His dream became reality in 1983 with the first summit meeting of the Pan Pacific Flower Culture Conference in Gifu, Japan. Mr. Meinders joined hands with Mr Sekiye at the Pan Pacific Flower Conference and together they Co-Founded the World Flower Council which has since enjoyed a continuous growth.
Herman Meinders
Co-Founder WFC
Juzaburo Sekiye and Herman Meinders are the cornerstones of The World Flower Council, and their knowledge of, and commitment to, the floral industry will guarantee its continued success.
Dean White served as International Chairman for fifteen years, continuing their commitment. They have all worked for the betterment of the floral industry.
Today the organization has members in 40+ countries and continues to spread peace through flowers by forming lasting relationships around the world. WFC consists of floral professionals in all fields of the industry; Growers, Retail florist, Wholesale Florist, Educators, Floral Designers, Authors as well as non professional flower lovers.
Left to right: Dean White, Chieko Crain, Herman Meinders
FLORAL NOBEL PRIZE RECIPIENTS
THE INTERNATIONAL FLORAL NOBEL PRIZE was established August 29, 1995 at the World Flower Council Summit in Seoul, South Korea, by Mr. Juzaburo Sekiye, founder of World Flower Council.
The International Floral Nobel Prize is proposed for the International cultural promotion of flowers and plants and the construction of everlasting world peace regardless of race, region, or occupation in the world.
The guidelines are as follows for nomination:
A. One who is the most active in the field.
B. One who made the greatest international contribution with remarkable achievement.
C. One who engaged in the greatest invention, discovery or written document in the field.
D. One who made the greatest presentation and enlightened the most people
Individual, group or organization having be reviewed by the group of former honorees, and meeting the criteria above, will be invited to the next World Flower Council Summit and will be presented the honor of this International Floral Nobel Prize Medal and certificate of greatest honor with a public blessing for peace throughout the world.
May this International Floral Nobel Prize be honored and treasured with thoughts of world peace through the beauty of flowers.
1996 ~ Mr. Juzaburo Sekiye, AAF, AIFD, WFC Founder
1997 ~ Mr. Herman Meinders, AAF, WFC Chairman Emeritus
1998 ~ Ms. Helen Lai, WFC Hong Kong Chapter Founder
1999 ~ Mr. Dean White – AAF, AIFD, PFCI, WFC Chairman Emeritus
2000 ~ Mr. Bob Newton, AAF, AIFD, CAFA, WFC International Vice-Chairperson
2001 ~ Ms. Lim Poh Bee, AIFD, International Vice-Chairperson
2002 ~ Ms. Els Hazenberg, AIFD, Chapter Leader of The Netherlands
2003 ~ Mr. Efren Chatto, WFC International Chairman
2005 ~ Mr. Poo Chesdmethee, International Vice-Chairperson
2006 ~ Mr. Malcolm Angus, Dip.NZPF, FDA, Exam .NZPF, Chairman’s Administrative Assistant
2007 ~ Mrs. Cheiko Crain – Retired Floral Exporter
2008 ~ Mrs. Cindy Chao, AIFD – Chapter President of WFC Macau
2011 ~ Ms. Velta Berzins, CAFA - WFC Newsletter Editor
2013 ~ Ms. Sue Prewitt - FloralDesigner
2013~ Mr. Herman Meinders, AAF, WFC Chairman Emeritus
Floral Laureate Award of Distinction
2016 ~ Mr. Dean White, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, CAFA , WFC Chairman Emeritus
Floral Laureate Award of Distinction
2017~ Mr. R. Lynn Hoffman, WFC International Chairman
2018~ Ms. Colleen Bonner, Retired Florist
WFC Summits
1983 Origin of WFC - Gifu, Japan (Pacific Flower Culture Promotional Conference)
1. 1984 - Honolulu, Hawaii (PPFC changed to WFC)
2. 1985 - Melbourne, Australia
3. 1986 - Maastricht, The Netherlands & Seoul, Korea
4. 1987 - Las Vegas, Nevada
5. 1988 - Toronto, Canada
6. 1989 - Madrid, Spain
7. 1990 - Tokyo, Japan (Mini-Summit)
8. 1991 - Taipei, Taiwan
9. 1992 - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
10. 1993 - Hong Kong
11. 1994 - Melbourne, Australia
12. 1995 - Seoul, Korea 1remove
13. 1996 - Cape Town, South Africa
14. 1997 - Penang, Malaysia
15. 1998 - Vancouver, Canada
16. 1999 - St. Petersburg, Russia
17. 2000 - Rome, Italy
18. 2001 - Bangkok, Thailand
19. 2002 - Amsterdam, The Netherlands (Floriade)
20. 2003 - Manila, The Philippines
21. 2004 - Riga, Latvia
22. 2005 - Jakarta, Indonesia
23. 2006 - Ottawa/Gatineau, Canada
24. 2007 - Nice, France
25. 2008 - Macau
26. 2009 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
27. 2010 - Auckland, New Zealand
28. 2011 - London, U.K.
29. 2012 - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
30. 2013 - Sapporo, Japan
31. 2014 - Zagreb, Croatia
32. 2015 - Cali, Colombia & Bangkok, Thailand
33. 2016 - Nairobi, Kenya, Africa
34. 2017 - Guangzhou, China
35. 2018 - Birsbane, Australia
36. 2019 - Bail, Indonesia
37. 2023 - Dalat, Vietnam