by
Shane Conroy
| Mar 08, 2022
Following the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, chapter events continued at the local level. Chapters throughout the Great Lakes region held education and networking events prior to the spring rush. In fact, chapter education events took place in each of the six Great Lakes states in a one-week window.
The Kentuckiana GCSA was no different as they hosted their annual Mini-Pesticide Conference in early March. The week prior, however, the KGCSA board held a strategic planning session which was facilitated by Steve Randall, director of chapter outreach for GCSAA, and myself. Chapter president David Beanblossom, A 14-year GCSAA Class A member hosted the KGCSA board at Chariot Run Golf Club in Laconia, Ind. With the recent dissolution of the Bluegrass GCSA, David and the board thought it pertinent to hold a strategic planning session, especially as many of the BGCSA members are now members of the Kentuckiana GCSA.
Backing up a bit, I started my tenure with GCSAA in May of 2015. In January 2016, I took part in my first strategic planning session, which happened to be with the Kentuckiana GCSA. The board at that time – which included current chapter president David Beanblossom – set a handful of goals and knocked them out of the park. Since then, the chapter has continued to grow and has implemented additional member benefits. Not wanting to rest on the laurels set six years ago, the board once again set goals to improve the KGCSA membership experience.
The chapter continues to progress under sound leadership and is constantly looking to improve member services as well as fulfil their mission and vision. Hosting a strategic planning session with the entire board is one way to do this. Strategic planning is just one benefit offered to affiliated GCSAA chapters. Through the strategic planning session, board members spend valuable time together, create both short- and long-term goals, and review the chapter’s mission and vision. The KGCSA board held lively discussions during this process, and I look forward to working with them as they complete the goals set forth last week.