TOCA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Perhaps you know of some deserving student currently pursuing a career in green industry communications. A niece or nephew? The kid down the block who used to mow your lawn but now studies marketing and landscape architecture at Ohio State? Maybe it’s your intern, the one answering your phone as you read this very sentence. How about nominating him or her for a TOCA scholarship?

The TOCA Board of Directors decided in May to award one $2,500, fall semester scholarship (2008-2009 academic year) to an undergraduate college student pursuing a career in green industry communications. To qualify, students must major or minor in technical communications or a green industry related field such as horticulture, plant sciences, botany, agronomy, plant pathology, etc. The applicant also must demonstrate an interest in using this course of study in the field of communications. Previously, TOCA awarded two, $1,000 scholarships.

Detailed information and applications are available at www.toca.org/awards.html. Deadline is March 1, 2008, but it’s never too soon to identify, encourage and reward deserving students outstanding in the field, or on the lawn.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
2007:
October 26
The Green Industry & Equipment EXPO (GIEE)
TOCA Breakfast Reception
Sponsors: Bayer Environmental Science, Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI)/PLANET
7-8 a.m., Breakfast Reception, 8:10-8:50 a.m., Bayer news conference
Kentucky Exposition Center, Room C109
Louisville, KY

2008:
February 1
Golf Industry Show (GIS)
GCSAA Breakfast Reception
Orlando, FL

March 1
Environmental Communicator of the Year application deadline

March 1
TOCA Scholarship application deadline

March 1
TOCA Communications Contest entries due

May 6 - 8
TOCA’s 19th Annual Meeting
Radisson downtown
Minneapolis, MN

October 23-25
The Green Industry & Equipment EXPO (GIEE)
Kentucky Exposition Center
Louisville, KY
Breakfast- Oct. 24, 7 a.m.

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR
As always at this time of year, TOCA begins its search for the next Environmental Communicator of the Year.  Nominations for the 2008 winner are now being accepted.  The award, sponsored by Project EverGreen, may be given to anyone in the Green Industry.  It is presented each year at TOCA’s annual meeting and will be awarded for the 10th time, May 2008 in Minneapolis, MN. 

Helen Stone, publisher of Southwest Trees & Turf and president of Stone Peak Services, was named the 2007 TOCA Environmental Communicator of the Year; the association’s ninth recipient.

If you’re interested in obtaining an application or receiving further information on the award, contact Den Gardner at TOCA. You can call the office at 952-758-6340 or e-mail TOCA at tocaassociation@aol.com. You can also find application forms on the TOCA Web site: www.toca.org/environcomm.html.  

MEMBER NEWS
TOCA welcomes the following new members:
TOCA greets the following new members:  Michael Butler, Archer Malmo; Luke Cella, Midwest Association of Golf Course Superintendents; Emily Dahlbeck, Archer Malmo; Bryce Gartner, GCSAA Communications; MJ Gilhooley, Gilhooley Consulting; Tom Hill, BASF Corporation; Tim Hodson, Scranton Gillette Communications; Bill Nicholson, Garick; Lynette Petersen, Swanson Russell; Diane Pirocanac, Scranton Gillette Communications; Andy Vevang, The Toro Company.  Welcome everyone!

TOCA currently has about 200 members, and last year it was suggested that we should try to grow an average of 40 members per year for five years.  Now, 30 or 40 members a year for an organization with 200 members is a tall order and one that a lot of people consider a stretch.

So, OK, let’s stretch.  There are more than 30 companies with multiple TOCA members.  If these multiple members at each of these companies enroll just one more of their colleagues, we may find that the stretch is not so much of a stretch.  And if your boss isn’t a TOCA member, ask why not?  He or she is in the same business as you, and could with one $65 membership show support for the industry and gain access to all our member benefits. (Remember, your company’s first membership is $115 and all others are $65.)

Among the companies helping TOCA achieve this goal is EPIC Creative, which has printed a promotional piece and has called nearly 300 prospects about joining the association.  It has also developed a brief video spot on our web site on joining TOCA.

Also, the Board members have been challenged to bring in two members each by the next meeting.  With everyone’s support, TOCA will continue to have a strong balance sheet, with a healthy reserve for emergency purposes.

For more information about the membership drive, contact Den Gardner at 952-758-6340, who will put you in contact with one of the committee members.

JOB OPPORTUNITY
Dynamic agency, www.collemcvoy.com, looking for talented Account Executive to focus on agency's agriculture accounts. The Account Executive is primarily responsible for the initiation and execution of all marketing, creative, creative contact and research projects for assigned accounts. He or she is the client’s day-to-day contact and brand steward within the agency.

Responsibilities:
· Understand role and function of other agency disciplines and when those staff members should be brought in to interface with the client
· Set and communicate clear expectations with team for each project
· Maintain a positive relationship between agency and client and provide leadership within the agency on behalf of the client
· Lead and manage brand initiatives and projects
· Understand clients’ business and strategic direction
· Assist with the development of marketing and communications objectives and strategies for annual planning and for individual test plans
· Work with Account Planner, Creative Director, and Account Supervisor/Director to draft creative briefs that support stated strategy and positioning
· Write monthly account status reports for Director of Client Services
· Review, analyze and evaluate the following, relative to the client’s needs and objectives: creative contact output, creative output, research reports and client data
· Initiate and issue call reports and ACOs after client meetings/discussions when AAE is not present
· Follow up on all work in progress to ensure meeting due dates are met
· Manage all creative development, production, media planning/execution, network clearance, legal approvals, client approvals, etc.
· Keep immediate supervisor informed to status and progress of all projects, drawing upon the supervisor for assistance and advice as needed
· Review billing worksheets, work with Accounting and Production to manage costs, interface with client to answer billing questions and clear up accounts receivables
· Monitor all budget, research and production activity on assigned accounts and communicates status of each project to appropriate agency and client personnel
· Help manage and mentor AAE
· Participate in new business as appropriate
· Be passionate and brave in everything you do

Qualifications:
· BA/BS Degree in Communications, Marketing or Advertising or Agriculture related field
· 2 – 5 years agency account management experience
· Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook

Please send resumes to:
Elizabeth Laukka
Recruiting Manager
612-305-6134
elizabeth.laukka@collemcvoy.com