ISSUE I 2016 VOLUME XXIX DC Branch
IN THIS ISSUE:
TENTATIVE DC BRANCH
MEETING SCHEDULE ....... 4
NEXT MEETING INFO AND
DIRECTIONS.................... 8
SCHOLARSHIP
APPLICATION ............ 9-11
PHOTOS ........................ 12
NEXT MEETING INFORMATION Date: 7-9:30 PM, Saturday, January 16, 2016 Location: Dorchester Towers (Arlington, VA) Host: DC Branch Sponsor: DC Branch RSVP: Please RSVP to Michael Gildea at [email protected] by January 9, 2016 More Information, Map, and Directions on Page 8
T HE M I SSI ON OF T H E PG M S DC BR AN C H I S T O FO ST ER IN T EGR IT Y AN D EX C EL LEN C E
IN G ROU N D S M AN AGEM ENT BY PR O MO T ING PROF ESSIO N AL D EVELO PM ENT T H ROU GH
EDU C AT ION PROG R AM S, N ETW ORKI NG , CO M M UN IT Y SER VI C E, AN D F EL LOW SHI P.
http://pgms.org/branchdc
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
As this will be my last
President’s message to
the Branch, I would
like to thank everyone
who has made the last
two years a fun and
enjoyable experience.
This has been a truly memorable and
personally rewarding experience for me.
The DC Branch of PGMS is second to
none and my fondness for our Branch
extends to all of our members, you all
are the best!
I am looking forward to an exciting 2016
season; the DC Branch has some really
great site visits and speakers set up for
2016 - thanks to the outstanding efforts
of Chris Erb. Thanks Chris, I know we
won’t be disappointed.
But let’s not overlook the November
2015 meeting which was a return visit
to the Virginia Theological Seminary.
Our host, Steve Slominski, gave us a
great tour of several new buildings and
new landscapes and he shared some of
the challenges that he and the grounds
crew are facing due to the impact of the
new construction. And even though the
tour was outside and the sun had set, it
was a lovely and mild evening and the
campus was quite beautiful when it was
lit up at night. Our thanks goes out to the
VTS staff and the meeting sponsor,
Lucas Thome of Fisher and Son for a
sumptuous meal served by the VTS
kitchen staff, this was seriously good
food!
Also, let’s all welcome the new and
returning DC Branch Board of Directors:
President-elect, Chris Erb;
Vice President-elect, Josh Nadler;
returning Treasurer, Doug McDaniel;
Secretary-elect, Paul Staehle;
and our new At-large members,
Sara Jensen, Chris Smith, and
Don Coffman;
and our returning At-large members,
Marie Rojas and Shawn Siefers.
Welcome, and thank you all for your
service and dedication to the DC Branch
of PGMS!
Please remember to spread the word
about the DC Branch Educational
Scholarship. Let anyone that you think
is qualified know about it and have them
fill out and submit a Scholarship
Application today (due March 1, 2016)!
ATTENTION! THE WINTER
SOCIAL WILL TAKE PLACE ON
SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 2016
President’s Message continued on page 2
2016 Board Members President: Christopher Erb Complete Plant Health Care, Inc. [email protected] Term Expires 2017
Vice President: Joshua Nadler Bartlett Tree Experts [email protected] Term Expires 2017
Treasurer: Doug McDaniel Grounds Management & Landscaping, Inc. [email protected]
Term Expires 2017
Secretary: Paul Staehle Landscape Conservation Planning [email protected] Term Expires 2017
Chair: Eric Wenger Complete Plant Health Care, Inc. [email protected] Term Expires 2017
ATTENTION! THE WINTER SOCIAL WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY,
JANUARY 16, 2016
Where: Dorchester Towers
2001 Columbia Pike
Arlington, VA 22204
Time: 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM
The Branch will supply the main courses, dessert and beverages, members are asked to bring
an appetizer or salad or side dish.
Please RSVP for the Holiday Social to: Michael Gildea at [email protected]
by January 9, 2016.
The Green Industry Pesticide Recertification Seminar will be held on Friday January 22nd,
2016 at the Ernst Community Cultural Center of the Northern Virginia Community College,
Annandale Campus. This program is a great educational experience and it is good for
pesticide recertification in Virginia, Washington DC and Maryland, so sign up you and
your staff ASAP!
I look forward to seeing you next year at the Holiday Social and I wish you and your
families a safe and happy holiday season!
