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The Electronic Newsletter of the Irrigation Association®
WaterSense® for Homes Comment Period Extended

™

August 2008
Irrigation Association®
6540 Arlington Boulevard Falls Church, Virginia 22042-6638 USA Phone: 703.536.7080 Fax: 703.536.7019 E-mail: webmaster@irrigation.org www.irrigation.org

In response to requests from the Irrigation Association and other interestedparties, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has extended the comment period for the draft WaterSense® specification for homes. EPA representatives have also agreed to attend a stakeholder meeting in Washington, D.C. in midAugust to open a direct line of communication with affected industries and broaden the scope of input. IA played a key role in organizing a collective response from over 50 greenindustry groups to the draft released on May 22. IA members and staff met with Assistant Administrator Ben Grumbles and other EPA staff in July to discuss concerns about limitations on turfgrass installation, lack of recognition for water re-use strategies and the elimination of ornamental water features. Review the draft specification at www.epa.gov/watersense/specs/homes.htm and send commentsdirectly to EPA by Sept. 4 at watersense-newhomes@erg.com.

Oct. 30 - Nov. 4 Anaheim, Calif.

IA Board Makes Progress at Summer Meeting
Over 40 association leaders participated in IA’s summer meeting, July 11-13 in Park City, Utah. The IA Executive Committee, Board of Directors, Education Foundation Board of Trustees, and Certification Board met concurrently for a mid-year review of theirrespective programs and initiatives. The executive committees of each group also met to enhance communication and coordination between the separate organizations. The Board of Directors met on July 12 to review progress at implementing the association’s strategic plan and to discuss policy issues. Highlights of the meeting included: • Reviewed proposals for the association’s new brand identity, whichwill be launched at the 2008 Irrigation Show. • Adoption of a new water stewardship policy that articulates IA’s commitment to resource planning, efficiency, sustainability, infrastructure development, reuse and education. (For the complete policy, visit www.irrigation.org/about/default.htm.) • Decision to develop a symposium to bring members together to discuss water and irrigation issues. Theinaugural event will be held in Summer 2009. • Agreement to match funds raised by the Carolinas Irrigation Association to support contractor licensing legislation. Continued on page 2

In This Issue
Become an IA Ambassador ................4 Certification News .......5 IA Staff Update ...........6 Irrigation Show 2008 ...3 Renewal and Remembrance 2008 .....2 Statesman ..................4 NewMembers .............6

Renewal and Remembrance 2008
Continued from page 1 • Approval of the slate of nominees of new board directors and executive committee officers, as well as award winners to be recognized at the 2008 Irrigation Show. “The Board meeting was one of the most strategic and productive we’ve had. We are making significant progress on our three-year plan and have some excitingprojects underway,” explained IA Executive Director Deborah Hamlin. Updates on the foundation and certification board meetings are included on page 5. IA members participated in the third annual Renewal and Remembrance, sponsored by PLANET, the Professional Landcare Network. The event was held July 21 at the Arlington National and Historic Congressional Cemeteries, just outside Washington, D.C.Volunteers honored America’s veterans by enhancing the landscape at both cemeteries. The opening ceremonies at Arlington Cemetery included remarks by Navy Reservist and U.S. Representative Mark Kirk (R-Ill) and a joint services color guard. As part of the event, several IA members installed a new irrigation system in the rose garden that PLANET dedicated in 1999. Participants included IA Board Director...