ALCA Influence Sept/Oct

ALCA

A R I Z O N A L A N D S C A P E C O N T R AC TO R S ’ A S S O C I AT I O N

INFLUENCE

September/October 2012

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

September/October 2012

The

ALCA

ARIZONA LANDSCAPE C O N T R A C T O R S ’ A S S O C I AT I O N

INFLUENCE

President’s Message............................................................. 4 CEO Message..................................................................... 6 ALCA Calendar................................................................... 7 New Members..................................................................... 7 2012 Awards Banquet......................................................... 7 Member Updates................................................................. 8 ALCA 2011 Excellence Awards........................................... 10 ALCA Profile: Unique Lighting.............................................. 12 ALCA Profile: Bingham Equipment........................................ 13 ALCA Profile: Evergreen Turf................................................ 14 Constantly Adjusting Light................................................... 16 October Surprise—Breaking Even or Breaking Down.............. 18 ACLP Schedule.................................................................. 19 Afforadble Care Act—What it Means for Employers............... 20 ALCA Member Mixer.......................................................... 21 ALCA Sponsors.................................................................. 21 Casino Night..................................................................... 22 Resource Guide................................................................. 22

2012 BOARD OF DIRECTORS President

Matthew Johnson

PUBLICATION Advertising

President Elect

Association Outsource Services, Inc. (916) 990-9999 www.aosinc.biz

Asset Landscaping

Design

Asset Landscaping

Tony Acosta

Vice President

Lori Mattas

ILM

Printing

Robert Clinkenbeard

Secretary

Copeland Printing

Neill-Vecchia & Associates

Arizona Landscape Contractors’ Association

Kim Kleski

Treasurer

Steve Shields

Hill & Usher Insurance & Surety

Chief Executive Officer Judy Gausman

judy@AZLCA.com

Irrigation Management Control Systems Powered by Ambient Light

5425 E Bell Road, Suite 105 Scottsdale, Arizona 85254 Phone: 602-626-7091 Fax: 602-626-7590 www.AZLCA.com

The ALCA Influence is the official publication of the Arizona Landscape Contractors’ Association. ALCA and The ALCA Influence assume no responsibility for the statements or opinions appearing in articles under an author’s name. The services of an attorney or accountant should be sought in legal and tax matters. For editorial information, contact the Arizona Landscape Contractors’ Association, 5425 E. Bell Road, Suite 105, Scottsdale, Arizona 85254; telephone, (602) 626-7091; facsimile, (602) 626-7590; e-mail, judy@AZLCA.com.

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Looking Forward

A Matthew Johnson 2012 ALCA President

s we begin winding down the summer and planning for fall and winter, there might be a little time to reflect on the previous months of 2012.

The economy has shown signs of hope, though mostly because the housing industry is not inundated with foreclosures for sale.

It is no secret that Arizona, and more so the cities of Tucson and Phoenix, is reliant on a strong housing market. Since landscape construction is directly tied to and maintenance contractors rely on a strong economic base, we are cautiously optimistic for the future.

As an association, the Arizona Landscape Contractors Associa-

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tion has made significant headway toward increasing professionalism with Sustainable Landscape Management (SLM) and Arizona Certified Landscape Professionals (ACLP). These two programs alone have seen nearly 1,000 people attending the classes. The desire to distinguish yourself from your competition and, more importantly, from the unlicensed contractor is necessary to justify your services. If the consumer is truly concerned about quality horticulture care, they are the customer you want to work with. To illustrate how much there is a demand in education, AACM has added an SLM program for managers to their existing education workshop. This program will feature an altered SLM presentation specifically for the Community Manager.

Looking forward there are two big events coming up quickly. First up is Casino Night on Wednesday, October 17th sponsored by Vermeer Sales Southwest. Bring friends and associates for an evening of fun!

Last year was a great turn out and the Vermeer staff did such a great job hosting. If they do that good at hosting Casino Night, it’s a good bet they handle customers in their primary line of business even better!

This year will mark the 36th year ALCA has held the Excellence in Landscaping Awards. This tradition of rewarding contractors for superior installation and maintenance service is a well-deserved recognition for the commitment to the customer, the industry, and your business. Exemplifying Sustainable Landscape Management Standards is top of the list. If you haven’t participated in the past, please plan to attend November 17th at the Ritz Carlton in Marana, AZ. The work that goes into this production is as professional as it is elegant. Thanks to the Director of Awards Dwight Faires with San Tan Landscape Management; Judy Gausman, ALCA CEO; and, of course, Kara Kerker, ALCA Administrative Assistant.

I thank all of our members for your hard work and professionalism. Keep up the good work and see you at the next ALCA event!

Matthew Johnson, ALCA President

1/27/12 3:12 PM

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September/October 2012

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CEO’S MESSAGE

ALCA Upgrades its Website www.AZLCA.com

L

ast month, ALCA went live with an updated website that is very robust. Even though the site looks fairly familiar, one of the biggest improvements has been the ability for participants to register online for the ALCA events.

With a busy 2012 schedule, ALCA will host 14 mixers, 40 ACLP and 25 SLM workshops, and various educational workshops including Budget & Estimating, Financial Analysis and Health Care Reform. Other special events such as Field Day, the Golf Tournament and, of course, the Excellence in Landscaping Awards

Judy Gausman ALCA CEO

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The quality leader for over four decades.

Wholesale distribution of specialty agricultural chemicals • Recognized for integrity Experienced training and regulatory staff • Licensed customer service Next day delivery in most areas • ISO compliant

Fumigation • Golf • Landscape • Nursery • Pest Control • Vector • Vegetation Management Visit us at www.target-specialty.com

Banquet are featured. There are thousands of registration forms that have been generated and up until now, manually inputted into the ALCA database and QuickBooks.

You will notice that there is no longer a registration form available for these various events. You are now able to register through the website which will streamline the process, prevent waste, and generate a confirmation email to you to ensure accuracy.

Another great feature of the website is the photo gallery where you may view all of the special events. Take a look at Field Day and the great fun that the members and their families participated in. All of the winners from the 2011 Excellence in Landscaping Program are posted as well as the golf tournament and mixer photos.

Want to hire an Arizona Certified Landscape Professional or Sustainable Landscape Management Professional? All of these certified professionals are listed on the website.

Take the time to register under the “Member Sign-in” section. You will be able to indicate which works and services you perform, keep your address, email and telephone numbers current. Importantly, ACLP and SLM professionals will be able to track their CEU’s and expiration dates.

Want to become a member of ALCA and be connected to a reliable network of 360 landscape professionals representing over 30,000 employees? Just complete the online membership application (www.AZLCA. com/Application) and become a member of the only professional landscape association in Arizona.

I strongly urge you to help ALCA become efficient by taking advantage of the benefits the ALCA website provides for you.

