Landscape and Irrigation is read by decision makers throughout the landscape and irrigation markets — including contractors, landscape architects, professional grounds managers, and irrigation and water mgmt companies and reaches the entire spetrum.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/626548
As business owners and senior managers know all too well, there are a myriad of regulatory and legislative issues that affect land- scape professionals, and this year will see many important issues in play at all levels of government. Some, such as labor issues, affect the "business of the business," while others, such as water issues, impact field operations. As these issues are all important to the industry, the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) monitors, and in many instances advocates on, dozens of policy issues at the federal, state and sometimes local levels. NALP is proud of the work it has done throughout the years ensuring the business interests and reputation of the industry are represented in the nation's capital and in state capitals throughout the country. However, our commitment to the protection and advancement of the industry through effective public policy work just got even stronger. To ensure that NALP is best serving the needs of industry professionals on advocacy issues, the organization's leadership has dedicated new resources to ensure that we are able to make a significant impact on important issues. The Association recently committed to taking a more proactive leadership role on the issues most important to lawn and landscape professionals. Armed with a new strategic plan for government relations, NALP is in a strong position to impact the most critical issues, support and coalesce on others, and simply communicate on other issues that can be more capably led by other organizations better poised to advance them. NALP is focused on leading the conversation and impacting the outcomes on the following issues: Federal level — H-2B. State level — Fertilizer and/or pesticide bans, restrictions or limitations; water quality and quantity issues. Local level — Fertilizer and/or pesticide bans, restrictions or limitations. NALP will join and engage broader coalition efforts with other industries to impact the following issues: Federal level — WOTUS, EPA pesticide-related rulings State level — Pollinators/Neonicotinoids, USEPA pesticide applicator certification training rule. Local level — Noise pollution/blower bans Green Building Codes — Codes and ordinances limiting turfgrass (national, state, and local action). NALP is also monitoring several issues that impact our industry, including Lyme disease research, wage and OT rules, e-verify, and OSHA mandates. During the next six months, NALP will roll out a variety of advocacy support tools to enable the association and the industry to be more effective in messaging to elected officials and other stakeholders, including consumer toolkits, new materials to help fight local attacks on pesticides and fertilizers, new materials about the benefits of lawns and landscapes, and new materials that clear up myths about our industry and paint our industry in the correct light. This new strategic plan was developed by NALP's Public Affairs Advisory Council, led by Jeff Fedorchak of TruGreen and Jim McCutcheon of Highgrove Partners along with a cross section of advisors from all sections of the industry. We encourage you to stay informed about the issues and take action. The advocacy section of the NALP website (www.landscape professionals.org) explains all the issues and has formatted letters that you can send to legislators about these important issues. Rules on WOTUS, H-2B, and pesticide bans will all have a negative impact on your business. Please participate, and we will have a much stronger voice. Sabeena Hickman, CAE is CEO of the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). 34 January/February 2016 Landscape and Irrigation www.landscapeirrigation.com STAYING CURRENT Major Focus Being Given to this Year's Important Legislative Issues ILLUSTRATION ABOVE ©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/SMARTBOY10 LI ■ BY SABEENA HICKMAN, CAE 1. Defend. Defend against current and potential threats to the industry regard- ing restrictions on pesticide and fertilizer use; the H-2B program; and water quality/ quantity issues. 2. Advance. Identify opportunities to proactively advance federal, state and local legislation and regulations that advance industry objectives and, in doing so, define the industry in a positive light. Aggressively promote the human health and environmental benefits of what we do, explain the common-sense solutions we provide, and highlight the economic benefits to the economy we create. 3. Inform. Serve as a clearinghouse, repository and distributor of relevant industry information — making it avail- able to members, external stakeholders, and key influencers, acting in the inter- est of collaboration whenever possible. 4. Engage. Ensure the industry is poised to steward and safeguard its future by developing an informed mem- bership, an active grassroots network, a robust Political Action Committee, an active presence on appropriate coalitions, and a solid partnership with the industry's state associations. NALP Public Affairs Goals