Common Sense

Iimagine social scientists have an elaborate, complicated phrase to describe diverse associations collaborating for the greater good, but here is my descriptive term: Common Sense. The current pandemic is a great time for VTC members and others to do the right thing and work together for the entire green industry. Here are just two of many examples.

One, when Governor Northam was making plans to shut down Virginia businesses, we worked with Virginia Agribusiness Council and many others to ensure our industry was deemed essential. Many companies thanked us for enabling them to stay open. Here is just one of the recent comments: Thank you for everything you and the VTC did for us this year. I don’t know what would have happened if you all hadn’t included the irrigation industry in your lobbying!”

Two, as Virginia’s shutdown commenced, we realized certified pesticide applicators were in a very difficult position. Even though they were allowed to continue working, many of them were unable to take classes needed to renew their licenses. Classes were cancelled because of the pandemic. Cancelled classes were a problem for many because their applicator licenses expired June 30. We worked with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to extend the deadline to the end of August while we developed training options.

One training option was a virtual pesticide recertification class that we developed. The class was offered as a service to the industry. We did not charge for it. Nearly 250 persons attended.

Conducting in-person training classes was the second training option we provided. Six of these classes were held across the state during July and August. Social distancing and other precautions characterized these events. Three of them were even held outdoors at city parks.

Turfgrass professionals, arborists, landscapers, nursery growers, irrigation professionals, and even environmentalists worked together for the industry during the pandemic. Each group brought intrinsic preferences and biases to the table. Left unchecked, these differences would have festered discord and division.

But something wonderful happened when the green industry professionals worked together. I call it Common Sense.

Tom Tracy, Ph.D.

VTC Executive Director