News Professional Landcare Network September 2008 Service and advocacy Green industry makes its presence known in nation’s capital ALSO INSIDE Selecting safer subcontractors Recycling program yields big results Collaboration creates innovation GET YOUR OWN MULE WITH NO PAYMENTS UNTIL JULY 2009!* *$250.00 Documentation Fee • Interest Rate will be 7.49% • 1st and Last Payment required It’s all about time and manpower so if you want to compete in this business you need to have a Mulch Mule. The Mule gives us the ability to get more work done in less time and with fewer men. We have 4 Mulch Mules and will continue to add Mules as they help us grow our business. You can’t compete with us unless you have a Mule. Gary Clark / Owner-V.P. Environmental Management Inc, Plain City, Ohio The Mulch Mule is the ultimate tool for increasing your bottom line and doubling or tripling your productivity. As less workers are becoming available, new avenues need to be explored, and the Mulch Mule is a proven winner. For two weeks only October 13-25, Mulch Mule is offering their best pricing and financing ever. You don’t have to be at the GIE Show to receive this pricing, but we suggest you visit us for information, promotional items, and show specials only available at the GIE EXPO, Booth #3010. Green Industry Innovators 7727 Paris Avenue, Louisville, OH 44641 • www.MulchMule.com • 330-607-9050 PLANET Board of Directors Offi cers President Solutions are just Jason Cupp, CLP Highland Outdoor Olathe, Kansas a click away at President-Elect/Secretary Bill Hildebolt, Ph.D., CTP, CTP-CSL Nature’s Select LandcareNetwork.org Winston-Salem, North Carolina Directors-at-Large Phil Allen Brigham Young University Provo, Utah Norman Goldenberg TruGreen Companies, LLC Memphis, Tennessee Gerald Grossi Arborlawn, Inc. Lansing, Michigan Fred Haskett, CTP U.S. Lawns of West and St. Charles County Defi ance, Missouri Ron Johnson Syngenta Columbia, South Carolina Joe Kujawa, CLP Kujawa Enterprises, Inc. Oak Creek, Wisconsin Miles Kuperus Jr., CLP Farmside Landscape and Design Wantage, New Jersey Jennifer Lemcke Weed Man – Turf Holding, Inc. Scarborough, Ontario, Canada Barbara Scheibe Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association Waukesha, Wisconsin David Snodgrass, CLP Dennis’ Seven Dees Landscaping, Inc. Portland, Oregon Ken Taylor, CLP John Deere Worldwide Commercial & Consumer Equipment Division Cary, North Carolina Richard Wilbert, CLP Robert Howard Associates, Inc. Boulder, Colorado September 2008 PLANET News 3 22 : COVER STORY Service and advocacy Green industry makes its presence known in nation’s capital Contents September 2008 PRESIDENT’S LETTER 6 Strength in numbers LEADING THE WAY 8 BYU educator looks to grow hort programs DOWN TO BUSINESS 9 Selecting safer subcontractors STATE PARTNER PERSPECTIVE 12 Recycling program yields big results NEWS FROM PLANET 13 Balancing life, work, and health 14 Making a good thing even better 16 PLANET names Business Champion of the Year 18 Additional resources added to online safety page 18 Students receive free PLANET membership Professional Landcare Network MEMBERS MATTER LandcareNetwork.org 20 Member headlines Headquarters 20 e-Survey results 950 Herndon Parkway, Suite 450 Herndon, VA 20170 28 Welcome to new members (800) 395-2522 • (703) 736-9666 30 New STARS members Fax (703) 736-9668 Managing Editor, Kathy Wemhoff FROM THE HILL Editor, Sonia Myrick 32 Is it time for a national IPM standard for the lawn and landscape Writer, Rod Dickens industry? Advertising, Cheryl Claborn Graphic Designer, Marlene Hochberg SUCCESSCAPES Modern Type & Design PLANET News is published monthly by the 34 Plantique veteran still enjoys learning Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) expressly as a member service. SPECIALTY GROUP FORUM © 2008 36 Collaboration creates innovation Our Mission HR INSIGHTS The Professional Landcare 38 The beatings will continue until morale improves! Network cultivates and safeguards opportunities for our members PR CORNER — the dedicated professionals and companies who create and 40 Developing press releases that work enhance the world’s landscapes. Our Vision CERTIFICATION UPDATE To be the respected leader and 42 Schedule of certifi cation exams voice of the green industry. LEGALLY SPEAKING 44 Is your worker an employee or an independent contractor? SAFETY ZONE 46 ‘Rodeo’ competition tests employees’ safety skills The association of members who create and maintain the QUALITY OF LIFE in 46 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS communities across America. PRESIDENT’S LETTER Strength in numbers remember when I fi rst joined recognition, and infl uence through PLANET’s legacy associa- proactive advocacy. I tion, the Associated Landscape So how do you go about selling Contractors of America, almost 10 PLANET to your peers? How do I go years ago. It came at