Green's the Scene - Luncheon

Featuring Designs Created by: Dan Kotecki AIFD

Green's the Scene

(Check out the Program Slideshow Below)

Dan Kotecki AIFD has been involved in the floral industry for the past 30 years, 29 of them with his current employer, Bachman's Inc. in Minneapolis. Dan is a Senior Creative Design Consultant in the Floral Specialties Department, which specializes in events, weddings, parties, floral gifts and business incentives.

Dan served as floral chairman for the FTD National Convention held in Minneapolis. He has been convention chairman and design program chairman for several North Central Florist's Association Conventions. Dan was a regional finalist for the FTD America's Cup National Competition and has traveled abroad to work on several projects.

A design team member for Presidential Inaugurations and the Rose Parade, Dan has been featured at many design programs and presented workshops throughout the country.

Dan was inducted into AIFD in 1988 and is currently a member of the National Membership and Marketing Committees and is Vice President of the North Central Regional Chapter.

(Sponsored by Gold Elite Partner Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association.)

Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Assn.

NOTES:

From global warming to ozone depletion, we have all been made aware of the threats to our planet. As we work to beautify our environment with products produced from the earth, we need to sustain our resources so we can continue to provide the beauty we are trained to create. Whether it's using containers made from recycled products or purifying the air with the use of more green plants, attendees found ways - big and small - to be more eco-friendly.

As Kermit the Frog would say, "It ain't easy being green." Going green can be a real challenge, but every journey starts by taking the first step. We can start by recycling our pop cans, water bottles and cardboard, and continuing to add new steps until going green becomes a new mindset. Florists and growers, by the very nature of our business, must be in tune with environmental issues. In order to continue to offer a top quality floral product, we must work to preserve and better the environment.

Going green inside a flower shop is a bit of an oxymoron. Going green as a business is not only socially responsible, it adds color to that responsibility and is as necessary as social media is to shaping the customer's views of our business landscape. We have matured in the nearly 30 years since kindness to our supplier, Mother Earth, became a good thing. If just the plastic bags and catalogues distributed in the U.S. last year took 12 million barrels of oil, what can we as floral retailers do to contribute to the greening of things?

Recycle where possible.
Buy from local growers and Fair Trade importers.
Pay attention to excess in wrappings and packaging (a challenge in the colder climates) and encourage recipients to recycle wrapping.
Adopt composting practices.
Carefully remove rubber bands from bunches rather than cutting them and save them for reuse.