History Of The FFA

1980 
MIAMI, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
organized by Cheryl Star.
We went from one-day to a two-day Fair.

1981 
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
organized by Charles DeLaney.

1982 
ORLANDO, UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
organized by Grace Petree.
It was decided by the Founders that the organization should become official and permanent with Officers (President Nancy Clew, Vice-Pres.Charles DeLaney, Secretary Grace Petree, Treasurer Parker Taylor) a mailing list, a quarterly newsletter, and long-range planning. The Secretary would handle all paperwork and business details.The Fair also held the 1st College Young Artist Competition.

1983 
GAINESVILLE, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
organized by Sarah Baird Fouse.
Additionally held 1st High School Young Artist Competition.
Presenters and Exhibitors were invited from out-of-state.

1984 
LAKELAND, FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE
organized by Lana Johns.

1985 
COCOA, BREVARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE
organized by Nancy Clew.

1986
DELAND, STETSON UNIVERSITY
organized by Jean Rickman West and Nancy Maloney.
A Scholarship Fund for high school seniors was established in memory of Harold Jeter, flute collector, repairman, and flute case maker from Winter Haven.

1987
TAMPA, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
organized by Martha Rearick.
We went to a 3-day Fair. Also began first fund- raising project selling “Florida Flute Association” T-shirts. The Officers & Board began meeting 4 times a year.

1988
ORLANDO, UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
organized by Susan McQuinn.
We began exhibitor raffle with donation of Emerson Flute by Mark Thomas.

1989
GAINESVILLE, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
organized by Sarah Baird Fouse.
We became incorporated and adopted our 1st Constitution & By-Laws; exhibit fees were raised ; we expanded from quarterly newsletters to bi-monthly issues.

1990
DELAND, STETSON UNIVERSITY & THE DELAND HILTON
organized by Jean Rickman West.
Our 1st Fair at a hotel site. The Association purchased copies of “The Gilbert Legacy” to distribute to College & University libraries, in memory of Geoffrey Gilbert (who passed away in 1989). The Association made a $500 donation to the Gilbert Memorial Fund. The 1st Life Membership was presented to Mrs. Marjorie Gilbert.

1991
DELAND, THE DELAND HILTON
organized by Jean Rickman West.

1992
DELAND, THE DELAND HILTON
organized by Jean West.

1993 
MELBOURNE, THE MELBOURNE HILTON,
program chair Deborah Heller.
We added a new position: Budget Director, Sherry Keyes. We sponsored two “mid-year” masterclasses : James Galway & Andrea Griminelli. We commissioned our first piece of music: Charles Callahan’s “Prelude & Fugue” for Flute Choir, in memory of Geoffrey & Marjorie Gilbert.

1994 
MELBOURNE, THE MELBOURNE HILTON
program chair Deborah Heller.
We received state and federal tax-exempt tax status.

1995 
WEST PALM BEACH, RAMADA HOTEL
program chair Barbara Jacobson.
Position of permanent Executive Director created, Grace Petree. The “Gilbert Memorial Fund” monies were transferred in trust by the Gilbert Family to the Florida Flute Association. We hosted the National Flute Association Convention at the Buena Vista Palace, Orlando.

1996 
WEST PALM BEACH, RAMADA HOTEL
program chair Barbara Jacobson.
Life Memberships were presented to the 5 Founding Advisors on the occasion of the 20th Flute Fair.

1997 
TAMPA, CAMBERLEY PLAZA
program chair Lindsay Hager.
We received a Brannen-Cooper Fund grant for Swedish flutist Goran Marcusson to appear at Fair. With the Gilbert Memorial Fund and Altus Flutes, we co-sponsored mid-year June recital & masterclass with William Bennett and Clifford Benson.

1998 
TAMPA, CAMBERLEY PLAZA
program chair Lindsay Hager.
With the Gilbert Memorial Fund and the Daytona Beach Symphony Society, we co-sponsored mid-year October James Galway & Friends Concert at Peabody Auditorium, Daytona Beach, to benefit the Gilbert Fund.

1999 
TAMPA, RADISSON HOTEL AT SABAL PARK
program chair Karl Barton.
We received a Brannen-Cooper Fund grant for Marco Granados to appear at the Fair.

2000
TAMPA, RADISSON HOTEL AT SABAL PARK
Program chair, Karl Barton
We received sponsorship from Yamaha Corporation for Bradley Garner, and from Verne Q,Powell Flutes for Penelope Fisher to appear at Fair.

