May/June 2014
Volume 38, Number 3
“Explore Minnesota; the Land of 10,000 Lakes” PGMS will be spending two full days this summer in the “City of Lakes” and we want you to join us! For the PGMS Summer Regional and Site Visit we are heading to Minneapolis, Minn., Aug. 4-5. Attendees will be treated to exclusive tours of Toro Headquarters (a PGMS Platinum Partner), Bailey Nurseries and the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (all pictured above). Add in entertaining networking events and insightful education programs and you have an event not to miss! Registration and details can be found at pgms.org/2014-summer-site-visit. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ProfessionalGroundsManagementSociety. Link up with us at www.linkedin.com/groups/Professional-Grounds-Management-Society-4173565. Watch us on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/PGMSheadquarters.
Walt Bonvell, CGM President’s Message
The Forum Newsletter is published six times a year by the Professional Grounds Management Society 720 Light Street Baltimore, MD 21230 410-223-2861 / Fax 410-752-8295 E-mail: pgms@assnhqtrs.com pgms.org Board of Directors: President Walter Bonvell, CGM President-Elect John Burns, CGM Vice Pres. John Doiron Treasurer Marion Bolick, CGM Past President John Van Etten, CGM Directors Cary Avery, CGM Diana Bramble Gerry Dobbs, CGM Mark Feist Ted Heywood, CGM Ron Hostick, CGM, CSFM Gerald Landby Joe Payne, CGM Susanne Woodell, CGM Staff Thomas C. Shaner, CAE Executive Director Kelly Mesaris Associate Director Monica Shaner Financial Manager Molly Baldwin-Abbott Director of Communications Meghan Brady Assistant Director of Communications Opinions expressed in PGMS Forum are the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily express the opinions or policies of the PGMS Board and its membership. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission.
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PGMS Keeps Growing
One thing that I have realized over the past 30 years of grounds work at Xavier University (Cincinnati, Ohio) is that no day is the same and every day is a learning experience. Being a seventeen year PGMS member has given me the knowledge and guidance I need to meet every challenge. This year’s harsh winter and wet spring have brought many new challenges for me as a Grounds Manager. But, the experience I have gained by becoming a Certified Grounds Manager is proving to help me through these challenges. PGMS is the only association to offer such a certification program. Participants who complete it earn the title CGM, Certified Grounds Manager. I cannot stress the importance of this program. Speak to any CGM to hear testimony of their personal and professional accomplishments due to certification. Today, we have 152 CGM’s nationwide. If you have not done so, please consider how certification can benefit you and your career. At the Spring Regional in Florida, PGMS unveiled the long awaited accreditation program. The Landscape Management and Operations Accreditation program is now available! This is a unique program that allows your site to earn up to four (4) levels of accreditation. Already, sites from around the country are inquiring about this new, innovative opportunity. For more information, check it out on pgms.org. The PGMS Board has also been busy updating another great program, the PGMS Green Star Awards. You can now go online to fill out your application. Simply download the power point template and complete your application using the template guidelines. Then, upload your power point presentation and pictures online. User-friendly, step by step instructions are available. Start now! The deadline is July 31 at 5 p.m. (EST). If you are looking to take your family on a summer vacation this August, consider bringing them with you to the PGMS Summer Regional in Minneapolis, Minn. This will be a wonderful regional event that you won’t want to miss. Details are on the PGMS website. The Minneapolis/St. Paul area is a family wonderland with lots of things to do and places to go. Your family will enjoy numerous indoor and outdoor sights such as the Mall of America, Nickelodeon Universe, Minnesota Zoo and Mill City Museum. I am very proud to announce that a new PGMS branch was installed on March 28. A big “thank you” goes to Frank Molina (Columbia University, New York City) for working endless hours on the successful formation of the new Northeast New Jersey and New York City Branch. Board members of the branch include: President - Frank Molina; Vice President - Charles King; Treasurer - Richard Bussert and; Secretary - George Reis. I also want to thank John Doiron, vice president of PGMS and Ted Heywood, CGM, Northeast regional director, for making the trip to New York City to help “cut the ribbon” for the opening of the 11th PGMS branch. Welcome all new members! As our branches grow, so does our membership. Part of the strategic growth plan is for PGMS to open four new branches by 2015 and retain a national membership of 1,000. Today, we are 831 members strong. As our membership grows, so will the branches. As the association grows, so does its Board of Directors. Recently, the Directors voted to expand the Board to include a supplier member. As recently announced on the website, the Board welcomed our newest member, Paula Sliefert of the Toro Company and a 2014 Platinum Partner in Professionalism. Congratulations Paula! I look forward to seeing everyone in August and wish all a safe and enjoyable summer.
