Handling of Foliage and Flowering Plants” Plants add a
touch to our homes and brighten our indoor surroundings. In the course you will learn the
Plant’s Morphology, the Plant’s Physiology, Plant Nomenclature and much more.
“Care and Handling of Cut Flowers and Foliage” Cut flowers, even though they have
been separated from the parent plant, are living, actively metabolizing plant parts. You will
explore the factors affecting quality, tips for handling roses, pre-treatments and Care and
Handling Terms.
“Customer Relations” In today’s market, our thoughts, plans and directions must be focused
on those who make our business and its success possible, the customer.
“Delivery Made Simple” In today’s 24-hour, self service society, few customer-oriented
personalized services remain. Delivery is a service that is almost extinct in retailing and is the
one commodity the floral industry has to keep customers coming to our shops.
“The Art of Effective Visual Merchandising” Merchandising is anything that you do to
develop your business and move your product. The course will show you how to prepare a
merchandising calendar, explain productive use of space, design, lighting, signage and much
more.
“Employee Relations” A business cannot function effectively without people. Too many
business owners and managers tend to neglect the human side of their operation. This course
addresses locating qualified people, hiring techniques, interviewing, training, motivation and
much more.
“Advertising and Promotion” In today’s advertising market the consumer is over exposed to
commercial messages. You must get noticed. This course will provide you tools for success.
“Daily Business Procedures” The goal of Daily Business Procedures is to acquaint the
individual with the basic definitions and business procedures needed to operate a floral shop on
a day to day basis.
Hands-on Class
The workshop would offer a hands-on approach to sympathy, wedding and even current design
styles and techniques that are vital to every designer.
Final Exam: Exam will be a written exam covering material from all 9 courses and the hands-on
class. The exam will be given at the end of the class.
The Floral Education Course is now available online at
www.georgiastateflorist.com
For additional information contact Randy Wooten AIFD,
GMF at 912-384-7288 or wooten2594@windstream.net
In continuing GSFA's pursuit of Education, we have revamped the Georgia Master
Florist Certification program. The purpose in the revamping is two fold.
1) An effort to raise the bar and to ensure the quality of the certification program.
2) To ensure the certification program is recognized by the National Alliance of
Florist Associations(NAFA) and the American Institute of Floral Designers(AIFD).
This is due to recent changes in some of the industry's accreditation requirements.
Georgia Master Florist Certification Program
Steps to Becoming a Georgia Master Florist
Step One: File an application for eligibility. Requirements---Paid member of GSFA in
good standings.
Step Two: Once eligibility is verified, you are eligible to register for Phase One of the
GMF Certification Program, GSFA’s Floral Education Course. Which consist of nine on line
courses, a hands-on class and an exam. The member’s cost for each course is $65 and
$150 for the hands-on class. (See the section on the “Floral Education Course” for
complete details and registration)
Step Three: Once the Floral Education Course has been successfully completed, you
may register for Phase Two of the GMF Certification Program. Phase Two is a Design
Evaluation Session. The Design Evaluation Session is an onsite design evaluation held at
Convention. The member’s cost for the Design Evaluation Session is $150.
Phase Two
* Design Evaluation Session –Given at Convention --Members Cost $150. Members will be required to complete (3 or 4) designs
within a 3 hour time limit. Designs will be evaluated on a scale from 1-5:
1 being poor, 3 being average and 5 being excellent. Member must achieve
a minimum of 3.75 in order to be certified GMF by GSFA.
If a member should not achieve a minimum of 3.75, the member will be
eligible to enroll in Phase Two the following year. Phase Two fees apply.
If a member successfully completes Phase One and gives proper notice that
they are unable to attend the Design Evaluation Session, then the member
will be allowed to participate in the following year’s Design Evaluation
Session with out additional cost. There will be no refunds or transfers to the
following year for “No Shows” or failure to give proper notice.
Maintaining GMF Certification
Each GMF must be a member of GSFA in good standings and earn 25 Continuing Education Units over a
3 year period to maintain their GMF Certification. First reporting of units for existing GMF’s will be due by
April 2012. For new GMFs, the units will be due 3 years from the year of Certification. Continuing
Education Units can be earned through several ways. Form will be provided on the web site.
GSFA State Convention attendance
20 points
GSFA Summer Symposium attendance 15 points
District Education Program attendance 2 points
Regional Industry Program attendance 10 points
National Industry Program attendance 15 points
GSFA State or District Officer position 5 points
Present a Design Program
10 points
The GMF Certification program can be
accessed online at
www.georgiastateflorist.com
For additional information or questions
contact Randy Wooten AIFD, GMF @
912-384-7288 or
wooten2594@windstream.net
Summer Symposium 2009
For more pictures go to
www.georgiastateflorist.com!
Great Designers!
Beaut
iful Designs!
Wonderful
Programs!
GSFA's Members at Southern Retail's
60th annual Convention
A weekend full of educational design
programs and industry vendors
Congratulations to
Lynn Vallotton GMF
2nd Runner up at Southern Retail
Representing GSFA as our
Designer of the Year!
We are Proud of you!!!
Ask how to get a FREE Night Downtown
Atlanta for Market this January by
joining Southern Retail for only $30!
For details contact Randy Wooten AIFD,
GMF at wooten2594@windstream.net
Julian Bridges'
Educational Fund
T
As always, our continued
thanks goes out to
Richard Lauter of
Love Story Photography
for his hard work on
updating and maintaining
the website. If you see
Richard at an event in the
future, make sure to tell
him how much it
is appreciated.
www.lovestoryphotography.com
GSFA State Executive Board
President
Randy Wooten GMF
Vice President
Sherry Moon AIFD, GMF
Board Members
District Presidents
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 5
Second Vice President
Murray Hand GMF
District 6
District 7
Secret
ary
Angelyn Tipton GMF
Ret
ail Direct
or
Jeff Lott, AIFD, GMF
Treasurer
Angie Head GMF