Dallas, TX – Young horticulture professionals often struggle to shoulder the costs of joining professional organizations early on in their career. While discounted student memberships are often available, once graduated young professionals can find it difficult to afford trade membership fees that extend into the hundreds or even thousands of dollars annually.
A private perennial garden members toured while at the 2014
PPA Symposium in Cincinnati, Ohio.When you consider that there are typically three to four industry organizations that can benefit an individual, the compounding costs quickly get out of hand for the typical 20-something. However, joining industry organizations early on in one’s career is crucial to creating job networking opportunities, furthering education and obtaining certifications.
The Perennial Plant Association recognizes these challenges and recently created a new Young Professional Membership category. Individuals in the green industry, 30 years of age or younger, may join PPA at the full-voting member level for only $50 per year. The goal is to encourage younger professionals to join now, rather than wait until their mid- to late-thirties when organizational dues are typically easier to manage.
Leslie Halleck, of Halleck Horticultural and Southern Regional Director for the PPA, has agreed to sponsor 10 of these new Young Professional PPA memberships to help bring awareness to the new opportunity. This “scholarship” can be applied for here, and submissions must be received by Dec. 10, 2014.
“I know that I personally struggled to afford memberships to key professional organizations early on in my horticulture career. Employers aren’t always willing to cover membership dues for young employees, leaving them out of the industry loop until they reach mid-level management roles in their mid- to late-30s," says Halleck. "In turn, industry organizations suffer from a lack of younger members who can provide new ideas and fresh perspectives.”
Halleck also noted the benefits of joining PPA.
"The top three reasons a young professional would want to join PPA are access to information, professional development and career networking opportunities. The PPA journal and newsletters offered to members are a great resource for information on new perennial plants, design, growing techniques and other valuable industry information.The annual PPA Symposium draws excellent speakers and offers up a cornucopia of continuing education opportunities," she says. "The PPA includes an incredible group of people from which to network and learn; that also means if you're young and looking for career opportunities, you'll have access to established industry professionals that you may not otherwise ever meet. Plus, they're fun!"