Walt Bonvell, CGM PGMS President
PGMS Adds Supplier Member to Board of Directors By a vote of 153-12, members of PGMS voted electronically to slightly amend the Society’s Bylaws in terms of how a Supplier Member is selected for the Board of Directors. PGMS President Walt Bonvell, CGM reported that as a result of a ballot among Supplier Members and discussions of the rest of the Board of Directors, he has appointed Paula Sliefert of Toro to be the first Supplier Member on the Board. Section 501 of the Society’s Bylaws defines the composition of the Board of Directors which includes “up to two (2) representative of the Supplier category of membership.” Prior to the recent vote, the Supplier representative was selected purely by other Supplier Members. The amendment, however, allows the sitting Board to make the final selection based on the vote of the Supplier Members.
PGMS Knowledge Center Wants Your Submissions The PGMS Knowledge Center is a resource for members to increase their knowledge base in grounds management. PGMS members are the experts in your industry, why not share you knowledge with your peers? This is an ongoing campaign so please send in any articles, case studies, etc. that you see fit. Need some suggestions on topics to write about? PGMS has a few to get your head spinning with ideas:
• snow removal • recycling practices / sustainable practices you use and why • natural turf vs. artificial turf • keeping staff happy / staff benefits/education • budgets • dealing with difficult bosses • safety in the workplace So we have started you off on the right foot, it’s your turn to grab a hold of the topic, write up an article (it doesn’t have to be long) and submit it to share with your green industry friends! Please e-mail it to Molly Baldwin-Abbott, PGMS Director of Communications at mollybaldwin@assnhqtrs.com.
“I am pleased and honored to serve as the first Commercial board member of PGMS,” Sliefert exclaimed. “Representing the supplier community, I hope to create a better understanding on how membership and suppliers can better leverage the expertise of each other with the goal of providing more value to members. Additionally, I look forward to helping increase national membership and advocating for additional awareness of the organization by promoting excellent educational offerings. I also plan on learning from peer suppliers on how we can continue to enhance our support of membership.” While the Supplier member to the Board has full voting privileges, he or she may not serve as a member of the Executive Committee. Bonvell also expressed, on behalf of the full Board, appreciation to Ken Taylor of John Deere Company and Lynda Wightman of Hunter Industries for their willingness to be considered to serve on the Board.
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Arizona State University Facilities Management Department Receives President’s Sustainability Award By Ellen Newell, CGM
On April 2, the Arizona State University Facilities Management Department received a President’s Sustainability Award for their B99 fueling station. I served as the project manager for the construction. The department uses the B99 in their utility vehicles, chipper and some trucks and mowers. A collaborative project involving ASU Facilities Management and Maintenance Stores, ASU students, REVbiodiesel, Brown Evans Distributing, and Aramark has resulted in the construction of a biodiesel fuel tank and dispensing system. The system dispenses B99; a biodiesel fuel that is made from 99% used vegetable oil.
to the B99 and then sent to ASU by Brown Evans Distributing, a local company owned by ASU alumni. The fuel is used in maintenance vehicles and equipment in the FM Grounds and Surplus Property departments.
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The B99 used to date on campus has reduced CO2 emissions by over 42 tons.
Aramark’s used fryer oil is collected by REVbiodiesel, converted
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The B99, which is considered carbon neutral, replaces the petroleum diesel previously used in the vehicles so it is a step towards ASU’s carbon neutrality goal.
Through the fall semester 2,200 gallons of used fryer oil was collected from Aramark and converted to B99. The B99 used to date on campus has reduced CO2 emissions by over 42 tons.
