What is the Green Industry Hub (GIH)?
Is GIH free?
What can I do for free?
How am I obligated if I sign up for free?
Where do I start?
Do I need to download any special programs?
Are you going to share my information>?
Why would I sign up for a premium subscription?
What is my obligation if buy a premium subscription?
If I sign up for one (1) premium subscription can I sign up other people in my company at a later time?
If I sign up for a premium subscription, will my employees get access to the whole site?
As a premium subscriber is there a specific curriculum path I have to follow?
I am a member of PLANET, how do I register and get my discount on the GIH?
Can I take the CLP and/or CLT certification on-line?
Do these on-line courses help me to study for CTP and CLT certification?
Can I monitor my employees' progress while they study for certification?
Do I need to be a member of PLANET to join the GIH?
If I join PLANET, do I get the discount on the GIH?
What are the on-line courses?
How will the on-line coursework help my business?
By taking the Green Industry Courses do I have to get certified?
If I do not want to get certified, can I still take the on-line coursework and Green Industry specific courses?
What is the Course of the Month?
What is the Compete & Win?
Can I really win the prize in the Compete & Win?
What are the Skills Assessments?
What is Share & Compare? (Coming Soon in 2006)
Will Share & Compare only be for business owners?
Is my operating data that I share in Share & Compare safe?
What are the Forums?
How will I know if the Forum topics and discussions interest me?
What is Test Drive?
How do I get involved in Posting a Job?
Can I view a Job Posting?
What is the Calendar?
What is the "News" link in the GIH?
What is the Trophy Case? (Coming Soon in 2006)
Why would I want to participate in the Trophy Case?
What is a PM?
Who is behind the GIH?
Who are the "sponsors" of the Green Industry GIH?
Do I have to pay by credit card?
If I have a problem or questions who can I contact?
Who do I contact to become a Green Industry GIH Sponsor?
What if I still have questions?

What is the Green Industry Hub (GIH)?
The GIH is a one stop resource center where members of the green industry can find tools to improve their business skills, network with others in the industry, post and find jobs, train for industry certification, compare new products, receive special industry offers, compete in the industry Compete and Win, educational challenge and more.
 
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Is GIH free?
Most of the site is free, but there are some areas of the site that require a premium subscription. 
 
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What can I do for free?
Once you complete the registration, you will have access to many areas of the GIH including the following:
 
Visit the Green Industry University for just in time access to online business skills, necessary workplace compliance information, or green industry technical and management knowledge including CLT and CLP training.
 
Every month, you can view a new online Course of the Month to keep your knowledge up to date on the latest industry trends.
 
Visit the Resource Center to personalize your GIH, edit your profile and preferences, join an online forum to get a specific question answered by your peers, see what is on your calendar to stay up on industry events, check out special offers, read the latest news and more.
 
Compete for prizes and/or recognition against your industry peers when you visit Compete and Win
 
Match your skills to a job, or map your strengths and weaknesses to improve your opportunities by completing Skills Assessments.
 
Search for opportunities under the Careers section, or shop in the Store to compare and rate products, purchase industry books and tapes, or view specials by industry suppliers.
 
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How am I obligated if I sign up for free?
There is no obligation. But the GIH is looking for your active participation. The Green Industry GIH was designed with the independent landscape contractor in mind. The GIH is a one-stop place to go for education and communication with peers and businesses. The GIH will grow as membership grows. New events and items will be added often so check back everyday to see if a new course has been added, or to participate in the forums, or game, or check out discounts from local companies. With so much to do and participate in, we think you'll find the GIH a useful tool to help you in all parts of your business.

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Where do I start?
The first thing you need to do is register. It’s a simple, quick and free process. Please read our privacy statement for details.
 
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Do I need to download any special programs?
You will need Macromedia Flash 6 to view certain programs. For a free download visit Macromedia's website.
 
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Are you going to share my information?
Please see the privacy statement for details.
 
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Why would I sign up for a premium subscription?
As a PLANET member in good standing, a premium subscription is just $195 for a year, with substantial discounts for multiple registrations. And we're confident that being a premium subscriber will greatly enhance your Green Industry Hub experience. Premium subscribers receive these site enhancements:
Non PLANET members may also join at only $295 per year.

• Create your own portfolio/transcript by keeping track of the courses you passed, your online educational game rankings and your skills assessment scores.
• Premium subscriptions mean premium access. You will have access to the entire site applicable to individuals including:
• The archives of all "Courses of the Month" so you can access past courses just when you need them.
• Access to all Industry Specific Content
• Access to the Premium Level Compete and Win, Educational Challenge with the ability to compete in the national finals at the industry conference. 

• Every company needs to have an organized training program. Green Industry Hub makes it easy for you through the following automated tools.

Company subscriptions also provide business with tools that will immediately improve their performance. Those tools include the following:

• Share and Compare (Power Groups) (Coming soon in 2006). The purpose of Share and Compare is to help you build a bond with a group of non-competitive same size businesses within your industry, a power group. By confidentially comparing financial data and operating benchmarks, you will soon be able to determine which areas provide the most opportunity for improvement. The process is simple and very effective. In fact, automotive dealers have utilized a similar format for almost 50 years with astounding success. You will build lifelong confidents and improve your business dramatically. Review the sample process
• Skills Assessment  One of the tools available on the Green Industry Hub is the ability to post jobs and to attach specific job skills assessments to your search to save you time with unqualified applicants. Premium subscribers also have the ability to build your own assessments or share assessments with your Power Group. You will have the ability to manage and develop a personnel assessment process, and even match that data with effectiveness to match job sets more precisely than ever before.

What is my obligation if I buy a premium subscription?
A Premium subscription lasts for 1 year to the day you signed up. Renewal is in the following 11^th month. As a premium subscriber you will be given access to ALL parts of the GIH. This includes on-line courses, compete & win, forums, compare & share, and much more.
 
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If I sign up for one (1) premium subscription can I sign up other people in my company at a later time?
Yes you can do that easily. Once you are registered as a Premium subscriber one of the options in the "home – drop down menu" is to "add more seats". Choose that option, and then proceed to purchase whatever number of seats you require. The directions are within that registration page.
 
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If I sign up for a Premium Company subscription will my employees get access to the whole site?
Yes they will get access to the majority of the site. All premium subscribers have access to all parts of the GIH. This includes all of the on-line coursework, Compete & Win, forums, test drive, etc. The only feature segment an employee would not be able to participate in is Share & Compare. Share & Compare is meant for owners or general managers to participate in.
 
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As a premium subscriber is there a specific curriculum path I have to follow?
That is up to each individual or company that registers. An individual premium subscriber does not have to take the courses in any particular order. The individual can choose the order they deem best for their own continuing education. A company premium subscription can be administered a few different ways; the GIH is designed as a tool to assist in continuing education. Therefore, the administrator in a premium company subscription can design the best program for each individual employee or create a certain curriculum path for each level of employment. The GIH is flexible enough to leave the option is up to whatever the company deems effective for themselves.
 
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I am a member of PLANET how do I register and get my discount on the GIH?
In order for the GIH to recognize you are an PLANET member you must have the proper PLANET registration code. This will give you the discount for being an PLANET/PLCAA member in good standing. You can obtain the code by calling Patrick Tsanga of PLANET at 800-395-2522. He will verify your PLANET/PLCAA membership and give you the code to register. Then you can register and get your discount.
 
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Can I take the CLP and/or CLT certification on-line?
Unfortunately no. The CLP and CLT test are not available on-line through the GIH. However, you can study for the CLP and CLT tests on-line with a premium subscription. The study material is directly from the PLANET library of materials and is available in the Green Industry University section of the GIH.
 
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Do these on-line courses help me to study for CTP and CLT certification?
Yes, they do. As a premium subscriber you can access these materials through the Green Industry University. GIH will continually be adding and developing additional on-line content that will help you study for the CLP and CLT certification. Check back to the GIH often to see what new courses have been developed from the PLANET study material.
 
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Can I monitor my employees’ progress while they study for certification?
Yes. Your premium company subscription enables you access to the GIH’S built in Learning Management System (LMS). This allows an administrator to track their employees‘ usage and test results (for certification or not). The administrator can then assist them in further study and/or to watch their progress.
 
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Do I need to be a member of PLANET to join the GIH?
No, you do not. Registration to the GIH is free and you do not need to be a member of PLANET/PLCAA to participate in any part of the GIH. If you wish to participate in premium services there is a discount available by being a PLANET/PLCAA member in good standing. To become an PLANET member click here.
 
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If I join PLANET do I get the discount on the GIH?
Yes. If you join PLANET you can receive a discount to the GIH’S premium services. However you must join PLANET/PLCAA first before you subscribe to the GIH. This is so you can fill out the registration information properly to get your applicable discount. Become an PLANET member by clicking here.
 
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What are the on-line courses?
The on-line courses include Business Skills that every business owner or manager or employee needs to know to run a successful business or contribute to a successful business. The GIH also contains HR and compliance courses that will keep the business running smoothly and in compliance. And the GIH has Green Industry specific courses that will allow a Green Industry professional to study for the CTP and CLT or to just gain important industry knowledge.
 
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What are the on-line courses?
The on-line courses include Business Skills that every business owner or manager or employee needs to know to run a successful business or contribute to a successful business. The GIH also contains HR and compliance courses that will keep the business running smoothly and in compliance. And the GIH has Green Industry specific courses that will allow a Green Industry professional to study for the CTP and CLT or to just gain important industry knowledge.
 
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How will the on-line coursework help my business?
The on-line curriculum is good information for any business to have. It includes sales, customer services, marketing, hiring, firing, OSHA, and of course the Green Industry coursework. What a better way to learn about your industry then at an industry-focused site like the Green Industry GIH.
 
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By taking the Green Industry Courses do I have to get certified?
No you do not. Certification is voluntary and through PLANET membership. If you are not interested in certification then you are not required to take it by participating in the GIH or Green Industry Courses.
 
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If I do not want to get certified, can I still take the on-line coursework and Green Industry specific courses?
Absolutely. For a premium subscription you can gain important Green Industry information that will assist you in your everyday business. Plus, the GIH gives you a full well rounded curriculum that ranges from marketing to Green Industry specific topics, and much more. The GIH is here to give you the tools to better your business.
 
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What is the Course of the Month?
The Course of the Month is one showcased on-line course a month that is Green Industry specific. All registered users can take the course of the month. However, the premium subscriber has access to previous course of the months within the Green Industry specific library of courses. The free registered user gets access to that course for the month it is showcased.
 
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What is the Compete & Win?
The Compete & Win is a Green Industry specific game show type game for registered members to play. Prizes are given for the 2 levels of membership: free and premium. A new Compete & Win is then presented the 15th of every month.
 
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Can I really win the prize in the Compete & Win?
Absolutely. But, you can ONLY win if you play. A free or premium registered user can only play one time a month. A new Compete & Win is presented the 15th of the month. To view the rules of the Compete & Win please go to the Compete & Win segment of the GIH.
 
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What are the Skills Assessments?
Measure your strengths or the strengths of your employees or possibly job applicants. By taking a Skills Assessment you can measure a persons skill level and focus training and improvement in the areas identified. With a premium subscription you can attach skills assessments to job postings and create specific assessments for your particular needs.
 
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What is Share & Compare? (Coming Soon in 2006)
Share & Compare will be a privilege for premium level subscribers. They are groups of the same size non-competitive business owners or general managers. A conference call discussion is facilitated once a quarter with this group of executives. Various topics plus Green Industry related items are discussed. The executives must data enter into the GIH their operating data to compare and benchmark with the group.
 
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Will Share & Compare only be for business owners?
Share & Compare will be specifically for someone who has intimate knowledge of the companies operating data. In most cases that is the business owner. In some larger corporations it could be a vice president or general manager. The focus of Share & Compare is to: Share information to assist or help each other in business methods and practices. And to Compare and benchmark the company to other same size organizations in a non-competitive way, so that the executive can see parts of their business they can possibly improve upon. Then discussion is facilitated to encourage and cover these areas amongst the group.
 
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Is my operating data that I share in Share & Compare safe?
Absolutely. Please view our privacy policy. The data is for you and your Share & Compare group to benchmark yourselves. We want the discussions to facilitate communication between the participants in the way of a "network of experts" to assist each other with multiple topics and areas. The data does not go beyond the group. And the participants are placed together so that none are within the same geographical area of the country, so it is non-competitive.
 
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What are the Forums?
The Forums are online discussion groups that are divided into various topic areas that registered users can discuss together. The topic areas are Green Industry specific. This gives GIH registered users a place to ask each other questions, solicit advice, discuss concerns or important issues, and create a mutually helpful community. Please review the rules of the Forums within that segment in order to participate.
 
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How will I know if the Forum discussion topics interest me?
The first thing to do is go click through the Forum and see what questions are being asked and what topics are discussed. This is a GIH community effort. The more registered users participate the more it will build on the community and users will interact positively. If you have a particular interest in a topic area(s) then you can go to My Hub and choose the opt in (or out) of the Forum discussions. You will then get an e-mail alert to your e-mail address that your interested topic area has a "chat" going. Or if someone in the community responded to a "chat" of yours, you will be alerted via e-mail. Then it is up to you to participate or not.
 
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What is Test Drive?
Test Drive is an area of the GIH that all registered users can participate freely in. Test Drive is a service that enables the registered user to search for goods and services within your area that might give you a discount for purchasing their products through the GIH.
 
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How do I get involved in Posting a Job?
If you are a registered premium user you can "Post a Job" free of charge. You can also add a Skills Assessment to the posting to make sure the candidates pass certain standards before you receive their resumes. If you are a registered free user, than the "Post a Job" function comes with a minimal cost. The community of the GIH will then have access to view the job posting and apply directly to you.
 
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Can I view a Job Posting?
Yes you can view the Job Postings as a registered user. And if you feel that the position advertised is desirable you can apply to it. There is also a function that will allow the applicant to attached their "transcripts" from the GIH on-line courses to their resume. So the potential employer can view the candidates’ educational progress within the GIH.
 
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What is the Calendar?
The Calendar is a community resource that allows sponsors and the GIH partners to post events that they feel would benefit the GIH’S registered users. The calendar also has functionality that will allow each individual registered user to add their own important events or appointments to the calendar.
 
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What is the "News" link in the GIH?
Advanstar’s Landscape Management Magazine brings the "news" link in the GIH to you as an informational tool to keep registered users up-to-date with the Green Industry specific news.
 
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What is the Trophy Case? (Coming Soon in 2006)
The Trophy Case will be for recognition within the community of the GIH and the Green Industry. By you and your company participating in various segments of the GIH, you and the company will earn points toward recognition levels of bronze, silver, and gold. Your level of recognition can then be used in your own advertising for your business within your community.
 
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Why would I want to participate in the Trophy Case?
Recognition! Not only within the community of the GIH but, within the Green Industry. Then you can use the recognition to inform your customers of your achievements and commitment to excellence and education within the Green Industry. Use the media kit to put your status level on your business cards, advertising, and signage. To maintain status level an individual or company must have a current paid in full premium membership to the GIH.
 
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What is a PM?
A PM is short for Private Message. The GIH gives you the ability to send a private message to any registered user of the GIH. However, all rules of decorum apply to these messages. When you login you can see if someone sent you a PM by the envelope next to your user name.
 
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Who is behind the GIH?
The GIH is a partnership comprised of PLANET (Professional Landcare Network), Landscape Management Magazine, and ez2master.com.
 
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Who are the "sponsors" of the Green Industry GIH?
Our Green Industry GIH sponsors are major vendors in the Green Industry that understand how important education and communication with peers are within the Green Industry. These sponsors have provided the GIH partners the ability to keep the site running with new and exciting on-line content and services. And most importantly they have subsidized the cost, so that it is kept low for our registered users to participate and become a premium member. We ask you to support our sponsors so that we can keep this site the best it can be for the Green Industry.
 
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Do I have to pay by credit card?
If you want to have immediate access to the GIH and its services, a credit card is the most efficient way of paying. However, if you want to pay by company check please Contact us under "About subscription payment methods" and identify that you want to register for the Green Industry Hub and pay by check. You will be e-mailed instructions and an invoice to pay by check. Once the check is received you will be given access to the GIH and its services.
 
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If I have a problem or questions who can I contact?
Please see our Contact Us page.
 
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Who do I contact if I'd like to become a Green Industry GIH Sponsor?
Please see our Contact Us page for our sales e-mail address.
 
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What if I still have questions?
Please see our Contact Us page.
 
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