Association News

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News From PLANET

The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) won an Award of Excellence in the 2008 Associations Advance America Awards. The awards are conducted by the American Society of Association Executives & The Center for Association Leadership. PLANET received the award for its Renewal & Remembrance at Arlington National and Historic Congressional cemeteries project held each July. The honor puts PLANET’s entry in the running for the 2008 Summit Award, which will be announced in September.

PLANET members convened on Capitol Hill to demonstrate the need for passage of H-2B legislation. The hearing, held by the U.S. House Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law, is an outcome of an H-2B briefing held earlier to address concerns from employers and allegations of program abuses. PLANET provided written testimony, including positive testimonials from employers and H-2B guest workers.

At this year’s PLANET Student Career Days in Acworth, Ga., 65 college teams, totaling 950 students, participated in 25 individual and team competitions. The individual winners were Matthew Early, first place; Ken Kwait, second place; and Ken Beasley, third place. North Metro Technical College took first place in the overall competitive events, with Brigham Young University’s Idaho campus placing second and its Provo campus placing third.

Jason Cupp was named president of PLANET. Cupp has served as the president-elect since 2006. He is the chief executive officer of Highland Outdoor, Olathe, Kan., and is a certified landscape professional. New board members include President-Elect Bill Hildebolt and Directors-at-Large Phil Allen, Norman Goldenberg, Gerald Grossi, Fred Haskett, Ron Johnson, Joe Kujawa, Miles Kuperus Jr., Jennifer Lemcke, Barbara Scheibe, Ken Taylor, David Snodgrass and Richard Wilbert.

Project EverGreen Seeks Award Nominations

Project EverGreen is putting on the Akron EverGreen Zone Contractor Award, sponsored by Mulch Mule. It is intended to recognize Akron, Ohio-area service contracting organizations, companies and other professionals for projects that create or improve well-managed green spaces. The deadline for nominations is August 30, 2008. Two $1,500 awards will be given, one for residential and one for commercial property/sports fields/public parks. Nominations may be made by downloading an application at www.projectevergreen.com or calling 877-758-4835. Submissions must include a written description and visual documentation.

ASGCA Elects President, Presents Award

Bruce Charlton was elected president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects at the organization’s annual meeting. Charlton has worked at the Palo Alto, Calif.-based golf course architecture firm Robert Trent Jones II, LLC since graduating from the University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture. He currently holds the title of president and chief design officer.

Also at the annual meeting, ASGCA presented the Donald Ross Award to George Peper, author of 17 golf books. ASGCA presents the award annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the game of golf and golf course architecture.

ANLA Submits H-2B Testimony

The American Nursery and Landscape Association submitted testimony for a hearing held by the House Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law.  ANLA Executive Vice President Bob Dolibois urged Congress to take prompt action.

ANLA also filed extensive technical comments on a pair of proposals by the Bush administration to overhaul the existing H-2A agricultural guest worker program. The comments may be viewed at www.anla.org. ANLA commented on proposals that will improve the program, and urged withdrawal or modification of a number of proposed changes that would make it worse.

Notes from GCSAA

Mark J. Woodward, golf operations manager for the city of San Diego, Calif., has been named chief executive officer of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. Woodward has been involved as a committee participant, board member and 68th president in 2004. In his 30th year as a member, he is the first golf course superintendent to serve as GCSAA’s permanent chief executive.

Woodward was named to his position in San Diego in 2005 after serving 31 years in various capacities with the Phoenix suburb of Mesa, Ariz. He is a 1974 graduate of Arizona State University with a degree in environmental resources and holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix.

Honours Golf Co. has pledged its support to The Environmental Institute for Golf with a $10,000 donation toward research and education to enhance golf’s relationship with the environment.

Turfco Mfg. Co. and Barenbrug USA have committed to participate in the GCSAA’s Partner Recognition Program at the Silver level.

IA Launches Interest Group

The Irrigation Association has launched a new common interest group to provide a platform for nursery and floriculture stakeholders to discuss shared issues. The nursery and floriculture industries represent a total of 500,000 acres of plant production and about $9.5 billion in annual sales. The Nursery and Floriculture CIG recognizes the importance of these growers in the water management debate and provides a forum to define and promote irrigation best practices and provide training.

NTEA Announces MVPs, Redesigns Web Site

Seventeen additional National Truck Equipment Association member companies have achieved Member Verification Program (MVP) status for the first quarter of 2008. This brings the total number of MVPs to 363 since the program began in 2005. The program recognizes members that have implemented specific minimum business processes and have taken steps to comply with certain government regulations.

The newest MVPs are Arrowhead Truck Equipment, Inc.; CASECO Mfg., Inc.; CASECO Truck Body; Colman Equipment Co.; three locations for Commercial Truck & Van Equipment, Inc.; Cross Roads Trailers; Elliot Equipment Co., Inc.; Marietta Diesel, Inc.; National Liftgate Parts, Inc.; Rogue Truck Body; Steelweld Equipment Co., Inc.; Truck-Lite Co., Inc.; Trucks Unique, Inc.; US Truck Body; and Wheeled Coach Industries, Inc. 

The NTEA launched a newly redesigned Web site, www.ntea.com, featuring industry information, new content and better functionality. The site is updated daily and offers a comprehensive library of technical articles and resources, market research and data, current legislative and regulatory updates and more.

SIMA News

The Snow & Ice Management Association planned a facility tour of the University of Buffalo building and grounds department, specifically the snow removal operations, as a special event for the 2008 Snow and Ice Symposium. The tour will take place June 18.

A new Bid Building program will also take place at the symposium. The program features four stand-alone sessions designed to provide the basic pieces of building a bid in snow and ice management. The sessions will include Know Your Numbers with Mike Mason; Know Your Production Numbers and Equipment with Robert Smart; Know Mother Nature with Scott Carson and Justin Gamester; and Customers are Key with Phil Harwood, Mike Nelson and Peter Tolias.

SIMA has launched a Canadian version of the Certified Snow Professional (CSP) program. The CSP exam and study modules, which cover six different subjects pertaining to snow and ice management and business, have been revised to reflect differences between U.S. and Canadian laws and business practices.

USCC 2008 Election Results

The U.S. Composting Council welcomed newly elected board members Frank Franciosi, Carrie Gregory and Chuck Wilson.

Franciosi is the composting department manager at Novozymes North America, Inc. He has 29 years of experience in the green industry and is president of the Carolinas Composting Council. He is serving on the market development committee.

Gregory is the compost quality manager for Pierce County Recycling and Disposal in Puyallup, Wash., where she has worked for 10 years. She is working on the professional credentials subcommittee.

Wilson is president of A-1 Organics in Eaton, Colo., where he has worked since 1974. He is serving on the membership committee.

Ginny Black was re-elected to the board for her fourth term. She works for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as an organics recycling coordinator and has 21 years of experience in the recycling industry. She has been the chair of the communications committee for the past nine years.