Last weekend, the Virginia Horticultural Foundation held a workshop geared towards owners of landscape companies entitled “Spanish for the Green Industry.” During the seminar held in Virginia Beach, instructors led their classes in basic Spanish lessons as well as Latin American culture.
VHF education coordinator, Dawn Alleman told the Virginian-Pilot they began offering the course four years ago because the workforce for the landscaping industry is dominated by those who speak only Spanish.
Alleman said: “If you want to be a foreman in those types of places, you've got to have a decent grasp of Spanish.”
One of the attendees, Tom Ritter, owner of Ritter Grounds Maintenance in Norfolk, VA, took the class so that he might be able to speak to his workers for the first time in ten years without the help of a translator.
Ritter said: “I just want to be able to communicate with them on a day-to-day basis.”
Course instructor, Yolima Carr, passed out a book she has written to the class which contains English-to-Spanish phrases which might be helpful to landscapers, such as: “Take out the weeds in the flower bed, edge the bed, then blow the leaves and the clippings.”
She reminded the business owners that the ‘immigrants’ working for them are from their homes and families, and that because of their Catholic beliefs, may need certain days off.
Carr, who is the gardens curator at the Hermitage Museum in Norfolk, suggested that the workers be allowed to play Mexican music, and should be complimented on their work (“Hiciste un buen trabajo”).
Attendees paid $160 each for the five hour class.
This is yet one more example of those who fail to see the need to hire U.S. citizens, when an illegal alien will do it for less. That philosophy may go a long way in lining the pockets of unscrupulous employers, but in a time when so many Americans have been laid off, it is just shy of treason.
By the way, the group offering the class, the Virginia Horticultural Foundation, operates as a non-profit and as such enjoys tax-exempt status. The class was given at the Founder’s Inn, Christian Broadcasting Network founder Pat Robertson’s hotel and resort.
Comments
VA group helping those who hire spanish speaking workers. Fixed the headline for accuracy.
The title is just right, even though they are here illegally, the should be speaking English. Law breaking economy-draining parasites has a better ring to it.
No, Fixed, I think the headline is perfectly correct!
Because Spanish-speaking workers = illegal immigrants. Right...
Time to revoke these groups tax exempt status.
Never in the history of our country has English ever been subservient to another language. If you plan to "break and enter," at least learn that the term "ILLEGAL" means just that! When we at last elect someone who cares more for the taxpayers of this country than foreign governments, greedy businesses and anti-American organizations, then illegal immigration will cease, but not before. We haven't had an administration since Dwight Eisenhower who had the courage to say "no mas!"
SANCTUARY CITIES NEED ALL FUNDING STOPPED? UNTIL THEY REALIZE THIS IS AMERICA AND EMBRACE ITS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION LAWS AND POLICIES NOW.WHY SHOULD AMERICAN TXPAYER MONIES BE SPENT PROMOTEING THE TAKE OVER OF AMERICA ?? PLEASE EXPLAIN THAT TO THIS AMERICAN TAXPAYER THANK YOU>>>>>THINK ABOUT IT??>>>>
Another case of liberal mental illness! Liberals, democraps and commies are mentally ill cretins of no value or worth to America. They need to be eliminated just like illegals!
I hope someone is keeping track of those business owners who are participating and report them to ICE.
Americans are making their choices, freely, across the nation, aren't they? Greed seems to be the main factor. Where it leads will entirely be up to Americans, whether they want to believe it or not.
So true, Bobby, sadly greed predominates. It's galling to expect employers to speak Spanish when you consider that the vast majority of these workers are here illegally. Sorry, but the burden is on the workers to speak English.
Much as I would love to have a nicely manicured lawn, I refuse to hire a landscaping company because most (if not all) hire illegals. We mow our own lawn, rake the leaves and trim the bushes but I would love to have someone with a green thumb give it some TLC. Sad to say, until I can find a company that won't hire illegals, that won't happen.
It never occures to any of the traitorous people that we have supposedly voted for, that Mexicans, or any other foreign nationals can be helped in their respective nations. The churches, humanitarian groups, and all kinds of people, always did this type of work. This We don't have to flood the U.S. with other cultures. We don't have to make Amerians poor to make others better off. But that's not a consideration to the leaders we have, because it is so obviious that they have an agenda to ruin the citizenry of the U.S. that is called THE ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT, MULTICULTURALISM, FREE TRADE, or whatever other phony name you'd like to give to simple, TREASON against American citizen taxpayers.
CALL -OUR- CONGRESS @ 866 220 0044
DEMAND -OUR- IMMIGRATION LAWS BE ENFORCED !!!
E-VERIFY -ALL- jobs & GOV`t. PROGRAMS !
287g-->NATIONWIDE TO FIND & DEPORT -ALL- ILLEGAL ALIENS !
Send "FREE FAXES" @ capsweb.org & numbersusa.com
More"INFO" visit- theterryandersonshow.com - americanpatrol.com - outragedpatriots.com - ccir.net - cis.org - ojjpac.org .
No ag-job-->SLAVES for-->fienstain & co.
NO dream act-->illegal aliens-->STEAL DREAMS !!!
NO AMNESTY--->EVER !!!
thanks
GOD BLESS THE U.S.!!!
Gee, would that be the SAME "Virginia Beach" in which an ILLEGAL ALIEN sent two angelic teen girls to early graves by slamming into their car while BLIND, STINKIN' DRUNK? You think this kind of behavior was covered in that discussion about "culture?" I guess they'd have to tell prospective employers: "Sure, these illegals work cheap but be prepared to pay vastly higher INSURANCE rates 'cuz these Macho Men love to drive after downing a case of Bud Light's!...in fact they darn near GARGLE with the stuff...after all you can't drink the WATER where they come from!"
It sure would make a lot more sense if those seeking unskilled work here in the US would learn enough conversational English to FUNCTION, wouldn't it? It doesn't take a 12th-grade education or vocabulary to do landscaping!
Kudos to poster Vickie who will do her own yard work rather than employ illegals. May I suggest she recruit some local neighborhood teens to do the work? Teen employment is at an all-time low. Sure, some spoiled brats are too lazy to work...they'll be making their parents proud when they're still living in the basement during their thirties! But, there are those with the initiative who need to learn something about running a business..I wouldn't spend a dime on college tuition for an eighteen year old...they're too young and irresponsible to appreciate the opportunity. Put them out in the real world for a couple of years first.
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