"This is an experience everyone should have." That's what Steve Frye had to say late yesterday, as his two days at SAF's Congressional Action Days were winding down.

Frye, of Baisch and Skinner Wholesale in St. Louis, was among the nearly 120 attendees who spent the bulk of Tuesday traversing Capitol Hill, en route to a total of 166 meetings with members of Congress and their legislative staff. Their mission: To urge Congress to support immigration reform; to push for additional funding for floriculture research and to talk about why the industry needs permanent estate tax reform.

SAF members Dottie Pannepacker (left) of Penny's Flowers in Glenside, Pa. and Chris Drummond, AAF, of Plaza Flowers in Norristown, Pa. participated in the various sessions at Congressional Action Days.

Attendees didn't bring those issues to the Hill without first getting primed on talking points, how to approach members of Congress — and even what it's like to be a member of Congress. Professional trainer Brad Fitch amped up members during his session called "Lobbying Tips, Training and Practice: Tactics for an Election Year."

"You are the most powerful lobbyist that can come and lobby for your cause," Fitch told the group.

Attendees also took part in a "mock" congressional office. Members were broken up into tables (each representing a freshman lawmaker) to become better acquainted with the pressures facing members of Congress. The goal of the exercise, which included strategizing and role playing by each table, was to make sure each imaginary congressperson got re-elected to another term. A good portion of attendees successfully got their fake incumbent back into office, and in the process learned to walk in legislators' shoes.

Anecdotal feedback about the effectiveness of their newly-required lobbying skills was positive. A number of Congressional Action Days attendees commented that, overall, the legislative aides and members of Congress were extremely receptive to the issues.

"When they realized I didn't come to preach, they relaxed," says Frye, who was a first-time attendee. He visited four different congressional offices and says he received a "gracious, accommodating reception."

"It rekindled my spirit and confidence in the system," he says.  

Charlie Hall, (of Texas A&M University), says he taught some of the offices a few things about the floral industry they didn't know, which he says he hopes will help the industry's case for additional research funding for floriculture. "When I mentioned that floriculture represents 15 percent of total agriculture receipts, but we only get less than half of one percent (of available research dollars) — that right there, you could almost see the light bulb go on," he says.

The Massachusetts delegation met with Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy's chief counsel for immigration policy. "I had no idea we had an appointment with her until we arrived," says Lisa Greene, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, of Nunan Florist & Greenhouses in Georgetown, Mass., adding that the industry's position on immigration reform was well-received.

Leyka Juska of Flowers To Go in West Palm Beach, Fla., was among 27 first-time attendees of Congressional Action Days. She's interested in politics and wanted to see how issues were addressed on the Hill.

"I just graduated from high school and my parents encouraged me to come get the experience," Juska says.

Wilton J. Lee, of Lee's Florist & Nursery in Berkeley, Calif., and a recently-elected member of the SAF Retail Council, is another first-timer.

"I've been involved with legislative action days in the state," Lee explains. "The industry has given me everything I have, so I'm just trying to give back."

Guests enjoy the flowers and the company at the Congressional Reception in the famous Cannon Caucus Room.

The event ended Tuesday, when the floral industry showed off its product and talent during the Congressional Reception in the famous Cannon Caucus Room. There were 27 members of Congress in attendance. During the course of the evening, more than 600 people representing nearly 250 congressional offices attended. Each congressional guest went home with a bouquet, but not before witnessing designers on the sidelines create stunning floral arrangements. Unlike past years, when arrangements could be given to congressional attendees, gift ban rules limit giveaways to $10, so many of the arrangements were donated to Meals on Wheels.

The flowers, design and transportation for Congressional Action Days were all donated by industry members.

Near the close of the reception, around 8 p.m., with 12 hours of meetings, miles of walking behind him, Frye said with a smile, referring to next year's event: "I'll be back."

--Morgan Schimminger
mschimminger@safnow.org

 

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