IPLCA to dissolve

OAK BROOK, Ill. – The Illinois Professional Lawn Care Association has announced that the organization will dissolve as of Sept. 12.

The IPLCA leadership has decided the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association would be the strongest association to best advance the interests of lawn care professionals in the state.

The ILCA Board voted unanimously to allow the IPLCA to communicate to their members that the ILCA will become the new professional home for IPLCA members. Current IPLCA President, Mark Opal, said “the IPLCA Board strongly encourages all members that are not currently members of the ILCA to join the association and support their efforts.”

To ensure the turf industry still has representation and grows its influence in Illinois, the ILCA Board agreed to the following: 
• Creation of a standing Turf Committee to handle the development of Turf Education Day (TED) and other turf-related initiatives, programs and resources. The Turf Committee will be open to former IPLCA members, joint members and existing ILCA members.
• Continuance of Turf Education Day (TED) on an annual or biannual basis.
• Former IPLCA members will be invited to serve on ILCA’s Regulatory and Legislative Committee to help combat negative, and advance favorable, lawn care legislation.
• Former IPLCA members will be invited to serve on the Future Landscape Industry Professionals Committee (FLIP) to make sure lawn care is included in the messaging.

To help build a bridge from IPLCA to ILCA, ILCA is offering a discounted first year membership rate. This only applies to IPLCA members who are not currently members of ILCA. IPLCA members who fit this criteria can expect an email with ILCA membership sign up information.