TNLA Working for You July 31, 2020

Be the First to Know News and Updates from TNLA! JULY 31, 2020

TNLA

Working For You

EARN CEUS FOR TNLA, TDA, & ISA AT THE

TNLA VIRTUAL CEU SMORGASBORD NEXT WEEK August 3-7, 2020!

Table of Contents Calendar of Events Members' News You Need to Know

Events

COVID-19 UPDATE

TNLA Virtual CEU Smorgasbord Week

TNLA Joins Letter to the PUC

August 3-7

Your Next Superstar Employee is Waiting

TNLA Labor Summit

at TNLA's Career Center

Texas Excellence in Landscaping Virtual

Embrace Your Space

Awards Ceremony

REMINDER! Do Not Forget to Update

TNLA Annual Business Meeting & Virtual

Your Member Profile and Current

Awards Fiesta

Product Listing

Three Ways to Stay Plugged into TNLA &

2021-2022 Scholarships

EXPO

Compensation & Benefits Study

2021 Nursery/Landscape EXPO - New

TNLA Webinars

Opportunities for Exhibitors Coming

Chat with Green Aggies Webinar

Soon!

Opportunities

Save the Date for the West Texas

Member Spotlight: Working Together

Workshop

Calling All Retail Garden Centers!

8-1-1 Day is Coming up August 11

Legislative & Regulatory

Coming Soon … TNLA’s NEW Member

Texas Comptroller Announces $4.9 Billion

Engagement Mobile App!

Dollar Deficit

Texas Excellence in Landscaping Award

TNLA Meets with Texas USDA Officials

Applications Open!

Senator Charles Perry Meets with Ag Groups TNLA Director Named TAC ViceChairman

Calendar of Events

Mark your calendars and register today for these upcoming events presented by the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association.

See more event opportunities here!

3-7 August

14

August 12:00PM

14

August 3:00PM

14 August

CEU SMORGASBORD Online Education Made Just for You!

TNLA CEUS

10

TDA CEUS

5

ISA CEUS

10

REGISTER TODAY!

TEXAS EXCELLENCE IN LANDSCAPING VIRTUAL AWARDS CEREMONY

Register to Attend Today!

TNLA Annual Business Meeting & Virtual Awards Fiesta FREE LIVE STREAM EVENT

TNLA PAC AUCTION 2020 Register & See the Prizes Here!

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE CLICK HERE FOR MAXIMUM EXPOSURE

Calendar of Events

Mark your calendars and register today for these upcoming events presented by the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association.

See more event opportunities here!

28

August 8:00AM

TNLA LABOR SUMMIT Offering discussions on labor, workforce development, diversity and more!

AUGUST 28, 2020 EARN 4 TNLA CEUS!

29-30

October

12-13 Nov.

29-30 OCT. | ALPINE, TX

TNLA GROWER SUMMIT

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE CLICK HERE FOR MAXIMUM EXPOSURE

A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office

COVID-19 UPDATE: TNLA Joins Letter to the PUC TNLA sent in public comment to the Public Utility Commission this week on their agenda item concerning the Texas Universal Service Fund (USF). The Texas USF ensures that major broadband utilities contribute to the connections in rural Texas. Internet connections are now a basic and critical utility, especially in a COVID environment, and, without the USF, providers in rural Texas would not be able to afford the infrastructure. This has a real impact on landscape and agriculture irrigation as well as growers using precision agriculture implements. To find the full letter you can read it here.

YOUR NEXT SUPERSTAR EMPLOYEE IS WAITING AT TNLA'S CAREER CENTER Let TNLA's Career Center go to work for you in finding your next qualified candidate! TNLA's Career Center helps job seekers narrow down their search to find the right company to fit their skillsets which makes it a WIN-WIN for both the job seeker and an employer.

Find the candidate you are looking for and Register your company online through TNLA's Career Center today!

Your Next Superstar Employee is Waiting, Visit Careers.TNLAOnline.org!

A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office

REMINDER! Do Not Forget to Update Your Member Profile and Current Product Listing It is important to keep in mind potential clients are continually looking for Members and Products on our Member/Product Search page of the TNLA Website. It is one of the highest visited pages on our website. Be sure to maintain current and accurate information in your Member Profile to help potential customers find YOU! Need help? Click HERE for a handy video on how to update your information through your Member Portal online.

