chips %puns OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE Founded in POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION 1936 TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION VOL. 6, NO. 8 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2000 The State of the Association (GCSAA) Synopsis o f CEO Report to Fall Board Meeting to include weekly PGA Tour Radio interviews. October 20 & 21, 2000 GCSAA will be partnering with Golf Digest to present the Environmental Steward Awards. The Stephen F. Mona, CAE combined awards will be first presented in 2002 Chief Executive Officer under the title G C S A A /G olf Digest Environmental Leader in Golf Award. 74 Career Development applications have been submitted for this year’s Qualitative research to determine the Environmental Steward Awards, with 41 chapter state of the golf course superintendent winners, 19 merit winners and three national profession has been completed. Phase one of winners. the study focused on superintendents. They Public service announcements continue to be discussed their level of satisfaction with their distributed. An estimated 50 million viewers will progress and GCSAA’s efforts to advance their see these three vignettes. Public Relations cause. Phase two targeted employers of Toolkit tools will continue to be distributed. superintendents, and how they viewed the role Upcoming tools will be tied to the 75th of the superintendent in the industry and the anniversary. role of the association. Phase three examined how avid golfers view the role and importance Corporate Marketing and Sales / Conference of the superintendent and the association. The and Show / Foundation study isolates trends and provides direction to With 595 exhibitors and 255,900 square feet increase the visibility of superintendents and of exhibit space, the trade show continues to understanding of the profession. grow as February approaches. With 71 percent The Leadership Survey continues to be of those who registered for hotels staying over picked up by major media. It has resulted in Saturday night, it appears that the new closing more than 15 million impressions. The golf session will be a successful addition to the season video news release vignettes have Dallas Conference and Show been viewed by more than 750,000 people. The Conference and Show directory has been 5,000 ERS subscriptions have been provided, re-designed to a pocket size for greater ease of with more than 90 percent accessing the use. We continue to develop programs that will service online. make it easier to attend Conference and Show. We continue to work with the National Golf Online registration and multiple registration Course Owners Association and the Internal (Continued on page 3) Revenue Service on golf course depreciation issues. We also continue to monitor issues regarding seasonal em ploym ent and unionization, so that the association can be a source of information on these topics. • Assoc. Financial Update Communications • Why We Fail to Delegate We are wrapping up the second year of the • Managing Conflict PGA TO U R M edia P ro gram w ith unprecedented success. Exposure is at an ail time high, and the program has been expanded President's Message....... Thunderstorms in December? Let’s get 2001 in here and hopefully get some OFFICERS normal weather patterns, but then again what is normal anymore? & Now that 2000 is nearly over, let’s take a moment to reflect on some of the DIRECTORS things we tend to overlook, while we are worrying if our crew is going to show TURFGRASS up, or if the irrigation system ran properly: Our Families, Our Friends, Our ASSOCIATION 2000 Health and of course Our Crew. 2000 was a great year for me. I strengthened relationships with family and friends and even met some exciting people to whom I am looking forward to spending time with in 2001. PRESIDENT Gene Huelster Unfortunately, we lost some family and friends this year, but they will not be Pocono Farms Country Club forgotten. They will always be in our hearts. VICE PRESIDENT So let’s mend a fence that needs to be mended and strengthen a relationship Darrin M. Batisky with our neighbor. Here’s to an outstanding 2001! Glen Oak Country Club SECRETARY/TREASURER Gene Huelster Tony Grieco, CGCS DIRECTORS Jason J. Barndt Berwick Golf Club Mark Eisele Country Club at Woodloch Springs From the Editor's Desk. John Downer, CGCS This issue of Chips & Putts contains two articles concerning GCSAA. The Elkview Country Club first is the State o f the Association by Steve Mona (CEO of GCSAA). The importance of this piece is that it summarizes in about 1,500 words what Eric Reed GCSAA is doing for the superintendent and the turf industry. So the next Valley Country Club time someone