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| October 16, 2008 |
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Industry NewsCandidates set for GCSAA Board of Directors The official slate of candidates for GCSAA's 2009 elections has also been announced. Voting members will elect three officers and three directors at the 2009 Annual Meeting, Feb. 6. The following individuals will appear on the ballot: For president:
For vice president:
For secretary/treasurer:
For director (electing three):
Robert O. Farren, CGCS, director of golf course and grounds management at Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort and Country Club, was initially on the ballot, but has withdrawn his name from consideration. Ihms and Randquist are both at the end of their two-year director's terms and O’Keefe is completing a one-year appointment. Patrick R. Finlen, CGCS, director of golf course maintenance operations at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, enters the second year of his term as director. David S. Downing II, CGCS, vice president of operations and construction for Signature Golf Group in Myrtle Beach, S.C., will serve on the board for one year as immediate past president. Ricky D. Heine, CGCS, general manager and director of grounds at The Golf Club Star Ranch in Austin, Texas, is retiring from the board of directors after serving the last year as immediate past president. The candidates' complete bios and statements will be published in the January issue of GCM.
Golf course superintendents donate $20,000 The Eastern Shore Association of Golf Course Superintendents, a GCSAA affiliate chapter, has donated $10,000 to the Maryland Turfgrass Council. The funds will benefit the University of Maryland’s Turfgrass Research Center. To date, the organization has donated more than $50,000 to the University of Maryland to go towards turfgrass research, which will benefit the industry in the Mid Atlantic region. University of Maryland Professor Peter Dernoeden, Ph.D., said, "This donation will go a long way in enabling us to continue to provide golf course superintendents in Maryland and surrounding states the most current information on pest management, bentgrass stress management, and numerous other aspects of turfgrass management." The association also recently donated an additional $10,000 to the Believe in Tomorrow Children’s Foundation during the annual Beach Bash held at Secrets Night Club in Ocean City on Sept. 22. The Children’s Foundation supports kids and their families who face life threatening health issues. Over the past 10 years, the ESAGCS has donated more than $70,000 in cash and services to the Believe in Tomorrow’s Children’s House by the Sea.
The Club Foundation Run with the Presidents set CMAA President Peter Homberg, CCM is hosting a 5K "run for fun" (or just "walk and talk") in New Orleans, Friday, Feb. 6, at 6:30 a.m. Participants will receive a "CF Run with the Presidents" t-shirt and refreshments will be served at the start/finish line. The registration fee is $30 per person, which benefits the St. Bernard Project and The Club Foundation. Contact Nichole Rhodes, director of Development for The Club Foundation, for additional information, 703-739-9500. Keeping with the fitness theme, CMAA is also presenting a three-day Bicycle Chautauqua. Chautauquas were developed in the mid-19th century as mobile universities that moved across America offering popular talks intended to bring insight and entertainment to rural America. The Bicycle Chautauqua has updated the concept by creating a reflective opportunity for working professionals to escape from the trenches; to bond and connect with ideas and people; and to think deeply about club management in a physically stimulating social setting. Along with three days of bicycling, attendees will have four two-hour debriefs focusing on issues raised during the day’s ride, hours of discussion during breaks, maintenance periods and dinner.
SWAT submits first product testing protocol to EPA The Smart Water Application Technologies initiative, led by the Irrigation Association, has submitted its eighth testing protocol for climatologically-based controllers to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The protocol is the industry’s first to be sent to EPA for consideration in the WaterSense product labeling program. "The SWAT Committee and the Irrigation Association are very excited about reaching this milestone event," said Brian Vinchesi, chair for the IA’s SWAT Committee. "The SWAT process to develop this protocol has been a well-thought-out and detailed process." This product testing protocol is for "smart" irrigation controllers, specifically climate-based irrigation controllers, also known as weather-based or ET controllers. These controllers provide a proven and effective means to achieve outdoor water use efficiency. Unlike traditional timer-based controllers, "smart" controllers work by monitoring weather conditions to determine landscape irrigation. Once a "smart" controller is properly installed and programmed, the system automatically takes care of seasonal weather and site-specific adjustments, and does not require ongoing monitoring. SWAT protocols are available for review at www.swatirrigation.org. Comments on the eighth draft of SWAT protocols can be submitted until Oct. 27.
Boomer Golf News looking for environmental news Peter Blais, publisher and editor of Boomer Golf News, says he will run articles about how golf can have a positive effect on the environment on a regular basis. "It's definitely a message golfers need to hear, particularly those in the Boomer age group the golf industry is depending on so heavily for participation and dollars in the coming years," Blais said. "I'd like to hear from golf course superintendents their environmental efforts that I could publicize." Blais also offers a periodic electronic newsletter that lists the best recent articles posted on Boomer Golf News. Contact Blais directly pblais@maine.rr.com.
GCBAA Foundation Youth Program Heading to China
To help members left in the wake of recent hurricanes and other natural disasters, the Southern Nursery Association established the Disaster Relief Committee, which utilizes an online forum to keep members informed and to coordinate resources.
A critical part of the Disaster Relief Committee is the emergency response team, which is made up of industry professionals who are not growers. "When a disaster hits, the nursery operators need to be able to take care of their operations," says Andy Zimlich, chairman of the committee. "Therefore our emergency team is made up of industry vendors and not growers." The team members geographically cover North Carolina to the tip of Florida and west to the Texas border. "After Katrina in 2005, so many people were graciously sending us food and supplies," says Randy Bracy, owner of Bracy's Nursery in Amite, La., which witnessed the devastation first hand. "We were overcome by the outpour of support, but what we needed to get things moving again were fuel and generators. But we had no way to communicate those needs." Now through the use of satellite phones and the disaster relief forum, committee members are able to communicate specific needs and well being of operations in affected areas. The disaster relief forum is available for anyone who wants to communicate or stay informed regarding the situation. "After Hurricane Ike hit Texas, we offered the forum to the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association," says Zimlich. "Any state or local association who needs to use the forum is welcome to do so." For more information, visit www.sna.org.
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"The Sticks for Kids program has been a very important part of the Foundation's mission to expand and grow the sport of golf," GCBAA Foundation President Bill Kubly said. "In addition to our programs here in the states, we have established programs at five U.S. military bases. To be able to begin to grow internationally into a market like China is a big boost not only to GCBAA members but to the industry as a whole." 
The forum, hosted on the 
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