I know it is hard to believe, but yet another year has gone by and here we are again at Convention time. It is a lot like homecoming for me. And I hope it is the same for you. I have been attending the Convention for 36 years now, and I cannot imagine a year without seeing all my friends and meeting a host of new ones. And also sharing the ideas and techniques that not only keep floral design fresh, but also gaining a new understanding of what it takes to really make our businesses successful in these challenging times ! We invite you to take part in a very important project. Renewing our sense of what we are as florists, and why we do what we do. It is no longer enough to make pretty flower arrangements and wait for the phone to ring. We have to join the world of tomorrow and look to the future to meet the challenges that present themselves to us in this incredible industry. There are fewer florists out there today.And, according to statistics, we should all have about a 10% increase in sales. I am sad to say that not many of us do. Let's join together today and decide to become better designers and business people. Let's become part of our own communities and toot our own horns. We can do the best design work with the newest and freshest of flowers that are available today. And we can join the future today and learn to reach out to our customer base the new way. Websites, blogs and Facebook pages are the latest ways to show the world what we have for them. And how beautiful we can make their world ! I would like to invite you to take that step and apply for a scholarship this year. The classes offered are the best ever. And you may be surprised to find out that you are ready to learn the latest design techniques and business practices that are available for all of those that are ready for the challenge !!! Scholarship application forms are available on this website - so fill it out and take the plunge...today ! Don't wait till the last minute !!! I also want you to consider entering the Ozark Cup Design Contest ! The most and best learning experiences in my long career were when I decided to compete. And the best way to explain it is that I always competed with myself ! I chose design objectives that I needed to achieve, and I used them in the designs. And I always learned the most from the other designers. Everyone who enters a design competition is a winner. In the truest and most meaningful sense of the word ! This year we have some real treats - one of them has been a long time coming. The incredible Sally Ann Davis AIFD, from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, has agreed to teach a hands on class on Bridal Bouquet Design. This is a wonderful one time opportunity to learn from the best in the business. I am so grateful to have Sally Ann coming to share her magic with you !
Also we will have " The Plant Magician " Allen Mann AAF, OCF from Mann's Greenhouses, Mc Alester, Oklahoma, teaching us everything we need to know about the creative use of plants and the possibilities available to us when selling and designing with plants. Possibly the highest margin commodity in today's challenging market !!! And we will have the incredible teacher Tom Bowling AIFD, coming to us from Teleflora. HE has customized a program celebrating the designs that we all do every day. But kicking them up a notch and taking them from " Now " to " Wow " !! Tom wants to share tips and techniques that we can use in a practical way in our Wedding, Sympathy and Party work, and the Bread and Butter designs that we deliver everyday for all the occasions that make up the magic of this Industry. We are very lucky to have this kind of educator !! And, finally, an unusual new form of educational experience. A first at Ozark ! We are pitting two incredible designers, Mark Erickson, AIFD PFCI, The Oklahoma Flower Market, and Terry Muse, AIFD, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and you will get to watch them design in competition live on stage, using surprise package materials, under rigid time restrictions !!! This will be a blast to witness, and the mystery judges will be really tough ! WHO WILL WIN ? AND WHO WILL LOSE IT ? These are two brave designers !!!
King James ( The King Arthur James ) has planned an incredible weekend for you. Too much fun ! I hope to see you there !!
