Page 6 - Free State Spring 2022 - June FINAL

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
VANESSA A. FINNEY
Executive Director
6 SPRING 2022 • Free State News
Membership Matters.
Have you noticed? The MNLGA began using that tagline almost two years ago
when we developed a new membership promotion and corresponding information
kit. You’ll see this branding in a lot of the materials we distribute as well as on our
website. In two words, we attempt to sum that you, your business, your level of
engagement, your ability to network and receive continuing education amongst a
peer network of industry professionals, your ability to influence regulations and laws…
it all matters. And it matters a great deal.
We’ve many members to thank for their involvement with this year’s General
Assembly. There were several fairly onerous bills that would have drastically impacted
your business had MNLGA members not stepped up to educate lawmakers and
lobbyists on the implications of their intended actions. We were able to kill several
pieces of legislation and have others amended to help protect your interests. If you
did not receive the MNLGA’s weekly Legislative Update, you may find the final session
summary on the MNGLA website.
Speaking of the website, www.mnlga.org, if you have not visited it in a while, now
would be a good time; in mid-April the MNLGA launched its new site. The site is easier
to navigate for the end user and is a lot more streamlined and efficient for those of
us working on the backend. We will continue to use the site to promote membership
events, a portal for joining or renewing membership, communicating industry
information, providing business resources, and for event registration.
Using your member credentials, you can access the MNLGA Affinity Program (details
on page 70 of this issue), search for other members, and access the Social Media
Toolkit. This toolkit provides the basics on how to set up multiple social media
platforms and also provides seasonal content, so you don’t need to look elsewhere.
On the educational programming horizon, the MNLGA offices and committee
members are working on three events this summer. Biocontrol on June 30 (at the
Maritime Institute); Greenhouse Growers Day (Tidal Creek Growers, Earleville) on
July 14, and Field Day (Longwood Gardens) on September 13. Check you in-box and
MNLGA website for more information on these events. Our Chessie Green committee
will also soon meet to begin Chessie 2023 programming. Mark your calendars now
for February 16 and 17 at the Maritime.
In closing, I’d like to express my appreciation for all of the MNLGA’s members. You are
the glue of Maryland’s ornamental horticulture industry, and I am very proud to work
for and with you, many of whom I consider not just colleagues, rather friends.
Happy Spring. Stay Busy! A
In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt. – Margaret Atwood