Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association

WF&FSA netWORK, 6-21-11 Issue

WF&FSA's Free Electronic Newsletter

June 21, 2011

WF&FSA Floral Distribution Conference Registration Open!
By now you have marked your calendars for the 2011 Floral Distribution Conference scheduled for Wednesday through Friday, October 19-21, at the Doral in Miami, Florida. Here are a few "to do" items for your meeting checklist.

Register for your Table Top Exhibit - more than 55 companies have already registered for their table top display. There are only 46 left, so act now to ensure you are not left out! You may register for a table by clicking here . To see who has already registered, just check out the list here .
Make Your Sleeping Room Reservations at the Marriott Doral Now! To make your reservation, please call 1-800-713-6725 and ask for the 2011 WF&FSA Annual Conference special rate of $134. The group code is wffwffa. You can also make your hotel reservations online by clicking here .
Register your delegates for this event now by 4536261&Action=DisplayRegForm_Step1&EventID=49&RegNo=1&StartNewReg=1 for secured online registration or clicking here for the PDF version.
You can gain great exposure in our industry by becoming an FDC sponsor. For a look at available sponsorships, just click here.

WF&FSA Call for Nominations for Leland T. Kintzele Distinguished Service Award
The Leland T. Kintzele Distinguished Service (LTK) Award is the highest honor given annually by the Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association (WF&FSA).

The LTK Award is presented each year to one individual who meets three criteria:

Demonstrated dedication, ability and initiative to a degree that sets him or her apart from contemporaries
Significant contributions to the welfare and progress of wholesale florists in particular and the floral industry in general
Distinguished service that exemplifies the integrity, fairness, perseverance and decisiveness of Leland T. Kintzele, president of WF&FSA from 1963 to 1966.

The LTK award will be presented at the Floral Distribution Conference, October 19-21, 2011 at the Doral in Miami, Fl. If you are interested in nominating someone please send Trish Lilly an email detailing how that person fits the above characteristics. Read more.

Have You Updated Your Listing on the WF&FSA Website Recently?
If you would like to view your own personal information, 4536261 You'll be asked to log in again with your user name and password before you reach the menu to "Modify My Account." We apologize for this extra step, but our software's security settings require it for now. If you need to make ANY changes to your information or company information, you need to download a directory update form and fill out. You can also contact the WF&FSA office at 1-888-289-3372 for assistance.

You can click here to download a directory update form, make your changes and fax it back to the WF&FSA office at (410) 263-1659.

Colombia Reaches Labor Milestones -- Movement on Trade Agreement Possible
SAF...In a move that should bring the U.S./Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) one step closer to congressional ratification, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) this week announced that Colombia has reached certain milestones designed to protect labor rights and union activities in that country.

Under an agreement known at the Action Plan Related to Labor Rights, negotiated by President Obama and Colombian President Santos on April 7, the Colombian government was required by June 15 to take a series of steps to protect internationally recognized labor rights, prevent violence against labor leaders and prosecute perpetrators of such violence.

The Obama Administration made it clear in April that Colombia must meet these milestones in order for the free trade agreement to move forward. Read more.

E-Verify Debate Underway in Congress
The "E-Verify" debate is officially underway in Congress, with mandatory E-Verify bills introduced this week in both the House and the Senate.

Senator Dianne Feinstein said, during a recent conversation with agriculture groups, that "Agriculture needs to bring its tractors to Washington, D.C.!" Not coincidentally, a series of "Aggie Fly-Ins" is beginning - with the first, sponsored by Western Growers Association, next week. The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association is organizing a similar event built around July 13. If you are willing to come to Washington to lobby on behalf of a sustainable workforce for floriculture and for others in agriculture, contact SAF. Growers who will be impacted by "enforcement-only" legislation need to make their voices heard now, during the debate. We are working with the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform (ACIR) to help with these events, and, hopefully, others. A visible presence in the nation's capitol will help make the point that our agricultural workforce - and therefore, U.S. agriculture - is in danger. Read more .

Proflora 2011 Reports 90% of the Exhibition Sold. New Pavilion, All Under One Roof!
Flowers from Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Chile will be exhibited at Proflora 2011, along with the main breeding companies from over 10 countries. Match-making business meetings will be provided for international buyers to meet with exhibitors on a one-on-one basis; farm tours for buyers to see where and how flowers are grown will be available; and a Golf Tournament will be the beginning of the Flower Show, Proflora 2011, from September 28th through 30th. Learn more.

Oregon Vetoes Bill Changing How Floral Order Payments are Split
SAF...Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber vetoed legislation June 13 that would have reduced the payment order takers and sending florists keep for Oregon floral orders, but said he supports its intent. He said he would convene a work group to look at alternative ways of addressing the issue.

Citing constitutional concerns with the bill, which would have given filling florists in every state a higher percentage of the payment for orders originating in Oregon, Kitzhaber vetoed HB 2212, saying in a letter to the House co-sponsors, it "impacts commerce that occurs entirely outside the borders of Oregon, and thereby runs afoul of" the commerce clause in the U.S. Constitution. In addition, he said the bill would affect private contracts between order facilitators and their customers, which "likely violates the contracts clause of the Oregon and U.S. constitutions." Read more .

Discover New Bestselling Designs
The new floral design book, Gorgeous Floristry Bestsellers, features 120 practical ideas, from bouquets to table decor, that florists can replicate in their shops. For more information or to buy the book, visit shop.product_details/flypage

Mapping Your Channel
A channel map is one of the most important, but least used, elements of an effective profit improvement program. It is the key to big, sustainable increases in profits and growth, especially in your most important accounts. It also provides decisive competitive differentiation - building big barriers to entry based on customer knowledge, relationships, and trust. This enables you to secure and grow your most important customer relationships, and to penetrate and grow critical potential accounts. For more information .

Social Marketing's Benefits Rival Email for Small Businesses
Social media has quickly moved up the ranks of top marketing tactics among small and medium-sized business (SMBs). April 2011 research from Pitney Bowes indicates that by some measures of desirability, it's in close competition with email.

When asked why they used several marketing tactics, US SMBs were most likely to say they chose social media marketing for its cost-effectiveness (54%) and ease of use (53%). Read more .

Register for Free, 1-Hour Webinar: "Facing the Forces of Change®"
Join NAW and IBM for a free, 1-hour Webinar: "Using Facing the Forces of Change® to Impact Your Wholesale Distribution Business," Tuesday, June 28, 1 to 2 p.m. EDT. You'll hear an overview of the research, hear from executives about how they are applying the lessons learned, and you'll have the opportunity to ask questions live. Find out more and register. .

How to Keep Workers Safe as Temperatures Rise
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is reminding employers about ensuring safe work conditions as above-average temperatures sweep the nation, and this article offers tips for keeping employees safe. OSHA says workers should be able to drink water frequently, have access to shade and be able to recognize and respond to early signs of heat illness. KCBD-TV (Lubbock

4 Added LinkedIn Features You Should Know
LinkedIn recently added features that help better target text advertising and have increased click-through rates by three to four times, according to LinkedIn's Krista Canfield. In addition, the social-networking site is testing tools to help monitor your company's reputation and respond to news, as well as measuring trending skills in your industry. Entrepreneur magazine

Spotlight On:

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