On the QT | The Official Newsletter of GWA February-March 2016 | Page 15

POLLINATION

The recap is useful for my team, as well as the
board. It forces us to stop, look at what we
have accomplished and alert us to ways we may
be straying from our goals. We provide this
in advance, so the board members can come
prepared with questions, rather having to spend
time reviewing each item. The board provides
feedback and helps us look for new opportunities, while eliminating those that may not be as
profitable or as aligned with our goals.

DIANE BLAZEK

Encourage planting
for pollinators
The Million Pollinator Garden Challenge is a nationwide call to action to
preserve and create gardens and landscapes that help revive the health of
bees, butterflies, birds, bats and other pollinators across America.
The Million Garden Challenge mobilizes and challenges Americans to:
1. Choose native and non-native/
non-invasive pollen- and
nectar-producing plants for their
new or established gardens.
2. Plant a pollinator-friendly garden
and then register their garden
at millionpollinatorgardens.org.
3. Increase their understanding
of the critical role that planting
gardens can play in reversing
declining pollinator populations.

As we all know, sources of revenue change over
time. As business owners, we are constantly
monitoring short-budget items with an eye on
the future. It is helpful to have someone not
mired in the daily routine to help you find future
opportunities and predict threats.
All this must be done while keeping long-term
goals in mind. If you do not have goals, your
board can help you develop them. Board members won’t do the work, but they can help you
create, fine tune and constantly evaluate a goal’s
relevance and progress toward accomplishment.
Most importantly, listen. You have invited these
people to share their thoughts and insights.
Honor them by listening, taking time to consider
their suggestions and then make your decisions.

THIN KSTOCK. COM/ WAV E BR EAK MEDI A LTD

What’s in it for them? I provide dinner, beverages
(wine, soda and water) and a relaxed environment
for our meetings. But like most people, my board
members like to help others by sharing their
expertise. They also have shared with others how
serving on my advisory board has benefited them.

So take a bit of time to create your own advisory
board. The benefits will be much greater than
you ever expected.
GWA member Melinda Myers is a television and radio host,
author and lecturer. Her website www.melindamyers.com
is a resource that shows all her offerings, including audio
and video tips, FAQs and links to her YouTube channel,
Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest pages.

You can help us reach our goal
by getting these messages out to
your readers and continuing to
educate them on the best plant
choices for their region, garden
location and garden purpose.

Bee balm (Monarda spp.) lives up to its name.

TALKING POINT
Pollinators are responsible for one out of three bites of food we eat each
day. Pollinated foods are super foods, as many essential nutrients and
antioxidants we consume come from plant products that are pollinator
dependent. Despite their importance, pollinators are at a pivotal point in
their own survival. Many reasons contribute to their recent decline. What we
do know is that more nectar and pollen sources provided by more flowering
plants and trees will help improve their health and numbers. Increasing the
number of pollinator-friendly gardens and landscapes will help revive the
health of bees, butterflies, birds, bats and other pollinators across the
country. Every household, business, community and school can provide
food and habitat for pollinators.
The Million Pollinator Garden Challenge is managed by The National
Pollinator Garden Network, an unprecedented collaboration of national,
regional, conservation and gardening groups. Its eight founding, private,
nonprofit members were convened in the fall of 2014 to propose public
and private sector efforts to help restore critical pollinator populations in
support of the President’s Executive Strategy to “Promote the Health of
Honey Bees and Other Pollinators.”

PHOTO COUR TESY OF JO ELL EN ME YERS SHAR P

SETTING GOALS

As of the end of 2015, a total of 28 organizations have signed on to be part
of the National Pollinator Garden Network and collectively represent close
to a million active gardeners and 15,000 schoolyard gardens nationwide.

Submitted by GWA member Diane Blazek, executive director of the National Garden
Bureau, which is a member of the National Pollinator Garden Network

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