Respectfully Submitted, Judy Gausman, CEO

SANTA FE SPRINGS HOME OFFICE 800-352-3870

AR S 40 Y E G ROWIN AN D G N G STR O

Fresno, CA 800-827-4389

San Jose, CA 800-767-0719

San Marcos, CA 800-237-5233

Las Vegas, NV 866-472-3695

Portland, OR 877-827-4381 Houston, TX 800-901-9746

Tempe, AZ 800-352-5548

Dallas, TX 800-345-9387

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San Antonio, TX 800-925-3922

Sacramento, CA 800-901-9746 Austin, TX 800-896-1259 Oklahoma City, OK 800-522-9701 ALCA JAN 2012

MEMBER UPDATES

2012 Calendar

New Members

of Events

September 8 12 14 15 19 20 21

Cox Cactus Farm

ACLP Irrigation Workshop, Mesa ACLP Irrigation Workshop, Phoenix SLM Workshop, ALCA Office ACLP Irrigation Workshop, Tucson Phoenix Member Mixer Sponsored by Rodeo Ford ACLP Pesticides and Calibration, Prescott ACTC Conference, Wild Horse Pass

Jessica Cox 1537 West Desert Hills Drive Phoenix, AZ 85086 Email: CoxCactus.Jessica@gmail.com Phone: 480-220-1848 Fax: 480-336-2933 Profile: At Cox Cactus Farm, we pride ourselves on having one of the Valley’s broadest availabilities of cacti, agaves, aloes, and euphorbias from one gallon to large specimens. We also grow shrubs and trees and even broker to ensure every need is met with our unsurpassed customer service.

October

DTR Landscape Development LLC

5 5

SLM Workshop, ALCA Office Deadline for room reservations at Ritz-Carlton; Awards Program 6 ACLP Plant Problems Workshop, Mesa 10 ACLP Plant Problems Workshop, Phoenix 11 Tucson Member Mixer Sponsored

by AZ Benefit Consultants 13 ACLP Plant Problems Workshop, Tucson 17 Casino Night Sponsored by Vermeer Sales Southwest 18 ACLP Soils & Fertilizer, Prescott 22-24 ACLP Certification Exam, Phoenix 25 ACLP Certification Exam, Tucson 30 Board of Directors Meeting

November 5 17 17

Deadline for Awards Program dinner reservations ALCA’s Excellence in Landscaping Awards Program ALCA Annual Membership Meeting

Dick Roberts 625 West Deer Valley Road, Suite 103 Phoenix, AZ 85027 Phone: 623-516-0042 Fax: 623-516-0049 Email: Dick@DTRLandscapeDevelopment.com Profile: Landscape construction, specializing in sports fields.

Empire Southwest, LLC

Green ServPro, LLC

Larry Snyder 1586 West Kesler Lane Chandler, AZ 85224 Phone: 480-365-9082 Email: admin@greenservpro.com Profile: 25 years of experience in landscape maintenance, lawn care, tree trimming, sprinkler repair and outdoor lighting systems.

TruGreen Landcare

Danielle Russell 17466 North 25th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85023 Phone: 602-276-4311 Email: Danielle.Russell@landcare.com Profile: TruGreen LandCare is one of the largest, most comprehensive providers of commercial landscape and lawn services in North America.

From basic landscaping, including lawn, tree and shrub care, to total landscape design, TruGreen LandCare’s highly trained team of professionals are dedicated to provide you the very best exterior environment possible.

Van Heemst, Jim

Greg Fuller 1725 South Country Club Drive Mesa, AZ 85210 Phone: 602-316-4245 Fax: 480-633-4626 Email: greg.fuller@empire-cat.com Profile: Heavy equipment – sales, rental, service, parts

6905 East Kelton Lane Scottsdale, AZ 85254 Phone: 480-646-6932 Email: Jimvanheemst@gmail.com

Valley Tree Feeders

The Farms Choice

Sharman Hickman 6515 South Jackrabbit Trail Buckeye, AZ 85326 Phone: 623-872-2331 Fax: 623-872-9220 Email: Shickman@hickmansegg.com Profile: Owned by Hickman’s Family Farms, The Farms Choice products are completely sustainable.

The compost, pellets, and greens grade fertilizer applications are all natural and deodorized.

Rick Schmidt PO Box 41397 Phoenix, AZ 85080 Phone: 623-587-0606 Fax: 623-587-7616 Email: ricks@treefeeders.com Profile: Landscape contractor specializing in the feeding and care of trees especially queen and date palms.

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE 36 th ANNUAL

Excellence In Landscaping AWARDS PROGRAM

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Awards Banquet The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain 15000 N Secret Springs Dr , Marana, AZ 85658 Call (520) 572-3000 or Toll-Free: (800) 241-3333

5 pm - Silent Auction and Cocktail Reception 7 pm - Dinner & Award Ceremony $100/person or $950/table of 10 To register, contact ALCA at (602) 626-7091 or www.AZLCA.com September/October 2012

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MEMBER UPDATES Vista’s LED Step Lights Offer Custom Illumination without Glare

The 1500 Series LED Step Lights by Vista Professional Outdoor Lighting feature sharp cut-off LED optics and adjustable hot aiming for a customized illumination without glare.

Vista’s 1500 Series Precision Illumination Control (PIC) provides adjustable forward throw distributions of light, ideal for installations where precise placement of light is required without glare. The adjustable optics allow the Series to illuminate narrow forward throw requirements for stairways or very wide forward throws for large pedestrian ingress and egress entries. Hot aiming provides a 30 degree adjustment range with the maximum candela able to be placed from 25 to 55 degrees below horizontal. With hot aiming, optics can be adjusted while installed and operational, for superior fine-tuning.

The 1500 Series’ modular LED design eases installation and the housings are fully sealed to prevent moisture penetration. The units are available in three sizes and multiple aperture styles, including customizable options. Additionally, the Series uses Rebel ES or LUXEON A LEDs greater than 100lm/W. The Series accommodates interior and exterior installations, both IC and non-IC rated.

Other advantages of the 1500 Series Step Lights include: • Minimalist and traditional styling • Border, louver and sheer glass • Warm and neutral color temperatures • Quick shop polymeric boxes with box extensions available to correct improper installations • Customizable doors and silk screening • Optional holographic diffuser films to create shadow-free distributions, even when louvered doors are used

Ditch Witch of Arizona Adds New Salesman to Team Ditch Witch of Arizona has added Patrick Gallagher as our new Sales Representative in the Arizona market. Gallagher’s primary responsibility will be to introduce the Doosan line of both heavy construction equipment and air compressors. Doosan is a worldwide manufacturer of excavators, wheel loaders, air compressors and light towers to mention a few. In 2007 Doosan acquired Bobcat and the Ingersoll Rand Portable Compressor lines. In 2009 Ditch Witch of Arizona was chosen as the distributor for the compressors, light compaction and light towers in Arizona. The excellent relationship that quickly developed over the next two years led to the factory authorized distributorship for Arizona of the Doosan Heavy Construction Equipment line. Doosan has made an aggressive push to become a major supplier of this equipment in North America. Ditch Witch owners, David and Beverly Klingaman, are pleased to include Patrick in the efforts to make an impression here. Gallagher has over 10 years of experience in both the Sales and Rental of Construction Equipment in the Phoenix Market. His past history in this industry has proven him to be a professional in serving the customer’s needs and expanding market shares. We look forward to having him on our team and help continue our excellent service reputation within the Arizona market. Gallagher can be reached by cell #: 602-316-1446, office #: 602-437-0351 and e-mail: Patrick@ditchwitchaz.com ( www. doosanequipment.com )

Hunter Unveils Water Savings Calculator Showcasing Benefits of EfficiencyFocused Products Hunter Industries has a well-earned reputation as the world’s leading manufacturer of water efficient irrigation products. The latest Hunter innovation isn’t a product at all. It’s a free app designed to help system owners reduce water consumption, save money, and promote healthy local environments. It’s called the Hunter Water Savings Calculator, and it’s available exclusively on the Hunter Industries website.

