Going to DC.....

Tomorrow I leave for my third ANLA legislative conference in Washington DC. It is a very interesting and exhausting whirlwind of meetings, speakers and visits to meet with the various staffs, and sometimes elected officials, to discuss and promote issues important to our industry. Some things remain a consistant issue, such as the battle for legal and stable workforce, and some new opportunities are on the horizon in regard to promoting the real value of plants in the landscape, especially their "ecosystem services" benefits. One thing that I think has been a very wise decision for ANLA is to position it's legislative efforts around the real issues of our industry and aligning itself politically to weather the ebbs and flows of the political tide. This affords our industry the valuable luxury of not only continuous access to both parties but ever increasing respect and recognition of the value our industry provides our communities. I have observed in the few times I have visited our nation's capitol that, at least for our elected officials and their staff members, certainly a fishbowl effect in terms of not only how they view their constituencies but also in how the filter the communication they receive from the people they represent. The one thing I think I have come to understand best about this experience is that it does, in fact, matter a whole lot that we send representatives of our industry to advocate our issues. They do listen and weigh very strongly the stories we bring with us about what life really is like in the real world out here. We may not always receive a consistent level of support across all the issues we face, but it is certain there is always a position or issue we can find sympathy and support from our politicians, and to that end, we need to continue to make the effort to volunteer to engage in the system whether it means writing in a blog, visiting Congressional offices or writing letters or emails. If you do not speak, you cannot be heard.