A Time to Give Thanks

The USCC exists because of, and in support of, our membership. From our dedicated Board of Directors, leading by example, to our volunteer committee members, helping guide the council, to all our members that are dedicated to our mission that keeps our Council as an engaging experience. The US Composting Council is truly humbled by the continued efforts of its members. This year has proven to be challenging on a number of fronts; each challenge is bearable due to our member’s commitment to the industry. I have to thank our staff for reacting quickly to the COVID-19 challenge by providing our members with a great webinar series and Victory Garden marketing plan that helped in reducing fears and selling more compost.

In the late summer, the USCC Board of Directors voted to host a virtual conference in lieu of our in-person conference. Even though nothing can fully replace our typical in-person conference, we are excited to bring you our very first virtual conference – Virtual COMPOST2021. Immediately after announcing the move to our Virtual COMPOST2021, the USCC received interest in attendance, exhibition, and sponsorship. Through our long-standing partnership with Green Fern Events, we have been able to pivot to virtual options that allow for meaningful engagement while keeping our attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and staff safe.

Each of the USCC’s strategic goals is supported by volunteers on our committees. With 16 committees, represented by 116 individuals, the work of advocating, educating, certifying, strategizing, leading and developing is taken on by a diverse group of passionate individuals. Without such active committee members, the US Composting Council would not be what it is today. Members like McGill Compost, whose staff participates on multiple committees, experienced significant issues with feedstock contamination this year. McGill participated in information sharing about herbicide in its compost, submitted comments to the USEPA through our "Get the PH out of our Compost,” and sponsored a webinar to educate the community about the science behind herbicide persistence. This dedication, to the betterment of our industry, is one humbling example of member engagement in a sea of honest, hard-working organizations that make up the US Composting Council.

The support that has been given so generously to the USCC has enabled our staff to adapt to the needs of the industry. We have restructured staff roles to help us better achieve the goals outlined in our Strategic Plan. With a growing need for regional advocacy, the USCC has transitioned Linda Norris-Walt from her position in Marketing and Communications into a new role in Advocacy & Chapter Relations development. Linda has been hard at work bringing on new state chapters and developing a new state chapter structure as well as working with membership to better define our role in advocating for the industry and your needs. We are in the process of developing a new Seal of Testing (STA) Program database that will help streamline renewals and reporting of STA data. Additionally, the USCC is excited to announce new staff members joining the council on December 1. See below for more details.

We have a lot to be thankful for and it is with a gracious heart that I want to say thank you to each and every one of our members, as you bring a unique and valuable perspective to the table. It is only through your membership and participation that we can continue to advocate for the compost industry.

Wishing you all a happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday.

– Frank Franciosi