Association News

Source: www.TurfMagazine.com

Harper’s ATM 162

Harper Receives AE50 Award

The American Society for Agricultural & Biological Engineering presented Harper Industries with an AE50 Award for exceptional design innovation for Harper’s ATM (All-Terrain Mower) 162. Other companies honored at ASABE’s national conference include John Deere, Case New Holland and Agco.

The Kansas Department of Transportation was involved in designing the mower and assisted with testing of early prototypes.

ASLA Presents Student Awards, Honorary Memberships

The American Society of Landscape Architects announced the winners of the 2008 Student Awards. Representing the top student honors in the profession, ASLA presented the awards to 20 projects from 11 colleges and universities at its annual meeting. Further information is available at www.asla.org/awards/2008/studentawards.

ASLA has conferred honorary membership upon 13 individuals for their work in education, government and environmental activism. Honorary membership is among the highest honors ASLA may bestow upon non-landscape architects. The newest honorary members are Jerry E. Abramson, Michael R. Bloomberg, Jim and Betsy Chaffin, Adele Chatfield-Taylor, Paul Farmer, Steven N. Handel, William Hudnut, William McDonough, Greg Nickels, Robert Redford, Kristen Richards and Allyson Schwartz.

NTEA Announces Keynote Speaker, Expands Green Truck Focus

The National Truck Equipment Association announced that Mike Rowe, host and producer of the Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs” TV series, will give the keynote address at the Work Truck Show 2009 and 45th Annual NTEA Convention. Rowe’s presentation will take place March 5, 2009, at the President’s Breakfast and NTEA Annual Meeting.

NTEA has intensified its focus on hybrid and alternative-fuel vocational trucks and equipment at the Work Truck Show. The activities kick off with the Green Truck Summit. Topics covered in the four general courses and 15 breakout sessions will include technology deployment, fuel utilization, fleet and vehicle integration and the cost justification of purchasing hybrids. Three additional courses will be offered as part of the convention educational program. There will also be opportunities to test-drive vehicles, and commercially viable green trucks, components and equipment will be displayed in the Green Truck Pavilion.

News from Landscape Ontario

Landscape Ontario is working to create the first nationwide postconsumer horticultural plastics recycling program in the world. Targeted items include plastic garden pots, trays, tags, irrigation pipes and greenhouse poly. The partnership will include recycling companies, pot manufacturers, garden centers, nurseries and growers. Pots, trays and tags would be collected directly from consumers at centers across Canada.

McRae Anderson was the keynote speaker during the Interiorscape Conference, and Anne Obarski and Roy Prevost were the featured speakers at the 2008 Garden Centre Symposium the day before the 9th annual Garden & Florist Expo. Anderson spoke about “Raising the Bar of Interiorscape Design” and “Green Plants for Green Buildings.” Obarski presented on various topics, including “Making Your Nursery Business Contagious” and “Retail Nursery Business is Show Business.” Prevost’s speeches included “Prosper Alongside Big Box Retail” and “Retaining and Motivating Employees.”