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE, CONTINUED
PGMS DC Branch www.pgms.org/branchdc/index.htm Virginia Cooperative Extension www.ext.vt.edu/
IPM Net http://ipmnet.umd.edu University of Maryland Extension http://extension.umd.edu
Green Industry Seminar www.greenindustryseminar.org DC Cooperative Extension www.udc.edu/cooperative_extension/coop/ext.htm
Lucas Thome with Fisher and Son (November Meeting Sponsor) at the November Meeting
Thank you sponsors (those listed here and
throughout the newsletter!)
TENTATIVE PGMS-DC BRANCH MEETINGS AND EVENTS
January 16, 2016 7:00 - 9:30 PM Winter Social
Dorchester Towers: 2001 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204
February 4, 2016 Tour and Annual DC Branch Business Meeting; Speaker TBD
Country Casual, MD: Gaithersburg, MD Sponsor: Country Casual (Bobbi Goldstein)
March 3, 2016
Speaker: Paula Shrewsbury University of Maryland, Jull Hall: College Park, MD
Sponsor: Needed (Ken Ingram)
April 7, 2016 Speaker: Lynn Batdorf from Thrive, Inc.
Thrive, Inc.: 45830 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166 Sponsor: Thrive, Inc. (Chris Smith)
May 5, 2016 Agenda TBD
McCrillis Gardens: 6910 Greentree Road, Bethesda, MD 20817 Sponsor: Nancy and Steve Woods
June 2, 2016 Agenda TBD
National Zoo: Washington, DC Sponsor: Several Needed
July (date to be determined), 2016 (All Day Event)
Summer Field Day, Trade Show, and Seminar American University: Washington, DC
August 4, 2016
Agenda TBD Tentatively at the National Arboretum: Washington, DC
Sponsor: Needed
September 8, 2016 (2nd Thursday) Garden Tour
Chevy Chase Club: Chevy Chase, MD Sponsor: Chevy Chase Club (Michael Gildea)
October 6, 2016
Agenda TBD Stadler Nursery: Laytonsville, MD
Sponsor: Needed
November 3, 2016 Agenda TBD Location TBD
Sponsor: Needed
2016 Board Members At Large: Marie Rojas Borders and Butterflies, Inc. [email protected] Term Expires 2016
Shawn Siefers The Care of Trees [email protected] Term Expires 2016
Don Coffman Dependable Land Care LLC [email protected]
Term Expires 2017
Sarah Jensen SavATree [email protected] Term Expires 2017
Chris Smith Thrive, Inc. [email protected] Term Expires 2017
Newletter Editors: Michael Gildea Chevy Chase Club [email protected]
Katie McDavid Woodmont Country Club [email protected]
Page 4
Thank you sponsors (those listed here and
throughout the newsletter!)
Flower Bulb displays for retail Garden Centers featuring:
The Biltmore Estate horticultural collection, pre-packaged and loose
display boxes, crates of tropical and holiday items
Flower Bulbs for your Garden Designs and Greenhouse Operations
Tulips Crocus Elephant Ears
Daffodils Fritillaria Dahlias
Hyacinth Cannas Lilies
Alliums Callas bare-root perennials
Netherland Bulb Co is one of the largest exporters of Dutch flower bulbs.
Still family owned and operated on both sides of the ocean offering the
highest quality bulbs at the most competitive prices.
Your area representative is listed below:
Don Tyson, Landscape Accounts
Email: [email protected]
Phone 610-737-0381 Fax 610-252-9970
Netherland Bulb Co., Inc
UPCOMING GREEN INDUSTRY EVENTS
Mid Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS)
January 6 - 8, 2016
Location: Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD
For information, visit: www.mants.com
FALCAN Conference
January 21, 2016
Location: Frederick County Fairgrounds, Frederick, MD
For information, visit: www.falcanmd.com
Green Industry Professional Pesticide Recertification Seminar
January 22, 2016
Location: Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale Campus,
Annandale, VA
For information, visit: www.greenindustryseminar.org
Maryland Arborist Association Conference
January 27 - 28, 2016
Location: Turf Valley, Ellicott City, MD
For information, visit: www.mdarborist.com
Eastern Shore Pest Management Conference
February 3, 2016
Location: The Fountains, Salisbury, MD
Contact: Ginny Rosenkranz at 410-749-6141
Or visit: www.eventbrite.com/d/md/eastern-shore-pest/
LCA Pesticide and Fertilizer Applicator Conference
February 11, 2016
Location: University of Maryland, Shady Grove
Contact: 301-948-0810
Or visit: www.lcamddcva.org/programs/recertification.cfm
Chesapeake Green 2016: A Horticulture Symposium
February 18 - 19, 2016
Location: Maritime Institute, Linthicum, MD
Contact: 410-823-8684
Or visit: www.mnlga.org/calendar_day.asp?date=2/18/2016
Page 6
Express Certification
Your FAST track to legal pesticide application.