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Northeast New Jersey/New York City Branch Meeting Recap By Frank Molina
Home to many prestigious landscapes and the grounds professionals responsible for them, the Northeast New Jersey and New York City Branch of PGMS promises to be one of the most vibrant of the entire organization. On March 28, 2014, the newly chartered PGMS Northeast New Jersey and New York City Branch gathered at Columbia University for a meeting that featured a stellar lineup of educational sessions from some of the region’s top grounds professionals. With the participation of 30 Green Industry professionals, the meeting was held at the Ivy Room of the newly refurbished Faculty House at Columbia University’s Morningside Heights campus. Here is a recap of the meeting: • Kevin Hurley of Pested, LLC is a Board Certified Entomologist with over 20 years of experience in the urban pest control industry. He has trained thousands of pesticide applicators. Kevin gave us an insider’s view of the latest in IPM strategies, the DEC exam, and best practices and regulations for pesticide storage. • Richard Bussert is the Director of Baker Field Athletic Complex at Columbia University, which was the recipient of a 2008 PGMS Green Star Honor Award for Athletic Fields. Richard gave us an overview of his work in the construction and management of golf courses and campus grounds. • Kevin Malone is a Certified Sports Field Manager and Accredited Organic Land Care Professional who works for Landtek Group in Amityville, N.Y. Kevin spoke on “Managing Athletic Fields on School Grounds.” • Neil Hendrickson, PhD is Northeast Technical Representative for Bartlett Tree Research Labs in Charlotte, N.C. Neil spoke on “The Winter of Our Discontent, What the Last Few Months Means for Our Landscapes” giving us a scientifically rigorous treatment of the various types of winter injury on landscape plants and how to avoid and mitigate such damage. • John Doiron is Vice President of PGMS and the Grounds Manager and Landscape Designer at Concord Hospital in New Hampshire. John gave us a thought provoking talk on “Resource Budgeting” which included some of his innovative work with creating donor funding opportunities, using community based labor from Project Search, and engineering heated sidewalks in a cost effective way. After lunch and the final presentation, PGMS members in attendance voted on new officers for the Northeast New Jersey and New York City Branch. Here are the election results: President - Frank Molina, grounds manager, Columbia University Facilities Vice President - Charles King, arborist representative, Bartlett Tree Experts Treasurer - Richard Bussert, director, Baker Field Athletics Complex, Columbia University Secretary - George Reis, landscaping supervisor, New York University Facilities and Construction Management Former PGMS President (and 2007 recipient of the PGMS E. Earl Wilson Award for lifetime achievement) George Van Haasteren, CGM and Todd Cochran, CGM were present at the meeting adding their support, as was PGMS Northeast Regional Director Ted Heywood, CGM, superintendent of grounds at the College of Holy Cross. The new officers of the PGMS Northeast New Jersey and New York City Branch wish to thank the speakers and PGMS members who made our first meeting the start of great things to come!
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2014 will be...
the Year of the
Green Star! PGMS Makes it Even Easier to Apply for the 2014 Green Star Awards! PGMS has gone paperless for the Green Star Awards! Everything you need to apply to become the next Green Star Award winner is online and easy to use. You can now submit your application and PowerPoint with one click of the mouse. All submissions will now be done electronically. Also new on the website is a helpful YouTube video and template for your PowerPoint presentation! See a screenshot of the new page to the right. Now it’s time to start getting your photos taken and putting your presentation together. Please remember there are several mandatory items your submission must have, including a PowerPoint presentation featuring 26 digital high photos. For a detailed list of everything your submission must have please visit pgms.org/green-star-awards/awardsand-how-to-enter/. The deadline for entries is 5 p.m. on July 31, 2014 so don’t wait, start today and make 2014 the year you become a Green Star Award Winner! If you have any questions please contact PGMS headquarters at pgms@assnhqtrs.com or 410-223-2861. Check out the new online format now at pgms.org/green-star-awards/.
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Member Profile: Scott Guiser John Burns, CGM: Scott, I want to thank you for actively promoting PGMS. As you know I did a member profile of Lori Metz for the last edition of the Forum and during that interview she told us she found out about PGMS as a result of attending one of your Horticulture education classes. She said you were promoting PGMS membership to the whole class. I applaud you for this and think it is an awesome way to let folks know about PGMS that may never have heard about our society previously. I also want to thank you for allowing us to do this member profile with you. John: I know you have been a member of PGMS a lot longer than I have. Do you recall when you joined PGMS? Scott: I can’t recall the exact date but I know I was involved with creating the Philadelphia branch in the early 1980’s. Mike Loftus, CGM, Howard Holden, Steve Dutill, and Kevin O’Donnell were some of the fellows who were involved in those days. I do have a copy of a field day meeting announcement for 1984…we held a great event at Swarthmore College that year. But past PGMS president Kevin O’Donnell and I organized a field day a year or two before that at the township property he managed. Kevin taught me that it is ground management not grounds maintenance. John: Would you mind telling us a bit about yourself and what you do and or have done in the past? Scott: I have been a Penn State Extension Educator since 1977 and worked in Southeastern, Pa. since 1980. I have B.S. and M.S. degrees in Horticulture from Penn State. I have had the pleasure of working with Green Industry professionals and fruit and vegetable producers as well as consumer horticulture audiences. Our job is to transfer research-based information from the University Land Grant stem to end users. Along the way I have also been an adjunct faculty member at Delaware Valley College, taught at Rutgers University Continuing Education Program and the Barnes Arboretum program. I took an interest in weed management and was mentored by Dr. Larry Kuhns at Penn State during graduate school. I am a member of the Northeast Weed Sciences Society and have enjoyed being involved in field research in weed science and cover cropping in horticultural systems. John: About how many Horticulture class and or students do you teach in a year? Scott: Believe it or not, the university asks us to track this stuff; I average about 1,800 contacts a year. These are face- to-face contacts where information is exchanged including meetings, workshops, multi day classes etc. John: So let’s go back to PGMS. I know you have been active in PGMS for a long time. Would you mind telling us some things you have done with PGMS? Scott: Great question. Since about 1982, PGMS and Penn State Extension have co-sponsored field days, full-day winter seminars, site visits and in depth workshops. We did winter seminars and field days every year for decades. This has trailed off a bit recently. But, we joined forces this January to conduct a very successful winter seminar with about 175 folks
in attendance. I was pleased to be part of the Summer Site Visit that PGMS did in the metro Philly area in 2013. One of the best things we cooperated on was called “Grounds School,” an eight week, 40 hour course of instruction. I got great impact data out of this and, I believe, put a solid foundation of horticulture under some aspiring grounds management professionals.
