Chapters offering GIS experience to members

As the 2018 Golf Industry Show (GIS) continues to creep up on the calendar, a few chapters in the region have been busy putting together opportunities for members to attend GIS at little or no cost. 

The Northwestern Illinois GCSA began their 'Send Me to the Show' promotion in 2014, with that year's winner, 10-year GCSAA member Shane Bays, who is the superintendent at River Heights Golf Course in the DeKalb Park District, receiving an all-expense paid trip to GIS 2015 in San Antonio. They have held the promotion every year since, and are once again offering a Northwestern Illinois GCSA member an all-expense paid trip to San Antonio, including airfare, hotel stay, conference registration and two education seminars. Ingersoll golf course superintendent and 17-year GCSAA member Matt Dutkiewicz, who also serves as the NWIGCSA director of communications, had this to say about the success of the promotion: "As an association, we are always trying to find ways to provide maximum value to our members. Providing an opportunity for one of our members to attend GIS was an excellent way to add value, and promote the industry at the same time."

 
The Kentuckiana GCSA put together a similar program last year after a strategic planning session with GCSAA staff. To help a current member offset the expense of attending GIS, the chapter introduced the GIS Scholarship. The inaugural scholarship was won by Dalton Morgan, a three-year Class C GCSAA member and assistant superintendent at Hurstbourne Country Club in Louisville, Kentucky. This provided an excellent opportunity to give something back directly to the members, and the KGCSA is continuing with this scholarship in 2018. Regarding his experience in Orlando at GIS last year, Dalton had this to say:

"First and foremost, I would like to just give a huge thanks to the KGCSA membership, the board of directors, and all of the sponsors at the fundraiser for giving me the opportunity to attend the show. The scholarship helped cover everything I needed while attending the GIS. The Orlando show was the first one I’ve attended. I've always kept up with the show on Twitter every year but actually being there this past February was great. The classes I attended on Monday and Tuesday were super beneficial and the trade show was a blast. The amount of networking with other turf heads and knowledge gained from GIS 2017 was outstanding. I appreciate everything that the KGCSA has done and is continuing to do to benefit me as a turf professional."
 

Dalton Morgan at GIS 2017 in Orlando, Florida

Most recently, the Michigan GCSA created a promotion to send one of their members to GIS 2018 through a tee shirt fundraiser. During the two-week promotion, the MiGCSA sold 180 shirts. 

Regarding the fundraiser, 19-year GCSAA member and MiGCSA Executive Director Adam Ikamas, CGCS added: "The MiGCSA Board is so happy to be able to provide the direct member benefit from the sales of these shirts, and the overwhelming showing of pride from our members to support their chapter is really a testament to the amazing community we have here in Michigan. This idea would not have happened if it were not for the original idea brought forth by Randy Robinson, Iowa executive director and seeing it put to action by Brian Laurent in Ohio, and the Michigan Turf tag line from Adam Garr, the Michigan Territory Manager for Syngenta, who has been using it on Twitter all summer. We look forward to expanding this fundraiser in the years to come."

GCSAA and WGCSA leaders meet

During the week of the U.S. Open, leaders from the GCSAA and Wisconsin GCSA took advantage and got together to discuss matters related to the industry. Present at the meeting were: Jon Canavan, WGCSA president, Josh Lepine, CGCS, WGCSA vice president, Jeff Barlow, CGCS, WGCSA treasurer, Mike Bremmer, WGCSA director, Brian Bonlender, WGCSA director, Rob Johnson, WGCSA vendor representative, Brett Grams, WGCSA executive director, Rhett Evans, GCSAA CEO, Darren Davis, CGCS, GCSAA vice president, Rafael Barajas, CGCS, GCSAA Secretary/Treasurer, John Fulling, CGCS, GCSAA director and Shane Conroy, GCSAA field staff. Mike Bremmer hosted the meeting at the Wisconsin Club in Milwaukee.

Mike Bremmer and The Wisconsin Club hosted the day's events.

During the meeting, a variety of pertinent issues were addressed, including the GCSAA’s current key initiatives, which include:

• State-wide Best Management Practices implementation
• Government Affairs
• Professional development
• Recognition and promotion of profession

The Wisconsin GCSA key initiatives were also discussed which, coincide with some of GCSAA’s initiatives and include:

• Execution of Best Management Practices
• Continual chapter growth
• Continue to produce quality chapter events and education

This meeting provided an exceptional opportunity to gather information on what is being done at the local and national levels to continue to elevate our profession for both parties. One area of focus was Best Management Practices implementation strategies and approaches. Utilizing tactics and information from states who have previously implemented BMPs, such as Michigan and Florida, the group was able to discuss a variety of developmental approaches.

Growth as a chapter was also addressed. Constantly working to advance the profession and serve members, WGCSA President Jon Canavan brought up a variety of areas where the chapter has discussed growth programs and initiatives. With GCSAA representatives able to offer feedback and guidance, as well as take information back to headquarters, there was a lively discussion on remaining vigilant as an association to continue to grow the profession and association.

The group also used this time to discuss the labor issue in our industry. Finding talent at multiple levels in our industry is not a problem exclusive to Wisconsin, it's a national problem. This is being addressed at every level to ensure there is steady talent entering our industry. Currently, GCSAA is working with various allied associations in an effort to expose more individuals at every age to the career opportunities which exist in our great profession. There is also an immediate concern to produce individuals in golf turfgrass management. With this immediate concern, programs and initiatives are being addressed with specific allied associations and firms, which were discussed with the group.

Being able to conduct these intelligence gathering meetings offers great value to all involved. I know I can speak for each GCSAA representative and say the meeting produced both immediate, and long-term results, as well as valuable information each one of us can use to improve the industry. I want to thank each individual for taking the time out of their schedules to attend and offer input at this meeting. I'd like to thank Mike Bremmer for hosting at his beautiful facility, as well. I'm appreciative of the WGCSA board, and members for continuing to elevate not only our industry but all of golf. With such a successful month of June in the international golf spotlight, all the credit to Erin Hills superintendent and 14-year GCSAA member Zach Reineking and Thornberry Creek at Oneida superintendent and 30-year GCSAA member Steve Archibald as well as everyone on their crews for showcasing to the world how Wisconsin does golf.