Workshop: Cultivating Horticulture as a National Priority
Empower members to influence national policy makers on issues of importance to horticultural scientists
Congress treated horticultural research and extension very well in 2014, where most other programs were cut. ASHS was actively involved in making our work an important exception, and providing funding that keep horticulture programs financially viable. There session will have a report on what ASHS did. There will also be an outline of the new structure within ASHS for managing National Issues.
Continued financial support for horticultural research and extension depends critically on decision-makers seeing compelling success stories about the impact that funding has in society. Most scientists find it very difficult to do a good job because it requires a completely different perspective. This workshop will help participants tell their stories succinctly and convincingly to a lay audience. Participants from previous years will find the refresher valuable as well. Our members have great successes that need to be told. ASHS currently has collected only a few dozen stories from our membership (ASHSmedia.org), where we need hundreds. This workshop will help participants tell their story effectively to critical new audiences so that we can continue to find financial support for our important work.
