Georgia associations propose merger

Multiple Georgia-based organizations, including the Metro Atlanta Landscape and Turf Association, have proposed a merge to its members.

The boards of directors of MALTA, the Georgia Turfgrass Association and the Georgia Sod Producers Association voted unanimously to merge the associations into the Georgia Urban Agriculture Council. The UAC was founded in 2005 to provide one voice in legislative and regulatory matters. Most recently, it has influenced water-related legislation.

The strong collaboration amongst the associations that belong to UAC is what began discussions of a merger, MALTA’s board said in a letter to its members. The success of UAC began a dialogue about how to make collaboration stronger, how to better provide and deliver education to members and how to best support all sectors of Georgia’s urban agriculture industry.

If passed, the merger overview says the new organization will deliver services and communicate more efficiently state-wide; it will allow for companies to eliminate duplicate memberships, and it will provide greater opportunities for networking, marketing and education.

MALTA members can vote on the merger from Feb. 14-24.  The merger must be approved by two-thirds of the members’ votes cast or a majority of voting power, whichever is less.

Look for more updates on the merger at www.lawnandlandscape.com and in future issues of the magazine.