John 15:12-13 … "My command is this: Love each
other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one
than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
George Schmok
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
gschmok@landscapeonline.com
Stephen Kelly
Editor
skelly@landscapeonline.com
Michelle Medaris
Education
mmedaris@landscapeonline.com
Larry Shield
Product Editor
lshield@landscapeonline.com
Alli Martin
Editorial Administrative Assistant
amartin@landscapeonline.com
Associate Editors
Ashley Calabria
Associate Editor/Digital Information
University of Georgia
calabria@uga.edu
Buck Abbey, ASLA
Associate Editor: Ordinances
Green Laws Org.
lsugreenlaws@aol.com
Russ Adsit, FASLA
Associate Editor/Erosion
Executive Director, IECA
russ@ieca.org
Janet Lennox Moyer, IALD
Associate Editor/Lighting
moyerj@rpi.edu
(In Memoriam)
Don Roberts, FASLA
Kay Tiller
Frank Manwarren
David Brian Linstrum
Lois E. Schmok
Otto Edward Schmok
Art Director
Nicole Miller
nmiller@landscapeonline.com
Graphic Designer
Matthew Medeiros
mmedeiros@landscapeonline.com
Ad Coordinator
Oliver Calonzo
ocalonzo@landscapeonline.com
Circulation / Fulfillment
Edward Cook
ecook@landscapeonline.com
Likkien Ralpho
lralpho@landscapeonline.com
Ana Linares
alinares@landscapeonline.com
Kosol Chim
kchim@landscapeonine.com
IT Department
Web / Tech Manager
Jerry Short
jshort@landscapeonline.com
Web / Graphics Assistant
Sam Roe
sroe@landscapeonline.com
Chief Operations Officer C.O.O.
Mark O'Halloran
mohalloran@landscapeonline.com
Sales Administration
Cynthia McCarthy
cmccarthy@landscapeonline.com
Advertising/Marketing
714-979-LASN (5276) x113 • 714-979-3543 (Fax)
Print Advertising Sales
Vince Chavira
vchavira@landscapeonline.com
Matt Henderson
mhenderson@landscapeonline.com
Kip Ongstad
kongstad@landscapeonline.com
Digital Marketing
Nathan Schmok
nschmok@landscapeonline.com
Trade Show Sales
Jared Lutz
jlutz@landscapeonline.com
Cass D'Arlon
cdarlon@landscapeonline.com
Event Production
Amy Deane
adeane@landscapeonline.com
Inventory/Fullfilments
Javier Miranda
jmiranda@landscapeonline.com
c o m m e n t a r y
12 Landscape Architect and Specifier News
Find Us Online:
Though you are reading this in mid-February, this piece was written in January, and not that far away from
the holidays. Not that with so much ahead of us I'm stuck on reminiscing, but I was thinking of shopping
mall development and the image of the guy ringing the bell at Christmas time popped into my mind. I think
it's because I had been talking to a contractor the other day and mentioned that I had to leave early to get to
a thing I do with the Salvation Army. He got this great big smile and said that he had been sober for more
than 25 years thanks to the SA.
I was asked by a friend about a year and a half ago to play the drums at a meeting to feed the homeless at
a Salvation Army campus. I had seen the guys ringing the bells, the thrift shops and even the scenes in "Guys
and Dolls" of the street marchers with the bass drum, trumpet and singers, but had never actually been to a
Salvation Army campus . . .
Over the past year or so I've come to realize the Salvation Army is one big organization and they touch the
lives of many people across this land in innumerable ways.
Anyway, that got me thinking about all the work that YOU do out there across this great nation. LASN
has carried a 'Stewardship' column on the inside back cover for almost 30 years, and her brother magazine,
LC/DBM, has been running 'Off the Clock' for some 17 years. That's more than 500 pro bono projects that
we've covered, where blood, sweat, time and/or money have been donated to myriad projects helping countless
people across the land.
But that pales in comparison to the actual number of pro bono projects done across this land by the entire
industry. Consider that with our magazines, e-newsletter and web traffic, we reach some 250,000 to 300,000
sets of eyes every month. Those eyes belong to members of landscape associations, who are also members of
community associations, church groups and social teams. If only one in 25 of you were involved in a pro bono
or charity operation, that would mean there are 10,000 of you right now giving back to the community.
Look around at the people you know in the industry. I'll bet you the number is much higher than 1 in 25.
From what I've seen, I'd say it's a lot closer to 100 percent than it is to 1 in 25. That is one of the things that
makes this such a great industry. Almost everywhere we look and with everyone we meet there is a story of
giving back. I don't know about other industries, but there must be something about dealing with growth for
a living that causes one to lend a hand. You should all be proud to be a part of this team!
So, while the holidays are past and spring lies ahead, know that you are a part of a great industry, and as the
tide rises, continue to make the time to be involved with those in need . . . It's what you do . . .
P.S. We'd love to hear about pro bono projects dear to you, so please let us know by emailing LASN's
Larry Shield at lshield@landscapeonline.com .
Here comes spring . . .
God Bless.
Way to Go!
George Schmok, Publisher