John: We all have challenges in our jobs. I’m sure yours differ from many of us since you are an educator, but I think it would be great to hear some of the challenges you face. Scott: The challenge is juggling the demands of many people and projects simultaneously. This is true for most busy people. On the other hand, it is very nice to be wanted. Working in professional horticulture in the metro Philly area has been great. So many excellent institutions, public gardens, etc. But to answer your question, it is the simultaneous and never ending projects that are a challenge. John: As I told you I am from Texas so I have not had the privilege to attend any of your classes, but I have attended numerous education classes from the Texas A&M Extension. I have come to know several different agents and it seems they all have some great words of wisdom to pass along. Is there something you would like to pass along to us? Scott: When I get wise I’ll let you know. Don’t hold your breath. John: Well I don’t think you are giving yourself enough credit, but I think I’ll take you advice and go ahead with my breathing. John: So what do you think is the best thing about PGMS? Scott: PGMS provides a professional home for grounds managers. A place to share common concerns and challenges; a place to network with peers; meet like-minded people. I also have my professional Extension Educator Association that provides this in a similar way. But I always found I had a lot in common with fellow PGMS members. PGMS has strong educational component and that was a natural fit for me and my profession. John: What would you say PGMS has done for you? Scott: PGMS has allowed me to meet many great people like Kevin O’Donnell, Steve Dutill, and Joe Murphy. PGMS provided me with a place to create learning opportunities for professional horticulturists. John: Well Scott this has been very enlightening and I really appreciate you taking the time to talk with me and more importantly taking the time on a regular basis to promote PGMS membership! We should all be diligent in promoting our society to other landscape professionals.
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REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! PGMS will be spending two days this summer in the “City of Lakes” and we want you to join us! For the PGMS Summer Regional and Site Visit we are heading to Minneapolis, Minn., Aug. 4-5 and have planned for attendees exclusive site tours, invigorating educational sessions planned and entertaining networking events!
SCHEDULE: Monday, Aug. 4 7 a.m. – Breakfast at hotel (included with room) 7:30 a.m. – Transportation to Toro Headquarters 8 a.m. – “Coaching a Winning Team” – Steve Keating, senior manager, sales and leadership, Toro
container products. Later in the morning we will travel to their nearby Nord Greenhouse range, where they propagate millions of woody trees, shrubs and roses via softwood cuttings in summer. This facility also produces a multitude of color products in spring. A walking tour of their trial garden to see live specimens of many of their products in the landscape should be a great way to complete the tour. Representatives of the company will be on hand to answer questions throughout the morning. 11:30 a.m. - Load Bus
9 a.m. – “Best Practices of Water Management for Multi-Acre Facilities” – Mike Baron, National Water Management, Toro
Noon – Boxed Lunch at Minnesota Landscape Arboretum – Snyder Tea Room
10 – 10:15 a.m. – Break
1:30 p.m. - Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Tour We will visit the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, part of the University of Minnesota. This 1,200 acre Arboretum offers display gardens and tree collections, prairie and woods and miles of trails. After a box lunch we will tour three-mile drive with presentations from Jeffrey Johnson, Landscape Gardener and Arborist; Sam Bauer, University of Minnesota Extension Educator and turfgrass specialist; and Mary Meyer, professor and extension horticulturist, curator of the Arboretum’s NAPCC Grass Collection. There will be time to walk the grounds on your own.
10:15 a.m. - “The Importance of Product Safety” – Carl Osterhaus CS, manager, Channel and Technical Product Support, Toro 11:15 a.m. – “Developing the Leader in You” – Steve Keating, senior manager, Sales and Leadership, Toro 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. – Lunch at Toro 1 p.m. - Initiate tours 5 p.m. – Cocktail reception and meet with exhibitors
Tuesday, Aug. 5
4:30 p.m. – Load Bus 5 p.m. – Arrive back at hotel, end of event
6 a.m. – Breakfast at hotel (included with room) 7:15 a.m. – Load Bus 8 a.m. – Tour of Bailey Nurseries – Minnesota container and propagation farms We will begin by touring two Bailey Nurseries Minnesota container production facilities where they produce finished
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Registration is now open...Visit pgms.org/2014-summer-site-visit/ to sign yourself up today!