says, “The $250 dues is a magazine subscription,” you will be able to better inform them of the many, many programs GCSAA is involved Steven Chirip with on a daily basis. The second article is a financial summary from Egypt Farms GCSAA Treasurer, Mike Wallace. The editorial is a supplement to the accountant’s edition (attached to the December issue of Golf Course Management) written to help us better understand the financial workings of CHIPS & PUTTS STAFF GCSAA. Mike did a nice job of explaining some of the finances in more EDITOR common everyday terms. As a person who has been to GCSAA Darrin Batisky headquarters and has had numerous contact with several facets of GCSAA, I have seen firsthand the dedication and commitment they (GCSAA) forward to the superintendent and industry. Please continue to support them. It is Managing Editor vital to the turf industry. Melinda Wisnosky R.R. 1, Box 219 As always your comments are welcome. See you at the winter Harding, PA 19643 meetings and seminars!! 570-388-2889 Fax: 570-388-2167 Darrin Batisky Editorial Committee Jim MacLaren Tony Grieco, CGCS (Continuedfrom page I) packages will provide attendees with options that fit individual needs and desires. The Foundation’s Investing in the Beauty of Golf campaign has raised $4.5 million. For the silent auction, 85 companies have donated 118 items with a value of $250,203. $227,517 has been KOONZ KOONZ Sprinkler Supply, Inc. generated from 5,880 dues renewals. Additionally, the Golden Tee No on knows irrigation like Koonz Club currently has 423 members. 800 772-8486 - Education Ra in ^B ir d Jl ESD Waste Water Treatment GCSAA’s first videoconference was a great success. onEEN RELEAF. & Recycling System Approximately 60 individuals participated from seven sites in Texas. We are discussing opportunities for future videoconferences in the delivery of education. We are providing information about the Professional Development Initiative to chapters and individuals upon request. Superintendent members of the Membership Standards Resource Group contacted each chapter, offering presentations on PDI. Presentations explaining PDI will be given to those chapters that request them. We continue to develop return-on-investment methodology to determine the financial and time benefits that result from GCSAA education. So you want to upgrade existing sprinklers but don't want to dig up your old TORO * or Rain Bird» Environmental Stewardship sprinkler bodies... J j g g p The first Performance Management Survey was mailed to all offers Class A and B members. Results will be reported at the Conference the solution. and Show in Dallas. With the Center for Resource Management, we completed final editing of the Collaboration Guide, which will be introduced in Dallas. A new Audubon Sanctuary specialization is being developed for the Environmental Management Program. Information Services We continue to respond to members’ information needs, and we are redesigning and developing several new information packs. We are also developing online ordering for information packs. Additionally, we are addressing space issues for archiving association records. Government Relations GCSAA’s relationship with our lobbying firm continues to develop well. We are working with members on environmental and regulatory issues. Water resources and use will be a major topic at the Dallas Conference and Show. We continue plans for a Legislative Conference to take place in Washington, D.C. in conjunction with our 75th anniversary. We also are preparing for the final American with Disabilities Act Architectural Guidelines regarding rules for S i jJJLllAAJLJJLA : construction and renovation of golf courses. Additionally, we will publish quarterly articles in GCM pertaining to OSHA regulations. Historical Preservation We have completed the first major exhibit for our new lobby display. Ed Zimmerman “The Reel Story: The Evolution of the Golf Course Mower” opened M a r k e t S a le s R e p r e s e n ta tiv e September 8 and has been successful. Exhibits will rotate T U C m LESCO, Inc. approximately every six months. The first four chapters of the book I JC i 3 J L j i ^—- V "■ - i V - / 1121 L e h ig h S tr e e t A lle n to w n , PA that will tell the story of the history of the profession and the 18103 8 0 0 . 3 2 1 . 5 3 2 5 V .M . 6 2 8 4 (Continued on page 4) 6 1 0 . 4 3 2 . 