Stand up and be heard

Kelli Rodda

It’s the month we celebrate our nation’s 236th year of independence. Independence means something a bit different to each person. To the newly licensed 17-year-old driver, it means freedom of the road. To the recent retiree, it may mean freedom from a cubicle. To the college graduate, it’s freedom to choose his or her path. To the empty-nester parent, it’s the bittersweet freedom from loud music, dirty rooms and eye rolls. To the entrepreneur, it’s the freedom to take an idea and turn it into a business. To the 18-year-old American, it’s the freedom to vote.

Thanks to some remarkable men who had the courage to stand up against an empire, every American has the freedom let their voice ring out — whether in protest or agreement. Who hears your voice? Your spouse? Your business partner? Your neighbor? While it is important to share your views with those people, how often do your political representatives hear your voice?

Know your representation, including city, county, state and national. Send a letter, fax or email, or make a phone call when they’re voting on legislation. Don’t have the words? Look to your state nursery associations or national groups like ANLA for templates. All you have to do is fill in your name and location, and they’ve crafted an excellent letter or script that identifies the needs of the green industry.

Visit ANLA.org and click the government relations tab and navigate to “take action.” There members can find the names of elected officials, pending elections and legislation and other helpful links.

For the more demonstrative types, meet the local, state and national politicians. Shake their hand. Look them in the eye. Talk to them about the issues affecting your business.

Although it’s essential to be heard just before your representatives vote on crucial issues, make sure you reach out to them at other times. Invite them to the nursery. Give them a tour. Show them the huge amount of work that goes into producing a plant. Share with them the incredible benefits plants provide to human health and the economy.

During a sermon leading up to the July 4 holiday, my pastor said, “Change does not come from the top down. It comes from the bottom up.” Make sure you’re doing your part for necessary change.

For every American citizen, independence means the freedom to be heard.