One year ago, NALP’s Board of Directors set a goal to gain 1,000 new members. Today, that goal has almost been realized, due to stronger recognition of the value of NALP’s offerings by industry companies.
When NALP rolled out its new brand identity last spring, the association’s leaders touted membership growth to be a top priority and the key to expanding the association’s influence in the landscape industry. NALP’s Board of Directors set a goal of 1,000 net membership growth (the total of all new members acquired less the number of members who did not renew their membership), despite recent history showing NALP’s yearly membership growth to be approximately 100+ net new members.
With 8 weeks left to go in the current fiscal year, the association is remarkably close to hitting the 1,000 net goal, with a growth of 836 member companies as of the end of February, for a total of 3,399 members (excluding students) vs. 2,563 members at the close of the last fiscal year. “We’re confident we’re going to meet our goal. We are concentrating on retaining our existing members first, then recruiting new prospects to build our membership numbers”, said Scott Lindley, NALP’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. NALP has instituted a more personal approach to member service, emphasizing personal outreach by phone and making a better effort to listen to members’ likes and concerns. “We have a simple philosophy which is to find out what our members want, and do all that we can to give it to them,” stated Lindley. “We’re very aware that there is competition for our members’ attention, so we strive to give them ultimate value for their membership dollar.”
With increased membership, the association can exert greater influence in the areas of regulatory and legislative action to grow and protect the industry, as well as increasing professionalism through greater outreach in education, training and certification. For more information on NALP member benefits, or to join the growing ranks of NALP members, visit www.landscapepfofessionals.org or call (800) 395-2522.