“Everyone at Hunter is really excited about this new way of promoting the financial and sustainable benefits of our water efficient products,” said project leader Phil Robisch. “We expect this to be a huge benefit to homeowners, business owners, and irrigation professionals alike.”

This one-of-a-kind interactive tool features five individual water use calculators that show the clear financial and sustainable advantages of MP Rotators, Solar Sync sensors, Check Valves, and pressure regulated spray bodies. To utilize it, all a user has to do is open it up, enter some general information about the landscape and water cost in question, and hit the ‘calculate’ button. The calculator then gives a reliable estimate of how much water and money can be saved if the latest and most conservation-conscious Hunter products are installed.

The app is optimized for the iPad, and compatible with all kinds of personal computers and web browsers.

Video tutorials that introduce and explain the calculators are also available on the Hunter website.

To access or learn more about the Hunter Water Savings Calculator, visit hunterindustries.com.

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Brilliance LED Achieves An Industry First Brilliance LED, an Arizona manufacturer, developer and distributor of light emitting diodes (LED) designed for the landscape industry is the first LED manufacturer company to develop and offer a Par 36 LED device that fits most industry fixtures, is 10% cooler than other like devices and is completely waterproof.

According to Brilliance LED founder Steve Gold, the company’s innovative products, including the popular Par 36, are designed and manufactured to specifications developed by Brilliance. Key benefits of the new Par 36 are: • Low power consumption • Depth is one inch less than common Par 36 devices, allowing the LED lamp to fit in the majority of industry fixtures • Totally waterproof • 10 degrees cooler for more effective thermal management Brilliance LED, LLC, a member of the Irrigation Association, the Arizona Landscape Contractors’ Association and the Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals, is located at 7202 East Cave Creek Road, Carefree, AZ 85377-2281.

Contact: Steve Gold 800-867-2108 Fran Booth, ABC (media) 602-400-3330

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Offer valid from 7/1/2012 until 10/26/2012. 2.9% APR is for 60 months only on all Gator Utility Vehicles, excluding TX Turf and ProGators. Subject to approved credit on Revolving Plan, a service of John Deere Financial, f.s.b. For consumer use only. No down payment required. Other special rates and terms may be available, including financing for commercial use. Available at participating dealers. Prices and models may vary by dealer. Before operating or riding, always refer to the safety and operating information on the vehicle and in the operator’s manual. Actual vehicle speed may vary based on belt wear, tire selection, vehicle weight, fuel condition, terrain and other environmental factors. *The engine horsepower and torque information are provided by the engine manufacturer to be used for comparison purposes only. Actual operating horsepower and torque will be less. Refer to the engine manufacturer’s website for additional information. John Deere’s green and yellow color scheme, the leaping deer symbol and JOHN DEERE are trademarks of Deere & Company.

AZM3x40901ALCA-BW

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ALCA LANDSCAPING AWARDS

Commercial Installation Over $1,000,000 Sponsored by West Coast Turf

Green Community Award

Sponsored by AZ Association of Community Managers (AACM)

Award of Excellence

Native Resources International – Tres Rios Environmental Restoration Project

The Tres Rios Environmental Restoration Project landscape consisted of aquatic and terrestrial plant installation as well as native tree salvage. The primary focus of the project from an environmental/landscape perspective was to establish a sustainable wetland environment where plant material was able to survive in high pH levels. Sequentially the plants aided in reducing the high pH levels to safe EPA standards as the water continued its flow into the Tres Rios river system.

To create the Tres Rios wetland environment, over 350,000 aquatic plants were installed in a flood irrigated zone with water from a nearby treatment plant.

Rigorous maintenance was required to continually cut and/or remove weeds and invasive plant species that have the potential of preventing desired vegetative growth.

Plant survivability and density have exceeded initial expectations.

Continuous EPA water quality tests show the developed wetland environment has successfully lowered pH levels, thus decontaminating previously contaminated water so it may safely flow back into the Tres Rios river system.

Commercial Installation $250,001-$350,000 Sponsored by Arid Zone Trees

Award of Excellence

BlueStar Landscape / AAM – Trilogy at Vistancia

Were it not for the combined efforts of the landscape management team and the community manager, Trilogy at Vistancia would not be a sustainably managed community.

Working closely together, the Trilogy at Vistancia team has reduced water usage, installed sustainable technologies, and implemented practices in line with ALCA’s Sustainable Management Standards. Examples include the installation of solar powered irrigation controllers, injection systems designed to remediate soils and increase water holding capacity, and the installation of a WeatherTRAK smart control system designed to reduce water usage. These efforts resulted in a 33 million gallon water savings in 2010 in comparison to 2009.

The landscape management team, in conjunction w/ the community manager, also has engaged in extensive irrigation system rehabilitation resulting in improved system efficiency.

SFR Installation $25,001 - $50,000 Sponsored by Hill & Usher Insurance

Award of Distinction

Sonoran Landesign – Hillstone Restaurant

Hillstone Restaurant Group is synonymous with high style and culinary excellence.

The main structure is a current take on Midcentury Modern architecture. The landscaping utilized low water use trees, shrubs, and succulents to provide year round color and texture. Large expanses of monocultures create striking contemporary planting schemes that accentuate the architecture. Aloe species and desert milkweed provide nectar sources for humming birds and butterflies within this urban oasis.

Mesquites and palo verdes anchor the main structure as well as provide critical shading for patron parking. This otherwise hostel urban environment is now a showcase for a multitude of xeric plant species. A strategically placed water feature helps drown out traffic noise as well as provide a refreshing atmosphere in the al fresco dining area. In the Biltmore area, this standout landscape shows that the lavish use of low water plants can be just as striking as its water intensive neighboring landscapes.

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Judges Award

Solana Outdoor Living Agner Residence

ALCA LANDSCAPING AWARDS

Green Community Award

Sponsored by AZ Association of Community Managers (AACM)

Commercial Maintenance $25,001 - $50,000 Sponsored by Weinberger Waste Disposal

Award of Excellence

ILM Integrated Landscape Management – VIAD Corporate Center Award of Distinction

DLC Resources, Inc. / Scottsdale Ranch Community Association – Scottsdale Ranch Community Association

With nearly 78-acres of DG and 54-acres of turf, Scottsdale Ranch is on of Scottsdale’s premier and most progressive master-planned residential communities with almost 4,000 properties in over 40 different subdivisions. Offering picturesque views of the McDowell Mountains and the peaceful waterways of Lake Serena, Scottsdale Ranch is the perfect desert oasis. The Ranch offers a variety of recreational opportunities from: boating, fishing, and tennis to the meticulously landscaped pathways perfect for biking, running, or taking a quiet stroll around the lake.

Boasting artificial turf, a stunning native plant palette and a forty-two acre, eco-friendly lake that offers over five miles of curving shoreline and is always fully stocked with bass, catfish, carpe, and bluegill, Scottsdale Ranch captures the essence of sustainable practices and is a picturesque enhancement of the southwestern desert scene.

