Page 6 - Free State Winter 2022 - Website Version

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
VANESSA A. FINNEY
Executive Director
6 WINTER 2022 • Free State News
From my winter 2021 Executive Director’s message I said, “We’ve waited two years…
are you ready? It’s time to get back to MANTS in-person, face-to-face. I am thrilled we are
able to once again gather as an industry to promote our businesses, sell our products and
services, and reconnect with our industry family and friends once again.”
Little did we know that December 13, 2021 would do it’s best to turn the world upside
down. And it almost did, but thanks to the stalwarts and the brave, MANTS 2022
did happen and here we are once again, preparing for the 53rd year of gathering
the industry together to continue doing business as business should be done; live,
in-person, and face-to-face!
If people in general had the ability to look at our industry from the outside-in or from
10,000 feet (choose any analogy you want), I believe the vast majority would look in
awe to see an industry that shows the kind of resilience that ours does; regardless
of the circumstances that life throws our way. Day in, day out … week in, week out
… month in, month out … year in, year out … this industry perseveres through it all.
Whether it be economic, legislative, labor, recession, inflation, pandemic, bugs, blight,
and/or climate, this industry takes a punch and continuously plays the role of Rocky
Balboa time and again. We might fall from time to time, but we get back up and
press on.
For our part, the MNLGA is very proud to play the role in helping our members to
get from point A to B to C whether it be through education, working legislatively,
providing certification and recertification opportunities, working with AmericanHort
and other national organizations on advocacy issues, or serving the membership
through public relations, marketing, sponsorship and/or facilitating communications,
we are here to serve. That’s why we say Membership Matters!
We will touch on all those topics and more when we gather at the MNGLA annual
meeting on the opening day of MANTS, Wednesday January 10th, 2023, at the
Baltimore Convention Center. Our many Wye Oak and Black Eyed Susan Sponsors
(see page 43) are providing a complimentary hot breakfast while we all catch up on
MNLGA business. Registration is available on mnlga.org and through the myriad of
e-mails you have received since early November.
AGAIN, attendance is complimentary, but we need your reservation to properly plan
for breakfast and seating. The meeting will run from 7:15 – 8:30 am and you’ll be out
and ready for business by the time MANTS’ opens the doors at 9 am.
This past year, the MNGLA continues to build on years past by quietly addressing
many challenges. Along with our peer MaGIC industry associations, we followed
and responded to dozens of bills, received feedback, and input from our members,
and kept all of you informed of bills’ progress through the Assembly. We had many
members testify but we always need more. Please, when called upon, take the
time to step up, be heard, represent your peers, challenge those things that need
challenging and fight for those that need fighting. A half dozen members testifying
over and over is not enough. Don’t be a quiet complainer, be a voice for what you
know to be right.
(continued on page 52)