FNGLA 2023-2024 Presidents Phil Buck engages in a longstanding association tradition by passing the 'Big Shoes' to incoming President Phillip Hisey at the 2024 Annual Convention on June 22, 2024. | FNGLA PHOTO
President's Letter: Looking forward to the future as we enter a new year
June 27, 2024
What a great Annual Convention. Hats off to the Convention Committee for an outstanding event, and awesome way to send off FNGLA 2023 - 24 President Phil Buck.
As we look to the future, I can’t help but think what accomplishments this association has had, and is capable of achieving in the future.
Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi once said, "Individual commitment to a group effort — that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work."
Might I add, "...an association work" to this quote.
Together, we can work to achieve the goals of the association. A new chapter begins, and I look forward to leading this association for the 2024 - 2025 membership year.
Looking back at my tenure as an FNGLA executive officer, from secretary/treasurer, to president-elect, the time has gone quickly. This realization leads me to be more intentional in my efforts as FNGLA President. As many of you who were at Annual Convention in June know, I stated, as the president of the largest state nursery and landscape association, and the largest segment (by sales volume) of the state's "BIG 6" agriculture organizations, I have to be ready and willing to serve at the pleasure of the FNGLA membership. Whether it's related to issues like insects, disease, or policy, I must be attentive to the association needs.
A little about myself for those who don’t know me: I became an FNGLA Certified Landscape Contractor (FCLC) back in the early 2000’s when the association was still known as the Florida Nursery, and Growers Association (FNGA).
I have worked in the green industry for more than 20 years. My passion is water conservation and efficiency, and how the landscape industry, specifically the FNGLA, can be more effective in leading the charge to change policy and ideas to shape the future ahead.
More than 1,000 people per day chose to make this state their home. We need to be ready for this in terms of development, by creating standards and promoting professionalism within our industry.
June 1 signaled the start of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
To help members prepare, FNGLA has put together Disaster Assistance Resources, which are available to help our industry prepare for and recover after storms and other extreme situations.
FNGLA has also recently created the FNGLA Foundation to collect vital monetary resources to provide aid and relief in the event of a natural disaster.
On June 27, FNGLA's Landscape Irrigation committee met to review and discuss its next steps.
On May 13, The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) officially approved and published its new revised Landscape Irrigation and Florida-FriendlyTM Irrigation Design Standards. First implemented in 2006, these standards have been in need of revision. It was your FNGLA's Landscape Irrigation Committee which led the charge to review, amend and promote these standards. Revisions began in 2017, after the Water 2070 report came out.
FNGLA's Landscape Irrigation Committee seeks next to identify the best way to move forward.
In other association updates, The 2024 Landscape Show is just around the corner. Get ready for a big one. Trade show booths are already sold out and, as always, the show promises to be a good one.
I'm looking forward to seeing so many old and new faces at the show!
Phillip Hisey
Gruber Master Contracting, Inc.
FNGLA 2024 - 25 President
