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The regular meeting of the
Georgia Green Industry Association was held on Thursday, May 15,
2003 at the Horticulture Building of the Coastal Plain Experiment
Station in Tifton, Georgia. Members in attendance included: Bob
Oxford, Mike Sikes, Phil Hart, Bobby Flowers, Paul Miller, Andy
Rogers, Mike Evans, Jim Midcap, Chris Butts, Wayne King, Joe
Napoli, Mel Garber, Mike Cunningham, John Strickland, Wayne Juers,
Bill Fallin, Myra Crowe, Andy Hull, and Sherry Loudermilk.
Chairman Hull called the
meeting to order at 9:15 AM. Bobby Flowers made motion to accept
minutes as written. Mel Garber seconded. Motion passed.
Loudermilk reported that
currently GGIA had a membership total of 804 companies. She
stated that this is the first time in almost two years that the
total had surpassed 800 members. Loudermilk then stated that she
recommended that the Association open only one-half of the
upstairs space available for trade show exhibits at the 2004
WinterGreen show. She related her concerns about space needs for
keynote addresses and lunch activities.
Hull stated that he had
spoken with Brian LaHaie of the Georgia Chapter of the American
Society of Landscape Architects. He noted that GGIA will be
continuing to work with ASLA to promote the WinterGreen show in
the Chapter of ASLA. ASLA will be a “friend” or “sponsor” of the
WinterGreen event.
Cunningham stated that the
Georgia Flower Growers Association wished to hold a session on
Thursday or Friday of the show. The GFGA wished to receive a
portion of the registration funds and to have the price of the
session include a trade show badge. All members in attendance
agreed to these requests.
Hull continued reporting on
the progress of outreach efforts to the Future Farmers of America
(FFA) organization. He noted that in the past, instructors
received bonuses and incentive for passing the Georgia Certified
Plant Professional exam and could continuing education points by
attending the annual WinterSchool conference. Hull said that due
to budget constraints these opportunities had been eliminated from
the FFA and horticulture high school instructors. He stated that
he and Loudermilk planned to visit Dr. Woodward, director of the
program, to discuss the opportunities available.
Hull stated that the Master
Gardeners program for our planned Saturday consumer event will not
take place this year. He stated that GGIA will invite the entire
leadership of the Georgia Master Gardeners Association (GMGA) to
our WinterSchool and WinterGreen event. He states he hopes to
meet with the Board of (GMGA) to explain GGIA and how our program
works. Napoli stated that GGIA will continue the consumer event
on Saturday without the addition of the GMGA membership.
Loudermilk reviewed Tailgate
Tours conducted by the Wholesale Division scheduled for June 5 and
June 10. She stated June 5 event had 9 people pre-registered and
the June 10 event had 8 people pre-registered. She asked for help
from the Board and Committee members to begin making calls to
encourage attendance.
Loudermilk stated that the annual
planning retreat is scheduled for June 6 and 7. She stated
that 18 people had registered to attend the event. Loudermilk
announced that she must have all reservations for the retreat by
May 16, 2003.
Loudermilk then introduced
Mike Evans of the Georgia Department of Agriculture and thanked
him for his attendance at the meeting.
Committee Caucuses were held
from 9:50 AM until 10:45 AM.
Committee reports followed
as such:
The Governmental
Relations Committee report was presented by Mel Garber.
Garber asked King to report about the opportunity to promote
functional soils and landscapes through a 319h grant. King noted
that Fayette county, the Cityof Fayetteville, the Storm Water
Management Association, and the Green Industry Association will
partner together for the project designed in the 319h grant. King
reported that another project with the City of Atlanta for a green
roof landscape installation at City Hall is available for a
promotional opportunity for the green industry. King stated that
donations will be requested for this project. Garber then
continued reporting that the committee will pursue arranging a
meeting with the Governor. Garber asked the GGIA Lobbyist, Bill
Fallin, to report on the legislative session that had just ended.
Fallin noted that HB237, “the water bill,” had failed in the last
twenty minutes of the session. Current Georgia law requires that
since the bill is still in conference, the bill will be attempted
in the 2004 session. HB285, the “soil and erosion” bill did
pass. Fallin continued stating the HB148 , the “heating fuels for
greenhouses” passed. He stated the impending retirement of Harold
Reheis, director of the Department of Natural Resource, is
unfortunate since the water bill is still on the table for 2004.
Garber then continued stating that HB587 which allows metering for
ag use permits did pass during the 2003 session. Loudermilk
stated that the Association is interested in passing future
legislation that would develop a state list of invasive plants
that would supersede any local or municipality lists and
legislation that would require a small percentage of the total
amount of each DOT contract to be used for landscape systems.
The Marketing Committee
report was delivered by Andy Rogers. He noted that he will be
working with Walter Reeves to promote the Georgia Grown program
with Reeves as he films at the Center for Nursery Research.