If you have any questions, please call Sara Fern at 512-579-3853 or Amy Prenger at 512-579-3858.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS STUDY

The Texas Nursery & Landscape Association is excited to have completed the 2020 Texas Green Industry Compensation & Benefits Survey and is ready for it to be released. With over 100 companies contributing, the survey represents a window into the employee benefits and compensation of your colleagues in the green industry.

This valuable data is an opportunity to know how your competitors monetarily compensate employees, in addition to analysis on workplace culture, education, certification, and ancillary benefits.

The study features hard data on compensation, as well as comments from the study participants in order to contextualize the results.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insight into Texas-specific green industry employment information. The complete survey results are available to TNLA members at $100 and non-members at $250.

Purchase it here!

2021-2022 SCHOLARSHIPS

We are now Accepting Applications for the 2021-2022 Scholarship Program If you know of a deserving student who is studying programs related to the nursery and landscape industry, please send them to TNLA's Awards Platform to complete the TNLA Foundation scholarship application.

All scholarship applicants should carefully review the program requirements as explained on the website, and then submit their application, letters of referral and transcripts by December 31, 2020.

The Foundation Trustees have stressed the importance of having good personal references accompany the scholarship application form -- many times it is the personal references that help the Trustees decide between two deserving students.

We appreciate your support and promotion of this worthwhile program. If you are interested in finding out more, please visit our website tnlaonline.org or contact Cheryl Staritz at (512) 5793863 or cheryl@tnlaonline.org.

A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office

TNLA UPCOMING WEBINAR

TNLA WEBINAR OUT NOW ONLINE

The Webinar Opportunities Do Not Stop Here! Check out webinars in topics ranging from Business Management, Pest & Disease Management, Legislative & Regulatory, Plants, & More Here!

A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office

CHAT WITH GREEN AGGIES WEBINAR OPPORTUNITIES The Chats with Green Aggies are moving from Gotowebinar to Zoom! Every Thursday 12:12pm. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

August 6: (Host: Dr. Mengmeng Gu) Register Here August 13 (Host: Dr. Becky Grubbs) Register Here August 20(Host: Dr. Kevin Ong) Register Here August 27 (Host: Erfan Vafaie) Register Here

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: WORKING TOGETHER

A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office

CALLING ALL RETAIL GARDEN CENTERS!!!

TNLA is ready to award the Retailer of the Year during the Texas Garden Retailer Award Program (TGRA).

The prestige of this award will help continue to brand your garden center and give you a leg up on your competition. All you have to do is apply! A group of judges will select the winner and the award will be presented at the 2021 Nursery/Landscape EXPO. We all know times have been busy, but throughout it all, your store has remained essential and open to your customers. Within your entry share your store's story by showcasing the innovations you have incorporated into your retail garden center through merchandising displays, online ordering, and curbside pickup. The deadline to enter your TGRA submission is November 7, 2020.

Enter by following these easy steps: 1. Create an online account on TNLA’s Award Force.

2. Upload your TGRA entry following the criteria guidelines, questions, and providing supporting documentation and images.

3. Submit and pay for your TGRA entry.

For Additional information, visit here.

A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office

8-1-1 DAY IS COMING UP AUGUST 11

WWW.CALL811.COM

A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office

Coming Soon…

TNLA’S NEW MEMBER ENGAGEMENT MOBILE APP! This year we are replacing the ‘printed’ Membership Directory with a new TNLA 365 Mobile App designed specifically for the mobile experience. The App will be a current, up-to-date, and more robust Member and Product Search Directory available 24/7 with your Mobile device.

Additional Features: Dedicated Communities specific to your interests – connect with your peers, share resources and experiences, and discuss hot topics of the day.

Mentor Matching – Connecting experienced mentors with ambitious mentees to share resources, experiences, and work together to achieve professional and personal goals.

Expert Directory – Searchable resource of industry leaders, speakers, and subject matter experts This NEW TNLA Mobile experience will deliver current, useful, and relevant information for all TNLA Members. Stay tuned for more details!

TEXAS EXCELLENCE IN LANDSCAPE AWARD APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN! TNLA’s TEIL program changes the way your customers look at your business. By becoming an awardwinning company, you can show your company’s professionalism and expertise and promote your company as an award-winning firm!

