Outreach Grants available for 2009

In 2008 GCSAA launched the Chapter Outreach Program to assist its affiliated chapters in communicating with key constituents, primarily golfers and employers. The fund was created to help chapters to engage in communications that will complement GCSAA’s efforts to communicate the value of GCSAA membership within the national association and its chapters.

In its first year, GCSAA distributed more than $22,000 to chapters for building awareness of the profession in their local regions. Chapter Outreach funds will be available again 2009 reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis by members of the GCSAA Strategic Communications Committee and GCSAA staff. GCSAA chapters can apply for an outreach grant by completing application available online. More information, including the criteria for awarding grants is available on the Chapters area of gcsaa.org. Throughout the year, Chapter Connection will feature some of the success stories from those chapters that received grants in 2008.

The following chapters received grants in 2008, and they included a wide variety of communications activities:

• Midwest Association of GCS purchased a media buy with a local cable broadcast golf show, which involved TV spots, four segments highlighting the profession, podcats and more.
• Southern Nevada GCSA is funding a PR campaign to increase public awareness of drought and water restriction issues. Along with plans to hire a PR firm, they have received assistance in their messaging from the Water Impact Alliance.
• Heart of America GCSA renewed their relationship with the Midwest Golf Guide, which includes 16 20-minute spots on Kansas City sports radio station, two radio commercials, logo placement online and in print, and booth space at the KC Golf Show.
• GCSA of Northern California created 15-second spots for radio and TV in conjunction with local golf-based show called "Hooked on Golf," which reaches 75,000 viewers.
• Georgia GCSA split funds between "Super Says" articles in the Georgia State Golf Association publication and a Water Smart Insert in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
• Philadelphia Association of GCS entered a radio agreement for Superintendent's Corner monthly segment on radio show Golf Talk Live, which also includes content on the Golf Talk Live Web site.
• Florida GCSA is funding an Economic Impact Study and the resulting communication opportunities this information provides.
• Oklahoma GCSA used funds for advertising is a regional golf publication, hiring a freelance writer for editorial content, and purchasing booth at two local trade shows.
• GCSA of South Dakota hosted the first South Dakota Golf Expo.

Funds are also still available for logo adoption grants. Already more than half of GCSAA’s affiliated chapters have aligned their logos with GCSAA’s. Grants for $1,000 are available to chapters to defer costs of transitioning to the new logo.

For more information about the Chapter Outreach Program or logo adoption, visit the chapter section of gcsaa.org or contact Angela Nitz, manager, corporate communications at 800-472-7878, ext. 3647 or e-mail anitz@gcsaa.org.