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GOVERNMENT watch |
Kansas green industries join forces
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Photo iluustration by Kelly Neis. |
The start of the 2005 state legislative season is just around the corner, and GCSAA chapters across the country will be proactively addressing government legislation and issues as participants in coalitions, associations and alliances.
Coalitions, associations and alliances are the foundation for creating successful change within an industry. They represent an array of state and local interests and bring together organizations and individuals to build a powerful base that works to influence change.
The GCSAA chapters in Kansas — the Kansas GCSA and the Heart of America GCSA — will be two groups taking action in 2005. They have joined, and been involved in the creation of, the newly formed Kansas Association of Horticultural Industries (KAHI).
The mission of KAHI is to promote and support the diverse horticulture industries in Kansas through education of the public, regulatory agencies and the electorate on the many and varied benefits provided by Kansas horticulture industries.
KAHI aims to represent the collective strength of the horticultural industries in legislative matters, regulatory issues and educational needs. They plan to promote the value of the horticultural industry to the public, serve as an information exchange for individuals and groups within the coalition, and work together toward the expansion of horticulture industries in the state.
Specifically, KAHI will attempt to increase the interest of individuals in horticultural careers, increase industry influence on curriculum and research decisions at educational institutions and increase government understanding of the horticulture industry through information provided to policymakers.
The association evolved out of the Kansas State Horticulture Society (KSHS), which was the oldest agricultural organization in Kansas. Unlike KSHS, the new association will lobby at the statehouse as a 501(c) (5) organization. Thomas D. Warner, Ph.D., head of the Kansas State University Department of Horticulture, Forestry and Recreation and an active member of KSHS, spearheaded the change after receiving overwhelming feedback from KSHS members that a more diverse and larger coalition of horticultural interests should unify in order “to get more recognition by lawmakers and educators that horticulture in the state is really big business.”
KAHI represents a much more diverse group of horticultural interests. Represent-atives from the fruit, nursery and landscape, Christmas tree, florist, nut, arborist, greenhouse and turfgrass industries will work cooperatively with superintendents in the association. Other horticultural groups are also being identified for future inclusion.
Mark Lytle, superintendent at the Salina (Kan.) Municipal Golf Course, represents the KGCSA in the association. Lytle is concerned about recent changes in state pesticide laws that make it more expensive for superintendents to become certified. As in many other states, water quality and quantity issues are of major concern in Kansas, and Lytle looks forward to using KAHI to monitor legislative and regulatory activity and work cooperatively and proactively with the group to respond to issues when appropriate.
Lytle knows policymakers have the ability to make decisions that affect how superintendents do their jobs. “By bringing these diverse groups together, we will have a much stronger voice in influencing policy decisions,” Lytle says. Rusty Hamman, chapter president and superintendent at Gardner (Kan.) Golf Course, will be the representative from the Heart GCSA for KAHI.
Association members have met several times during the past year to establish bylaws and identify priorities for 2005, including hiring a lobbyist, developing the HORT 2005 Industry Survey (to determine economic impact in the state) and filling vacant university positions.
Many GCSAA chapters have reaped the benefits of participating in coalitions with similar green industry interests. For more information on the benefits of coalitions, associations and alliances, visit the resources section of GCSAA Online to review case studies of successful chapter efforts.
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