What’s Growing On With...the
Cincinnati Branch
By Walt Bonvell, CGM, PGMS president The Cincinnati Branch held a campus tour on Wednesday, April 9. It was a nice day, the sun was out and the temperature was in the mid 60’s. The PGMS local members and non-members showed at the Physical Plant where we had introductions. A short walk from the Physical Plant is the Hoff Dining Hall where we were met by Ed Devoid, food manager of the dining facility and welcomed everyone. There, the branch was offered a complimentary dinner. This is why part of our dues goes back to the branch, to support events like this. After a casual dinner and dessert and rekindling of old friends and new, the group was off on the tour. Right above the dining facility, we walked out to the green roof. This intensive green roof has a playing turf area, full size trees, shrubs and irrigation overlooking campus. Our next stop was the NEXUS community gardens, Norwood, Evanston Xavier University Gardens. Here there are over 25 plots that students, staff, faculty and community members can purchase for a small fee for the growing season and do their gardening. Just around the corner, we visited the earth tubs. These are insulated composting tubs with stainless steel augers that rotate the compost within the tubs. With some help from the grounds dept. and the students, the universities food waste and yard waste are taken to the tubs and then recycled back onto campus. Just across the street, we journeyed to the Xavier’s first urban farm. This is the second year and still has a way to go, but many improvements are on the way. Our last stop was also Xavier’s beginning of the prairie. With help from the faculty, students and staff, a new prairie is underway. As we returned back to the shop, Denny Baker, past North Central Regional director, had a drawing of PGMS gifts for the members. What a great way to end the evening. It was another successful Cincinnati PGMS branch event. Members that attended the event included: Bill Moulton - Northern Kentucky University, Justin Menke - MKSK, Jeff Oelker - College of Mt. St. Joe, Walt Bonvell, CGM - Xavier University, Jenny Gulick - Davey Resource Group, Collison Stewart - Paul Brown Stadium, Rex Brown - Xavier University, Jon Albright - Wolf Creek, Bob White Bartlett Tree, Guy Fortner - Bartlett Tree, Steve Keller - Reading Rock, Jim Herbert - Bud Herbert Motors (John Deere), David Miller - Cincinnati State, Denny Baker - Retired from Cincinnati State, Joey Wolf - Xavier University and his two children, Brian Bohl - Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District and Dr. Ron Powell - Cincinnati State and owner of Fox Paw Ridge Farm. It was an evening enjoyed by all. Watch for future events on the Cincinnati Branch website. To view photos from the event please visit www.facebook.com/ProfessionalGroundsManagementSociety.
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sus·tain·a·bil·i·ty noun
1. Environmental Science. the quality of not being harmful to the environment or depleting natural resources, and thereby supporting long-term ecological balance. As sustainability continues to be the buzzword in the green industry, more and more businesses, companies, landscapes sites, and campuses are adding sustainable practices into their grounds management policies and procedures. That’s why PGMS is dedicated to bringing you the latest in sustainability education. At the 2014 School of Grounds Management, several of the education programs will focus on various sustainable practices. Program topics include “Best Learned Practices of Bio-Swale Installation,” “De-Icing and Anti-Icing,” and “Stormwater Management.”
pro·fes·sion·al·ism noun
1. professional character, spirit, or methods. 2. the standing, practice, or methods of a professional, as distinguished from an amateur. As part of this annual event, PGMS offers a pre-conference field trip to various sites around the Louisville area in order to provide attendees a look at diverse landscape programs. This allows the grounds professionals to see and experience how other grounds programs operate. Attendees have also boasted this part of the event provides both education and entertainment to start the week off right.
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This year, the pre-conference field trip is to Cave Hill Cemetery. In this rural, garden-style cemetery the landscape gardeners embellished the natural setting with exotic trees and shrubs while the marble sculptors and granite fabricators erected elaborate memorials to individuals and families.
net·work·ing noun
1. a supportive system of sharing information and services among individuals and groups having a common interest. One of the most highly anticipated aspects of the School of Grounds Management is the networking opportunities. Attendees have claimed in the past being able to meet other professionals from all over the country gives them the unique chance to exchange ideas and practices and a chance to learn from their fellow colleagues. Enjoying each others company and establishing relationships that last past the event is also something attendees enjoy. All this and more will be part of the 2014 School of Grounds Management & GIE+EXPO taking place this October in Louisville...be a part of this exciting, educational event.
Registration is now open! Claim your spot now to be a part of this annual event. More details and registration information are available at pgms.org/2014schoolofgroundsmanagement/.
