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President's message |
Let’s talk about the ‘whys’
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Every new GCSAA president faces a challenge with the March issue of GCM. Introducing yourself and your intentions for the message on this page each month carries with it both an opportunity and a danger; an opportunity to address
the association’s members and the wider world of golf, and a danger that you may come to rely on slogans or platitudes in your attempt to say something significant every 30 days.
The truth is, though, there is so much going on with GCSAA — so much to tell you about — that I’m confident I won’t lose sleep worrying about topics or how to present them.
The goal of this column for the next year is simple: Explain to members the “whys” of their association — why GCSAA does a particular thing or takes a specific action, or how a particular policy winds up looking a certain way. I plan to give you my take on the following: chapter effectiveness; GCSAA’s government relations efforts; approaching the deadline for the second group of GCSAA members to retain their Class A status; the results of a new member needs assessment and compensation and benefit survey; our career services; and why the efforts of The Environmental Institute for Golf are so important to GCSAA’s future.
While there’s greater detail elsewhere in this issue on my goals for GCSAA in the coming year, those too, are fairly straightforward.
I want chapters to be successful and for your national association to accept some accountability for their success. Greater membership for chapters, yes, but greater membership with greater participation must be our goal, or as I describe it elsewhere in this issue, excitement and reward about being a chapter member.
In this, I’m particularly heartened to see the progress made by the Michigan chapters — with the assistance of GCSAA — to form a state chapter, and we’re also pleased to be helping with chapter discussions on this same topic in Pennsylvania.
Next on my list is recognition, and everything that comes with it. With the PDI-related issues of the past years behind us, it’s time to fulfill the promise we’ve infused into Class A membership by going beyond internal promotion and previous external efforts to an outreach campaign aimed at employers and avid and influential golfers. The rocket’s on the launch pad here; it’s time to light the fuse.
Finally, I want to ensure that all GCSAA members feel that the Golf Industry Show belongs to them, and that our new partnerships exist for a purpose — to increase the value, respect and career opportunities of golf course superintendents.
So whether it’s the GIS, PDI, or any other GCSAA topic, I want this column to be a place with answers to your questions about the “whys.”
My e-mail address is at the top of this page, so please feel free to contact me at any time.
RECENT issues
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February |
January 2007 |