Submit your application Here Enter in categories that fit your business services: Commercial Installation Commercial Maintenance Residential Installation Residential Maintenance Special Projects Unique Features Design

A WORD FROM THE STATE Events Hear it straight from the State Office

TNLA VIRTUAL CEU SMORGASBORD WEEK AUGUST 3-7 While we aren’t meeting in person right now, we have taken some of the CEU courses we were going to offer at EXPO and wrapped them into one week of online offerings. During August 3-7, 2020, TNLA is conducting 9 virtual sessions over five days to provide CEUs during its TNLA Virtual CEU Smorgasbord.

Throughout the week you can gain 10 hours of TNLA CEUs, 5 CEUs from the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), and 10 CEUs from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).

Now more than ever, it is crucial for you to stand out as a professional in the Green Industry. Whether you are needing credits to maintain your certification or to build your knowledge on the latest practices in irrigation or pesticide applications TNLA's Virtual CEU Smorgasbord week will help you gain the information and knowledge you need to get a step ahead of the rest.

Register Now! The TNLA Virtual CEU Smorgasbord was made just for you! Get the whole schedule and more information here >>

A WORD FROM THE STATE Events

Hear it straight from the State Office

TNLA LABOR SUMMIT

TNLA’s Labor Summit is the premier event for Texas Green Industry employers to gather information to combat the labor crisis in our industry from leading policymakers and workforce development specialists.

Like in years past, this event will delve into the federal seasonal employment visa programs, workforce recruitment & retention challenges, and workforce development strategies that are being implemented in our state.

You are invited to participate in the TNLA Labor Summit on August 28, 2020. This year’s event will take place in a virtual format due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, however we are very excited to bring a dynamic lineup of speakers and presentations.

Get more information by clicking here! #2020TNLALABORSUMMIT

Proudly Partnered with:

Proudly Sponsored by:

A WORD FROM THE STATE Events Hear it straight from the State Office

JOIN US ONLINE FOR THE TEXAS EXCELLENCE IN LANDSCAPING VIRTUAL AWARDS CEREMONY The Texas Excellence In Landscaping Virtual Awards Ceremony will feature this year's winners including the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Winners!

Find out more about the details behind each winning project and gain visual insights provided by these winning experts. Join us on Friday, August 14, 2020, at noon, register for FREE by visiting www.TNLAonline.org.

Sponsored by:

A WORD FROM THE STATE Events Hear it straight from the State Office

SAVE THE DATE FOR TNLA'S ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING & VIRTUAL AWARDS FIESTA The TNLA Annual Business Meeting & Virtual Awards Fiesta is going to be a LIVE STREAMED event available online for you and your entire team to tune in and watch FREE. We will provide TNLA's annual report and year in review, and also celebrate this year's award winners for the Honorary Member, Young Leader, Summit, and Arp. In addition, during the presentation, we will reveal this year's Texas Excellence In Landscaping (TEIL) Best of Show!

Be sure to sign up to watch for FREE on August 14, 2020, at 3pm by visiting www.tnlaonline.org to RSVP and Save Your Seat.

JOIN US ONLINE AS WE CELEBRATE THIS YEAR’S WINNERS! Honorary Lifetime Member Award: Awarded to honor and dedication, hard work and valiant service to the industry. This year TNLA is proud to have two winners, Dr. Michael Wade and Mark Rose, Living Earth.

Young Leader Award: Given to the person who has made a significant impact on the Texas Nursery & Landscaping Association. This year’s winner is Veronica Seever with Leaf Landscape Supply.

Summit Award Winner: The highest honor bestowed on a TNLA Member firm. Congratulations to this year’s winner, TreeTown USA. Arp Award: Honors an individual professional for their outstanding service and contributions to the industry. We are honored to announce the winner of this year’s Arp Award is Neil Sperry.

Sponsored by:

A WORD FROM THE STATE Events Hear it straight from the State Office

THREE WAYS TO STAY PLUGGED IN WITH TNLA & EXPO With EXPO canceled here are three ways to stay plugged into TNLA & EXPO: 1. Check out TNLA's Virtual Offerings Happening this August containing CEUs, Live Streaming of Education and Awards!

2. Post a comment on one of our Social Media Sites: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter 3. Saved the date for next year's EXPO, August 5-7, 2021

2021 NURSERY/LANDSCAPE EXPO – NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXHIBITORS COMING SOON! Your EXPO Management Team is working hard on the 2021 EXPO which will be held on August 5-7, 2021!

Some exciting promotion opportunities are being added to help Exhibitors stand out and get your products and brand seen 24/7/365!

2021 Exhibit Sales will begin next month, and we can’t wait to show you what we have in store! Stay tuned for more details coming soon!

