Service: Present and Future

The 15-month lockdown did not stop our Board of Directors and committees! Because of their tireless – and creative – efforts during the pandemic, the VTC established new endeavors while preserving existing activities.

Here are a few examples:

• We formed the VTC Environmental Institute and were able to get it designated as a 501-c3 tax-exempt corporation

• We developed and distributed 25,000 flowering pollinator seed packets. These packets contained enough seeds to establish pollinator plants in ¼ million square feet

• We held our first ever Road Show to promote the new Environmental Institute

• We were very active with legislators and legislative issues that affect our industry: We lobbied against and were able to defeat anti-industry legislation in the 2021 General Assembly; we sent packets of flowering pollinator seeds to members of the General Assembly; and we developed new relationships with both senators and delegates. One state senator told us she will promote our industry to environmental groups and their lobbyists

• We worked with the City of Virginia Beach to provide and plant 6,000 dunepreserving American Beach Grass plants at the oceanfront. Those plants have taken root and are protecting an important part of the environment

• We met with Virginia Beach’s mayor. At that meeting, a prominent beekeeper told the mayor and his aide, “The turf and landscape industries are not the ones killing bees”

• We formed relationships with key persons at Virginia State University. Our goal is to work together to increase the number of minorities in leadership positions in our industry

• We applied for and received a grant to restore eroded land in the City of Petersburg

• We conducted numerous on-site and virtual training seminars.

All the above items have a common theme: Service. We never forget we exist because of you – turf and landscape industry professionals.

Tom Tracy, Ph.D.

VTC Executive Director