An adage says ‘behind every great man is a great woman,’ but it seems archaic to bring up these days with the budding ascension of so many women as national leaders. My two politically-active and college-aged daughters have watched Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris of California become a viable national force in real […]
The Advocacy Issue: October 2020
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In this special issue, we explore the ways OAN members speak out on behalf of the nursery industry. We will take you inside the process — including the need for speaking out, the team that works on OAN advocacy, the approach that OAN follows, the issues OAN addresses and the battle to keep down the […]
The Advocacy Issue, Part 5: The cost of doing business
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Rod Park once met a cattleman. The nurseryman and OAN past president was attending a conference years ago, talking to aggies from other sectors. The rancher reported that he had grown from raising 500 head of cattle to 1,000 head, but he was making the same net income. It was, essentially, double the risk, double […]
The Advocacy Issue, Part 4: The issues
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The OAN engages in a wide variety of issues affecting members Every legendary band or musician with a deep repertoire still has a song, like Lynrd Skynrd’s “Freebird,” they must play at every concert, usually during the encore. The Rolling Stones always end with “Gimme Shelter.” Bob Dylan plays “Blowin’ in the Wind.” Andy Williams […]
The Advocacy Issue, Part 3: The approach
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OAN focuses on issues rather than party politics It’s 2020, and Americans are more polarized than ever. Their political institutions certainly reflect it. That was true even before COVID-19 and other unusual events of this year layered on an added patina of surreality. OAN Government Relations Committee member Leigh Geschwill described the landscape as “treacherous, […]
The Advocacy Issue, Part 2: The team
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OAN members and experts work in tandem to protect nurseries Men and women roaming marble hallways in expensive attire — that’s what people may envision when they think of lobbying. And while professional advocates play a role, the OAN Advocacy Team has more players — and more layers. According to OAN Executive Director Jeff Stone, it […]
The Advocacy Issue, Part 1: The need
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With a season on the brink, OAN responds The season was on the line, and everyone knew it. Normally, the word “season” might refer to collegiate or professional athletics. But for nurseries this past March, it meant something else. Spring shipping. With the proliferation of the COVID-19 pathogen, states were restricting businesses and their ability […]
One industry, one voice
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Welcome to the Advocacy Issue of Digger. We have devoted most of this issue to showing you how the Oregon Association of Nurseries gets involved in policymaking and advocacy on behalf of the members. We wanted to take you “inside” and show you our mindset as well as the process and methods we follow. We […]
America needs our vote
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At a time of national challenge, we can either look at what divides us or what unites us. Our nursery community is a critical ingredient in the great American experiment. We are a blessed and privileged few. America is only as strong as her citizens. Our nation is a cauldron of different perspectives, ideologies and […]
Our voice matters
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In February, I joined a group of the OAN’s Government Relations Committee members on a trip to Salem. We met with legislators to talk about the current session and how multiple bills directly relate to, and impact, our nursery industry. Ten or more years ago, this would have been an “off year” — the legislature would […]
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