FANN Co-Presidents Message: we’re stronger than ever!

Inspirational update from President John Sibley and Co-President Terry Godts!

Despite an economic downturn that hit everyone hard, FANN has not only held together, we’ve grown stronger. Our membership remains solid, with new members coming on board, and FANN continues to lead and innovate with new plant introductions and greatly expanded marketing and outreach efforts – thanks to our members, industry partners, and our Executive Director and Board of Directors, who keep FANN focused and moving forward.

Our new directory debuts FANN’s “Real Florida Landscapes® CEU Series,” an already successful, growing set of courses for landscape architects and other landscape professionals eager to use our plants for their Florida-friendly and sustainable landscape projects. FANN professionals and others have developed and presented courses on plant selection, use, and maintenance, and the incorporation of natural ecosystem functions into urban landscapes. FANN is now licensed with the State of Florida to provide Landscape Architect CEUs. We also enjoy working with partners FNGLA and Florida Chapter ISA, whose members attend our classes, and look forward to expanding partnerships with other professionals who need to know native plants.

The tremendous positive response to our course offerings around the state has encouraged FANN to look for ways to bring more information to you, in even more effective and convenient formats. Our first distance learning course – one that you can take at your leisure – is also announced in the new directory and will soon be available on this website. We hear all the time from professionals that you need to see our plants – and not just in books and slide shows. So we’re exploring partnership and location possibilities for tradeshows as a way to demonstrate the potential of our plants and deliver educational opportunities. Stay tuned.

FANN is very proud of our partnership with the Florida Department of Agriculture, which has produced for us a 30-second televised public service announcement promoting the use of Florida native plants for landscaping. Our “Plant Real Florida” spot is airing statewide through Spring 2012 and can be seen on YouTube. As a result, FANN has already experienced a flood of inquiries from homeowners, hungry for more native plant sources. This partnership has also helped us develop two new websites: www.PlantRealFlorida.org for homeowners and this website, a significantly expanded online version of our directory with additional resources for professionals and FANN members.

In the big picture, native plants may solve some of our greatest challenges. Limited resources on our planet will force the human species to use energy more efficiently, produce food more wisely, use water more frugally, and treat our fellow species more responsibly. Native plants can play a role in addressing all of these issues. Local communities see the benefits as they use more native plants in landscapes.

The future looks bright for FANN, for the native plant industry, and maybe for our planet. We’re on the brink of a change in thinking about our world that could propel our industry and many others like it into the forefront. And FANN is moving ahead quickly to take the lead. When you hear terms like sustainability, going green, and energy and natural resource conservation, know that no one says it better or with greater credibility and passion than FANN.