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"Olympic" results posted

They climbed trees, leveled pavers, sawed, negotiated, sold green-industry services, identified plants, and steered their way through hours of competition. About 800 students gave 26 different events their full attention and all of their energy at Planet’s Student Career Days (SCD). Click here to see the results of the 2006 SCD. Students also interviewed and networked with more than 90 green-industry companies at the Career Fair, learned about the broad range of career opportunities in landscape management at a SCD Tech session, attended an exciting kick-off event at Utah Olympic Park, and toured the BYU campus and Temple Square. PLANET’s 30th Annual Student Career Days was nothing short of spectacular.
To learn more about Student Career Days …

Students receive $39,500 in scholarships

Each year, the ALCA Educational Foundation (AEF) awards scholarships to students enrolled in landscape/horticulture programs at two-year and four-year colleges and universities across the nation. These schools must have a PLANET-accredited landscape contracting curriculum, belong to a PLANET student chapter, or participate in PLANET Student Career Days. At the Student Career Days event in Provo, Utah, the AEF presented scholarships totaling $39,500 to 38 deserving students. Click here for a complete list of scholarship recipients.

BYU professor named outstanding educator

Phil Allen, Ph.D., of Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah, recently received the ALCA Educational Foundation’s 2006 Outstanding Educator of the Year Award. Steven Glover, CLP, chair of PLANET’s Accreditation Committee, praises Allen for his dedication to his students and the green industry: “He frequently has a book of students’ resumes on hand so that he can pass them along to green-industry professionals in the hopes of setting up internships and jobs. In fact, it’s fair to say that hundreds of students have created successful career paths as a result of his commitment to their success.”
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Think green in April

Consumers know that healthy lawns play an important role in home sales and that they have a huge impact on curb appeal. Homes with beautiful lawns and landscaping can increase property values by 15 to 20 percent. Partner with your clients to be proactive this month — National Lawn Care Month — by putting together a lawn care program that ensures their lawns will be healthy and beautiful throughout the year. Also spread the word about the environmental benefits of a healthy lawn by sending a customized press release to your local media. The press release is available in the member center.

Members "fly-in" to D.C. to address H-2B issue

Approximately 100 small business representatives participated in a “fly-in” on Capitol Hill on March 15, 2006, to learn the current status of H-2B and the immigration bill and to meet with their congressional leaders.
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Special sponsors for legislative event

PLANET extends its thanks to the following sponsors for their support of its upcoming Legislative Day on the Hill and Renewal and Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery event, July 23–25, 2006, in Washington, D.C.

Platinum Sponsors — Husqvarna and Syngenta Professional Products
Gold Sponsors — Bayer Environmental Science; Dow Agrosciences; Lesco, Inc.; IMERYS; John Deere Worldwide; and FMC
Silver Sponsors — The Scotts Co.; Vermeer Manufacturing, Inc.; Project EverGreen; Nufarm Turf & Specialty; and BASF
Bronze Sponsor — Helena Chemical Co.; PBI/Gordon Corp.; and The Andersons, Inc.
Keynote Speaker Sponsor — FMC
Congressional Breakfast Sponsor — FEWA
Arlington Lunch and Refreshment Sponsor — Bayer Environmental Science

Industry expert reveals marketing secrets

If you’re attending the PLANET Specialty Symposium, you can look forward to a special presentation on the last day of the symposium. The “Executive Masters in Sales and Marketing” seminar, a ticketed event, is a dynamic, interactive working session for owners, managers, and any employee responsible for generating and retaining profits. Judith Guido of Guido & Associates will help attendees create customized sales and marketing plans that will generate ongoing revenues and profits for their companies. Register today!

Essential safety tips

Bilingual (English/Spanish) tailgate training lessons … advice from PLANET members who have been cited by OSHA … checklists, sample forms, and training tips. These are just a few of the items you’re missing if you’re not reading PLANET’s monthly Safety SOLUTIONS newsletter. Safety SOLUTIONS is mailed to all PLANET members as an insert in each edition of PLANET News. Members can also access the most recent issue in the member center.

Learn how to monopolize the marketplace

Registration forms are now available on the PLANET Web site for "Monopolize Your Marketplace," a two-day interactive learning workshop led by marketing guru, Judith Guido of Guido & Associates. The event is scheduled to be held September 22–23, 2006, at the Embassy Suites BWI Hotel in Linthicum, Maryland. The registration cut-off date is August 18. Register today.

Earn national recognition

PLANET is accepting entries for its 37th Annual Environmental Improvement Awards Program. Participation in the program is limited to PLANET members. Program applications have been mailed and also are available on PLANET’s Web site. The early-bird deadline for entries is June 30, 2006. All entries are due by July 31, 2006.

Find out Who’s Who at PLANET

The PLANET 2006 Who’s Who is hot off the press and on the way to your door. This convenient reference guide contains information about PLANET members and features an extensive buyer’s guide listing of green-industry suppliers. Be sure to check out the listings of supplier, affiliate, student, student chapter, and state and allied regional association members in the directory. For additional copies at no charge, contact the PLANET office at (800) 395-2522.

Time to celebrate

April is a busy month. Not only is it National Lawn Care Month, but the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has also proclaimed it National Landscape Architecture Month. PLANET is proud to partner with ASLA and other national organizations in celebrating landscape architecture.
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The buzz about termite-infested mulch

E-mails are circulating about termite-infested mulch that is a byproduct of the hurricane clean-up efforts. The Internet grapevine is rife with reports that suggest that the formosan termite, which causes a great deal of destruction in Gulf Coast areas, will find its way north due to the alleged pressure to get rid of large quantities of scrap wood. But the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry says not to worry. It has implemented quarantine measures and won’t allow infested wood to leave these areas.
To learn more about termites, click here.

Show off your work

PLANET publishes photographs of outstanding projects in its regular publications and marketing materials. Not only do these photographs serve to inspire others in the green industry, but they also recognize your hard work. PLANET would like to create a photo library for this purpose. If you would like to make your photos available to us for use in various publications, please contact Dina Wiley, PLANET’s creative services and advertising manager, by calling (800) 395-2522 or e-mailing dinawiley@landcarenetwork.org.

Residential Landscapes Financing Program no longer available

Regrettably, PLANET has discontinued the Wells Fargo Residential Landscapes Financing Program due to lack of member participation. If you have questions about the program’s cancellation, please e-mail PLANET Membership Director Jim Garnett at jamesgarnett@landcarenetwork.org or call the PLANET office at (800) 395-2522.