2 9 1 9 O ffic e association have been completed. The book will be We are working with Chapter Relations to improve the completed and available by the 2002 Conference and Show Speakers Bureau Program. We also are focusing on in Orlando. Exhibit plans continue to be fine-tuned for the association’s role in the Golf 20/20 Conference and Conference and Show. Seven historical exhibits are planned the results of that meeting. Additionally, we are for Dallas. planning to utilize our 75th anniversary celebration as a platform to advance our outreach, public relations and Membership/Chapter Services communications goals In Membership, we are preparing for the impact of the Professional Development Initiative if approved at our Human Resources annual meeting in Dallas. In terms of membership We are working to educate staff on the role of the recruitment, we will enlist the help of Class AA members superintendent through “A Day in the Life of a Golf who volunteer to participate as field representatives. Course Superintendent” events. We also are working In Certification, there has been a 22 percent increase in on staff competencies and will be conducting a pilot both certification applicants as well as newly certified program for a 360-degree evaluation of association superintendents as compared to this time last year. We are managers. working to ensure that our certification exam is tied to the competencies on which our education program is based. Management Information Systems In Chapter Relations, we had a successful Chapter We conducted an audit of the MIS structure and Delegates Meeting that included productive discussions of made the appropriate changes and updates, including a PDI and classification standards. Additionally, we are in the redesign of the computer room for greater access and process of implementing a new Speakers Bureau process. control of key equipment. We are working on the We will be targeting chapters that we have not visited in installation of an information kiosk in the atrium of the several years and will continue to welcome requests from all headquarters building, and we have installed a new chapters for presentations. training venue in the auditorium. In Governance, we have hired a consultant to provide advice on our voting processes to improve our annual Publications election. A survey conducted on industry publications resulted In the Service Center, we replied to 4,600 requests for in 72 percent of respondents naming Golf Course information during FY99-00. During the first half of this year, Management as the top publication in the industry, and we answered 43,600 calls that came in through our 70 percent indicating that they regularly read 50 percent switchboard. or more of the magazine. In September 2001, a commemorative issue of GCM will be published in Research addition to the September issue to celebrate the Dr. Clark Throssell accepted the Director of Research association’s 75th anniversary. This year’s October position, replacing Dr. Jeff Nus who recently accepted the issue of Newsline focused exclusively on Conference position of Research Manager at the United States Golf and Show. Association. Internet Services The GCSAA Web site is averaging 2.8 million hits per N o r t h e r n N u r s e r ie s , i n c Pnfessiottl TurfProducts Dnaion month, and 40 percent of our members are registered on our web site. The Conference and Show web site, which was RT 115, Sullivan Trail launched September 1, has been successful in Wind Gap, PA 18091 Phone: (610) 863-6006 disseminating information about the event. We will continue Fax: (610) 863-6384 to pursue online ordering and marketing strategies that Home Phone/Fax; DAN FICK support our web strategy initiative. Sa le s R e p r e s e n t a t iv e (610) 562-6812 Page r (610) 791-8336 Accounting We successfully completed our year-end closing procedures and annual audit. Additionally, we continue to JO H N M BO D O C K investigate a “check by phone” payment process. L a w n and G o lf S u p p ly Co., In c . Executive Management SP E C IA L IS T S IN E Q U IP M E N T AND S U P P L IE S FO R M A IN T E N A N C E O F T U R F We continue to focus on our performance management system, the expansion of Conference and Show and PHONE: ( 6 1 0 ) 9 3 3 -5 8 0 1 (8 0 0 ) 3 6 2 -5 6 5 0 6 4 7 N U T T R D . P .O . B O X 4 4 7 — sti the implications of PDI and classification standards. FA X : (6 1 0 )9 3 3 -8 8 9 0 PHOENIXVILLE. PA. 1 9 4 6 0 Association Financial Update By Michael Wallace, CGCS, GCSAA Secretary/Treasurer At the September 2000 Chapter Delegates Meeting recently ganization’s total revenues, is provided by industry, primarily held in Lawrence, Kansas, the annual Secretary/Treasurer’s fi­ in the form of advertising, exhibit fees, and sponsorships. nancial update was presented. It was suggested that this article $3.7 million, or 19% come from program and service user be authored to share the information presented with other chap­ fees (including Conference & Show registration, seminar reg­ ter members. istration, bookstore, etc.) and, as I stated before, $3.7 million, or 19% of revenues, come from member