Executive Director’s Corner

“ Change is always needed for continued growth and success.”

This is true for just about anything you do in life. This is especially true for organizations like the MTC.

I have had the pleasure and honor of serving on the MTC Board since 1975. In the last 49 years I have been the MDA advisor to the Board, Vice President, President. For the last 11 years I have had the pleasure of serving as the Executive Director. In that time, we have seen a lot of changes occur in the MTC. One of the most significant changes that I am most proud of is the expansion of membership from approximately 300 in 2013 to over 1400 in 2024. This success is all due to the professionalism of turfgrass professionals like you.

However, part of the aforementioned change is the need to ask for help as my health is challenging me every way we turn. Just a quick list of what has been and is going on:

• Pre-Covid, I developed the need for lumbar back surgery but due to Covid it was classified as “elective” and was postponed until Aug 2023. Those who attended the 2020, 2021, and 2022 MTC Winter Conference and Trade Show saw me navigating with a cane.

• The surgery was a great success, and everything was looking great during rehab until mid-November when it became more and more difficult to move with loud clicking and popping coming from my hips and legs. At the 2023 conference you may have seen me sitting or being pushed in a wheelchair. After extensive testing and visits to specialists it was determined both hips need to be replaced with the right being the first to go.

• The specialists’ visits before surgery began again. Things were going well until the visit to the cardiologist who ordered a nuclear stress test. Long story short, I had a heart catheterization at the University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore on Friday, February 2. They are doing the test at the University of MD Hospital in the event “additional cardiac intervention, such as by-pass surgery is required.”

As all this progressed, I went from not being able to lift much to not being able to walk up and down stairs to my office, to not being able to walk at all without a walker, to not being able to even sit in an up-right position for any length of time without significant pain and discomfort.

Add to all this the numerous doctor visits, tests, and other medical appointments and I needed help.

Fortunately, the Officers and Board of Directors of the MTC stepped up and are keeping the MTC going strong, especially Past President and Webmaster Ben Ellis.

Ben is picking up the lead on time-sensitive projects such as a spring recertification class in Easton on March 13 to provide for the usual August class we cancelled last fall due to my back surgery. Also, anyone needing the “Procrastinators Recertification Virtual Class” mark your calendar for Friday, June 14 and an in person “Early Bird Class” back in Easton on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. Lastly mark your calendar for Tuesday, December 10 for the MTC 49th Annual Winter Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show at Turf Valley Resort.

Ben’s Contact information is:

Ben Ellis • 2806 Brewster Rd • Waldorf, MD 20601 571-340-9122 • GolfTurf54@gmail.com

Ben and I will be in constant contact but especially regarding anything which is time sensitive, please contact Ben or President Brandon Sands. I will reply and assist as I can. I thank you for all you past and continued support and your help making the MTC even bigger and stronger as we prepare to enter our 50th year.

So if payments have been slow to be processed, please bear with us as we make these changes for the MTC and You.

Vernon Cooper

MTC Executive Director