Membership Matters!

In times of social unrest, we all have a proclivity to reassess ourselves and what priorities superseded others. Within our businesses we are constantly being asked to value the cost of equipment, training, marketing, and other indirect investments.  This time of year, many of us are asked to make that decision regarding CLCA with your annual dues renewal or a solicitation to join if you are not a current member.

So, what are good parameters to make the decision to renew your membership or join CLCA?  The simplest answer is the singularity. CLCA is the only Landscape Contractor Association in California. The only place you can enter a statewide Awards program, the best resource for California-specific rules and regulations, and the most effortless way to meet with your professional peers. The Association maintains a constant venue to meet and discus one on one with peers and Green Industry manufactures, growers, designers, consultants, insurance agents, all of whom do business in your local area and the state.

Professionalism is a term widely assumed, yet many fail to practice. “Being” a member of a trade association allows you to practice professionalism at its highest level. Education, peer interaction, cutting edge advancements, market demand acuity, quality differentiation with project awards, leadership, and the fact that you are making an effort towards all those elements of being the best landscape contractor, make you more professional.

We buy insurance to protect our business from the unknown liabilities of operating a business and employees. CLCA’s constant vigilance and legislatively bellicosity in Sacramento is protection for our industry, and your business. It is not inexpensive to maintain a Lobbyist fighting for your rights and interests, but it has proven to be well worth the investment. Look no further than what a C-27 can do compared to other licensed C trades, and you can surmise the achievements of 50 plus years of representation. You can also thank CLCA for the intense lobbying to get Landscapers on the COVID-19 “Essential” workers list with the Governor’s office in April. How VALUABLE was your ability to work for the past four months? How valuable was it that all the vendors could sell plants and supplies to the industry, and THEY are still in business?

As you can speculate, it is not inexpensive to have an advocate in the halls of the Capitol, to have staff in an office coordinating tradeshows, education, conventions, awards, and all of our local chapters.  Can you imagine if that all went away?

The most salient argument I’ve heard against being a CLCA member is, “You do all those things and I get the benefit whether or not I become a member.”  That’s true, right up until the day it starts to go away or is gone. The cutbacks have and will affect the most expensive endeavors, with Legislation being at the top of that list. Then go awards, education, and chapter support.

The most succinctly I can put it is, “Once CLCA is gone, it will never come back.” Your Membership Matters, now, more than ever! – Pete Dufau, CLT, CWM

Pete is President C.I. Chapter, Chairman Birch Financial, Chairman Landscape Water Conservation Foundation, President Ventura County Lincoln Club, Board member Green Industry Co-Op and Golden Oak.