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Calendar of Events June 3, 2014 PGMS Cincinnati Branch Meeting Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, Ky. June 5, 2014 PGMS DC Branch Meeting Virginia Theological Seminary Alexandria, Va. Sponsor: Fisher & Son June 12, 2014 PGMS Michigan Branch Meeting and Tour Central Michigan University Mt. Pleasant, Mich. July 17, 2014 PGMS DC Branch Summer Field Day Trade Show & Seminar American University Washington, D.C. Aug. 4-5, 2014 PGMS Summer Regional Seminar and Site Visit Minneapolis, Minn. Aug. 7, 2014 PGMS DC Branch Meeting Olney Gardens Wholesale Silver Spring, Md. Sept. 4, 2014 PGMS DC Branch Meeting Ruppert Nursery Gaithersburg, Md. Sponsor: Bartlett Tree Service Sept. 6, 2014 PGMS Cincinnati Branch Meeting Fox Paw Ridge Farm Manchester, Ohio Oct. 2, 2014 PGMS DC Branch Meeting UM Paint Branch Turfgrass Research Facility Site Tour/Talk Ken Ingram College Park, Md. Oct. 22-25, 2014 2014 PGMS School of Grounds Management & GIE+EXPO Galt House Hotel Visit pgms.org/calendar-of-events/ for event details.
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Communication Center Have you been receiving PGMS e-mails? If not, here's what you've missed since mid-November: May 15 - PGMS Grounds for Thought Monthly E-mail - May 2014 May 8 - REGISTER NOW - PGMS is Coming to Your Area for the 2014 Summer Regional Seminar and Site Visit! April 25 - Register Now for PGMS Summer Regional Seminar and Site Visit! April 16 - PGMS Grounds for Thought Monthly E-mail April 2014 April 11 - PGMS Makes it Even Easier to Apply for the 2014 Green Star Awards! March 20 - See What PGMS has Been up to Recently! March 18 - Do YOU Have What it Takes to be a 2014 Green Star? If you are not receiving PGMS e-mail blasts visit pgms.org and make sure we have a current e-mail address in your profile.
Got News? Has something exciting happened to you or do you know of a PGMS member who doesn’t want to toot their own horn? Have you received an award or honor? Has your grounds crew been making headlines in your local paper or favorite trade magazine? If you have any ideas for topics you would like to see articles on or if you would like to submit articles please contact Molly BaldwinAbbott at mollybaldwin@assnhqtrs.com or 410-223-2861.
PGMS Member Input Needed for Important Industry Manual PGMS member Gene Pouly, CGM has been participating on the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited Standards Committee (ASC) as the PGMS representative for the ASC A300 committee (our industry specific standards area for tree care maintenance operations affecting trees, shrubs, and other woody plants) for over a year now. As a refresher, the ASC A300 committee is accredited by ANSI. This committee coordinates with the ANSI Z 133 safety standards. These standards are voluntary standards, but have been and will continue to be referenced by attorneys-at-law. To gain a better understanding of the ASC A300 committee, visit the www.tcia.org (Tree Care Industry Association) website and click “About Us� and follow the link to Committees. At this website, the ASC A300 scope, purpose, members, and other pertinent information is provided, along with public vote procedures. Gene is currently working with the committee on creating a manual that will be highly beneficial to you as grounds professionals. Before Gene submits his recommendations on this manual, he needs input from PGMS members. Following are a few questions Gene would like your professional thoughts on. Please e-mail your answers to the following questions directly to Molly Baldwin-Abbott, PGMS director of communications and
marketing, at mollybaldwin@assnhqtrs.com. Pruning Section: 1.) What is a tree? 2.) What is a shrub? 3.) What is a palm? 4.) What is bamboo? 5.) Define heading, shearing, and trimming. 6.) What is the purpose of utility pruning? 7.) Where should a cut be made to remove an included branch with supporting diagram? IPM Part 10 Section: 1.) Define how a pest is controlled. 2.) What plant material is included in a landscape? 3.) What is considered organic pest management materials/ chemicals? If you have any questions please contact Gene at gpouly@efpouly.com.
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Supporting Your Local Garden Centers By Walt Bonvell, CGM
Living in Northern Kentucky, there are several garden centers and nurseries that I have had the pleasure of dealing with when it comes to buying plant material. As you all know in this Green Industry business, one can’t always purchase the plant material you need from just one source. There is one local family owned landscape and garden center just minutes from my home called Maddox Landscape and Garden Center. During the season I’m there almost every Saturday looking for new plants and purchasing plant material. Whether it’s for my home or a job, Maddox usually has what I need. Bob and Bonita Maddox, owners, along with their son Scott, run a successful business. Their first payroll was in June of 1982 with only three to four employees. Today, they employ over 16 employees. Bob Maddox graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1959 in Poultry Science and minored in Horticulture. His son Scott also graduated from the University of Kentucky in Economics in 1994 and has successfully helped bring the business to where it is today. In 1981, Bob was President of the Northern Kentucky Nurserymen’s Association and today, is still very active in local associations and running the garden center. Another longtime employee and a very big part of the success of the garden center and a long time associate that I have known for many years is Marla Becraft. Marla deals with every aspect of running the garden center from setting up the inside to loading mulch, giving advice to customers, potting up perennials, hanging baskets and sales. What makes this garden center so special is the way they support the local community. What also brought my attention to purchasing my plant material is their selection of Proven Winners. As a PGMS member, I always try to support our Partners in Professionalism. Proven Winners is a 2014 Silver PGMS Partner in Professionalism and they have been very supportive to PGMS in the past several years. So I asked the question “What was your decision to sell the Proven Winner brand?” Marla said the pot itself and the name. Scott’s answer was the variety of plant selections, their use and their performance. He too mentioned the unique brand recognition. Proven Winner is a big part of their garden center sales. So in closing, it’s always good to support your local community garden centers and PGMS partners.
