It’s that time of year again: time for the flag industry’s annual convention. Yes, flag makers have conventions too and ours is called NIFDA, National Independent Flag Dealers Association.
Just when it was beginning to cool off here in Arkansas, I flew to the desert in Scottsdale, AZ with my husband and daughter to meet up with fellow flag dealers. We’re not a big group (a little over 100 of us) and, because the flag business is not a billion-dollar industry, it has flown under the radar of big investors. Therefore, it’s still a lot of mom-and-pop stores who bring their kids to the convention and plan to pass the family business down to the next generation. Just as we plan to do.
The Founding of NIFDA
It was 1988 when this organization, the brainchild of Greg Wald, owner of All Nations Flag Company in Kansas City, planned a meeting in conjunction with NAVA, North American Vexillological Association, in Portsmouth, NH. The small group of about nine talked about the mission and formed NIFDA. The next year, I was invited and have been attending every year since (except two!).
After three decades of meeting once a year with the same flag dealers, we’ve all become old friends. We’ve watched each other’s children grow, we’ve said goodbye to some older colleagues, and given each other at-a-boys and awards. I even received one in 2014: “the Betsy Ross” award. I’m posing with my new award in the picture, above.
This experience has taught me that no man is an island, that you can accomplish much when likeminded people get together, and that competition isn’t always a threat.
Founding of FMAA
Long after the founding of NIFDA, the internet began offering China-made American flags. This incensed our organization and so, in 2003, Flag Manufacturers Association of America (FMAA) was founded.
FMAA has done some good work. Today, government offices on all levels are required to buy American made US flags. Seems logical; after all, it is our tax dollars. But this past week, we learned of a new wrinkle in our industry: Chinese manufacturers have gotten clever and now, through false internet advertising, pose as American manufacturers. Because it takes a deep dive to uncover the truth, a layman and even some government offices would never know.
This pirating has once again raised the concerns of FMAA and NIFDA. Having no way to monitor and stop the unwieldly false claims, the organization wants to take their case to Congress and stop the import of American flags all together.
If you feel it is important too, follow this link to more information and a sample letter that you can send to your congressman, urging them to support House Bill H.R. 4137, the Make American Flags in America Act.
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