If you have any questions, please call Trevor Peevey at 512-579-3859 or Amy Prenger at 512-579-3858.

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE WEST TEXAS WORKSHOP TNLA’s West Texas Workshop allows you to explore the unique West Texas landscape and learn from experts who specialize in the West Texas ecosystem. See sites and plants only found in West Texas and take that knowledge back to your company to diversify your project and plant profiles.

Register Here Today!

A WORD FROM THE STATE Legislative & Regulatory

Hear it straight from the State Office

TEXAS COMPTROLLER ANNOUNCES $4.9 BILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT Glenn Hegar, the Texas Comptroller, announced at a hearing of the Legislative Budget Board that his office is forecasting a $4.9 billion dollar deficit for the incoming Texas Legislature. The numbers, while not surprising due to the government response to COVID-19, constitute a near $7 billion dollar drop in Texas’ trajectory as our state was doing better than projected in February and early March. The deficit is not as large as it could have been projected, however, it does have serious implications for projects that were needing new funding in the 2021 session. TNLA will continue to actively monitor the impact of this projection and all eyes will be on the Comptroller’s budget revenue projection in early January 2021.

TNLA MEETS WITH TEXAS USDA OFFICIALS Last week TNLA staff met with the state USDA officials including Gary Six, Texas Director for the Farm Service Agency. The USDA updated attendees on the status of federal projects ongoing in the State of Texas. In addition, TNLA once again urged the expansion of the qualifying crops under the CFAP program. FSA acknowledge that the USDA intended to do so but, there was no definitive timeline issued for future announcements.

The TNLA Leader List newsletter is sent out with political notices, Legislative alerts, and highlights of TNLA advocacy work. Sign up now to receive updates and more about the Legislative and Regulatory action in the Industry!

A WORD FROM THE STATE Legislative & Regulatory

Hear it straight from the State Office

SENATOR CHARLES PERRY MEETS WITH AG GROUPS State Senator Charles Perry, Chairman of the Water & Rural Affairs Committee, met with several Texas ag groups, including TNLA last week. The senator updated our organizations on the working ongoing in the Texas Capitol to prepare for the coming legislative session. In addition, a significant amount of time was dedicated to COVID’s impact on agriculture, the upcoming state budget, preparations for a socially distant session, and the PUC’s decision on rural broadband funding.

TNLA DIRECTOR NAMED TAC VICE-CHAIRMAN Ryan Skrobarczyk, TNLA Director of Legislative & Regulatory Affairs, was recently named as an incoming officer for the Texas Agriculture Council (TAC). TAC is an organization comprised of all of the major agriculture interest groups across the State of Texas and exists to facilitate information sharing and shared initiative on the public policy impacting Texas agriculture. The officers serve at the direction of the membership and the executive committee in helping execute the objectives of Ag Council. TNLA has been a proud member of TAC for many years and looks forward to continuing our membership in this new role.

The TNLA Leader List newsletter is sent out with political notices, Legislative alerts, and highlights of TNLA advocacy work. Sign up now to receive updates and more about the Legislative and Regulatory action in the Industry!

READ IT NOW CLICK HERE!

EDUCATION & CEU OPPORTUNITIES Don't Ask The Expert, Be The Expert TNLA Green Magazine Articles Including: Notes From SFA Gardens Bugs & Fuzz GreenVision Authors Including: Meng Meng Gu, Ph.D. Kevin Ong, Ph.D. David Creech, Ph.D.

CEU Quiz in Every Issue!

TNLA Academics Education-On-Demand Self-Paced Online Courses Guided Web Courses TNLA Academics Mini Sessions Nursery/Landscape EXPO Keynotes Nursery/Landscape EXPO Interviews Green Industry Essentials (PDFs) Free Webinars TNLA Green CEU Quizzes

The Gift that Keeps on Giving!

With information on Texas native plants, resilient non-natives, landscape design, water smart gardening and more, this is the perfect gift for anyone! Homeowners, renters, garden novices and garden experts alike can all benefit from continued knowledge on optimal growing conditions in all parts of Texas.

Created by industry professionals, for your green thumb.

Member Price 1-9: $13.00 10-100: $6.75 Non-Member Price 1-9: $13.00 9-100: $13.00 Make your yard the best it can be with the TNLA Best of Texas Landscape Guide!

Visit tnlaonline.org/best-of-texas-landscape-guide to order yours today!