Association News

Source: www.TurfMagazine.com

CLCA Introduces Spanish Study Guide

The California Landscape Contractors Association announced that its Water Management Certification Program Study Guide is now available in Spanish. Even though the test is given in both English and Spanish, after multiple requests from program participants and participating companies, the certification study guide has been translated into Spanish. The program was created to help green industry professionals meet the need to reduce landscape water usage and is a recipient of the WaterSense label.

IA Completes Third Legislative Conference

The Irrigation Association brought 27 member volunteers to Washington, D.C., for its third annual legislative conference. In support of IA’s mission, attendees visited more than 40 congressional offices to address lawmakers on the benefits of efficient irrigation technologies, products and services, and on the industry’s recommended solutions to national issues. Conference speakers included Ben Grumbles, Glenn Thompson, John Tubbs, Dr. Michael O’Neill and Jay Cranford.

Poster Contest Winners Announced

Twelve contest winners from 10 states were chosen as winners of the first Art of Green Spaces Poster Contest, sponsored by Project EverGreen and Birds & Blooms magazine. About 1,300 posters from more than 30 states were entered in the national contest. The contest asked students in kindergarten through 12th grade to create a poster that exemplified their artistic skills while describing what “green spaces” meant to them. The winning entries will be featured on www.projectevergreen.comandwww.birdsandblooms.com.

ASLA Earns Environmental Award

Washington, D.C., Mayor Vincent C. Gray selected the American Society of Landscape Architects as a Partner of the Year for the 2011 Mayor’s Environmental Excellence Awards. The awards recognize organizations for their commitment to advancing sustainable principles in building design and operations.


College students compete in the Stihl-sponsored Small Engine Repair event, led by Eddie Anderson of Stihl.

PLANET Hosts Student Career Days

Over 870 students from 60 colleges converged upon Joliet Junior College in Joliet, Ill., for the 35th annual Professional Landcare Network Student Career Days. Stihl, Inc. again supported the event as the platinum sponsor and organizer of two competitions. This year’s top honors, along with a $5,000 check from Stihl, went to Brigham Young University, Provo.

PLANET’s Academic Excellence Foundation awarded Nicole Imber a $1,000 scholarship at the event. Imber, a student at Owens Community College, received the Stihl Landscape Operations Scholarship. She was one of 70 students to receive a scholarship at the AEF recognition reception.

PGMS Lining Up School of Grounds Management

The Professional Grounds Management Society will kick off the 2011 School of Grounds Management in Louisville, Ky., with in-depth, behind-the-scenes tours on October 26 of the Louisville zoo and Bernheim Arboretum, followed by a welcoming reception. Classroom education programs will be offered during the GIE+EXPO through October 29 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. PGMS courses will continue to emphasize sustainable management practices and will include two tracks of classes. Learn more at www.pgms.org.

I Make America Launches Photo Contest

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers and the I Make America campaign launched the Picture a Better America photo contest to demonstrate the urgent need to invest in America’s crumbling infrastructure. Through July 15, 2011, people across the U.S. can visit www.imakeamerica.com/photocontest to enter their photos in four thematic categories. A guest panel of judges will select one winner in each category, and each will win a $250 cash prize.