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A view of the various flowers, plants and shrubs available at the Maddox Landscape and Garden Center in Florence, Ky.
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PGMS Welcomes Newest Members! New members since March 11, 2014 Bradley Barbee Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Jennifer Huth Main Line Lawn & Garden
Rob Benton Wake Technical Community College
Tyson Mantor U.C. Davis
Alex Bonnard Lee Bullock Wake Technical Community College Robert Butler Masonic Care Community of New York Alex Charais Bailey Nurseries Jay Charnes Sodexo-SBTS Ryne Craig Robert Dill Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Matt Forrest UC Davis Grounds & Landscape Svc. Wendell Goodwin Wake Technical Community College Stephen Hardin Wake Technical Community College
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Jesse Mitchell Red Diamond Bryan Mohan McLennan Community College Kenneth Rapp The University of Michigan Joe Rodocker Montgomery County Government-Tennessee Matt Scolum Moraine Valley Community College Richard Warren Abilene Christian University Steven Wesler Northampton Gardens Inc. Know someone who isn’t a member? Help grow your profession and spread the word about joining PGMS! Membership details can always be found on the PGMS website at www.pgms.org.
PGMS Northeast Branch Hosts Spring Meeting The Northeast Branch of PGMS met at The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. for their Spring Branch Meeting. Old friendships were renewed and a schedule for the branch activity in 2014 was discussed. Participating PGMS members included national PGMS leaders represented by John Doiron, regional director Ted Heywood, CGM and branch President Brendon Connor. Bartlett Tree, a PGMS Gold Sponsor, had three employees who represented the company in New England present. Retired member Tom Tarbox was warmly welcomed back and provided valuable input. Several local industry suppliers also attended and were very supportive of helping in the future. A midsummer meeting is planned and will be held at Holy Cross as well. Once planned the details will be posted on the Northeast Branch webpage at pgms.org/pgms-branches/northeastregional-branch/.
Are You Active in Your Local PGMS Branch? PGMS branches are always putting on exciting local events or holding chapter meetings in your area. Are you involved? Take advantage of all that your local branch has to offer! Visit pgms.org/pgms-branches/ to find the branch in your area and get involved today!
Professionals Answer Call for Advice There have been several discussion questions posted to the PGMS LinkedIn page recently that we wanted to share. *Gerald Landby, director of grounds at Carroll College posted the following question in mid April: “Smoking policies on campus: I am wondering what policies various institutions have in place regarding cigarette butts and smoking in general. Is a “smoke-free” campus truly smoke-free? Does a smoke-free campus designation stop the cigarette butt problem or did you leave ashtrays in place to control the butts? We have “designated” smoking area on the grounds but smoking seems to happen wherever people wish to smoke. I would appreciate your thoughts.” Here were the responses: Walter Bonvell, CGM, Grounds/Lead at Xavier University Several years ago, Ohio State said no smoking within 25 feet of an entry way. So we had to push back all of our urns 25 feet. Whereas there is no smoking in any of the buildings, we are not a true smoke free campus. Recently, we had to start putting signs in areas where fresh air intake ducts were because the cigarette smoke was going in the building. The 25 feet is not enforced, but I have seen a reduction in smoking over the past few years. Some of our urns are now used for planters, so we have recycled them. We do not have designated smoking areas and most smoke outside where they work on campus. We do pick up a lot of butts during morning policing up. Physical Plant policy also states no smoking in any of the university vehicles. Michael Williams, Horticulturist/ Landscape coordinator at New College of Florida Here at New College of Fla. it’s such a time consuming task, with daily policing of areas for butts. We’re one of the only University system schools that allow smoking on campus, but of course we are liberal arts & sciences. Here in Fla. you’re supposed to be 50’ from entrance to buildings, so our policy needs work. Ellen Newell, CGM, Associate Director at Arizona State University Arizona State University went tobacco free in August 2013. The policy is not enforced but rather supposed to succeed through peer pressure and lots of signs. So far that has not worked and our grounds department is very busy picking up butts as the urns were all removed as part of becoming tobacco free. I have heard it takes several years but so far it has been painful for us. Aaron Boggs, Assistant Director for Facilities Maintenance and Renovations at University of Louisville No smoking policy on all campuses but no enforcement. Once the ban was enacted, we pulled out all the ash urns and put up a lot of “SMOKE FREE CAMPUS” signs. Now, cigarette butts litter the ground in many areas with no extra help to clean them up. It is close to impossible to keep up with. I have lobbied campus police to enforce the state laws against littering but they have their own issues with being under-staffed and having many more important public safety concerns to deal with. Tom Knowles, Asst. Director of Facilities @ Univ. of South Carolina University of South Carolina campus went tobacco free this past January 1, 2014. Our situation is similar to Ellen’s @ ASU... enforcement through peers. We have removed all cig butt receptacles and now have a litter problem. The hope is as future classes enter the university, tobacco use will dwindle. We shall see!
