President’s Message
Another season is coming to a close. It seems there is more to do than hours in the day to get it done. Fall is in the air, but landscape work goes on. As I write this the evening was especially nice. The temperature was warm, the wind had died down and with the setting sun, there was just enough light to see the last birds of the day rummaging through the leaves. Before long the sounds of the owls, which I seldom hear, came alive, and despite all the things that needed my attention, there was no where else I wanted to be.
Taking a moment is one of those things that is far too easy to push aside when we are so busy ‘attending to business’. That singular evening, the act of sitting and just being in the moment, did more for my soul and my peace of mind than all the business I conducted the week before. Sometimes we must stop to see the value in the little things that result from the work we do for others. During the 20 minutes I sat quietly, I was able to observe the roses still in bloom, the colors and current state of every plant within view and marvel at how so many were in prime form after 3+ inches of snow only weeks before. Their resilience was remarkable.
As I sat and enjoyed my surroundings it gave me the opportunity to remember how this garden came to be. This space has undergone many transformations over the 30+ years it has been in my hands. It has evolved as have I. Everything we accomplish as individuals is the result of the help we receive from others. Whether it is from our staff, employers, family, friends, vendors or teachers, we would not be where we are or who we are without the people we have met along the way. Every experience we share molds us into who we are. Giving thanks is a small gesture to show we recognize the importance of their role in our lives.
This holds true for organizations as well. The NNLA is fortunate to have a strong board of directors and as president I am thankful for the opportunity to work with these individuals during my time on the board. As part of our structure, Advisory members are appointed by the president to offer an outside perspective in a non-voting capacity. This month we welcomed Terri James from the UNL Horticulture Department as one our Advisory members. She joins Julie Van Meter from the NE Dept of Agriculture, who has served in that position for several years. I want to thank them for dedicating their time and talents to help us advance the mission of the NNLA.
If you would like to become more involved in being a leader in our industry I suggest you consider joining a committee or filling out an application to become a member of the board. Applications for a board position are available on the NNLA website www.nnla.org . The time you put into becoming involved will pay you back tenfold. Think of this as one of those ‘taking a moment’ events. You may just find yourself surrounded by people you wouldn’t have known that will make you better than you might have been.
Thank you all for the opportunity to serve as your president. Being able to do so has allowed me grow both personally and professionally. I hope that my efforts have in turn helped our organization to grow in positive ways as well. None of these accomplishments could have been achieved without the members of our Board of Directors, Advisory Members and Executive Directors, Tiffany Fourgeron and Jennifer Eurek. In January the reigns of this office will be turned over to our president elect, Brian Munk. NNLA will be in good hands.
Marti Neely, APLD, NCN
NNLA President 2017-2018