We recently held the GCSAA Chapter Leaders symposium at GCSAA headquarters in Lawrence, Kan. Approximately 50 chapter leaders and executives attended this event from all over the country. The event was designed to inform the attendees of all the projects ongoing at headquarters and also supply them with resources that will help them manage their chapters better. Many of the department leaders presented what their team is currently working on and how it will affect or help our members. There were two different breakout sessions where attendees had time to interact with each other on issues that our membership deals with on a daily basis.

About 30 percent of the attendees are first-timers for this event, and for many of them, it is their first time to GCSAA headquarters. These are the people that I like to be around because I love to see them have their “aha” moment. These first-timers to the building usually have no idea how large the building is or how many people work for GCSAA. For many years, there has been a building tour for attendees of events at headquarters, but this year it was done a little differently.

The attendees were divided in half and the two groups went to different parts of the building to begin their tour. There are four different parts of the building to see the occupied spaces for GCSAA employees. When the group tours arrived at each of the areas, the department leaders and their entire staff was standing there to greet them.  Not only did the touring groups get to see the different areas of the headquarters building, they also got meet each of the GCSAA employees that worked in that area and learn a little of what they do. I spoke to several first-time attendees after the tour was completed and many of them said that this was the favorite part of their trip. I love to see their excitement when they realize how many people are working to better this profession and help them with their chapter management. I encourage everyone to take the opportunity to visit our headquarters when you have the chance and let me know how your “aha” went.