We announced at the conference in Louisville, that we decided to use fresh flower arrangements for all of our luncheons and dinners this year.  One of the reasons for doing this was because there is an organization in Louisville called "The Flower Buds".  This group of volunteers gets together every week to pick up flower arrangements from events and funerals.  They remake small arrangements to be taken to hospitals, hospice units, nursing homes and other agencies.  We contacted them and they picked up all of the flower arrangements after each event at the conference.  The following is a note we received from them:

"On behalf of all of us at "The Flower Buds", I would like to thank you and your group for the generous donation of flowers and vases to us.  We were able to take every vase of flowers to either the VA Hospice Unit, Center for Women & Families (shelter), Maryhurst (home for young women who can't live at home) and several nursing homes.  Please tell everyone the joy the flowers provided to so many!"