FORUM 



Welcome New Member! 



Richard Raymond 

 I Constable Road 

 Durham, NH 03824 



A Note of Appreciation 



The first NHPGA Twilight Meeting 

 of 1997 was held at Newton Green- 

 house in Newton, New Hampshire 

 on March 1 1 . 



Some things seemed familiar — 

 the tiny house of African violets, 

 the cut snaps in blossom, the big 

 soil bin (Tom still mixes his own), 

 fine hydrangeas and cyclamen. ..but 

 Newton Greenhouse has evolved 

 and expanded, reacting to the 

 changes around it in positive and 

 pragmatic ways. Although many ele- 

 ments are the same, their context 

 and proportions are different. Even 

 for those familiar with the opera- 

 tion, there was plenty to learn and 

 see. 



Turnout was excellent and the 

 members and guests attending 

 thank Tom McElroy, his family, and 

 crew for their hospitality. 



Introducing the New 

 Hampshire Horticultural 

 Endowment 



Peter van Berkum 



For a number of years, the board of 

 the New Hampshire Plant Growers 

 Association has been talking about 

 new ways in which the NHPGA 

 could benefit its members. It be- 

 came clear that one problem we all 

 face is that we have no good av- 

 enue to get help with growing 

 problems that might require a little 

 research to solve. We could read 

 the results of research done in 

 other parts of the country and hope 

 that it's applicable to our problems 

 here, but we have no way to focus 

 on our own needs. 



Then came the idea for the En- 

 dowment. We decided to raise a 

 sum of money that will be invested 



and use the interest to fund re- 

 search at colleges, universities, and 

 research institutions — with one cri- 

 terion: that the research be directly 

 related to New Hampshire plant 

 quality and growing issues. 



Once the Endowment is in place. 



if a grower or retailer has a prob- 

 lem with plants, he or she could 

 contact a university and speak with 

 the horticulture department to en- 

 courage them to help solve this 

 problem and tell them that poten- 

 tial funding is available right here 



From the Board 



The Pursuit of WOWI 



Bo^ Rimol 



I've recently read a. book by Tom Peters entitled The Pursuit of 

 WOW\ — Every Person's Guide to Topsy-Turvy Times. The author, one 

 of buslness's leading management experts, uses In his book several ex- 

 amples of management expertise demonstrated by none other than Ver- 

 mont farmers. These struck me, and perhaps other readers, as unusual 

 models of exemplary business expertise, yet — whether they're Vermont 

 farmers or New Hampshire plant growers, credit should be given where It's 

 deserved. 



Let's face It — the greenhouse Industry doesn't have the glamour of 

 Wall Street or the glitz of the Fortune 500, yet the business and man- 

 agement practices of many In this Industry are noteworthy none-the- 

 less. Owners of small businesses must be "jacks-of-all-trades" and are 

 crucial to their company's survival. Step back and take a look at our in- 

 dustry and your business. Although a greenhouse Is a "controlled envi- 

 ronment," control can be very hard to maintain. Dealing with live plant 

 material. Insects and diseases, outside weather conditions, labor Issues, 

 low margins of pay, and the Increasing complexity of government regula- 

 tions is a challenge and requires great management skill. You — not the 

 greenhouses, the tractors, or the Irrigation equipment — are the greatest 

 asset In your business. In an age of chain stores, strip malls, and merg- 

 ers and acquisitions, it's easy to get lost in corporate America and to 

 feel at times that you're nothing more than the little guy. But with our 

 small entrepreneurial ways, we can not only survive — we can thrive. We 

 can WOW our customers! 



Let's look at our association as not only one of outstanding growers 

 and nurserymen, but as a resource for business and management exper- 

 tise. After this season Is over, take a look around and make a list of 

 twelve things you're going to Improve this year — that's one a month. 

 Then take a day and go on a long drive to visit similar operations. Trav- 

 eling always broadens one's horizons. Invite the owners of the places 

 you visit to see your operation. And lastly, if you're thick-skinned, ask 

 someone to openly criticize your business. The best advice often comes 

 from outsiders who see things objectively. 



A little bit of time pursuing these ideas can go a long way. Make 

 your business WOW people when they come through the door. Remem- 

 ber — passion is contagious. 



Bo6 Rimol is owner and operator of Rimol Associates, 17 Wyndmere Drive, 

 Londonderry, NH 03035. He can be reached at 603-425-6563. 



JUNE & JULY 



1997 



