What I did for summer vacation...

Michael David Elder AIFD, CFD

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Since attending my first National Symposium in Anaheim California in 2016, my floral family has grown immensely with each passing year. We all endured the time when symposium was impossible due to Covid-19 restrictions and the financial hardship that lingered for many of us. This year was an opportunity to reconnect to my flower family once again in Chicago and I could not have been more excited! I arrived early before the crowds filled the hallways and ballrooms knowing that it would allow me to see and spend a little quality time with friends: old and new.

Symposium has evolved over the years but the essence remains, a feeling of belonging, a source of incredible knowledge and inspiration, a place where talented designers young and old from all over the planet make their way in order to share, inspire and be inspired. They say one should never meet their heroes, but I disagree. For me there have been a succession of floral "Heroes" over the 4 decades now that I have been in the floral industry.

Ty Leslie AIFD presented an incredible tribute program recalling so many who influenced his personal career. We shared a number of them, now departed from us, but never forgotten. Those who showed us the way with joy, encouragement and creative spirit. They challenge us even now to be better designers and yes, better people. They set examples of compassion, professionalism and the noble effort of sharing knowledge.

The AIFD family has been a seemingly infinite resource and remains so today thanks to incredible people like Tim Farrell AIFD who received the AIFD award for distinguished service. His remarkable talent and generosity remains a treasure valued by myself and the entire AIFD community. Congratulations Tim on your well deserved award!

David Beam walked us through the incredible details of just one of his lavish events and opened a window for us all to see what it really takes to produce world class events. Laura Dowling took us on a journey through her years at the White House and the 100 hour weeks of high pressure that she experienced. For such a genteel soft spoken lady she is obviously made of high carbon steel. Charlie Gropetti AIFD invited us into his world, his dreams and his approach to life. If I had to choose a single design that blew my mind it would be his sunflowers made from magnolia leaves and sweetgum balls. These were the bane of my existence when I was a private gardener years ago, yet Charlie transformed garden refuse into amazing beauty with true talent and vision.

The programs were all exceptional and I am grateful for the artists and their support teams too numerous to name here. To all the backstage helpers and committee chairmen and members: your hard work does not go unnoticed, you are the backbone of AIFD.

Symposium is my vacation most years and the most rejuvenating, inspiring and exhausting week of the year. For those of you who didn't make symposium this year, know that you were missed and as we say in the south, "If the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise" I'll see you in Orlando!