An Important Update from the President

Dear CalFlowers Member,

CalFlowers has always been about bringing people together to strengthen the floral industry. Our roots stretch back to 1941, when a group of flower growers and shippers came together to solve a simple but important problem: how to better coordinate the transportation of their flowers to the airports in San Francisco and San Jose. Back then, we were known as the Northern California Association of Flower Growers and Shippers, a regional group with a very specific mission.

But just as the floral industry has evolved, so has CalFlowers. For decades, we carried the identity of a California-based organization. Then, in 2010, a pivotal change occurred. Membership was opened nationwide at first mainly to wholesalers. That step was driven by our desire to share the FedEx shipping discount with customers and other growers.

Fast forward to today, and CalFlowers has become something far larger: a national community. We now count 850 members across the United States, growers, wholesalers, retailers, and suppliers from coast to coast.

These slides highlight not only the variety of businesses we represent, but also the significant portion of our membership that resides outside of California.

This growth has been extraordinary. But with growth comes responsibility, and it raised important questions:

• Do our governance structures reflect who we are today?
• Are our bylaws inclusive of the full diversity of our national membership?
• Are we preparing CalFlowers to thrive for decades to come?

The truth is that our bylaws had not kept pace. The last major update was in 2015, and while that framework served the organization well then, CalFlowers in 2025 is fundamentally different from CalFlowers a decade ago.

That is why, after months of careful discussion, input from legal counsel, and thoughtful review by the Board, we brought forward to our voting (California-based) membership a set of comprehensive bylaw changes.

Here are some key updates:

• Clearer membership categories: Six nationwide categories now recognize the distinct roles of Growers (1), Wholesalers (2), Retailers (3), Agricultural Members (4), Associate Members (5), and Industry Partners (6).
• Voting rights where it matters: Only Active Members (categories 1–3) will hold voting rights, ensuring that governance remains led by those most directly engaged in the floral marketplace.
• Board structure for accountability: Directors will be selected exclusively from Active Members, with term limits of three terms of three years—encouraging renewal, diversity, and fresh leadership.
• Modernized leadership titles: The designation of “President” becomes “Board Chair,” and “Executive Director” becomes “President,” aligning CalFlowers with best practices in nonprofit governance.

These changes are not cosmetic. They ensure that CalFlowers:

• Operates efficiently within a complex and growing national landscape.
• Grows responsibly, with governance that reflects the membership it serves.
• Maintains the trust of its members by being transparent, inclusive, and future-focused.

During the month of October, members cast their votes and passed the bylaw changes by an overwhelming 88% in favor.

This is a monumental moment in the history of our organization, and a milestone that positions CalFlowers to lead with strength and unity for many years ahead.

Thank you all for your engagement and support.

With gratitude,

Lane DeVries
President, CalFlowers