Letting people know who we really are

Jim Martin, ASLA, CLP
Professional Landcare Network

When I assumed office as PLANET’s president, through a deliberate strategic planning effort, PLANET had established a broad agenda of initiatives for our association and our industry. Yes, I would like to see a majority of them advanced during the next 12 months. If time is too short to realize progress in all areas, I would be happy to settle for major progress with just one of these initiatives, the repositioning of the green industry. I want members of the green industry to start taking credit for what we all do, for “creating and maintaining the quality of life in communities across America.”

In all walks of life, it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture. In this instance, I’m talking about the folks in our industry losing sight of the importance we play in our communities when we design, install, and maintain beautiful landscapes. I suggest that our industry is one of the top three or four industries responsible for creating and maintaining the quality of life in our communities. Once our industry and our customers make this connection, we become more than mere service providers, more than a group of non distinct constituents to legislators, more than a source for a summer job for students, and more than a place to go to work for employees. Once that connection is made, we become the environmental stewards of the built and natural landscape, and that becomes a powerful image that will enhance our bottom line, our representation in congress, our recruiting, and our effort to motivate employees.

I’m not suggesting that PLANET take credit for being the sole creator of our quality of life. We’re in this together with all members of the green industry, other industry groups, as well as our suppliers and educators. Knowing what we do is one thing; communicating it is another. We may never be as good at communicating what we do as we are at doing what we do. But I firmly believe that if we start now and get the message across that WE CREATE AND MAINTAIN THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA, people will one day have appropriate respect for the impact we make on their lives, and that’s good for everyone.