A New Season

Dear VNLA Members,

I am proud to serve you as the President of VNLA’s Board of Directors for 2019. Please join me in thanking Aaron Williams for his service last year during a time of transition. He is an exemplary mentor and a valued colleague to the VNLA Board.

Recently, the VNLA Board experienced a few changes. I want to thank Brad Bobenrieth, Paul Munn and Virginia Rockwell for their time, dedication and expertise while serving on the Board. I also have the pleasure of introducing Neal Beasley and Marshall Saunders, who joined the Board this past January. They will help to revamp the Virginia Certified Horticulturist (VCH) program and represent our interests at state meetings. I also wish Jim Owen well as he spends a year in Canada on sabbatical.

During the last year, we have worked tirelessly to analyze and review processes and responsibilities. After hours of review and discussion we made several decisions to streamline member communications and more efficiently administer the Virginia Certified Horticulturist (VCH) exam.

We are pleased to work with Leading Edge Communications, who will publish the VNLA newsletters and Guide to Virginia Growers Guide. You will notice a refreshed newsletter format with a focus to provide members with timely and pertinent content along with updates on what’s happening in the VNLA universe.

The VCH exam is now offered in an online format and was proctored in several locations this spring. Special thanks goes out to the VCH Committee for getting this task accomplished. We will continue to improve processes to enhance the VCH program.

In the near future, we look to implement updated membership management software tools and a refreshed VNLA website. A goal is to significantly improve the delivery and availability of resources for you and more user-friendly processes to access and manage your membership information online.

In closing, please be sure to join us at Eastern Shore Nursery of Virginia on August 1 for Field Day. We are very thankful to this year’s host and look forward to a fantastic day!

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have at brenthunsinger@gmail.com.

I wish you all a healthy and productive spring!

Respectfully,

Brent Hunsinger

2019 VNLA President

Brent Hunsinger, 2019 VNLA President