Anyone participating or have in the past? We have been asked to participate this year but not sure if we should. Any thoughts?
"Make someone smile" week
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lori042499
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- May 3, 2006
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Participated 2 years ago....I was left a little sour on it because of how TF is greedy on the press releases and news coverage(you cannot have your shop mentioned even though you do all the work, get all the flower donations and organize all the deliveries) but the looks on the nursing home residents face was all I needed in the end to know I made a big difference in the lives of some very forgotten about people....
From a purely business standpoint, worthless...from a humanitarian standpoint priceless...
What we were told is that you sign some form and send it to your TF Unit President. You pick a nursing home. Call your local supplier and beg for donations. Contact TF and order the containers (there is supposed to be no charge).
You then coordinate how to and when to deliver to the nursing home which is a certain week in July.
We are having a hard time deciding on the nursing home and particulars. The few that are local have hundreds of residents. Quite a lot of work to do for our small shop. I am also not comfortable asking for donations. I get tired of being asked so I don't like to burden another. However, there is no way we can give away so much for free and the gas and the extra help, etc. etc.
We are cautiously hopeful that we will be able to participate.
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
Why? Everyone else does!!
At least you buy from your suppliers all year...more than I can say for most donation requests. Just tell them what you're doing, I'd bet you'll find a lot of support.
lori042499
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The week is July 19-25th...
These can be sent to anyone or any organization that you think needs a smile....like an orphanage or nursing home, or home for battered women(kind of difficult to get to work with them because of the privacy things and all, but a nice idea if there is one) You can get donations from your suppliers, most are very willing...and you can get donations of time from garden clubs, girl scout troops to make up the items, they do not have to be made by professional florists.
Teleflora supplies the mugs, balloons, tee shirts, buttons, tf swag for your people to wear...you just need to let your TF board members know how many mugs you need....
Dee Dee let me know if you want to be involved I can find out who the liason is this year and get you set up....
These can be sent to anyone or any organization that you think needs a smile....like an orphanage or nursing home, or home for battered women(kind of difficult to get to work with them because of the privacy things and all, but a nice idea if there is one) You can get donations from your suppliers, most are very willing...and you can get donations of time from garden clubs, girl scout troops to make up the items, they do not have to be made by professional florists.
Teleflora supplies the mugs, balloons, tee shirts, buttons, tf swag for your people to wear...you just need to let your TF board members know how many mugs you need....
Dee Dee let me know if you want to be involved I can find out who the liason is this year and get you set up....
True, but not true. We always participate in our unit community service project. My children and I go to help make 500+ for hospitals and nursing homes.
However, we also use that week to promote ourselves. We do 24 to 48 in our shop and send them to businesses in our area. Because we are promoting ourselves we pay for all the product, including the mugs. The mug is our #1 seller. We go through a case or two each month.
LOTAKIDS
Well-Known Member
I am the Benevolence Chair, was elected on our TF Board, when I wan't there at the Christmas Party... WOW was I in for a big surprise.
I have not figured out all the logistics and working on securing the places to bring mugs. I understand that it is a group effort here.
So far we will bring 50 made and 50 greened to the Ronald McDonald house and let the kids finish some and pass out the made ones.
Then we do 200 for the VA hospital.
Next will be contacting the wholesale houses that I do business with and see how generous they will be. I have all ready been told that Stems and Bunches will not give anything.
Plus I have 2 huge wedding weekends right before and right after this little affair.
I have not figured out all the logistics and working on securing the places to bring mugs. I understand that it is a group effort here.
So far we will bring 50 made and 50 greened to the Ronald McDonald house and let the kids finish some and pass out the made ones.
Then we do 200 for the VA hospital.
Next will be contacting the wholesale houses that I do business with and see how generous they will be. I have all ready been told that Stems and Bunches will not give anything.
Plus I have 2 huge wedding weekends right before and right after this little affair.
LORRIE
New Member
We participated the first several years the shop was open, then our S Fla chapter went belly up a few years ago. There were no more educational programs or support for this event, but they were still happy to collect our "dues". Anyway, the FLORIDA Pres, wouldn't share containers. Plus the publicity problem.
