MARIETTA, Ga. -- After three years of discussions, the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) and the Professional Lawn Care Association of America (PLCAA) announced today they will 
consolidate into a new green industry association effective Jan. 1, 2005, pending ratification by their memberships.
Final details on the new association are still being developed, including a new governing body comprising ALCA and PLCAA leaders, unified membership and personnel and a name for the new organization.
| QUICK QUESTIONS ANSWERED... |
The following Q&A was taken from a press release from PLCAA, released July 1.
The implementation timeline calls for the associations to be joined on January 1, 2005. The purpose and goal is to create new benefits for both groups’ members and a more expansive presence in the industry with vendors and suppliers and the strongest possible voice on regulatory issues. No name has been decided on yet, but according to the press release the merging organizations hope to have a new name by mid-July. The new association will have offices in both current locations of Washington, DC and Atlanta. Each office will have a specific organizational responsibility. According to a press release: no. “The associations are doing this for all the right reasons: to create a stronger, more unified association for the benefit of our members and to strategically leverage the assets of both organizations. The new organization will have highly visible leaders in key segments of all business segments including lawn care under a structure called “Key Result Area (KRAs).” A PLCAA person will manage the KRA group for lawn care. No all events will continue as scheduled. |
“At the May board meeting, the PLCAA board agreed to sign a letter of intent to dissolve both associations and create a new association under a new name that will better represent the needs of our members and the needs of the industry,” wrote PLCAA President Jim Campanella in a letter addressed to PLCAA members Thursday.
Campanella adds in his letter that further consolidations by other associations will likely lead to declining membership and activity for independent organizations. “For our association and members this is great forward motion,” Campanella continued. “More importantly, we will strengthen our voice on key issues that are important to you by adding over 2,900 members to our ranks.”
PLCAA Board of Directors will meet July 18 in Washington, D.C. to review and discuss the details. Once approved, members will receive a ballot with all necessary information to vote, Campanella says.