the recommen- about it? First, I identify who I think dation of an industry colleague, Bill would be a good member — someone Gordon. Bill thought that I would who is interested in professionalism, benefi t from membership. Little did I someone who understands the impor- know exactly how true Bill’s statement tance of education and certifi cation, would be. I’m grateful that Bill took the and someone who wants to grow his time to tell me about membership in a or her business. Then, I would invite national association, as it has made all them to join me at a PLANET event the difference in my business over the such as the Green Industry Conference, years. October 22–25, 2008, in Louisville, Now, you have an opportunity to be Kentucky. When they attend this con- Jason Cupp, CLP a PLANET Membership Ambassador. ference, they will immediately realize Highland Outdoor By now, most of you have prob- why they should be part of our group. PLANET President ably heard about PLANET’s GROW the NETWORK — JOIN the NETWORK campaign. The campaign kicked off July 1 and will continue through the More members give PLANET the ability end of this year. This exciting promo- tion is designed to encourage PLANET to provide even more resources for members to recruit new Green Industry Service Provider (GISP) mem- members, to have a stronger voice bers. The promotion rules go like this: For every new GISP member accepted on important legislative issues, and for membership and whose dues are received by PLANET, the referring to create an even larger network and member will receive one $25 American Express gift card and one entry into a community of industry professionals grand prize drawing for a fl at screen with similar goals in mind. television. Now that’s a pretty good deal. An even better deal, though, is what growing our membership will do Even more important than these will have an even stronger voice. There for all PLANET members and the selling tips is the enthusiasm I out- truly is strength in numbers. And you green industry. More members give wardly show for being a PLANET can become part of an industry col- PLANET the ability to provide even member. I’m not bashful about league’s story, just like Bill Gordon is more resources for members, to have sharing my PLANET experience and part of mine. y a stronger voice on important legisla- telling peers how this organization, tive issues, and to create an even larger its networking opportunities, and its network and community of industry resources have benefi ted my career professionals with similar goals in and business. mind. In a word, or in several words, When you think about it, how by helping grow membership, you’re much easier can you make $25 than helping PLANET deliver on three of to simply relate an experience or two the fi ve goals of the PLANET Promise: to an industry friend? Your friend will Jason Cupp, CLP deliver unparalleled value to PLANET benefi t, you will benefi t, PLANET will PLANET President members, advance marketplace benefi t, and so will an industry that [email protected] 6 PLANET News September 2008 LEADING THE WAY BYU educator looks to grow hort programs s a PLANET board member who is heavily involved “There’s no question that preparing for and taking the in accreditation and Student Career Days, Phil Allen, exam gives our seniors an advantage,” Allen relates. “But the A Ph.D. is on a mission. “There are literally hundreds exam and how well students fare on it are also measuring of horticulture programs around the country that don’t have sticks for our program.” He goes on to say that BYU hopes a clue about PLANET and what it can do for their programs,” to one day offer a PLANET Certifi ed Landscape Technician says Allen, a professor in the Department of Plant and (CLT) exam on campus. The university currently pays for Wildlife Sciences at Brigham Young University (BYU) – Provo. students taking the CLP exam, an indication of the strong As he points out, vibrant landscape-related programs are vital support Allen’s program receives from the administration. to the future of the green industry. Unfortunately, because these programs are expensive to maintain, they become vulnerable when a “department champion” leaves or when Heady start schools are forced to cut back on expenses. Being involved Allen’s family ran a small lumber jack company in with PLANET, becoming accredited, participating in Student Mountain View, Wyoming. While in high school, he spent Career Days, and taking advantage of PLANET resources will most of his summers felling pine trees at 9,000 feet above give programs more stature within their respective schools sea level and mowing lawns in his spare time. The experi- and help build enrollment.” ence didn’t seem to have much of an impact on his college Allen knows this from experience. He joined the BYU career, as he enrolled in BYU as a psychology major.