P.O. Box 369 Epworth, GA 30541 706-258-3534 FAX 706-632-0300 www.nationalpondpro.com

NAPP

BOARD OF

DIRECTORS

mark@microbelift.com

mgilliland@fele.com

tom@tilleysinc.com

max@aquatics.com;

matt@matterhornnursery.com

Alan Koontz, Director Carolina Pondscapes

info@carolinapondscapes.com Keith Johnston

keith.johnston@horizononline.com

Gary Jones, Director

gjones@aquariumpharm.com

Mark Munley, Director

Firestone Specialty Products Company munleymark@fi restonesp.com

ereinhard@drsfostersmith.com

todd@outdoor-inc.com

valerie@savio.cc

Randy Stewart, Director Unit Liner

randy@unitliner.com

Warren Thoma, Director Thoma & Associates

warren@thomaassociates.com

lvela-wick@yahoo.com

VOL. 4 ISSUE 2 MARCH/APRIL

2010

MARK J. KRUPKA

We just put the fi nishing touches on the 1st NAPP Conference and Expo and from all indications, it was a very good start for our trade organization’s ven- ture into the conference arena. There were 24 paid exhibitors and 130 paid registrants, including exhibitors. Not bad for a fi rst show in a slow economy. We also got numerous e-mails from people apologizing that they were either concerned about spending the money before knowing how the season is go- ing to go, or that they learned about the conference too late to plan fi nancially or logistically. Many of these people promised that they will attend the next offering.

The conference came off without a glich and the feedback was excellent. We have not had a chance to compile all of the evaluations yet, but we are working on it. The general consensus was that the educational sessions were great; the setting was ideal; there was no shortage of excellent food from the breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets to the snacks and hors d’oeuvres at the end of the day. Some people may com- plain about putting on a few pounds.

We are already busy planning the next show and we will be much better pre- pared to promote the conference to ex- hibitors and attendees alike. Again, I’d like to thank all the sponsors, especial- ly Firestone, Little Giant, Ecological

In This Issue. . .

Laboratories, Inc., Pond Trade Maga- zine and Bow Tie Publications. These companies have shown a strong com- mitment to giving back to the industry by supporting our conference.

Our plan is to have the next show somewhere in the Southwest or West Coast so that people who don’t want to have to travel far have the opportunity of attending every two or three years. We are currently evaluating venues that are comparable to the Evergreen Resort and Conference Center in Stone Mountain due to the very favorable re- sponse to this type of facility.

Board Elections

Every so often Board members fi nd it necessary to resign from the Board for a variety of reasons – both professional and personal. As a result we will be losing: Mike Gilliland of Little Giant; Mark Munley of Firestone Specialty Products; Eric Reinhard of Drs. Fos- ter and Smith; and, Alan Koontz of Carolina Pondscapes, Inc. Fortunately, we have several great candidates who have stepped forward and offered their services to the NAPP. These candi- dates include: Sean Murray of Little Giant; Randy Lightfoot, AJL Endeav- ors; Kip Northrup of Blue Thumb and Pondbuilders; Bill Minnick of Danner Pump; and John Goers of Firestone Specialty Products. If anyone else is

Message from the President .............................................. 1-2 Legislative Update ................................................................. 2 NAPP Water Feature Conference & Expo Recap................3-4

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

WE DID IT! Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6