Landscape contractors give back in D.C.

Pictured above: Lt. Col. Priscilla Quackenbush leads a keynote speech at the 22nd annual Renewal & Remembrance.

When Lt. Col. Priscilla E. Quackenbush helped a wounded soldier as a patient, the patient’s first request is to speak with their mother. But Quackenbush, who is retired from the United States Army Nurse Corps, said the second request is to have a room with a view of the outdoors and especially trees.

Quackenbush said the role green industry professionals have to help these grounds is similar to the role she plays in helping people recover. She stressed the importance landscapes play in helping patients recover.

Quackenbush was the keynote speaker for the National Association of Landscape Professionals’ 22nd annual Renewal & Remembrance. The event allows hundreds of NALP members work on lawns, trees, irrigation and hardscape projects at Arlington National Cemetery.

NALP President Jeff Buhler, who is also senior vice president of customer service at Massey Services, urged the volunteers to take a moment and reflect on the chance to treat the grounds.

“Often the most impactful moments in our life are a blur,” Buhler said.

The NALP members also volunteer to treat the United States Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery where more than 14,000 veterans are buried, including those who fought in the Civil War.

According to the event chair, John Eggleston:

• Lawn care professionals aerated 108 acres, applied lime to 117.5 acres and phosphorus to 46 acres.

• Arborists installed lightning protection in four trees (at Soldiers Home).

• Irrigation professionals revived a non-functioning system at the Administration Building, inspected, repaired, and increased efficiency at all the Columbarium irrigation systems, and installed a main line in preparation for a future R&R project at the Coast Guard and North Pole monuments.

• Landscape and hardscape professionals replaced a failing retaining wall with a new, aesthetically appropriate one, replaced a slate maintenance strip around Columbarium 1 – the first phase of a planned 9-year project, and replaced a worn area between buildings at the Service Complex with a new mulched and landscaped pathway.

• Children planted an additional 15 shrubs and over 300 annuals at the Mast of the Maine memorial.

Dan Krems, CFO at LandCare, attended the event for the first time and said he felt a deep sense awe and of gratitude for the fallen soldiers, and a sense of connectivity and pride in the industry working alongside other volunteers.

“Honoring those who serve our country and giving back to our communities represents the highest ideals of our industry,” he said. “Such a visible and unique call to service gives our industry the opportunity to give back and also showcases the spirit of volunteerism and community-mindedness found in so many green industry businesses.”

INDUSTRY ADVOCATES. As part of the preparation for visiting legislators on Capitol Hill, there were a few panels about issues being discussed and tips on how to be a better advocate.

H-2B: Laurie Flanagan, executive vice president at DC Legislative and Regulatory Services, NALP’s government relations firm, said the association has had two goals when it comes to H-2B – advocating for more H-2B visas to be released this year, and to get permanent H-2B cap relief (for example reinstating the returning worker exemption.)

She said more visas won’t be released, but there is some hope about the returning worker exemption. Flanagan added that when business owners are meeting with representatives, they should explain everything they’ve done to hire American workers. “You make this real and local,” she said.

Tim Daniels, who works in the office of congressman Andy Harris (R-MD), said even though there is opposition to H-2B by both Republicans and Democrats, political support for H-2B is at a peak right now. “I’m cautiously optimistic something can get done,” he said.

SOCIAL MEDIA: David Payne, president and founder of Codavate public affairs, and William Lopez, vice president of customer success at Phone2Action, gave tips on how to use social media for political advocacy.

Payne listed a couple of reasons on why you should be using social media for advocacy:

1. Government uses it. “It’s now more important than emails and phone calls to them,” he said, but he added that a call from a business leader still counts more than reaching out via social media.

2. A key demo uses it. Eighty percent of people are active on Facebook. Millennials are becoming the face of workforce and 90 percent are social media users. “Your employees customers and advocates are on it,” he said.

Payne said business leaders should also use it to thank a representative for supporting something the business owner supports. He added that it takes 30 actions to influence Congress. If you can get customers, employees and people in the community to comment or like something 30 times on a member of Congress’ account, they’ll take notice.

Lopez said almost 100 percent of politicians are on social media and it’s important to follow the legislator on social media. “It’s a good way to react or comment on what they are pushing because they often solicit feedback,” Lopez said.

Lopez said business owners should engage with legislators and also remind them of their commitments or promises. However, you are more likely to get a response from a representative at the local and state level compared to the federal level.

Both warned that taking a political stance on social media can cause some blowback, so you have to be ready for that. “You have to perform a political calculus. I am spending my political capital,” so you have to pick and choose about putting your neck out on an issue, Payne said.