Chapter Delegates Meeting 2019

I recently got the chance to go to freezing cold Lawrence, Kansas for the annual chapter delegates meeting. This meeting consists of hearing from all the different departments within the GCSAA, learning about issues that may be altered this year or may require a vote to be altered and changing of the guard for board seats for 2020.

We should start to see a new initiative rolling out from the GCSAA very soon. This is the “Friends of the GCSAA” membership category. I am not exactly sure how they plan to hit their target audience, which are our golfers and members. This membership is not going to give access to anything agronomic. It is similar to a USGA membership which gets members a bag tag, a hat and a flier in the mail quarterly or so. I think they are giving out a sticker and a golf towel or something like that. Also, the GCSAA “Facility Membership” is rolling out. This is targeting smaller courses that do not and have not had GCSAA Members. It also has limited information but greater than the “Friends” category.

The 50 states in the BMP program by 2020 seems to be on track for 50 states in 2020. Tennessee will be complete before Jan 1st and should be released at the TTA show. The reason for the BMP’s is to have a preemptive strike toward governmental regulations. Currently the EPA is thrilled with the fact that we are tailoring BMP’s to each state. The question they are asking is how many facilities are following them. So, adopting the BMP’s at facilities is probably the next step.

There is a GCSAA Ethics rule that is changing due to a legal issue. There are laws that state that you cannot restrict anyone from trying to get a job. The old rule of not contacting a course to gain employment while they have a superintendent employed is out the window so to speak. I would hope that common decency prevails in this scenario though.

First Green STEM Program

If anybody is interested in hosting a First Green field trip with their local elementary or middle school, there are resources through the GCSAA that can be used to help you set up one of these visits. I am hoping to do one next season.

Rounds for Research

I didn’t actually catch the numbers, but I think we may have slipped a spot from last year. The top five were the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey and Tennessee. Start signing up now to participate in the 2020 auction. Forms will be available at The Tennessee Turfgrass Association Conference. Don’t forget that rounds can be tailored however you want with whatever restriction you need to put on them. If you have not participated in the past or have not in the last couple of years, I encourage you to participate. This is a great program which benefits us all.

We need one more Grassroots Ambassador for our state. It is for district 7 with Representative Mark Green. If you have any interest in politics or would like to become involved with this program, please reach out to us and let us know.

Lastly there are Board seats to vote for:

President: John Fulling

Vice President: Mark Jordan

Secretary: Kevin Breen, Kevin Sunderman

Directors: Jeff White, TA Barker, Paul Carter

Open Seats (2): Loser of the Secretary race, Zach Bauer, Doug Dykstra, Glen Matthews

If anyone has any questions, please contact me 615-943-3931.

Brad Marcy, TN GCSAA Chapter Delegate