THE POWER OF POSSIBILITIES!

Francine Thomas (click to see Francine's youtube channel!)

Francine has traveled throughout New Zealand, Australia and different parts of the East Coast teaching, judging and demonstrating. As one of the international demonstrators, she represented New Zealand at the WAFA world show in Ireland.  In 2019 she represented New Zealand at the Diamond Anniversary in England.

Francine has the FASNZ diploma in Teaching, Judging and Demonstrating and the certifications of the NZPF and NZQA Florist Exams. Francine serves as the Academy Chairman for New Zealand Teachers and Judges.

She has also won many awards including the New Zealand Floral Art Designer of the Year for 2016, Australian Designer of the Year 2018 and 2022.

Francine has an energetic sense of humour which can be contagious which is evident in her shows. Inspiration comes from what she sees and feels inside. Francine enjoys sharing her ideas to inspire others.

“Flowers are from the heart and so is my designing.

The finest pleasures in life are the unexpected ones.

So let us have fun with the power of possibilities!”

FORCES OF NATURE

Betty Ann Galway

Betty Ann's love for flowers is infectious and she enjoys sharing it with others. She is an AIFD Certified Evaluator & Judge and currently teaches floral design classes. With 13 years of experience as the Adult Education Director at Norfolk Botanical Garden, Betty Ann has a wealth of knowledge in the field. She has also run her own wedding floral business.

Betty Ann's floral interpretations of the arts have been displayed in Richmond for years, including at Fine Arts & Flowers, many times for the opening of the Virginia Arts Festival, and at Virginia Stage Company's performances. She is  an NGC Master Judge and a member of various floral design-focused clubs and organizations throughout Northern Virginia.

Betty Ann holds a biology degree from Mary Washington College of Virginia, and has been happily married for 38 years and is a proud grandmom.

THE POSSIBILITIES OF A POT, A STICK AND BLOSSOMS

Gina Jogan

Gina Jogan is an accomplished floral designer and instructor.  Gina has held several leadership positions in the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, the Deep South Garden Clubs and the National Garden Clubs for many years.  Gina holds a great many honors in those organizations.  Gina is an NGC Master Judge and Instructor in Design, Flower Show Procedure and Allied Topics.  Gina is also an instructor for FFGC's Floral Design Study School and Fun With Flowers.  She has been a presenter, facilitator and speaker at innumerable workshops, programs and events, including CFAA and OFAD.  Gina's stunning floral designs have been published in articles, magazines, calendars, and on-line.

After graduating from Florida State University with a B.S. in Elementary Education and Mathematics; Gina was married 46 years to Stephen, a career Naval Officer, now deceased (2013).  Her hobbies include reading, travel, needlework, quilting, and the grand and great-grandbabies!!!  

         The Virginia

    Flower Lo❤️ers

Lili Aram-Bost

Lili, a former speech-language pathologist from California, is the current 2nd Vice President of CFAA.  She also serves as Director of Programs for the Piedmont District of Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs, and is the “volunteer of the month” at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Additionally, Lili is the Bloemendaal Council representative for VFGC, with multiple "Vision of Beauty" floral designs published, including one in the upcoming 2024 issue. Her hobbies include recycling, painting, and plaiting dried plant materials.

Brenda McManaway

Brenda has a deep admiration for the beauty of flowers, from their natural habitat to their artistic design. She is an NGC Master Flower Show Judge representing Virginia in Flower Show School and Symposium. Brenda's love for gardening led her to serve in all positions within her Garden Club, and she is currently serving as President. In addition, she holds various positions in her local District. Brenda has attended CFAA for at least six years and has exhibited her work in the Kaleidoscope Designer's Showcase since her second visit! Brenda is a retired nurse, proud wife, mother and grandmother. Currently, Brenda is serving as our CFAA Registrar.

JoAnn McNabb

After 37 years in the banking industry,

JoAnn has become a seasoned leader who has held numerous positions in various Virginia garden clubs, where her love of floral design blossomed. JoAnn continues by serving on the Board of the Piedmont District as the Hospitality Chairman.

Diane Burgess

A member of National Garden Clubs, Diane is an NGC Master Judge.

Member of the River Road Garden Club, the Goochland Garden Club, the Piedmont District Judges’ Council, the Virginia State Judges Council, the Richmond Designers’ Guild as well as Ikebana of Richmond.

She was also a member of the Garden Club of America in the Midwest in the 80s and 90s and founded a garden club in Milwaukee Wisconsin.

Judged and exhibited twice at the Philadelphia Flower Show.  Has studied under Jane Godshalk, Theresa Clower, Francine Thomas, and Phil Rulloda.Currently studying in the Ikebana schools of Sogetsu and Keika-Kazan.

Exhibitor in Fine Arts and Flowers at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.  Diane also creates Hirschler Endowment flower arrangements in the (VMFA) Museum's atrium.

Frances Thrash

Frances is a transplant Virginian.  She has served in several leadership positions in the local, district, state and national levels.  Frances is a NGC Master Judge currently serving her state as Flower Show Schools Chairman.  She is also a Design & Flower Show Procedure Instructor for both NGC flower show schools & symposiums.  She has served on the NGC Board for many terms and is currently the chairman of Floral Design.  She is also a master judge for the American Iris Society and a Senior Judge for the Hemerocallis Society (daylilies).  Frances is on the board for NFA (National Flower Arrangers) and on ours as Flower Room Chairman.

In 2009 she earned a gold award in the WAFA show in D.C. (first place – World Association of Floral Arrangers) and has earned two national Tricolor Awards from the American Hemerocallis Society.   

Frances presents programs and schools far and wide for garden clubs, state conventions, and plant societies in numerous states. 

In addition to all this, she finds time to work at the Wholesale Flower Market in Chesapeake, Virginia, where she is an FTD Master Designer, and runs her own small floral business. She is a gardener, a lover of plants, her 5 grandchildren, and her pets.

Kathy Ward - Botanical Fashions

Kathy Ward has been a part of the Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs for 22 years, serving in various roles at the club, district, and state level. In 2015, Kathy became an NGC accredited Flower Show Judge, now a Life Judge, and has designed for Fine Arts and Flowers at the Virginia Fine Arts Museum. She has also given floral design programs and workshops throughout Virginia, North Carolina, and the DC area. Kathy is a member of the Piedmont District and state Flower Show Judges Councils, the Richmond Designer's Guild, and Salisbury Garden Club. Currently, she is the Symposium Chairman for VFGC and a Design Consultant for the Piedmont District of Virginia. Kathy is a Rochester, NY native and a Virginia Tech graduate. She and her husband, Ben, have been married for 41 years and have a son, daughter, and one grandchild. When she's not gardening or designing floral arrangements, Kathy enjoys travel, reading, hiking, kayaking, and genealogy.