Online Training at your convenience!
Take the exams in as little as two or three months.
Approved for Maryland, Virginia,
and West Virginia.
(See website for details http://expresscert.net)
Contact: David Jefferson
301-775-0512
Educational & Employee Training Opportunities
LANDSCAPING CLASSES AT MONTGOMERY COLLEGE
Do you-- Want to learn about designing gardens & landscapes with digital tools? Want to incorporate more native plants in your business or home landscape? Want to learn the newest techniques for plant propagation like hydroponics and tissue culture? Want to learn how to identify and select the best trees, shrubs, and ground covers for good results? If any of these “want to’s” is on your list for 2015, the Montgomery College Landscape Technology program is offering great classes to help you meet your goals—and 3 class locations to make learning more convenient!
Classes are offered at the Germantown & Takoma Park Campuses and at the Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood.
For further information contact: Steve Dubik, 240-567-7803 [email protected]
THANK YOU SPONSORS!
Page 7
NEXT PGMS-DC BRANCH MEETING
DC Branch Winter Social Location: Dorchester Towers 2001 Columbia Pike Arlington, VA 22204 You and your family are invited to share in the holiday cheer with your friends from the PGMS DC Branch! The DC Branch will provide the entrée, desserts, and beverages. Please bring an appetizer, salad, or side dish to share! RSVP: Please RSVP to Michael Gildea at [email protected] by January 9, 2016
Directions:
Take I-95 to Washington Blvd/Columbia Pike (West) exit 8A. Proceed on Columbia Pike to Dorchester
Towers on right.
Page 8
PGMS SCHOLARSHIP
Page 9
PGMS DC BRANCH SCHOLARSHIP The PGMS DC Branch Scholarship is open to all students in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC who are enrolled in an accredited university in horticulture or a related field. Applicants must be spon-sored by a PGMS member. The application deadline is March 1, 2016. Scholarship criteria listed below. Additionally, please see Application on Pages 10-11. 1. Applicant must be a resident of MD, VA, or DC 2. Applicant must be a current student of horticulture or a related field. 3. Applicant must be at least in their first year of college or may be recently graduated from high school (within the calendar year). 4. Applicant must be sponsored by a PGMS member. WHAT THE SCHOLARSHIP SELECTION COMMITTEE LOOKS FOR:
An active student with solid grades,
Past or current employment in the green industry,
Involvement in the industry with apprentice or professional organizations, such as FFA, 4H, state or county programs, Civic projects and outreach programs.
The committee also looks for any personal development classes and any involvement in sports or clubs.
APPLYING FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP; All applicants must submit the following to PGMS DC Branch, either by mail or email:
The completed scholarship application (See Page 10-11 of this newsletter)
Cover letter. Please include introduction, educational and professional goals, and intent for use of scholarship funds.
Current resume. Please include past employment history, awards, and certificates earned.
College or school transcripts.
Two (2) letters of recommendation. These should be from an instructor, employer, etc.
A letter from the PGMS member who is sponsoring the applicant. All applications will be judged on qualifications, recommendations, and presentation of total criteria. Winners will be notified by May 1. Scholarship application deadline is March 1. Please note that incomplete application packets will not be accepted for consideration.
In addition to financial aid, the top recipient will also receive complimentary student membership to
PGMS for one year and have the opportunity to attend the Green Industry Seminar and the Green In-
dustry Field Day. PGMS will pay for the scholarship recipients’ seminar and field day registration.
Page 10
PGMS - DC BRANCH SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION, PAGE 1/2
Page 11
PGMS - DC BRANCH SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION, PAGE 2/2
PHOTOS FROM LAST MEETING
Page 12
Thank you to Fisher & Son
for sponsoring
November’s meeting!
Steve Slominski, our November meeting host, leading a tour of the campus
Professional Grounds Management Society
DC Branch News 1708 Grandads Lane Silver Spring, MD
DC Branch, Inc. http://www.pgms.org/branchdc The mission of the PGMS D.C. Branch is to foster integrity and excellence in grounds management by promoting professional development through education programs, networking, community service, and fellowship.