The VIAD building is strong in its architecture and surrounded by a large area of lush, green turf. The property’s pristine turf grass covers a majority of the grounds combined with a variety of desert shrubbery, fresh colored flowers and verdant trees. Pines, palms and Evergreen Sisso intersperse throughout the property creating a still and luxuriant garden for employees to relax in the shade and enjoy the natural desert shrubbery. Two large flower pots are found on both the north and south side of the property. These planters are filled with eye-catching vincas. In addition to these pots, two large planters filled with seasonal specific vincas and petunias are also found on the property and are prime accompaniments for the VIAD’s curb appeal. Large serpentine patterns of rip rap and accent plants are the theme of the design. Granite rock gardens that house golden barrel cactus, agave, yellow bells and red yucca outline different areas make VIAD one of our most aesthetically enjoyable properties.

Award of Distinction

Landmark Land Management – Arcadia Grove Luxury Condominiums

Arcadia Grove Luxury Condominiums is a beautiful property with refreshing water features and a colorful landscape. The Board prefers a natural look, so all plants are hand pruned. Due to the constant shade from mature trees and large condominium buildings, we have changed out some species of plants that are shade friendly and have over-seeded the lawns with a Rye-Fescue blend. It has been tricky to balance being proactive in water conservation and keeping the Fescue thriving in the summer months. Large pots with palms and color have replaced ficus. We have maintained this property for 5 years.

Judges Award

Santa Rita Landscaping Gessner Residence

Judges Award

CareScape, Inc. Traviata Condos September/October 2012

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ALCA MEMBER PROFILE

Unique Lighting Systems

U

nique Lighting Systems was founded in 1989 as a low voltage transformer and well light manufacturer. For over 20 years, and with over 20 patents, Unique Lighting Systems has distinguished itself as “the innovators” of outdoor low voltage landscape lighting. We are constantly striving to continue to revolutionize the low voltage lighting industry from providing lifetime guaranteed lighting systems to recently introducing our own line of drop in LED lamps.

To battle against voltage drop, inherent to all low voltage lighting systems, Unique Lighting Systems introduced the first multi-tap transformer for low voltage lighting over 20 years ago. Since then, Unique Lighting Systems has never stopped improving on low voltage lighting. In 1997, recognizing that there were several contractors who wanted to learn more about low voltage lighting, Unique Lighting Systems started holding training classes called Unique University all across the country with overwhelming success. From that class, Unique Lighting started providing contractors and landscape architects with the “wiring wizard” to help calculate voltage drop on new and existing systems. The wiring wizard can still be downloaded from our website and continues to be a great tool.

In 2000, Unique Lighting developed and patented the hub system and started teaching this installation method to all contractors who attend the Unique University classes. That was also the year that all fixtures manufactured by Unique Lighting were provided with a 25’ wire lead. Over 20 years later, Unique Lighting Systems is still the leader in the hub system and providing 25’ of wire on all fixtures.

The powerful combination of the 25’ wire lead and the hub layout eliminates the problems of uneven voltage seen in daisy chained or other installation methods.

Constantly striving to be good to the environment, by utilizing only copper or brass fixtures, Unique Lighting Systems introduced the Intelli-System in 2008. The intelli-system is a 24 volt system that uses 20% less energy, has half the voltage drop and utilizes smaller wire

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than that of a traditional 12 volt system. Unique Lighting Systems is the first and only lighting manufacturer to produce a more efficient low voltage lighting system, with greater design flexibility.

In January of 2011, Unique Lighting Systems was acquired by The Toro Company. The combination of Toro and Unique Lighting Systems helps strengthen our core values and our joint commitment to landscape beautification.

As Unique Lighting continues to strive for environmentally friendly products, Unique Lighting Systems has recently released the FLEX™ Series LED drop in lamps. “These LED’s are awesome.” says Brian Qualls, District Sales Manager for the Arizona Market. “Our LED’s provide an 85% energy savings over halogen, and they can plug into any existing system.” The FLEX™ Series LED’s are a plug and play product that are installed on new systems and can be used to retrofit on existing systems. Qualls also point out “Having the flexibility to retrofit an existing lighting system to LED helps our customers become more energy efficient quickly without having to rip out their existing halogen system.”

Continuing with the training efforts, Unique Lighting Systems is striving to train more and more contractors through their LITE program. This two day extensive training course teaches design, installation and troubleshooting for all low voltage light systems. Once the contractor passes the test at the end of the course, the will become a certified landscape lighting installer. Contact Brian Qualls at brian. qualls@uniquelighting.com for a LITE training schedule.

Unique Lighting Systems didn’t invent low voltage lighting, we reinvented it!

For more information on Unique Lighting Systems, visit www. uniquelighting.com. For more information on Toro, visit www.toro. com.

ALCA MEMBER PROFILE

Bingham Equipment

N

orman Jay Bingham, founder of Bingham Equipment Company, was born Oct. 1, 1926, a 2nd generation Arizonan to parents Glen and Lydia Bingham. For his entire life, Bingham has called the Arizona desert his home, with deep roots in the ranching communities of the Tucson and San Pedro River valleys. It was in Tucson where the Bingham family operated their dairy farm on East Fort Lowell Road during Norm’s childhood. The Catalina dairy and the S4 Ranch belonged to Norm’s father who ran a mix of cattle with about 150 cows for dairy and about 350 head raised for beef. Norm was no loaf on the dairy and was responsible for his fair share of work, feeding the cattle and seeing to it they were milked twice a day were among his responsibilities. The S4 brand produced and delivered milk daily for the area, which called for the occasional milk truck expedition.

This chore was as good as it got to the young dairy boy! He recalls, without doubt, his fondness for the early mornings away from the dairy. Of course, this was all the beginning of a typical day; the sun had yet to come up. Norm and some of the neighborhood kids pictured here are enjoying what could be early forms of Arizona’s public transportation!

Beyond the dairy, Bingham spent his days chasing two passions that carried on from childhood through his college years: rodeo and football. Tucson High’s football Coach Rollin T. Gridley explains in the newspaper article. Staying the course, Bingham did join the Navy immediately after high school at age 18 and football would have to wait. In the fall of 1945, Norm boarded the U.S.S. Alaska in San Francisco, Calif. The ship’s mission was in the South Pacific protecting a fleet of fast carriers, battleships, and destroyers. The Alaska and her crew saw their fair share of enemy action while at sea and are credited for stopping numerous Japanese suicide attacks on the U.S. Naval Fleet. After Japanese surrender, Norman was discharged in August 1946 and headed back to Tucson with some big plans. Fall semester of 1946, he enrolled at the University of Arizona and rekindled his football spirit, wearing number 27 and playing guard for the U of A football team.

In addition to football, Norm took a liking to calf roping at an early age. “When you grow up on a ranch, you don’t really know exactly when you started to ride and rope, but I remember as a child always having a rope in my hand. I would rope the fence posts, anything I could.” At the age of 12, roping brought on Norm’s first business enterprise: chasing calves out of a shoot for the U of A rodeo team for a buck a turn. Making a dollar a calf wasn’t what you call a cash cow, but helped pay for the arena Norm built with his father and brother Lamar. The passion for roping ultimately grew with the man and eventually earned Norm and team roping partner, Jack Spilsbury, team-roping titles while at the U of A. Norm also went on to win the individual calf roping title. Roping even caught Norm a beautiful wife! As a dating couple, Norm was notorious for politely charming his girlfriend, Audrey, into practicing with him before any big rodeos. Her job was to run! He finally roped her in and they have been married almost 60 years now.

