veterinary toxicologist, to obtain the accurate information for use in developing another brochure, “Pets & Your Lawn.” It’s currently posted on the NALP website with the updated title, “Pets and Your Lawn, Common Sense Guide to Lawn Care and Pet Safety.”
Delaney reports he, PLCAA and RISE learned a great deal through that year of challenges. Science is necessary for accu- racy, but many people don’t trust the science alone; they want a credible source to deliver the message. People also like the mes- sage linked to common sense, so consider that when develop- ing the message such as recommending people and pets stay off the lawn after a liquid pesticide application until the turfgrass is dry. And be aware of the role people’s preconceptions play in the way they receive the message. For example, don’t tell them about killing dandelions. For a lot of people that’s the first flower they gave their Mom—so don’t make it the enemy.
Vigilance and Action Delaney concentrated on tracking legisla- tive action at the national and state levels. He frequently reminded members of the importance of their vigilance in monitor- ing pending local legislation—preferably by establishing connections with someone in or close to the city council—and alerting Delaney to any issue as early in the process as possible.
Delaney’s alerts to the status of pend- ing legislation have become the industry standard. That email in the inbox will be an update on a key issue, often with a call for action, and the tools needed to make that action effective. It’s a message rallying the troops to not just email or call their governmental representatives, but also providing the specific contact information and the bullet points to address.
Helping PLCAA members connect directly with their federal senators and representa- tives didn’t stop there. Delaney encouraged them to take part in the Day on the Hill, an annual event of face-to-face meetings with their elected officials and/or their key staff members. He helped run that program for over 26 years. Melanie Stanton, executive director of TPI, and several TPI members, joined in the 2015 Day on the Hill, helping increase the awareness of how governmental issues impact sod producers.
48 TPI TURF NEWS • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016
In the mid-90s, Delaney worked with Phil Fogarty to start the Renewal and Remembrance day of service at Arlington National Cemetery and joined in the process of not only keeping it run- ning, but expanding it. For several years, similar services also were provided at Congressional Cemetery. Held in conjunction with the Day on the Hill, Renewal and Remembrance is a venue allowing lawn and landscape professionals to give back—through products and services—to those who served the country, preserving freedom, including the right to own and operate family businesses.
When water quality became an issue, Delaney was instrumental in securing an EPA Grant in 1996 to develop another brochure, “Water Quality and Your Lawn.”
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