Rogers reported that he expected Brendan Smith to design the booth
at SNA. Rogers stated that three sponsors have been solicited for
the membership T-shirts that will be given out at the SNA show.
The three sponsors are Fafard, Harrell’s, and Hortica. The
committee will continue working on T-shirt designs.
Rogers stated the Committee
had brainstormed on 10 reasons to join GGIA. The committee will
use these along with testimonials in revising the membership
brochure. Rogers announced that Mike Cunningham will provide the
testimonial for the Retail Division and Joe Napoli will provide
the testimonial for the Wholesale Division. Rogers suggested that
Kevin Karel provide the testimonial for the Sales and Marketing
Division and stated that Brendan Smith and Alan Shultz will
contact a member for the Landscape Division testimonial.
The committee suggests that
the Association prepare a presentation folder that is simple and
non-dated. Once this folder is finished the interior information
can be designed for multiple projects and printed on demand.
Rogers announced that the
Membership Blitz will be conducted in July, 2003. Shultz will
lead the Membership Blitz. Loudermilk will run a contact list on
licensed companies that are not members by geographic region.
Myra Crowe and Bobby Flowers volunteered to help with the Blitz.
The committee suggested that
Loudermilk obtain a list of green industry companies in north
Florida and south Alabama. These companies should be sent a
Tailgate Tour brochure. Loudermilk will work with Garber to see
if he can share his annual GA/FLA update meeting list.
Kevin Karel had sent
information recommending several status-type membership levels for
GGIA with the extra monies benefiting a GGIA foundation or
scholarship fund. It was decided this information will be
reviewed at the annual planning retreat in early June.
Trade Show Committee
report was delivered by Chris Butts. The focus of this committee
was only the Saturday event, “A Gardener’s Palette.” The
tentative schedule follows: 6 AM – 10 AM: Walter Reeves Live
Radio Broadcast; 8:30 – 9 AM – Registration and booths open for
sales; 9-9-45: Lecture with Mike Buffin – 9:45-10:15 Break with
booths open; 10:15 – 11 AM: Lecture with Michael Dirr; and 11 AM
– 12:30 PM: walking tour of booths conducted by Mike Dirr, sales
from booths, and book signings. The
committee would like the promotional brochures ready by SNA with a
mailing list ready by September. Reminder postcards should be
prepared with mailings just before the event. The committee has a
goal for a minimum of 10 retail booths at $250 per booth.
Joe Napoli will meet with the marketing manager at Pike Family
Nurseries to see if Walter Reeves can be located at the event. Chris Butts will contact
last year’s exhibitors and new prospects. Butts will also check
with Chick-Fil-A in Athens to see if they will provide
complimentary biscuits for the morning event.
Continuing with the Trade
Show Committee Report, Napoli stated he will work with Loudermilk
to design the area for the “how-to” clinics in the upstairs
exhibit hall. He stated these clinics need to drive landscape
contractor traffic. Hull stated that he and Loudermilk will
mention these clinics when they visit with the leadership of the
Georgia Chapter of ASLA.
The Landscape
Certification Committee report was presented by John
Strickland. He said that the task force now has Wayne Gardner,
Susan Thornhill, Zak Campbell, Rex Bishop, Robert Brannen, Clint
Waltz, Mark Prinster, and John Strickland. Stickland stated the
task force will soon be requiring CEUs for certified
professionals. He also related that the GCLP testing
administration is now being done at UGA and that the financials
have been turned over to UGA for administration. Tiers of
certification have now been established as: Georgia Certified
Landscape Technician for those passing the nine hands-on
stations and the plant identification portion and Georgia
Certified Landscape Professional for those who pass the entire
test. The GCLP committee has been contacted by Dr. Ken Tilt from
Alabama looking to adopt the Georgia test in Alabama. John
Strickland and Rex Bishop will be meeting with the committee from
Alabama on May 30 to discuss how to do this.
The group held a lunch break
from 11:55 to 12:40 PM. Reports continued as follows :
Wayne Juers reported for the
Certified Plant Professional Committee stating the
next test will be on July 31 from 9:30 AM – 12 Noon at the SNA
convention. He continued noting that the registration fee for the
SNA show is included in the test fee and that Loudermilk should
handle certificates for the test participants as she had done in
the past. He stated the committee is hoping for a future state
endorsement of the certification program. Reporting on the
progress of the new manual, Juers stated that Jim Midcap has
solicited for authors of the new manual. Midcap will request
funding from the GGIA office to pay the writers as needed. The
committee will continue to discuss separate levels for the test.
Juers requested that additional time be spent talking about
certification at the retreat.