Throughout Norm’s youth, dedication to family and friends and his fighting work ethic sets the premise for his future in business, and Arizona’s future in agriculture. Norm has since been inducted into the University of Arizona’s Rodeo Hall of Fame and more recently received a lifetime achievement award from the University of Arizona’s Agribusiness College for his accomplishments and support of Arizona’s agriculture community. Norm has a continual drive for excellence in business and beyond, so award or not, he is far from calling it quits. As Chris LeDoux would say, “He’s the last to quit, the first to buy the refreshments”.

September/October 2012

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ALCA MEMBER PROFILE

Evergreen Turf: Bringing Stress Relief to Arizona

R

esearchers have found that a chemical released by freshly mowed grass can help people relax and make them cheerful.

After seven years of rigorous research, scientists now claim to have made a perfume, the “eau de mow” which “smells like a freshlycut lawn”, and helps relieve stress and enhance memory. It’s no wonder that Evergreen Turf’s customers always seem happy, cheerful, relaxed, and mentally sharp! We deliver freshly mowed, dark green, high quality sod everyday, bringing the “aroma” of freshly cut grass to Arizona.

Evergreen Turf has a reputation for high quality turf, but one of the main reasons many people choose Evergreen when it comes to their projects, big or small, is that they truly are “stress relievers”. Here are few examples…

#1 Rated Field in the NFL, Four Years in a Row! The Arizona Cardinal’s and Evergreen Turf have partnered up to produce the best field in the NFL – again! The NFL players take a poll at the end of the season to vote for their preferred playing surface - and the Cardinal’s won by a landslide! Evergreen Turf custom grows all of the sod for the field repairs, keeping the field in pristine condition during peak season play.

More Sports Fields for Arizona!

Evergreen Turf teamed up with the NFL Charities and EarthScapes to help bring the Ray and Joan Kroc Center to completion. This mutli-use youth center was built in south Phoenix. It is a state-of-the art complex that features baseball, softball, soccer, and football fields and even houses Arizona’s largest indoor water park. Over 5 acres of natural grass were installed on these fields.

TifGrand is coming! Finally, a hybrid bermudagrass, with true shade tolerance! The newest hybrid Bermuda from the University of Georgia brings the promise of shade tolerance and fine texture in a

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warm season turf. This will allow Arizona to have a fine textured turf (similar to Tifway 419 in texture and color), that can tolerate 60% shade and full sun. Arizona’s first all-purpose turf! Be on the watch for more news on this grass! Limited production is available, exclusively from Evergreen Turf.

Golf Courses Make a Comeback!

Arizona’s golf market was hard hit with the downturn, but the past two years the renovation work has seen a nice rebound as construction costs hit an all time low. Evergreen Turf’s handiwork can be seen at Arizona CC, Gainey Ranch GC, Saddlebrook CC, Talking Stick Golf Resort, La Paloma CC, Stone Canyon GC, The Phoenician, Paradise Valley CC, and the list goes on…

Products: Evergreen Turf grows a wide range of varieties; Tifway, Tifgreen, Midiron, Palmetto St. Augustine, Celebration, sand-based sod for sports fields, and elite golf course greens grasses - TifEagle, TifDwarf, and MiniVerde. Each variety is mowed at the right height for its optimum performance and for the intended application of each variety. Watch for their newest variety –TifGrand, coming soon!

Evergreen Turf is Arizona’s Premier Sod Producer, growing quality sod for golf courses, sports fields, home lawns, and landscape contractors. While purity continues to be the cornerstone of Evergreen’s success, the real driving force behind their phenomenal growth is the ability of their people to bring “stress relief” to their customers. Every single manager, administrator, and customer service person has extensive background in the sod industry. Evergreen’s people are experienced in installing big rolls, hydro-sprigging, mechanical planting, big jobs, or even your very own backyard.

So get a little stress relief – let Evergreen Turf handle your sod needs while you sit back and breathe in the aroma of fresh cut grass… and relax a little!

Contact Evergreen Turf at (480) 456-1199 or online at www. evergreenturf.com .

BUIldINg My rEpUTATION WITh NETAFIM “With water rates rising, clients are looking for new solutions.

We recently converted ¼ acre of turf from overhead sprinklers to Netafim dripline. The client saw nearly 40% savings in water costs per month. We’re installing Netafim in lawns, landscapes and large commercial sites.

It’s the fastest-growing segment of our business.”

Wayne Nolan, Contractor

Expand Your Business With Netafim: Reliable, Water Efficient, Easy to Install

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WWW.ARIDZONETREES.COM September/October 2012

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ALCA BULLETIN BOARD

Constantly Adjusting Light for the Mood and Time

by Interviewing the Occupants

By James Helms, Product Manager, FX Luminaire

The majority of lighting systems are setup to turn on or off. Some utilize dimmers in certain areas to great effect and others carefully choose wattage to decide the proper amount of light to place on a structure, foliage or area.

A system that can wrap these into one central control unit is really the pinnacle of flexibility in a system.

Ideally, any light system isn’t a singular system. The reality is that the path lights, up lights, trees, wall lights, hardscape, bar, eating area, pool, and walkways are all very different areas with very different needs. This is best addressed by grouping zones of lights and separating them to be adjusted independently. This can create moods as well as enrich the different aspects of a landscape.

Adjustment of lights from not only an on/off or timing duration is what takes landscape lighting to the next level of mood creation and utility for the client. At different times of the night and at different points within a week, a living space is utilized differently. For instance, the front needs to be turned on daily, while a side yard may only be used when grilling. Designing a lighting system to interact and adjust to a homeowner or property manager’s needs can seamlessly integrate a mood, task or event into an hourly, daily, or weekly schedule.

Creating the schedule is where the most time needs to be spent to gather information and implement it into a living system. Interviewing a property manager or homeowner will give you a direction on what days and times certain activities take place. Dig even deeper and ask about entertaining, wishes of what the entire system will do from the outside looking in, and

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what areas are the most important to be seen at night.

Dimming is a great feature, and the ability to dim a certain section of lights by zoning will greatly improve the area’s usability depending on the situation. For instance, a dining area may be well lit while entertaining, but may be dimmed or off when not in use as to not distract from the rest of a landscape. Setting up a system to turn on every weekday at 6:30PM and adjusting that later or earlier for the weekend will adjust to the needs of the occupants on different schedules.

This all draws back to centralized control that groups fixtures into dimmable zones that may be utilized distinctively within an evening or week.

Simply dimming a light to half its capability and then leaving it on for months does not capture the full potential. Manipulating that light’s effect throughout the night, or changing settings to accommodate different activities on different days, can turn a basic system into a much more expandable and flexible system that captures the full value of its purpose.

Take the time during the planning phase to speak with all parties involved with the site. Ask them questions about what they do currently in their space as well as what they wish to do after your changes is complete. Come back a month after it is installed and check progress, changes may need to be made to hone the system even more. After a month, plan on checking in quarterly or seasonally to make sure those upcoming events are covered in the lighting plan. The holiday timeframe may be a lot different than the spring at most properties.

We know you work hard.

Let us work harder.

OPM License Exam Preparatory Courses Conducted Weekly

W eed & Right of W ay Turf & Ornamental Aquatic W eed Core Exam

Get Knowledge!

Call

602-452-2900 Or Toll Free

877-533-2900

Lean on us for some of your business demands - we know we can work harder for you. This is why we’ve implemented the Partners Program and Business Solutions, and the Px3 Maintenance Package.

