Special News!

AMERICAN SOD PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION

A National Organization Dedicated to Advancement of the Sod Industry

May 11, 1977

1. LEGAL COUNSEL: Much discussion has been given to the use of the legal           

counsel by ASPA members. The first incoming phone call 

to ASPA Legal counsel and furnishing of information already in the ASPA 
"reservoir" will be provided at no expense to the member. If additional 
research as needed, after explanation of ASPA policy by legal counsel, the 
member will be expected to pay for the additional costs. If the matter is 
of industry-wide concern, the president, after consultation with key officers 
will direct the policy. ASPA cannot enter into individual or state matters 
as an active participant however.

Material that has been made available to the Association generally can be 
provided to your local attorney or accountant if your company encounters 
similar problems. Please address all request to Bob Garey, the Executive 
Director of the Association, in Hastings, Nebraska. In addition, if you 
know of any federal or state rulings which either affect your company or 
some other company in the sod production industry, please notify Bob Garey 
so that the Association’s files in this area will be as complete as possible. 
With your help, the Association can continue to serve as a clearinghouse 
for information regarding the treatment of sod producers under various 
federal and state laws and regulations. Our files will grow as you continue 
to report the results of litigation.

2. ARTIFICAL TURF... ITS NOT THE ANSWER! The University of Minnesota

Memorial Stadium in Minneapolis 

has just undergone a complete rebuilding of their football field. Originally 
11,000 square yards of artifical turf was placed at a cost of $600,000, or 
$54.50 per square yard, according to Glenn Rehbein, ASPA Board member. Now 
they are taking up the artifical turf and selling it at $2.75 per square yard, 
taking up the blacktop and rock under it, replacing it with sprinklers and 
drain tile, along with topsoil dirt and grass and the cost will be about 
$125,000. The artifical turf has been used for only about five years. This 
is an increasing trend we see in football field development.

Wearing, fungus causing infection of bums to players, the lack of resiliency 
in the surface, and the complaints of players of poor footing offers real 
and new challenging opportunities for sod producers and suppliers.

3. MEMBERSHIP: ASPA membership is at an all time high! Current membership

totals 324 with 264 Class "A" members, 45 Class "B" members, 

12 Class "C" members and 3 honorary. These figures can be doubled if each 
member will sign one new member--the potential is there!

Association Building        *        9th and Minnesota         *        Hastings, Nebrask 68901         *        (402) 463-5691

4. RULINGS OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES REGARDING SOD PRODUCTION: The state of
       New York has 
reversed its assessment of $1,091.00 against the Mercer Sod Company, Inc., 
of Trenton, New Jersey. The Sales Tax Bureau has claimed this amount as 
sales taxes, penalty and interest. ASPA legal counsel Bill Harding assisted 
by historical information currently available through the ASPA counsel which 
along with other substantiating information resulted in the cancellation of 
the sales tax assessment.

5. COME TO ST. PAUL IN JULY: A really outstanding meeting is shaping up

in the land of 10,000 lakes! The ASPA Summer 

Convention & Field Days will be July 20-22, 1977, in St. Paul, Minnesota. 
You’ll want to be there! Headquarters hotel is the Radisson St. Paul and 
you are urged to get room reservations made immediately. Their address is 
Radisson St. Paul, 11 East Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 - phone 
(612) 222-7711.