Two Life Memberships were awarded to Richard Dudley, for his dedicated work as newsletter editor and convention program book editor, and to Grace Petree, for serving as Executive Director since 1998, and previously serving as Secretary-Treasurer from 1976-1998.
The Geoffrey and Marjorie Gilbert Endowment Committee awarded inaugural study scholarships of $500 each to Julie Hesse (Teaching Scholarship) and to Erica Peel (Performance Scholarship). And two additional Gilbert Study Scholarships, each $125, were awarded to Joshua Blizzard and Ashley Ferguson, to attend the July Flute Workshop at Florida Southern College.

2001
25th Flute Fair ORLANDO, HILTON ORLANDO/ALTAMONTE SPRINGS
Program chair, Lisa LaCross
We received grants for Fair artists: from Brannen-Cooper Fund for Alexa Still, and from Altus Flutes for George Pope.

2002
HILTON ORLANDO/ALTAMONTE SPRINGS
Program chair, Lisa LaCross
Yamaha Corp.sponsored Jeffrey Khaner, and Miyazawa sponsored Tadeu Coelho. Savings account divided into two accounts: Gilbert Memorial Endowment Fund, and FFA Emeritus Scholarship Fund.

2003
HILTON ORLANDO/ALTAMONTE SPRINGS
Program chair, Kim McCormick
Bart Feller & ZAWA (Jill Felber & Claudia Anderson) came without funding and were paid artist fees. Commission paid to Charles Threatte for solo flute composition “Philomela”. William Bennett gave a recital & masterclass in Deland in April, sponsored by the Gilbert Fund & Altus Flutes.

2004
PLAZA RESORT, DAYTONA BEACH
Program chair, Kim McCormick
Michael Parloff was featured & Pearl Flutes sponsored Rhonda Larson.

2005
PLAZA RESORT, DAYTONA BEACH
Program chair, Kristen Stoner
Ervin Monroe was featured & Brannen-Cooper sponsored William Bennett.

2006
HILTON ORLANDO/ALTAMONTE SPRINGS
Program chair, Kristen Stoner
Robert Langevin was featured & Muramatsu America sponsored Viviana Guzman.

2007
HILTON ORLANDO/ALTAMONTE SPRINGS
Program chair, Lindsay Hager
Amy Porter was featured and sponsored by Muramatsu America
Gemstone assisted Ali Ryerson
Cindy Bruce becomes the new Executive Director of the FFA

2008
HILTON ORLANDO/ALTAMONTE SPRINGS
Program chair, Lindsay Hager
Jim Walker was sponsored by Yamaha.
John Bailey was also featured.
Grace Petree was recognized and presented with a gift from the association in gratitude for her years of service as she retired from the position of Executive Director.

2009
HILTON ORLANDO/ALTAMONTE SPRINGS
Program chair, Lindsay Hager
Kim McCormick, Kristen Stoner and Karl Barton were featured.
Marianne Gedigian was featured and assisted by Powell Flutes
A Life Membership was awarded to Jean West for her many years of dedicated service in the Florida Flute Association.

2010
ORLANDO AIRPORT MARRIOTT
Program chair, Lindsay Hager
Eva Amsler and Jean West were featured.
Greg Pattillo and PROJECT was featured and assisted by Gemeinhardt

2011
ORLANDO AIRPORT MARRIOTT
Program chair, Irene Pruzan
Trudy Kane and Tereasa Payne were featured.
Jill Felber was featured and assisted by Miyazawa

2012
ORLANDO AIRPORT MARRIOTT
Program chair, Irene Pruzan
Susan McQuinn and Nora Lee Garcia were featured.
Carol Wincenc was featured and partially funded by a grant from Brannen-Cooper

2013
ORLANDO AIRPORT MARRIOTT
Program chair, Tammy Phillips
Paige Long and Christine Smith were featured.
Rhonda Larson was featured and assisted by Pearl

2014
ORLANDO AIRPORT MARRIOTT
Program chair, Tammy Phillips
Karl Barton and Karl Lutgens were featured.
Ian Clarke was featured.

2015
ORLANDO AIRPORT MARRIOTT
Program chair, Jessey Andris
Beth and William Larsen were featured.
Aaron Goldman was featured.
A Life Membership was awarded to Lindsay Hager for her many years of dedicated service in the Florida Flute Association.

2016
ORLANDO AIRPORT MARRIOTT LAKESIDE
Program chair, Jessey Andris
Kim McCormick and Kristen Stoner were featured.
Paula Robison was featured.
The FFA celebrated 40 years, the Ruby year, with a Saturday night reception featuring Jose Valentino Ruiz and Jim Walker.
The organization decided to extend the officer and program chair positions from 2 years to 3 years for better continuity.

2017
ORLANDO AIRPORT MARRIOTT LAKESIDE
Program chair, Jessey Andris
Ali Ryerson and Colleen Blagov were featured.
Leone Buyse was featured.