The Education Committee
report was present by Jim Midcap. He stated a full day education
was scheduled on Wednesday during move-in at the WinterGreen
show. This full-day consists of four sessions in four tracts with
lunch included. Midcap continued stating that Thursday morning
includes keynote addresses with three speakers and that the Friday
morning events include a walking tour of campus and special
seminar for those starting in the nursery business. As discussed
in earlier reports, the Georgia Flower Growers Association will
hold a seminar on Thursday. Midcap reported that the Certified
Landscape Professional exam will be conducted on Friday, while the
Certified Plant Professional test will be held on Thursday. A
suggestion was made during the report to shift hours on the last
show day to opening earlier as well as closing the show earlier.
The “how-to” demonstrations will be conducted on Thursday and
Friday afternoons during the opening hours of the show. Midcap
reported that the group had determined to continue plans for its
Saturday event as reported during the trade show committee
report. Midcap and Cunningham asked for a special effort to
highlight the retail sessions be made this year. Cunningham will
prepare a personalized solicitation with a Retail Division
president’s message encouraging attendance. Midcap noted that a
request had been made to have the sessions recorded. He also
stated that the “start in the nursery business” seminar will be
marketed in the Market Bulletin and through county agents.
Bobby Flowers reported for
the Awards Committee stating that finalization of new
programs would be completed by the planning retreat. The
Landscape Awards will be adding new category for Seasonal Color.
The Water Conservation award will be highlighted and advanced by
opening the category for both retailers and landscape
contractors. He stated the committee suggests adding an
individual award for “innovator of the year.” Flowers asked each
division to discuss whether a divisional volunteer of the year
award had any merit.
There being no further
committee meetings or reports, divisional meetings were held from
1:15 PM until 1:50 PM. Reports were presented as follows:
The Landscape Division
was presented by Paul Chappell. He stated that he and other
division members will discuss Division goals with President
Brendan Smith and have a report at future meeting. Chappell said
that since the Georgia Landscape Professional Exam had its own
task force members to guide the certification process, the
Division needed to assess itself and clarify future goals. He
stated that possible activities included assisting with the
hands-on demonstrations at WinterGreen, recruiting landscapers for
membership, and recruiting teams of landscapers for the annual
golf tournament.
Andy Rogers reported for the
Wholesale Division stating the group met with Mike Evans
during the session to discuss fees and possible fee increases.
Rogers stated the Division will begin working to encourage
attendance at the upcoming Tailgate Tours. He requested that
Loudermilk provide list of attendees from last year so division
members can call or fax those people to encourage attendance.
Rogers also stated that Bill Fallin will work to get local
Representatives and/or Senators in attendance at each tour.
Reporting for the Retail
Division, Mike Cunningham said the group wants to work closely
with the trade show committee on the Gardener’s Palette Event. He
announced the Division wanted to offer a Retail tour/class on
September 17 and that more information would be finalized soon.
The Division requested a meeting with officers of Georgia State
Florists Association. Loudermilk will find the contact and
determine a meeting date.
The Sales & Marketing
Division report was presented by Wayne King, Sr. He announced
the Golf Tournament is scheduled for October 16 in Newnan at
Orchard Hills Golf Club. Members of the Golf Subcommittee
include: Mike Cunningham, Jay Dietz, Brendan Smith and Chris
McCorkle. King said that the committee wanted to inspire a golf
competition among the divisions of the association. He asked that
all committee members start working now to get sponsors. King
asked Loudermilk to send golf information to Bill Fallin so that
he can invite Senators and Representatives to play at the golf
tournament.
John Strickland presented
the Treasurer’s Report, stating that the Association was in
deficit spending, but usually did so at this time of year as the
Association cash flow was quite seasonal. There were no questions
regarding the report. A motion was made by Bobby Flowers to
approve the financial report. Wayne Juers seconded the motion.
Motion passed.
In Old Business, Mike Sikes
reported on the recent invasive plant committee meeting noting
that minutes were available for those who wanted to review them.
Loudermilk suggested the committee consider asking a member of the
Georgia Department of Agriculture to serve on the committee.
Sikes requested funding to send a survey assessing the problem of
invasive plants on federally- and state-managed lands. In
response to Sikes requisition, Alan Shultz made motion to fund
$250 for the survey from the Wholesale Division. Motion was
seconded by Joe Napoli. Motion passed. Mike Cunningham then
made a motion to fund $100 of the cost from the Retail Division.
Wayne Juers seconded the motion. Motion passed. Bobby Flowers
made a motion to fund $150 from Landscape Division. Paul Chappell
seconded the motion. Motion passed.
In New Business, Loudermilk
reported that Van Hoots had shared information regarding the
endorsed program with Hortica. Loudermilk stated that Hoots had
quoted 20 potential accounts and had written 16 policies for a
total of $183,127 in premium. Hoots reported that he now has out
seven accounts quoted with decisions due in the next 30 days. If
all seven accounts are written, a total premium of $310,000 will
be assessed.
There being no further business to
report, the meeting adjourned at 2:40 PM.
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