SOOO, we had our own , giving a grin day, local to our shop. I worked at a hospital before so that was a good starting point. Made me very happy and the resulting publicity was all ours. Yes I footed the bill for the containers, but the Dollar Store is a great resource with a little planning.
PS. also found out if there is no local chapter in your area you can opt out of the "dues" thing too.
SOOO, we had our own , giving a grin day, local to our shop. I worked at a hospital before so that was a good starting point. Made me very happy and the resulting publicity was all ours. Yes I footed the bill for the containers, but the Dollar Store is a great resource with a little planning.
PS. also found out if there is no local chapter in your area you can opt out of the "dues" thing too.
theflowersmith
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- Dec 13, 2003
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Loved the great job by Houston area florists!
If you want to participate, though, you don't have to do it on such a grand scale. We've approached our local hospital and plan to hand out 50 mugs with the help of hospital volunteers. I will approach our garden club to help make the mugs.
Last time the garden club helped, we designed when the shop was closed and had a veggie tray and lemonade for the volunteers. We held a drawing and awarded one garden club member one of the tee shirts provided by TF. It was great fun.
If you want to participate, though, you don't have to do it on such a grand scale. We've approached our local hospital and plan to hand out 50 mugs with the help of hospital volunteers. I will approach our garden club to help make the mugs.
Last time the garden club helped, we designed when the shop was closed and had a veggie tray and lemonade for the volunteers. We held a drawing and awarded one garden club member one of the tee shirts provided by TF. It was great fun.
lori042499
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- May 3, 2006
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I will say that when made a group effort it can be fun....but when holding the task on your own it can be kind of a downer..I had grand ideas when I was benevolent chair and was met by uncooperation on many fronts, I only got one florist to haelp me and then I found out about the fact that it didn't need to be florists that helped it could be anyone...If I had it all to be done again I would do it very different....and would make it more a community effort than a personal one...or a tf group one...
Flowers& magazine
Elinor, Publication Coordinator
For the Real Deal on Make Someone Smile Week...
To find out everything you've ever wanted to know about Teleflora's Make Someone Smile Week, contact Donna Nelson, Manager of Units, by email at [email protected]. Donna is the person who organizes the whole "shebang" and can answer all your questions, and point you in the right direction if you'd like to get involved!
To find out everything you've ever wanted to know about Teleflora's Make Someone Smile Week, contact Donna Nelson, Manager of Units, by email at [email protected]. Donna is the person who organizes the whole "shebang" and can answer all your questions, and point you in the right direction if you'd like to get involved!
And you don't have to rely on Press Releases for publicity this year, as I'll be pushing out details on MSS week through our social media channels. If you help get people to 'listen', I'll be trying to push names/cities of all of the participating florists.
We're thinking it'd be cool to try and get 'average Joe's' to do their own (unfunded) Make Someone Smile project, too.
But, what I"m trying to say is, please let me know if you ARE participating and I'll make it a point to share that info!
We're thinking it'd be cool to try and get 'average Joe's' to do their own (unfunded) Make Someone Smile project, too.
But, what I"m trying to say is, please let me know if you ARE participating and I'll make it a point to share that info!
I think we will be a go for the project. We have contacted a nursing home in a neighboring town. We are waiting to hear back from the administrator to give the official "okay". This home has about 140 people which I think we can handle. I was a little worried that we wouldn't be able to find one with less than 250! We are a 2 woman shop with 2 part-timers that only work one day each.
lori042499
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- May 3, 2006
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2 years ago, I did 150 mugs with myself, another florist and his daughter...They came at about 5pm and we worked until 7 not too bad...4 stems of poms and green in each mug banged them out and delivered on Sunday by myself and one other person...
yes by all means ...it is a feel good project, you get to meet with other florist in your city and make people smile that receive your gift...its a great way to volunteer and cost nothing but your time....we have been doing it for years and get great satisfaction from it
When Lisa Greene speaks I listen, I have to remeber this more often. :walking:
in defense of Teleflora,it cost them a great deal to advertise and if they allow you or any single florist to be acknowleged there is always someone left out by error. It just serves the comunity best to state that Teleflora florist in x area all gave of there time, we do acknowlege the contribitors of product..And it is all about giving of yourself...
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