I think that in 2008 the housing industry is going to rebound and construction will remain strong. I think that the web will continue to provide business opportunities. I think that LCN will have another great year if not another record year (so far in 2008, circulation, ad revenues and editorial pages are all about even with 2007 . . . And 2007 was a record year
for LCN . . .)

I think Landscape Contractors will take the lead helping to solve the immigration crisis. I think that Landscape Contractors will begin to demand that their associations begin to make a strong effort to strengthen their image in the eyes of the public. I think that Landscape Contractors will benefit from all the smart irrigation technology and publicity and assert yourselves as leaders in water conservation . . .

Yeah . . . I think 2008 is going be Great!!!

I really think you all are going to enjoy seeing LCN online in 2008 . . . What . . . You didn?????t know that you can now see LCN as it is printed at landscapearchitect.com . . . Every page and every ad can be viewed, exactly as it appeared in the magazine starting with the December 2007 issue. Every advertiser web site provides a direct web link to their site from those pages and every editorial reference to a website also produces a direct link.

You can search every issue for keywords or phrases . . . You can print the pages for reference . . . You can blow up the pages and you can flip from one page to another with either a click of the mouse of a touch of the screen . . . You can find the Table of Contents and click on any article and be there in the blink of
an eye . . .

Oh Yeah . . . 2008 is going be Great!!!

In 2007 I was lucky enough to be asked to be a jury member for the SCC/ASLA Awards competition. Included in the jury members were last years????? ASLA National President Pat Caughey and next years????? ASLA National President Angela Dye . . . Better yet, the landscape architects had the good sense to include Marty McPhee who works for Southern Counties Landscape and represented the Landscape Contractors on the jury.

If you ever get a chance to sit on a jury, take it. The insight from the other jury members has to make an impact on the way you view your future projects.

While there will always be some conflict between good design and good installation, the landscape architects need good Landscape Contractors more than ever, if not the other way around. As a matter of fact, in this issue you will read of a Landscape Contractor who recently acquired a landscape architectural firm to assist his business. Design, build and maintain could very well be a good direction for you to take your company . . .

Yeah . . . No doubt about it, 2008 is going to be Great!!!

So . . . Welcome to the New Year and welcome to all the challenges that face us in the year ahead, welcome to all the victories this profession will have, welcome to all the new officers in all the landscape associations across the country and welcome to any of you who are just picking up LCN for the first time . . .

2008 is going to be a year that may start with a bit of concern for the construction industry and may have a controversial election coming up but for the business of landscape, for the industry in general, for LCN and hopefully for all of you . . .

2008 is going to be Great!!!

God Bless . . .