*Dennis Trantham, coordinator of Building Services, Grounds and Heavy Equipment Top Contributor, posted the following question in late April: “Campus Tree Inventory: Does anyone have any experience with campus tree inventories? I have recently been contacted by Arbor Pro and this is a direction that we need to go but I am looking for feedback on the company or a recommendation of a company.” Here were the responses: Michael Bova, project coordinator at Davey Resource Group Davey Resource Group is the leader. Contact me or go to Davey.com. Jeff McManus, director of landscape services at Univ. of Mississippi Davey did our tree inventory as well. Dan Schied, University of Rochester We used Urban Forestry LLC out of Newark, N.Y. Richard Riccardi, GISP, instructor Engineering and Science Technology at The University of Akron We did our tree inventory in house in cooperation with our survey and geography students using ArcMap software. It is easily updated this way and is a part of our GIS initiative. Aaron Boggs, sssistant director for Facilities Maintenance and Renovations at University of Louisville Ours is in progress utilizing Biology/Ecology and GIS students. Computer Engineering is working on a smartphone app to help manage the data. Hopefully in the future we will be able to update it based on maintenance, removals, etc. Ryan Stehouwer, Grounds Dept. Work Coordinator at Hope College Hope College has used Bartlett Tree to start our inventory. What we like about their system is we can now add to it ourselves. We are hoping to utilize a student familiar with GIS and using a trimble to continue to add to the initial inventory. We had Bartlett also do eco data on 50 trees within the inventory and this has been very good information to have. What we have seen is that the inventory is already obsolete, so you have to continually update information, it’s always a work in progress. Steven L. Frank, Experienced Management Professional I was very pleased with the Bartlett team and the ArborScope results at The University of Chicago. See http://dddi.org/bartlett/bis/ ArborScope/mapDisplay.cfm?id=0FCAC3. John Burns, manager of Landscape Services at University of Texas at Austin We had our first inventory done by Arbor Pro. It is a very good tool and we have used it for the past seven to eight years. We are actually looking to totally redo our inventory and we may be going a different direction. Timothy Dutton, Seeking New Role Within a Professional Landscape Firm Autumn tree did Dominican University River Forest Scott Jamieson, vice president, Bartlett Tree Experts Make sure to get multiple bids and interview the people who will be looking at your trees. You will find great variation in the qualifications and experience people put out in the field. You will know the best only when you interview. Spend the time on the front end, quality will show through.
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Classifieds/Resumes There is a $10 fee for PGMS members, $20 for non-members required to place a classified posting on the website and in an issue of PGMS newsletter the Forum. Postings will remain online for one month. The editor will have final editing rights. To place a classified ad on the PGMS website and in the PGMS Forum, please e-mail the ad to Meghan Brady at meghanbrady@assnhqtrs.com. For a payment form please visit pgms.org/job-bank/. To view details on any of the positions below visit pgms.org/job-bank/. For internship details visit pgms.org/job-bank/internships/. As a free, PGMS members only benefit, we will post your resume for two months on the PGMS Job Bank webpage. For more details please visit pgms.org/pgms-member-resumes/.
POSITIONS AVAILABLE Grounds Technician - Spring Grove and Oak Hill Cemeteries/Cincinnati, Ohio Spring Grove is actively looking for highly-motivated team players with excellent work ethics to fill both full time and part time Grounds Technician positions at Spring Grove and Oak Hill Cemeteries. Primary responsibilities include; mowing, string trimming, planting, mulching, use of heavy equipment (Backhoe, riding mowers, etc.) and grounds maintenance.
INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE Horticulture Internship Summer 2014 – Chevy Chase, Md. Golf Course Maintenance Internship – Verona, NY
OTHER RESOURCES: JOB WEBSITES In order to provide you with a broad range of job opportunities, PGMS has listed below various websites that will connect you to job listings: • www.apwa.net/ workzone • www.Hortjobs.com • www.nrpa.org • www.higheredjobs.com (Search for Administrative and Facilities Management) • www.azh.org/http://azh.org/ Jobs/ jobpostings.htm • www.indeed.com (Search for horticulturist, grounds supervisor, grounds manager, etc.)
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