Contact your local branch to learn more about these opportunities.

We are eager to help you with as many of your business challenges as possible!

w w w .M etroInstitute.com September/October 2012

800-347-4272 JohnDeereLandscapes.com

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BUSINESS

The October Surprise—Breaking Even or Breaking Down INTRODUCTION Too few contractors understand the importance of year-end work and how to price it. You can add some very important tools to your bidding strategy if you are aware of the concept of the “October Surprise”. You can also add some significant dollars to your bottom line. And in this economy, who can’t use some additional cash?

THE BREAK-EVEN POINT A company usually reaches its break-even point (BEP) in the 9th or 10th month of its fiscal year. This is September or October for companies whose fiscal year coincides with the calendar year-hence the name October Surprise. You reach your BEP when your accumulated gross profit margin (GPM) equals your general and administrative (G&A) overhead budget dollar amount for the year. (Gross profit margin is defined as the total of G&A overhead costs plus net profit margin.) If you hit your break-even point prior to the end of the fiscal year, any dollar amounts on bids above direct costs (to include sales tax and field labor burden) will be net profit for that year.

That’s if the work is completed and billed prior to the end of the fiscal year.

Work bid after the BEP is met, which will be completed and billed before the fiscal year end, can be bid with the realization that any amount above direct costs in the bid goes to the net profit margin on the bottom line. If your net profit margin on a bid is 10 percent and your G&A overhead amounts to another 15 percent, your net profit margin is really 25 percent, since your G&A overhead is already covered for the year.

Monitoring General and Administrative costs Indirect costs, or general and administrative (G&A) overhead costs, are essential to monitor. Like field-labor downtime, G&A costs can get out of control and eat up your bottom line, while individual job-cost reports look great.

However, you do need to monitor G&A overhead costs throughout the year by means of your profit and loss (P&L) financial statement format which can compare monthly and year-to-date “budget vs. actual” categories.

A good accounting software program should allow you to produce such a report. If you don’t have that capability, you can produce it manually or enter the data into a computerized spreadsheet program.

Calculating Your Company or Division BEP Use the following formula to calculate a company/division’s BEP: BEP = Annual G&A overhead budget dollars ÷ Annual GPM % For a company whose budget is as follows: Sales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,000,000 100% G&A overhead. . . . . . $200,000 20% Net profit . . . . . . . . . . $100,000 10% Gross profit. . . . . . . . . $300,000 30% BEP = $200,000 ÷ 30% = $200,000 ÷ .3 = $666,667 The “projected” BEP is calculated to be $666,667.

In other words, once you hit $666,667 in sales for the year, theoretically you should have accumulated enough gross profit dollars to cover all of your $200,000 G&A overhead costs. This is your break-even point. If your gross profit margin is approximately 30 percent, multiply the $666,667 by .3 and you get $200,000.

BIDDING YEAR-END WORK With this scenario in mind, one should ask a couple of key questions when bidding year-end work.

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1. How is the market (i.e., residential construction or maintenance, commercial construction or maintenance, negotiated work, competitively bid work, etc.) predisposed towards certain pricing structures? For instance, for a normal market: commercial installation work in an open bidding situation may see GPMs rarely over 25% while negotiated work in the same market will realize 25-30%; residential installation will usually be predisposed at a higher GPM ranging from 30-40%. Similar ranges will be observed in the maintenance markets. If the market is predisposed toward an identified GPM, you already know generally where your pricing needs to be to win work in that market.

2. Has your company met its BEP for the year? If it has, all dollar amounts in the bid above direct costs will contribute to net profit for the year assuming that the job is installed and billed before the end of the fiscal year. Knowing this, you can (if necessary) reduce your GPM for a particular job being bid (e.g., from 30% to 15-25%) and price the job more aggressively or competitively, thus increasing your chances of getting the job. Net profit on the job being bid equals that on previously bid jobs since the G&A overhead portion of GPM has already been covered for the year. However, it goes without saying that if you can price year-end jobs at normal GPM levels, by all means do so. If the BEP has not been met, pay particular attention to questions 3 and 5.

3. How many dollars of GPM will this job contribute to your company’s profit and loss financial statement?

4. Can field operations handle this job, or is it beyond its capacity to perform and to deliver the product or service on time and at the desired standard of quality? If the field has the capacity to handle the job, answer question 5.

5. Could the job being bid be replaced with one that contributes more GPM dollars to the company? If it could, it would probably be wise to do so.

CONCLUSION It’s very important that you monitor your G&A overhead costs and break-even point by means of your profit and loss statement. A company usually reaches its BEP in the 9th or 10th month of its fiscal year. This is September or October for companies whose fiscal year coincides with the calendar year. You reach your BEP when your accumulated gross profit margin (G&A overhead costs plus net profit) equals your G&A overhead budget dollar amount for the year.

Contractors who have clear definitions, calculations and goals regarding these concepts usually break even in the last quarter of their fiscal or calendar year. Their “surprise” is more often pleasant than not. Ones who do not understand the concept of the October Surprise often break down instead of breaking even. You can imagine what their surprise is like.

Once you fully understand and implement the concept of the October Surprise in your business strategy, you’ll be glad that you did. This should not only help you to maximize your bottom line in 2012 but it will also help you get ready for 2013.

This article was adapted from James Huston’s books, How to Price Landscape & Irrigation Projects and A Critical Analysis of the MORS Estimating System. The author presides over J.R. Huston Consulting, a Colorado based firm, which specializes in construction and services management consulting to the Green Industry. Mr. Huston is a member of the American Society of Professional Estimators and he is one of only two Certified Professional Landscape Estimators in the world. For further information on the products and services offered by J. R. Huston Consulting, call 1-800-451-5588, e-mail Jim at jhuston@jrhuston.biz or visit the J.R. Huston Consulting web site at www.jrhuston.biz.

ACLP WORKSHOPS

Arizona Certified Landscape Professional Program (ACLP) Please call the ALCA office to register at 602-626-7091 or download the registration form at www.AZLCA.com.

Irrigation Workshop September 8

Mesa Community College, Kirk Student Center, Kiva Room located at 1833 W Southern Ave, Mesa, AZ 85202 September 12 U of A Cooperative Extension – 4341 E Broadway Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85040 September 15 Pima Community College, Bldg CC, Amethyst Community Room, 1255 N Stone Ave, Tucson 85709 What is it anyway?

Through this course, students attending this course will learn the basics of an irrigation system and several practical methods of water management.

What will we learn and do?

• Common irrigation components.

• Basic Hydraulics.

• Calculate precipitation rates.

• Irrigation controller programming.

• Installation techniques.

• Drip irrigation.

• Smart controllers.

• Water Management tools Are there CEU’s available for attending this workshop?

Yes. You will receive 3.6 CEU’s for the Irrigation Association.

Instructors: Doug Donahue, Outside Sales for Ewing Irrigation Products Vern Swanson, Mesa Community College Don Mady, DLC Resources

Plant Problem Diagnosis Workshop October 6 October 10 October 13

Mesa Community College, Kirk Student Center, Kiva Room located at 1833 W Southern Ave, Mesa, AZ 85202 U of A Cooperative Extension – 4341 E Broadway Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85040 Pima Community College, Bldg CC, Amethyst Community Room, 1255 N Stone Ave, Tucson

What is it anyway?

