Director’s Corner

You Haven’t Seen Anything Yet

The VTC recently installed a new President, Vice President, and a new Board Member. All three choices are in line with the strategy of embracing the future and can best be understood by a Dunkirk-Normandy analogy.

In 1940 over 338,000 Allied solders were rescued from the French coastal town of Dunkirk. Behind them was an overwhelmingly superior German army intent on bringing Europe and Russia under Nazi rule. Ahead of these soldiers was the safety of England and the hope of renewing the fight when the time was right.

Our Dunkirk was the culmination of years of constant and effective attacks against the green industry. Before we had an opportunity to recover from one blow, we were hit from another direction. Attacks came from legislators, regulators, extreme environmental activists, and even from segments within our own industry. The very future of our association was, at times, in doubt. We were perceived by some as being irrelevant. Others saw the VTC and the entire green industry as an evil, earth-destroying enterprise that needed to be regulated into obscurity. Dunkirk was not a pleasant place.

We retreated. We licked our wounds. We strategized. We determined the best ways to help our members and the entire green industry.

The invasion to free Europe from Nazi control began on the beaches of Normandy four years after Dunkirk. Much preparation, many battles and sacrifices (especially on the Eastern Front) preceded that fateful day in June 1944. Less than one year later Germany surrendered unconditionally and the madman who led them committed suicide.

Our Normandy is happening! Less than two years ago we established the VTC Environmental Institute, a 501(c)3 corporation, and began implementing our strategy for the industry. Aggressively educating legislators, establishing partnerships with environmental groups, fighting for Virginia Tech’s right to have a research center in Virginia Beach, conducting highly needed and highly visible service projects were a few of our actions.

Are we successful? One of the many measures of our success is the verbiage used by others about us. “Let us explore ways to work together” and “Let us know if you need any help on legislative issues” are indicative of the many comments we have received from legislators and environmental groups.

VTC’s leadership is at the forefront of our success! They are actively involved with planning and implementing our strategies for success. Phil Bailey, the new President, has his first column in this Journal. Read it and you will understand the strengths he brings. Wes Bray, the new Vice President and Chair of the Come to the Bay committee, has expended hours and resources working behind the scenes. Harris Wheeler, our new Board Member, will be featured in the May/June Journal. You will be in awe of his contributions to the green industry.

Our Dunkirk is history. Our Normandy is happening. You haven’t seen anything yet.

Tom Tracy, Ph.D.

VTC Executive Director