The Society of American Florists brought an expected 400-plus floral professionals to The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, for its 141st Annual Convention, held Tuesday, Aug. 18, through Thursday, Aug. 20.

The three-day event drew florists from across the country to the resort at 4750 Amelia Island Parkway for educational sessions, a supplier expo, the Sylvia Cup floral design competition and a Stars of the Industry awards ceremony, according to SAF's convention page.

The convention's local footprint extended beyond the hotel. On Friday, Aug. 21, attendees and organizers transformed donated Colombian flowers into roughly 200 small arrangements distributed to Fernandina Beach residents, including seniors at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, local police officers and firefighters, Florists' Review reported.

About 20 senior citizens participated in a hands-on floral workshop at the MLK center, located at 1200 Elm St., creating their own arrangements.

The community initiative was led by Flowers of Colombia, the country brand of the Colombian Association of Flower Exporters (Asocolflores), a platinum-level convention sponsor that donated the flowers. SAF, That Flower Feeling and the City of Fernandina Beach also supported the effort.

"We are delighted to welcome Flowers of Colombia and its partners to Fernandina Beach and to share this experience with members of our community," Scott Mikelson, the city's parks and recreation director, said in a statement to Florists' Review.

Kate Penn, SAF's chief executive, said the initiative gave convention attendees a chance to give back to the community hosting them. She said it builds on a similar activity Flowers of Colombia introduced at the prior year's SAF convention.

Flowers of Colombia donated the flowers for the community initiative. The negotiated room rate for convention attendees at the Ritz-Carlton was $304 per night, which included a discounted $25-per-day resort fee, reduced from the standard $75.