Through this course, students will identify common environmental, insect, disease and weed problems encountered in Arizona landscapes.

What will we learn to do?

• Differentiate between stress disorders and biological diseases in plants.

• Discuss with clients the importance of proper plant care in plant health.

• Understand the role of pruning and irrigation management in plant health.

• Help clients make good plant choices for Arizona landscapes.

• Identify common Arizona weeds and recommend appropriate control methods • Recognize common insects in Arizona landscapes and determine what controls, if any, are needed.

• Determine if a fungal, bacterial or viral disease is present.

.

Instructors: Kelly Young – Assistant Horticulture Agent, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County.

Peter Warren - County Extension Director for the Pima County Cooperative Extension Office, Tucson

ACLP Workshops in Prescott Pesticides & Calibration Workshop September 20 Ewing Irrigation, 8267 E. Pecos Dr., Prescott Valley, AZ 86314 What is it anyway?

Through this course, attendees will learn how to work safely and effectively with pesticides in the landscape industry.

What will we learn and do?

• Gather health, safety, and pesticide use information from product labels.

• Mix, load, and apply pesticides so that the product is applied correctly and evenly.

• Apply pesticides in a manner that reduces the risk of contamination to ourselves, other people, animals, and the environment.

• Prevent, recognize, and respond to pesticide-related emergencies.

• Properly calibrate pesticide application equipment.

• Follow local laws and regulations regarding pesticide application recordkeeping and notification.

Soils & Fertilizer Workshop October 18

Ewing Irrigation, 8267 E. Pecos Dr., Prescott Valley, AZ 86314

What is it anyway?

Through this course, students will learn about the components of soil, the importance of soil texture, pH, compaction, infiltration, drainage and nutrients and how to correct nutrient deficiency and manage salts as it relates to water movement in soils.

What will we learn and do?

• Determine soil texture and understand how soil texture relates to irrigation management.

• Take steps to prevent soil compaction and salt accumulation.

• Recognize and correct plant nutrient deficiencies.

• Understand the role of pH in plant health and plant selection.

• Choose and apply appropriate soil amendments.

• Describe the role of roots and plant health and the importance of soil management to optimize root health.

• Manage caliche.

Prescott Instructor: Rick Cober–CareScape, Inc. September/October 2012

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ALCA BULLETIN BOARD

Affordable Care Act – What It Means for Employers Article Provided by Arizona Benefit Consultants (ABC)

O

n June 28, 2012, after much anticipation and speculation, the U.S. Supreme Court essentially upheld the entire Affordable Care Act (ACA) as constitutional.

The main issue in the case was whether Congress had the authority under the U.S. Constitution to enact ACA’s individual mandate. Beginning in 2014, the individual mandate requires most individuals to obtain health care coverage or pay a penalty.

Opponents of the law argued that Congress exceeded its constitutional authority by enacting the individual mandate. Since the mandate is intertwined with the rest of ACA’s reforms, the law’s opponents also argued that the entire law should be struck down. In a close 5:4 decision, the Court ruled that Congress had the authority under its taxing power to enact the individual mandate. Since the individual

Phoenix Office of the Registrar of Contractors Moving Into the Capitol Tower On Friday, June 22, 2012, the Phoenix office of the Registrar of Contractors (ROC) will be moving from: 3838 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85012 To: 1700 West Washington Street, Suite 105, Phoenix, AZ 85007 The move places the Phoenix office of the ROC in the 1st floor of the Capitol Executive Tower.

Impact on Services The ROC began providing complete services at the Capitol Executive Tower on Monday, June 25.

Parking at Capitol Executive Tower Free parking is located in the parking lot to the west of the building off 19th Avenue and Washington. You can park in any of the spaces that are not marked as reserved.

You may access the ROC offices by entering through the west entrance of the Capitol Executive Tower.

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mandate was upheld, the Court did not have to address whether the individual mandate could be separated, or severed, from the rest of ACA’s requirements.

Although the majority of changes take effect in 2014, there are a number for which employers need to be aware of immediately. Some of these include: Form W-2 Reporting Requirements Beginning with the 2012 tax year, employers that are required to issue 250 or more W-2 Forms must report the aggregate cost of employer-sponsored group health coverage on employees’ W-2 Forms. The cost must be reported beginning with the 2012 W-2 Forms, which are due in January 2013.

This requirement is optional for smaller employers for the 2012 tax year and until further guidance is issued. This reporting is for informational purposes only; it does not affect the taxability of benefits.

Women’s Preventive Care Services Effective for plan years starting on or after Aug. 1, 2012, non-grandfathered plans must cover specific preventive health services for women without cost-sharing, such as deductibles, copayments and coinsurance. These services include well-woman visits, breastfeeding support, domestic violence screening, STD screening and contraceptives. Exceptions to the contraceptive coverage requirement apply to religious employers.

Medical Loss Ratio Rebates Fully insured plans may have received rebates in August 2012 if they qualified for a rebate from their health insurance issuers due to the medical loss ratio (MLR) rules. The MLR rules require insurance companies to spend a certain percentage of premium dollars on medical care and health care quality improvement, rather than administrative costs.

Many of our clients have already started to received MLR rebate checks. Employers may receive rebates from issuers in the form of a premium credit, lump-sum payment or premium holiday, if permissible under state law. Any portion of a rebate that is a plan asset must be used for the exclusive benefit of the plan’s participants and beneficiaries. This may

include, for example, reducing participants’ premium payments.

Summary of Benefits and Coverage As of September 23, 2012, plans and insurance issuers must provide a Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) to participants and beneficiaries. The SBC is intended to be concise – no more than four double-sided pages - providing simple and consistent information about health plan benefits and coverage in plain language.

A template for the SBC is available, along with instructions and examples for completing the template and a uniform glossary of terms.

Plans and issuers must start providing the SBC as effective September 23, 2012. There are a number of parameters around this regulation of which employers must adhere and therefore we encourage employers to work closely with their benefit advisors to ensure compliance in this area.

Although challenges by law makers to ACA’s validity are likely to continue, it is important to remember that every labor market in the civilized world incorporates employee benefits as a major component of their overall compensation strategy. Regardless of the changes and outcomes over the next several years, we anticipate that now more than ever employers will require ongoing guidance when it comes to developing a cost-effective yet market competitive strategy in recognizing and rewarding their employees.

Arizona Benefit Consultants (ABC) has been servicing Arizona employers since 1983. The firm services over 400 employers in Arizona in addition to many multi-state employer groups across the United States. ABC was one of the first local firms to offer clients a fee-based service model, recognizing that brokers should be paid for performance. Arizona Benefit Consultants has consistently been ranked among the Valley’s top 5 firms by the Phoenix Business Journal for the past several years. If you would like additional information about medical insurance options for your employees in the face of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), please email us at: jmorrow@abcllc.org or contact us at 602-903-4047.

MEMBER MIXER

Member Mixer It is no coincidence that Toro is a proud sponsor of ALCA during Smart Irrigation Month.

Since the launch of the Precision Spray Nozzle™ in 2008, Toro has continued to redefine what it means to Water Smart.

Healthy landscapes are vital to our industry, economy and overall general health of the planet. While ensuring all of these key elements, we also must use the resource key to the growth of these elements responsibly. Irrigation is the lifeblood of all landscapes, and we all must be responsible stewards of this limited resource. Simply installing irrigation and keeping everything wet is no longer an acceptable means of water delivery. Manufactures, distributors, installers and end users all have a stake in the game now. Toro is proud to be setting the standard for high quality, high efficiency, and water conservation products. In fact, we call it Precision Irrigation™.

