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Meet the candidates

For President
Ricky Heine, CGCS

Ricky D. Heine, CGCS, has been the general manager at The Golf Club Star Ranch in Austin, Texas, since 2003. Previously, he served as the superintendent at The Golf Club Star Ranch, River Place Country Club in Austin and Elkins Lake Country Club in Huntsville, Texas. He has a bachelor’s degree in agronomy from Texas A&M University in College Station. A GCSAA member for 25 years, Heine has served on the board of directors since 2001. He currently serves as GCSAA’s vice president and is chairman of the Chapter Relations Committee, the Conference and Show Resource Group and the Industry Advisory Council. He is also a member of The Environmental Institute for Golf board of trustees. Heine is a member of the Central Texas GCSA and the Lone Star GCSA, and is a past president of both organizations. He is also a member of the Texas Turfgrass Association.

Statement
I want to first thank each of you for the opportunity to serve this membership. This time has been filled with many hours of commitment and effort, but in turn I have been rewarded with satisfaction beyond belief. True friendships are not easily found, and I know that my service these past six years has given me many that I will cherish for a lifetime. I look forward to the coming year ahead and all that it has to offer.

The future of GCSAA and this profession is brighter than ever. The many years and leaders of the past have put this association in a position to move to bigger and better things. These things that I refer to are mostly centered on value, respect and appreciation. As the game of golf and play has remained stable these past five years, the connection between the golf course superintendent and the enjoyment of the game has grown tremendously. The surveys of avid golfers say over and over that course conditions are the ultimate factor that determines how they will enjoy their golf experience.

Now is the time to use this information to promote both the superintendent profession and also this association’s role in educating and providing the resources for its members to be successful.

Opportunity often comes with challenges attached, and I can assure you that I am committed to meeting those with the energy and enthusiasm necessary to accomplish them.

Our membership and its board have identified the areas of focus for us right now. Those include marketing our Class A and certified members, chapter effectiveness and field staffing, long-term dues strategies and working to create a diverse and inclusive membership. The delegates representing our membership identified these priorities, and we will now act to engage our resources to achieve results. The new governance model is working effectively to identify needs and then apply the tools to get things done. There has been a learning curve with our new system, but everyone is getting used to the process and results are being realized now.

I am very honored to have been nominated for the office of president of this great association. I want to thank my local chapter, the Central Texas GCSA, as well as our state chapter, the Lone Star GCSA. My family and my employer have been supportive these past six years and have offered their encouragement once again. I now ask for your support to allow me to continue to serve this membership and profession again. Thank you.

RECENT issues

December 2006	November 2006