I am happy to say that the fruit of your board’s hard work and great ideas has begun to pay off big time. Our recent Chapter events have been real winners, and the year is still young.
Read MoreYou don’t have to be a financial genius to figure out that a country cannot operate for very long with a national debt of 34 trillion dollars before the economy starts sliding sideways. With $5 per gallon gas, and inflation that has taken a 20% bite out of the dollar’s worth, it would seem that it couldn’t get any worse for businesses in California. Well…it has. Welcome to the new $20 per hour minimum wage which has already caused the price of food, hotel stays and restaurant visits to spike, with other areas of the economy expected to follow suit.
Read MoreWe have just “leaped forward” into Daylight Savings Time that brings with it an additional hour of daylight. It also brings a brighter outlook for landscape industry businesses that have struggled through the dark days of winter and are now looking forward to a busy spring season.
Read MoreWinter is a wonderful season for Holiday gift giving and receiving, football, skiing, and replenishing our badly needed water supply. It’s a time of joyful family gatherings, off-season mini vacations, tasty Holiday foods, and of course all the joys of Christmas and New Year celebrations. Unfortunately, it is not a great season for most irrigation stores and suppliers.
Read MoreIt is sometimes said that – other than death and taxes – the only constant is change. Change is inevitable. It is human nature to resist change, primarily because of its threat to the status quo – which is known and at least tolerated. There is even more resistance because of fear of the unknown which change brings.
Read MoreChristmastime for me brings wonderful memories of family gatherings, both in Mexico and here in the US. These Holiday get-togethers are filled with great food, warm hugs, songs about the Reason for the Season, and gifts of all kinds, given, and received. Okay, perhaps they also include a few adult beverages. Not much different from your Christmases, I’m sure.
Read MoreThe month of November and the Thanksgiving season bring up in many folks’ minds things and people for which they are thankful. I am no exception. I am thankful for wise and caring parents, grandparents, tíos and tías from whom I learned the value of education, hard work, honesty, and the importance of family. And I am thankful for my sons from whom I am learning to be an understanding Dad, and not just a father figure. (I am still working on this one!)
Read MoreHello Channel Island chapter members! I want to start by thanking everyone that was able to attend our 9th Annual Channel Islands Chapter & Friends Fishing Trip on September 15. I hope you had as much fun as I did! On behalf of the board, I would like to offer a special thanks to all our Sponsors; we couldn’t have put on this event without you. Thank you for your generosity and continued support of our chapter.
Read MoreI know I’ve talked about it before but being an active member of CLCA has really helped our company. We have been able to lean into the organization when we needed guidance. I am grateful for all the work our peers have referred to us, as well as the support they have offered when we needed it. I personally think any business can benefit from CLCA by becoming an ACTIVE member. If you are not active, you are missing out on most of the great benefits paid for by your membership dues.
Read MoreSeptember is right around the corner, the perfect time to prepare for fall planting. Clean up your flower beds, cut back perennials that are done blooming, and trim off any dead vegetation.
Read MoreBecoming an active member of CLCA has made a difference for our company. There is an old saying that comes to mind… “You only get out of something what you put into it.” Well, simply put, we’re putting into the association by being active volunteers.
Read MoreSpring is here! Even though it's the second longest season, for many landscape professionals it feels to be the shortest since we have a limited amount of time to set up our clients’ landscapes for success. They need to be ready to withstand the stresses of the summer heat and nurtured to meet garden goals over the long term.
Read MoreThe Clean Off-Road Equipment (CORE) Incentive Program is a $125 million project to encourage California businesses and government agencies to purchase or lease zero-emission off-road equipment. This incentive hopes to offset the high cost of zero-emission technology with a point-of-sale discount. I’d recommend taking advantage of this program before the funds run out.
Read MoreYes, water restrictions are a big pain in the backside. But they can also provide a healthy new income stream for you. How? By your getting educated about ways to save water in the landscape which can make you a hero to your clients.
Read MoreCrazy weather this month can also be a blessing for your business. It has been a long time since I’ve seen this much rain down in our area and we needed it. Yes, some of the projects have slowed down but you can also look at this as a positive.
Read MoreAs we end this year, let's remember all the ways we've grown as a community. We've made new friends, strengthened our partnerships with other chapters and organizations, and had some great parties! We've also continued to grow as a chapter adding several new members in just one year!
Read MoreIn this season of Thanksgiving, I am thankful for all the volunteers this year. They have been a real blessing and we truly appreciate their involvement. We had some new board members step up into their roles. As a collective we had great ideas and events that really gave back to the members. Volunteers have been working hard behind the scenes and at the events to ensure everyone had a worthwhile CLCA experience.
Read MoreInvolvement in our organization is a key factor in the success of your business. Being an involved member opens doors for learning, growth, and of course, additional business. But being involved AND joining our board, opens opportunities for you at a whole new level. Let me tell you why.
Read MoreI recently played in a corn hole tournament called Bags Against Bullied. This event was an eye opener. It made me realize that the friends and mentors I've made in CLCA are the real reason why people remain in the organization.
Read MoreWhen I was a kid, I was always good at engineering, breaking things down and putting them back together. When it came to paper airplanes or changing a tire on my bike, I always figured out how to make it work with what I had.
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