The History Of CLCA
LEAF Grows The Future
CLCA Through The Decades1950s1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s |
It doesn't usually take people very long to catch on to a new idea-- especially when it solves an old problem. That's the way it was in 1988, when CLCA's Landscape Educational Advancement Fund, LEAF, was established. It not only met with swift response, but the outpouring of support has been described as "amazing," "incredible," even "unbelievable." For a couple of reasons. Although deserving ornamental horticulture students had been receiving scholarships from the Women's Auxiliary since the early days of the association, it wasn't until LEAF was up and running that there was a reliable method for CLCA to "grow" its own scholarship money. Because only the interest that the LEAF account principal generates is used to finance scholarships, the account is never depleted. Before LEAF, "If we raised $250, we gave away $250 and that was that," says Janice Weems, honorary life member of the San Diego auxiliary chapter and LEAF board member from the very beginning. Mary Cohen, 2002 chair of the LEAF board of trustees, agrees. "The Women's Auxiliary had always been involved in raising money for scholarships, but before LEAF, we raised a dollar and we gave away a dollar," she says. "That's why we embraced the whole idea ... we thought, 'Wouldn't it be nice if we didn't have to reinvent the wheel every year.'" Cohen credits Candy Fiske of the San Francisco Bay Area East chapter for bringing the perpetuating fund concept to CLCA. "(Candy) really is the one," Cohen says. "She almost single-handedly brought the idea to the auxiliary." Fiske, past state president of the Women's Auxiliary and honorary life member of the San Francisco Bay Area/East chapter, notes that not long after CLCA established LEAF, the Associated Landscape Contractors of America formed a similar program. Just goes to show, there really is no stopping a good idea. That fund-raisers embraced the concept of an accumulating, income-generating fund is no surprise, but, as it turns out, benefactors quickly latched onto the idea, too. "People just started sending in money. It was incredible," Weems says. "We got the word out through chapter bulletins, and a letter that went out from state (headquarters), in newsletters, things like that. Even word of mouth. When someone passed away, people would say, 'OK, we need a scholarship.' Others said, 'We want one in the name of our chapter.' And so the chapters got busy and raised money." By the end of 1988, the generous support of CLCA members had amassed a hefty sum -- enough to give away 11 scholarships for a total of $6,450. "The landscape industry is a generous lot," Weems says, and there's solid evidence to back her up. In 1989, just one year after LEAF was established, CLCA awarded 17 scholarships for a total of $9,950; a 54 percent increase in just one year. Twelve years after that, in 2001, 25 scholarships were awarded for a total of $19,225. And even after the battering investments took in 2001-02, the LEAF account delivered enough to award 20 scholarships worth a substantial $19,100. But to think the rewards of the LEAF fund are only financial would be to overlook one of its most important benefits. As CLCA extends a helping hand to future landscapers, LEAF earns dividends that don't stay in the bank. Take BJ Bjornstad, for example. When he got his scholarship in 1993, one of 27 awarded that year, it helped him realize the fulfillment of a dream. A former bank manager, today Bjornstad is the owner of Viking Landscaping Service and WaterWise Consulting. He decided to change careers when he was in his late 40s, and with "lots of hard work," earned his associate of science degree in landscaping and irrigation from Pierce College in Los Angeles in about two and a half years. He says the LEAF scholarship he received on his 50th birthday ranks among the most significant events of his life. "It's the best birthday gift I've ever gotten," he says. "I was completely overwhelmed. That scholarship boosted my self-esteem and self-worth. I don't know anyone who knows drip irrigation better than I do, and I love it. Banking was going to kill me." As an active CLCA member, Bjornstad says he has never missed a chance to judge a Certified Landscape Technician exam in his area. "I'm glad to help out any way I can," he says. In the mid-1990s, while Chuck Haeuser was working toward his degree in ornamental horticulture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, he received LEAF scholarships three years running. Today, he's an active member of the San Francisco Bay Area/East chapter; in fact, this year, he's secretary; last year he was treasurer. Since February of 2001, he's been a supervisor at Siteworks; CLCA member and award-winning firm that specializes in high-end residential projects. "I've worked for two companies that have been active CLCA members," Haeuser says. The first job he got after earning his OH degree in 1998 was with Roger Fiske, Candy Fiske's husband. "I learned a lot more about landscaping at that job than I learned in college," he says with solemn appreciation. The scholarships helped Haeuser pay for tuition and living expenses, but the value went way beyond bill-paying. "Receiving the scholarship told me that I (was) worth putting time and money into," he says. "It meant that (CLCA) saw that I was a serious enough person, that their investment in me would pay off, and that I would be a contributing member of the profession. The recognition told me that I was worth their time." Since 1995, the painstaking task of selecting LEAF scholarship recipients has been carried out by the five members of the Women's Auxiliary's Scholarship Selection Committee: Janice Weems, LEAF chair from 1991-96; LEAF Chair Mary Cohen; LEAF Treasurer Marianne Estournes; Chair of the Scholarship Selection Committee Jan Nord and LEAF Secretary Lani Hanker. "The last two years, we've all met at my house," says Cohen. "They come by car or by plane at their own expense, and we go through the applications, according to our criteria, and accumulate all our scores." The selection process takes about two days, Cohen explains, as the women use a specially designed method to judge students on their academic and extracurricular achievements as well as on their goals, letters of recommendation and work experience. "We usually have about $20,000 to donate and, it's funny, the cream always rises to the top." Weems says. "It's really amazing how close our scores (of the students) are." Each member gets a copy of the applications ahead of time, Jan Nord explains. That way, when they get together, there's more time for discussion (and, of course, some friendly catching-up). "When we pool our scores and talk, it's amazing how often our opinions concur," says Nord. "We find the students at four-year schools are really dedicated to following a landscaping career, but, of course, we find some at the community college level, too. You read those applications and you just know which ones are going to stand out." Over the years, there has been an upswing in the number of women who apply, Nord says, as well as a noticeable increase in 30- to 40-year-old students who are changing careers. "That's a large group," she says. "Also, there are the ones straight from high school -- those tend to be young men, so we have a full array of applications." Marianne Estournes, 2002 board treasurer and former LEAF chair, says that one of the most important things CLCA members should know about LEAF is how deeply their commitment to the program is valued. "We, as the board, so much appreciate the support we get from the members," she says. "We know it can be difficult to keep giving, and we truly appreciate and have a lot of gratitude for the fact that the members value what we are doing. So many members give so generously, and we want them to know that we extend our gratitude to them, because without them, there would be no LEAF." And without LEAF, there would be a much rockier road ahead for some truly gifted and deserving students. |
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