"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.

Congressional Action Days attendees got some rare face time with a presidential cabinet member. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez spent a half hour with attendees talking about two critical industry issues: open trade and immigration reform.

Flowers moved in, up, and around the campus of Hollywood, Calif.'s Kodak Theatre in preparation for film’s biggest night of the year — the Oscars. A total of 13 floral designers from across the country partnered up for the week leading up to the 80th annual Academy Awards show, held on Feb. 24, to create vivid floral designs fit for the stars.

In the aftermath of the recent tragedy at Northern Illinois University, three levels of the floral industry came together, from grower to wholesaler to retail florist, to contribute a beautiful display of flowers to commemorate the lives lost in the Feb. 14 school shootings.

Violence continues to affect cut-flower production in Kenya, where as many as 3,000 workers have fled towns out of fear, according to Reuters.

Despite a truck fire Valentine’s Day week, DWF Wholesale Florists says orders were still fulfilled and the company came out on top during the especially busy holiday.

With both a retail store and a year-round greenhouse, Linda Zoerb, AAF, can relate to high fuel price woes as much as anyone. She recently had the opportunity to talk about those challenges with her Congressman and the community at a recent press conference.

Soccer star David Beckham enjoys a bouquet of flowers.

You don't have to tell David Calcaterra that flowers win people over. He knows — and he uses that dynamic to his shop's advantage when it comes to scoring good media coverage.

The 100-plus attendees of Congressional Action Days no doubt have politics on their minds as they head back to their businesses (as if the primaries aren’t enough to do that). But, should they talk about politics in the workplace? Maybe, maybe not, advises a recent article in Workforce Management.

The results are in, Americans plan on doing a little bit of saving, and a little bit of spending when they receive their tax rebate checks. One Colorado shop is doing what it can to keep the emphasis on spending.

 Although the 2000 romantic comedy starring Helen Hunt and Mel Gibson claimed to know “What Women Want” — apparently they just want a good man who understands them — Advertising Age says in a recent issue that they just want to surf the Internet.

• "Keys to Communication" by SAF's PFCI featuring Sharon McGukin, AAF, AIFD, PFCI: July 7, 2:30 - 3:15 p.m. in Chicago, IL, in conjunction with the AIFD National Symposium.
• SAF Palm Beach 2008: Sept. 17-20, 2008, at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Fla.

In the Feb. 20 Wednesday E-Brief, the link for Delaware Valley Floral Group in the article titled "Valentine's Day: Up and Down with the Weather" was incorrect. The correct Web site address for Delaware Valley Floral Group is www.dvflora.com. We regret the error.

Accountants in the floral industry need to know the relevant industry terminology. Help your accountant become more familiar with the "floral specific" accounting elements with SAF's Floral Accounting 101.

 Can you help a member track down an easy to use POS system?

The results of last week's e-poll are in and it looks like January was not the worst month for sales.

Perceived competition at Easter among florists was lower than in the previous year, according to the results of last year's post-holiday survey of retail florists.