Precision Irrigation™ is a way of thinking and delivering water. Give the plants the water they need and only what they need in order to flourish. Anything more is wasteful. The Toro Company now has products that do just that, delivering the precise amount of water. The Precision Spray Nozzle, Precision Rotating Nozzle, Precision Soil Sensor and Climate Logic all are designed to Precisely Irrigate your plant material.

Toro is focused on the future; we need to be, in order to make sure there is enough water for everyone. Precision Irrigation™ is the next step in the evolution of irrigation. For more information, contact Brian Whitcher at Brian.Whitcher@toro.com or 602-509-4501.

Special Thank You

to our 2012 ALCA

Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors Bingham Equipment Company Cutting Edge Curbing Sand & Rock DIRT DLC Resources, Inc. Evergreen Turf, Inc. Ewing Irrigation Products Horizon Distribution Inc. Hunter Industries/FX Luminaire John Deere Landscapes Rain Bird Corporation Rodeo Ford The Toro Company/Irritrol/Unique Lighting Systems

Gold Sponsors

Hill & Usher Insurance & Surety Vista Professional Outdoor Lighting

Silver Sponsors Southwest Sod, Inc. West Coast Turf

With similar foundations in forward-looking product innovations, reliability, and superior customer service, Hunter and FX Luminaire continue a long-standing tradition of quality and unmatched performance.

To learn more, visit: www.hunterindustries.com or www.fxl.com

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AD INDEX/RESOURCE GUIDE EROSION CONTROL/ HYDROSEEDING

LANDSCAPE CERTIFICATION TRAINING/TESTING

Western Sere (888) 448-SERE (7373) www.westernsere.com Please see our ad on page..................3

INSURANCE SERVICES

Metro Institute (602) 452-2901 www.metroinstitute.com Please see our ad on page................17

LANDSCAPE EQUIPMENT

Hill & Usher (602) 956-4220 • www.trimrisk.com Please see our ad on page................16 Landscape Contractors Insurance Services, Inc. (800) 628-8735 • www.lcisinc.com Please see our ad on page..................5

IRRIGATION PRODUCTS & SYSTEMS DIG Corporation (800) 322-9146 • www.digcorp.com Please see our ad on page..................3 Ewing Irrigation (800) 343-9464 • www.ewing1.com Please see our ad on page................23 Horizon (800) PVCTURF (782-8873) www.horizononline.com Please see our ad on page..................5 Hunter Industries (760) 744-5340 www.hunterindustries.com Please see our ad on page................21 John Deere Landscapes (800) 347-4272 www.johndeerelandscapes.com Please see our ad on page................17 Netafim (888) 638-2346 • www.netafimusa.com Please see our ad on page................15

Arizona Machinery (602) 917-1530 www.arizonamachinery.com Please see our ad on page..................9

LANDSCAPE SUPPLIES Target Specialty Products (800) 352-3870 www.target-specialty.com Please see our ad on page..................6

LANDSCAPING BOULDERS AND GRANITE We Rock AZ, Inc. (602) 569-3000 • www.we-rock-az.com Please see our ad on page................23

LIGHTING Brilliance LED, LLC (800) 876-2108 • www.brillianceled.com Please see our ad on page................19 FX Luminaire (858) 535-8000 • www.fxl.com Please see our ad on page..................2 Kichler Lighting (216) 573-1000 • www.kichler.com Please see our ad on page..................4

NURSERIES All Season Wholesale Growers (602) 276-0230 www.allseasongrowers.com Please see our ad on page................16 Arid Zone Trees (480) 987-9094 www.aridzonetrees.com Please see our ad on page................15

POTTERY International Wholesale Pottery (602) 454-0528 www.iwpottery.net Please see our ad on page................17

SOD/TURF Evergreen Turf, Inc. (480) 456-1199 www.evergreenturf.com Please see our ad on page.... Back Cover Western Sod (800) 832-TURF (8873) www.westernsod.com Please see our ad on page................. 9

SUPPLYING LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONALS Wilbur Ellis (480) 921-8500 www.wilburellis.com Please see our ad on page..................9

TREE MOVERS AZ Big Tree Movers (888) 761-0249 Please see our ad on page................17

TRUCKS Chapman Chevrolet & Isuzu (866) 412-2712 www.chapmanchevrolet.com Please see our ad on page..................5 Sun Country Truck Equipment, Inc. 602-438-4956 www.suncountrytruck.net Please see our ad on page..................5

WHOLESALE NURSERY & CUSTOM GROWER Waldrons Farm (602) 276-8076 www.waldronsfarm.com Please see our ad on page................15

AD INDEX All Season Wholesale Growers............ 16 Arid Zone Trees................................... 15 Arizona Machinery................................ 9 AZ Big Tree Movers............................. 17 Brilliance LED, LLC............................. 19 Chapman Chevrolet & Isuzu.................. 5 DIG Corporation.................................... 3 Evergreen Turf, Inc................. Back Cover Ewing Irrigation................................... 23 FX Luminaire......................................... 2 Hill & Usher........................................ 16 Horizon................................................. 5 Hunter Industries................................. 21 International Wholesale Pottery........... 17 John Deere Landscapes...................... 17 Kichler Lighting..................................... 4 Landscape Contractors Insurance Services, Inc......................................... 5 Metro Institute..................................... 17 Netafim............................................... 15 Sun Country Truck Equipment, Inc........ 5 Target Specialty Products...................... 6 Waldrons Farm................................... 15 We Rock AZ, Inc................................. 23 Western Sere........................................ 3 Western Sod......................................... 9 Wilbur Ellis............................................ 9

ALCA Member Mixer & Casino Night

Premiere Sponsor: WHEN:

Wednesday, October 17, 2012 5:30 - 9:00PM WHERE: Vermeer Sales Southwest 436 S Hamilton Ct, Gilbert COST: $50/per person and includes: Barbeque dinner, drinks (sodas, beer & wine) and playing chips WHAT: Try your luck to win fabulous prizes at Craps, Roulette, and Black Jack.

REGISTER: Visit www.AZLCA.com

22

THE ALCA INFLUENCE

T September/October 2012

Dear Valued Customer, We’ve known each other for quite some time now, 90 years to be exact.

We’ve both had our ups and downs, but we’ve managed to stick together through it all. Our relationship has grown over the years and we really just wanted to say Thank You, and, well...we love you!

Without this relationship, Ewing would be nothing.

We hope you feel the same about us.

See you soon //// real soon.

Sincerely,

PS. It’s our 90th anniversary this year. www.ewing1.com

CELEBRATING 90 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIPS

2,000+ SURFACE SELECT BOULDERS ON DISPLAY! For years, landscapers and water-feature contractors have partnered with the good folks at We Rock AZ! to create dramatic Arizona landscapes and exotic backyard retreats for their commercial and residential clients.

West of Cave Creek Road South of the Loop 101 Freeway 19636 N. 20th St. Phoenix, AZ 85024

Just about everywhere you look across the valley these days you’ll see boulders and granite from We Rock AZ!, Inc.

www.we-rock-az.com Call us: 602-569-3000

Fax us: 602-569-2061

mark@we-rock-az.com

candy@we-rock-az.com