dues. The remaining Three Companies in the GCSAA Family 8% of revenues are derived from GCSAA Foundation grants, rent and investment income. GCSAA is the flagship organization and is a 501(c)(6) tax- exempt professional association. GCSAA Communications is a Membership Dues for-profit subsidiary that houses the activities that compete in the marketplace with other for-profit companies, and would thus pay The belief that member dues cover the cost of a majority of taxes on any net taxable earnings. Those activities, at this point, the organization’s products and services is incorrect, as was are primarily advertising and bookstore operations. The GCSAA noted earlier. If member dues were required to entirely cover Foundation is the charitable, fundraising arm of the family. It is the program and service costs of the organization, dues levels governed by a separate Board, and GCSAA’s President, Vice- would have to be increased to $1,270 instead of the current President, and Secretary/Treasurer, as well as the Chief Execu­ $250 level, in place since July 1, 1997. The organization tive Officer, are among the eleven Trustees. Their financial re­ spends over five times the amount of money that member dues sults are reported separately, and are not discussed in this article. generate. GCSAA and GCSAA Communications Consolidated June 30, Program Expenditures 2000 Financial Results On the program expenditure side, over $8.3 million was The financial results of GCSAA and GCSAA Communications spent on education, information, publications, and the web are consolidated for financial reporting purposes. The combined site. This includes G olf Course Management magazine and entity will report revenues of $19.5 million and a $204,000 bot­ Newsline, the information center, government relations, the tom line (or 1.1% of total revenue). These bottom line earnings web site, research and related offerings. Included in those to­ provide funds for the retirement of debt and the purchase of capi­ tals, $400,000 was spent during the year to further compe­ tal equipment (i.e., computers, building improvements, furni­ tency-based education improvements and $100,000 was spent ture). In response to GCSAA’s overall mission, we continue to to fund MSRG meetings, needed cross-committee meetings budget and run the organization with a thin bottom-line objec­ and chapter communication outreach efforts related to the tive (1 to 2%) and to thus reinvest 98% of our resources into pro­ proposed member classification changes. grams and services. Approximately $1.8 million was spent on image efforts, ca­ Sources of Revenue by Event reer development, and media relations; $3.6 million was spent on the Conference & Show to generate $6.9 million in reve­ Member dues were 19% of total revenue for the year, as they nues; and $1.1 million was spent on member chapter services were the year before. The average over the last ten years is 21%. and the service center. Finally, $3.2 million was spent in sup­ The most significant event by far is the Conference & Show. It port of the program areas, which included production, ac­ generated $6.9 million in gross revenues ($3.3 million net of counting, executive management, human resources and man­ expenses) that are used to fund the many programs and initia­ agement information systems. In summary, the organization tives that do not pay for themselves, such as career development is financially strong; however, two key challenges remain sus­ and image efforts, media relations efforts and government rela­ taining the positive momentum in our image, professional de­ tions efforts. GCSAA has grown to rely on this income stream velopment and internet development efforts; and growing and for program enhancement and growth. protecting our revenue generating assets, especially our Con­ ference & Show and G olf Course Management, in the midst Sources of Revenue by Type of increasing competition. Sliced yet another way, over $10 million, or 54% of the or- Manage Conflict for Positive Results On any healthy team, conflict is common, use­ ful, even helpful. Without it, groups become VERTI-DRAIN & ROTADAIRON 570-602-3054 800-554-4063 DEALERS & CONTRACTORS FAX 570-602-3053 complacent, bad ideas go unchallenged, and team members are less than honest with one E S M G o l f S u p p l y C o . another. But how do you keep conflict from get­ A DIVISION OF H.V. INC. ting out of hand? Follow these tips to keep conflict from turning de­ 950 SATHERS DRIVE. PITTSTON TOWNSHIP. PA 18640 structive: SPECIALIST IN DEEP TINE AERATION STEPHEN MICHAEL Focus on ideas, not people. 