Day 1 (Aug 4): 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Class)

• The MNLA will offer the Irrigation Association's 1 ½ day review course focused on the Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor. During the class, students will learn how to perform spray and rotor field tests on an irrigation system to determine efficiency, as well as how to combine plant water use, soils and local weather data to calculate accurate water schedules for irrigation systems.The course objectives are:
  • Teach pupils what is involved in auditing an irrigation system
  • Review audit findings and discuss potential solutions to correct problems
  • Highlight scheduling techniques to accurately deliver water
  • To provide tools to irrigation professionals to make water-wise decisions.
• You must purchase and read the CLIA workbook entitled “Landscape Irrigation Auditor” from the IA before attending this class. Visit www.irrigation.org to purchase the workbook. You will be expected to have reviewed the workbook prior to attending the course.
• Note: This course is not a substitution for studying the exam references.

Day 2 (Aug 5): 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Class Continued); 1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Exam)

• MNLA will offer the CLIA Exam on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 5. You must apply separately for this exam through the Irrigation Association no later than July 1, 2008. Fees for the prep course and the exam sitting are separate. Visit www.irrigation.org to register for the CLIA Exam. Note: In order to qualify for the exam, you must verify that you’ve completed one year of verifiable irrigation-related work experience.

Wondering what other landscape management companies are doing on their corporate or residential sites? Looking for new property management ideas? Join your colleagues to tour 4 sites in the southwest metro area. Stops include:

• Sundial Shopping Center/Scoreboard Bar and Grill, Minnetonka
• Deerfield Associations, Prior Lake
• Digi International, Minnetonka
• Carlson Center Towers, Minnetonka

The stops are sure to provide you with helpful information and the event will present great networking opportunities. Bring back ideas to implement in your own company and share your ideas with your peers!

An MNLA late summer favorite…Join your fellow MNLA members for a tour of some of the finest public and private gardens in the Ames and Des Moines area and find products to improve your business! See firsthand what plants are thriving in this area, plus network with your fellow plant aficionados.

Hope on the van/bus and visit the following sites on this two day tour:

Friday, August 4

• Reiman Gardens
• Better Homes & Gardens Test Gardens
• Iowa Arboretum
• Paula Flynn

Saturday, August 5

• Iowa State University Hort Farm
• Skycrest Gardens
• Walkabout Gardens

Tour will depart and arrive back at Bachman's Wholesale & Hardscape in Farmington. Advanced registration required by August 1, 2008.