Exclusive Autumn Offer!

Following is our e-newsletter, sent on 11/13/06. You can subscribe here.

The holiday season is upon us and WE NEED STUDENTS! Keep reading to find out

about how you can attend for HALF price.

2-4-1

That's "Two For One!" Take advantage of this one-time deal. Sign up for winter 2006-2007 courses and bring a second person for FREE! The second person can be an employee, a co-worker or even a friendly competitor.

You read it right. But we need your registration by the published Earlybird Deadlines (see below). There is no specific place for special offers on the application. This is an "internet-only" offer. Just print this coupon and attach it to your enrollment forms.

Earlybird Deadlines
Sissinghurst December 11-15, 2006 (Early Bird deadline extended to 11/20/06 for this offer)
Barnsley House January 15-19, 2007 (Early Bird deadline 12/18/06)
Hidcote January 22-26, 2007 (Early Bird deadline 12/22/06)
Hidcote February 5-9, 2007 (Early Bird deadline 1/8/07)
Sissinghurst February 12-16, 2007 (Early Bird deadline 1/12/07)
Barnsley House February 26-March 2, 2007 (Early Bird deadline 1/29/07)

Click here for this Smokin' Deal!

Thanks for reading and we hope to see you soon!

Sincerely,

American Academy of Landscape Design

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email: info@aaldweb.com

web: http://www.aaldweb.com
voice: 847-657-7900

This offer only good with a printed version of this offer.

PLANET Recap, Free Magazine, Thoughts on Selling, Winter Courses

Following is our e-newsletter, sent on 11/7/06. You can subscribe here.

PLANET Meeting in Columbus

It seemed all too familiar. The Convention Center, that is. In my mind, I had not been to Columbus since 1992 when I visited Ameriflora as a post conference tour with APLD. But we never visited the Convention Center in 1992. It finally clicked when I walked past the nut shop on the lower level of the Convention Center and read the poster inside: "Studies show people who eat peanuts live longer than people that don't eat." Too funny.

"I've seen that sign before," I thought! It was less than 2 years ago I was here to speak at the Ohio State University Short Course! No wonder it looked so familiar. What a spaceball. Anyway, the OSU/CENTS program is a good one. If you've not been, it's worth your time.

The reason I was in Columbus was to attend my first PLANET Green Industry Conference/Expo. I'm told they draw nearly 2000 landscape professionals from all over the U.S. Indeed, I met folks from California, Oregon, Wisconsin, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Texas and the Carolinas. PLANET as an organization serves the landscape contracting industry, and the focus of its educational programs tends to be all business: Marketing, branding, pricing, profit, selling and succession planning. There was little, if any, design on the agenda. I enjoyed very much the programs I attended, though my first love is design. It was time well spent.

Landshapes
My appreciation of good design is shared by the editor of Landshapes magazine, Stephanie Rose. I spent some valuable time speaking with Stephanie at the show. She informs me that an article I wrote will appear in the January/February issue which should show up near the end of the year. The article is a project profile which you can read if you are a subscriber. The cost to subscribe is..... NOTHING! If you are in the landscape design/architecture business, all you have to do is sign up at their web site. Simple.

Buying and Selling
Buying anything should be simple. Especially if it is something you're selling! When it comes to selling, one of the great truths about people is this: People don't like to be sold to. But they LOVE TO BUY! Selling landscape design or contracting services is no different. A good sales system is set up so that it is easy for both buyer and seller. Not only does it give the buyer a sense of control, but it takes a lot of pressure off a designer who might not be comfortable "selling" in the traditional sense. The system does most of the work. This type of system is one of the topics covered in AALD's Barnsley House as well as Sissinghurst courses. It's such an important topic that it is the only one we repeat.

Speaking of AALD courses, the Early Bird deadline for the December Sissinghurst course has been extended to 11/13, so hurry if you want to join us!

Check our website for the most current information.

Lastly, just last week we were excited to receive our printed brochures! If you would like a copy, please let us know by phone or email, and we'll gladly put one in the mail to you.

Thanks for reading.

I'm Tim Thoelecke, and I approved this message.

Sincerely,

Tim Thoelecke

American Academy of Landscape Design