In honor of AIFD’s 60th anniversary, Southern Chapter isexcited to celebrate the rich history of our chapter. This is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the events and cherished memories that have shaped our chapter over the years.
We invited some of our Past Presidents to share their unique experiences and significant moments that have played a crucial role in our chapter’s evolution. Our goal is to celebrate and preserve the legacy of Southern Chapter while sharing these meaningful memories with the entire AIFD community.
John Kittinger AIFD
2003-2004 AIFD Southern Chapter President
I was President of the Southern Chapter of AIFD in 2003-2004. My greatest memories of that time were of Southern Conference in Tunic, Mississippi. Southern Conference at that time had just started offering classes to prepare candidates for PFDE.
We also had great designers (as always!) that did Symposium worthy programs. The board of Southern worked very hard to maintain quality programming and still able to make a profit for the chapter, that we used as scholarships for our students to attend symposium.
The leadership of Southern Chapter has led to many great accomplishments for AIFD and the future is bright with a continued strong chapter. Many thanks to the leadership of Southern.
Robyn Arnold AIFD
2014-2015 AIFD Southern Chapter President
It was 2015, AIFD Southern Conference was at the Galt House Hotel on the river in Louisville, Kentucky. This was going to be the last big Southern Conference, as we knew it at that time…attendance had been declining and conference expenses rising.
The Southern Chapter board had made the difficult decision, that we needed to rethink conference. At that time Southern was evolving, we didn’t know what was next, but we had this conference to do.
Roger Dennis AIFD and John Kittinger AIFD were co-chairs that year, we had a stellar lineup of designers: Ben Lee AIFD, Suzie Kostick AIFD, Bobby Eldridge AIFD, Michael Gaddie AIFD, Jessica Morris AIFD, Shawn Michael Foley AIFD, and Brooke Raulerson AIFD. I’m sure that I am probably missing someone but forgive me my memory isn’t as good as it used to be. It was customary for Southern to use a lot of Southern members as our presenters, we were hoping that they would get exposure and one day soon, make it to the AIFD National Symposium stage, many of our AIFD members did just that, and we are so proud of them.
Aisha Crivens AIFD did our fantastic lobby decor, and we always had a Student Competition for our students, from Mississippi State University.
I remember that I missed the Ben Lee AIFD, Sweet Tea program, because I was calculating student scores. When the program was over everyone was raving about how great it was and to this day, they still say that. Brooke Raulerson AIFD had a fantastic wedding program that was the finale. Not long after Brooke was on the Main stage at AIFD National sharing her wedding program.
Education has always been the most important part of Southern Chapter and that has never changed. AIFD Southern Conference has changed, I’m so happy we once again started to have conference: “GATHER” a different concept, but the same in some ways.
The one thing that I must share with you is, Southern Chapter is a family. I have met and made friends with the most wonderful people, not only from our Southern Region, but from around the world. These people are what I call, friends for a lifetime, all because I got involved with AIFD.
Terry Godfrey AIFD
2019-2020 AIFD Southern Chapter President
In January 2020, we held a Mock PFDE, co-chaired by Bob Tucker AIFD, Sue Bain AIFD, Angelyn Tipton AIFD, and Terry Godfrey AIFD.
In conjunction with the Florida State Florists Association, Southern Chapter hosted the first Mock PFDE, featuring 10 participants. This event was part of the FSFA Mid-Season Summit in Fort Walton Beach, FL, and it was a great success.
In February 2020, we held our Student Weekend at Western Kentucky University.
WKU Advisor was Roger Dennis AIFD and the Co-Chairs for this event were Donny Johnson AIFD and Aisha Crivens AIFD.
The Southern Chapter’s Student Weekend featured a Student Competition with cash prizes awarded to help offset travel costs for the National Symposium. Terry Godfrey AIFD presented a program on Structures, while workshops included bouquet design with Aisha Crivens AIFD, creative design with Michael Whaley AIFD, and floral crown creation with Terry Godfrey AIFD. The weekend concluded with a dinner and a ceremony to pin the new SAIFD members.
Aisha Crivens AIFD
2021-2022 AIFD Southern Chapter President
During the COVID years, we hosted “Sweet Tea Talks” to reach out and connect with our membership. We reunited on Zoom, enjoying lively conversations about all things floral.
Other events that have shaped the journey of AIFD Southern Chapter over the past years include:
In 2017, during Randy Wooten AIFD’s tenure, Southern Chapter embarked on an exciting journey with the North Carolina Museum of Art. We organized a Floral Fashion Show in the spring, chaired by Terry Godfrey AIFD. In collaboration with the North Carolina State Florist Association, Southern Chapter designers created a stunning floral fashion show as part of the museum’s Art in Bloom event. A total of 23 designers and 39 models participated, delighting a sold-out auditorium.
In September 2018, under Carol Inskeep’s AIFD presidency, we hosted “Celebrate Local: Flowers, Wine, and Design” in Silver Spring, MD.
In collaboration with Maryland’s Independent Floral Designers Association (IFDA), the Southern Chapter organized a vibrant event celebrating local flowers, wine, and design. Local flower farmers provided beautiful blooms and created floral displays, while local wineries offered wine tastings. Southern Chapter designers David Shover AIFD, Jeanne Ha AIFD, and Jennifer Litterest AIFD teamed up with IFDA members Anne Bucher, Michele Rhodes, and Kirsten Luise to interpret their respective local wines through floral compositions. Southern Chapter Past President David Powers served as the commentator for the program.
In March of 2019, we returned to the North Carolina Museum of Art to present a design program titled “Inspiration to Expression.” This event was co-chaired by Carol Inskeep AIFD, Michael Whaley AIFD, and Terry Godfrey AIFD, under the presidency of Carol Inskeep AIFD.
As part of the museum’s Art in Bloom event, Southern Chapter designers skillfully interpreted emotions through floral art. The participating designers included Aisha Crivens AIFD, Marcela López-Vallejo AIFD, Cindy Tole AIFD, Michael Whaley AIFD, Carol Dowd AIFD, Stephanie Garrett AIFD, Sherene Tan AIFD, and Tammy Yow-Russell AIFD, each bringing a unique perspective to their floral compositions.
In 2022, we launched the first edition of Gather, a revived Southern Chapter experience held in Birmingham, Alabama. This event introduced a new concept: an educational weekend in a relaxed atmosphere where florists could come together and forge genuine connections.
As we celebrate 60 years of AIFD, we reflect on the remarkable journey of Southern Chapter—a tapestry woven with creativity, camaraderie, and countless memories. Each event, each connection, and each experience has enriched our community, fostering friendships that extend beyond our region and across the globe. From the laughter of “Sweet Tea Talks” to the artistry of our floral showcases, these moments remind us of our collective passion and dedication. Here’s to the past, the present, and the exciting future we will create together!