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Box 507 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18703-0507 * Foil stamping, embossing ■ Rake bunkers 570-822-8181 * Complete bindery including FAX: 570-823-3579 saddlestitch and perfect binding A message fro m your g o lf course superintendent a n d G C SAA p ^ l Why We Fail To Delegate PHILADELPHIA TURF COMPANY 4049 LANDISVILLE ROAD, BOX 865 DOYLESTOWN, PA 18901-0865 Delegation is an ideal way to develop team members’ talents and abilities OFFICE 215-345-7200 FAX 215-345-8132 while allowing you to work on important tasks. So why are people so reluctant MATTHEW W. BROWN GEORGE <1. SKAWSKI, JR. to delegate? Some common excuses: Commercial Products Irrigation Products Voice Mail Voice Mail 215-340*5401 215-340-5450 • I can do it better than anyone else. Don’t expect a team member to TORO, do a task as well as you do. Think back to when the task was new to you. With time, your team members will improve. Until then, remind yourself to accept less than perfection. • It’s force of habit. Habits can be broken. Form a new habit: Eve & NOVARTIS day, spend 15 minutes training a team member for a newly delegated task. John D. Fowler Novartis Crop Protection, Inc. T u rf a n d O r n a m e n t a l 3 2 5 M ill P o n d L a n e Sr. M a r k e t in g S p e c ia lis t O x fo rd , PA 1 9 3 6 3 • My people are too busy already. What are they busy doing? Re­ w w w .c p .n o v a rtis .c o m Tel 610 998 2896 evaluate their workloads. Don’t let them waste valuable time on minor Fax 8 0 0 3 3 4 9 4 8 1 Ext. 5 8 9 9 Fax 6 1 0 9 9 8 2 8 9 7 tasks. Don’t think you’re giving them more work you’re giving them bet­ jo h n .fo w le r@ c p .n o v a rtis .c o m ter work. • My boss told me to do it. More than likely, your boss really told to get it done, not to do it yourself. A busy leader’s responsibilities i GOLF CARS INC. LEASING • SALES • SERVICE ally exceed his capacity to see to them personally. Delegation is your PAUL SZYMANSKI SALES only option. 4180SKYRON DRIVE BUCKINGHAM, PA 18912-0247 215- 340-0880 OFFICE • 215- 340-1634 FAX • I don’t want to dump jobs onto anyone. You’re not dumping, you’re TURF 1 delegating. As long as you assess a team member’s current workload and abilities, and as long as you delegate evenly, it shouldn’t be a bur­ den for anyone. Delegate, Harold L.Taylor. Warner Books, 1271 Ave. o f the Americas, NY 10020. ytffliy Carryall Turf E a rth w o rk s /CENTURYRAINA ID 1 N a tu r a l O r g a n ic P r o d u c t s Featuring Joel Simmons s n H u n te r p la y to win1 P.O. Box 278K 6574 O. UJ(*T C TVIau/arp L/CLdWdie rV iv p Lylive F w w w .soilfirst.com idaXv. O 6 1l 0 U.7't J5v0 .7 ' fR 40 0*tU KSB G O L F Martins Creek, PA 18063 Phone: 6 1 0 -2 5 0 -9 5 6 0 Rotors «Valves • Central Control Systems 8 0 0 '7 3 2 'T U R F 8 0 0 -3 4 7 -4 2 7 2 Pa# 9 POCONO ROUNDUP NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE POCONO In S y m p a th y TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION Our deepest sympathy goes out to Dr. Joe and Pat Duich on the sudden passing of their son Robert Stephen Duich on December 31, 2000. Contributions can be made to: F e rtiliz e r P ric in g Isabel Duich Educational Fund, Mrs. Joe Brennan, 3368 Prairie Dr., Pleasanton, CA 94588. Joe and Pat’s home For those of you not keeping up with current events in the address is: 1210 Charles St., State College, PA 18601. fertilizer market, the price of Urea has taken the largest price jump since the oil embargo in the early 1970’s. C o n g ra tu la tio n s ! Urea went up $50.00/ton since the end of 2000 with no end in sight. The cause of this is the jump of natural gas prices. Congratulations and Good Luck to the new Natural gas was going for $2.00/million BTU, and it is now at superintendents: $10.00. The urea manufacturers bought the natural gas on Andy Dumas at Silver Creek Country Club the futures markets at the lower figure and can now sell it for Vince Matics at Country Club of Scranton the $10.00 figure, so they are cutting down or stopping urea production and selling back the gas at a good profit. M e e tin g What does this mean to you? Either fertilizer will be in short supply, or you can expect to pay more. For instance, a Be advised the March PTGA educational meeting will be fertilizer with 50% of the N source, no matter what variety held in conjunction with Simplot Partners at the Split (except natural organics), can jump to an extra $1.00/50# or Rock Lodge on March 8. If you get mailings from the $40.00/ton! Be prepared! PTGA and Simplot, don’t be surprised. But please RSVP with either one or the other if you plan to attend. Thank you. POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION c/o MELINDA WISNOSKY POSTAGE R.R. 1, BOX 219 HARDING, PA 18643 TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION NAME & ADDRESS ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED.