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• PLANET partners with pay card provider
• Jack Ingels named educator of the year
• Congratulations to 2007 AEF scholarship recipients
• April is National Lawn Care Month
• PLANET launches its annual awards programs
• Book your hotel room for the Specialty Symposium
• Who’s who at PLANET
• OSHA safety poster available online

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PLANET partners with pay card provider

A Directo pay card program promises increased productivity on paydays, as workers do not take extended breaks or leave the job site early to wait in line to cash payroll checks. Directo’s FDIC-insured bank accounts are opened at the workplace, without a credit check.

“PLANET is very excited about this new partnership with Directo, which serves to affirm our commitment to deliver unparalleled value to our membership,” states PLANET CEO Tanya Tolpegin. “This new program provides real savings and benefits to our members by significantly reducing payroll costs. And, it is a valuable employee retention tool, giving employees the ease and safety of direct payroll deposits.”

The Directo program will particularly interest PLANET members who employ workers with H-2B visas. These workers typically do not have a U.S.-based bank account. Most have limited English language skills, making payroll check cashing and money transfers an expensive, frustrating, and potentially dangerous experience. Directo implementation teams have extensive experience in overcoming barriers and implementing the program to Hispanics, using Spanish-language collateral and bilingual enrollment rallies that result in high acceptance rates.

“Directo is a terrific fit for green industry employers who often have significant payday challenges with worker productivity and payroll distribution,” says Bob Howe, president and CEO of Directo. “Directo pay cards allow them to maximize productivity through direct deposit participation while providing a valued benefit to their employees.”

For more information, log in and visit the PLANET “Member Center.”

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Jack Ingels named educator of the year

Recipients of the annual AEF Outstanding Educator of the Year Award are an exceptional group of people, who have shown commitment both inside and beyond the classroom. This year’s recipient — Jack E. Ingels, professor at State University of New York (SUNY), Cobleskill campus — is no exception.

Ingel’s has been a professor at the SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill since 1978 and was responsible for developing its landscape program. He has served as the chairman of the department of plant science, and chair of the department’s committees on landscape curriculum and landscape facilities development.

Ingels is an academic advisor and a high-intensity advisor to at-risk students. He believes strongly in the traditional role of the university as a leader in the development of new methods and ideologies, and wants graduates to be initiators and innovators within the industry, not just industrious followers.

PLANET congratulates Ingels on his accomplishments, his passion for the industry, and his advocacy for the students in the green industry.

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Congratulations to 2007 AEF scholarship recipients

The presentation of more than $50,000 in scholarships will result in a brighter future for several green industry students. The ALCA Educational Foundation (AEF) presented the scholarships to these deserving students at PLANET’s Student Career Days.
(Scholarship recipients)

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April is National Lawn Care Month

April is the time to celebrate the beauty and benefits of a professionally installed and maintained lawn. In honor of this annual tradition, PLANET offers several promotional resources — a press release to share with your local media, and members can log in to the Member Center for specific tips on how to get the word out, and links to five newly developed lawn care brochures that contain information to help address consumers' questions and concerns. The brochures cover how to select a lawn care service, the benefits of turf, lawn care products and services, and water-quality issues.

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PLANET launches its annual awards programs

2007 brings several opportunities for you to showcase and celebrate your achievements by participating in PLANET’s annual awards programs — Environmental Improvement, Green Industry Contribution, Community Service Recognition, Association Partner of the Year, State Executive Partner of the Year, and Lifetime Leadership.
(Awards Programs)

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Book your hotel room for the Specialty Symposium

PLANET’s 2007 Specialty Symposium will be held August 24–26, 2007, in Indianapolis, Indiana, at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. The cut-off date to reserve your room at the “PLANET specialty” rate of $133 (single/double room) is July 31, 2007. Call the hotel at (877) 640-7666 or make your reservation online. This is a great first-time event for new members, boasting a true symposium atmosphere. Design/build/installation, landscape management, and lawn care specialty tracks will offer the latest green industry topics.

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Who’s who at PLANET

Watch your mail for the latest information on PLANET leadership, certified individuals, and green industry suppliers in PLANET’s 2007 Who’s Who publication. Want to network with fellow PLANET members? Access their most up-to-date information in PLANET’s new online Membership Directory.

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OSHA safety poster available online

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has an updated version of the OSHA “It’s the Law” poster. The poster, which is free of charge, is available in English and Spanish and can also be ordered from the OSHA publications office at (202) 693-1888 or (800) 321-OSHA. The OSHA poster must be displayed in every workplace in America. The previous version of the poster is still valid.

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