Well it's been a while since the last time I wrote to you all. Hopefully by now you have LCN's 2003 Buyer's Guide and are finding it useful in your day-to-day business. We print several thousand extra copies, so if you need another please contact LCN at (714) 979-5276. If you are a vendor and weren't listed or if you were listed in the wrong categories, we'd like to know . . . The simplist way to make sure you are included and listed correctly is to go to landscapearchitect.com (LOL). Here you can enter your company information or update your current listing. The same holds true for any industry-related association . . . You can easily list your association and all of its upcoming events at LandscaperOnline.com. If your national association has state chapters, they too can enter the site and list their chapter and events. landscapearchitect.com is accessed by thousands of professionals who may need your services. LOL is also accessed by thousands of consumers who may want to contact your association for assistance that only you can provide, so feel free . . . and all association listings are 100% free. Another reason to access LOL is to keep abreast of the current industry news . . . On almost a daily basis we are posting news as it happens. From the current government statistics on housing starts to the revamping of a landscape design tax in Ohio, if it is happening in the industry, you can read about it at landscapearchitect. Housing Starts . . . We have been spending a lot of time over the past several months tracking housing starts and virtually all of the census bureau postings. With all the talk about a slowing economy, the health of the construction industry is important to all those who receive LCN . . . According to the official data, construction is still in a growth mode, albeit at a nonblazing rate. Single family housing permits rose a paltry 1.2% from March to April, while the increase was 2.8% when April 2003 is compared to April 2002. However, the number of new privately-owned housing units started in April was down 6.8% from March 2003 - but still strong at 1,630,000 units - an increase of 2.7% over April of 2002. All in all the construction industry is holding its own and as the economy continues to improve . . . the DJIA is consistantly up over 9,000; interest rates are holding low; unemployment appears to have peaked in the high 6 percentile; and the tax cut is predicted to aid the construction industry . . . the industry can expect at least modest strength through the rest of the year. In any event, now may not be the best time to go looking for a new job, but it is a good time to update your business plan and look forward to growth opportunities. So with the wind to our backs, albeit looking for a bigger sail, have a great summer . . and of course . . . God Bless.