CHIPS % PUTTS OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE Founded in POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION 1936 TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION VOL 9, NO. 5 August/September 2003 Why 18 Holes? The links at St. Andrews [occupy a narrow strip of [land along the sea. As early |as the 15th century, golfers I at St. Andrews established a I customary route through I the undulating terrain, I playing to holes whose [locations were dictated by [topography. The course I that emerged featured [eleven holes, laid out end I to end from the clubhouse I to the far end of the Eric Reed, Golf Course Superintendent I property. One played the Valley Country Club I holes out, turned around, [and played the holes in, for Eric Reed is completing his sixth season as golf course superintendent at a total of 22 holes. In 1764, Valley Country Club. Valley is a Par 71, A.W. Tillinghast design built in the I several of the holes were late 1920's. The course was originally a nine hole layout built in 1909. Ron [deem ed too short, and Forse and Jim Nagle completed a bunker restoration and three green re­ I were therefore combined. construction projects in the fall of 1998/spring of 1999. Although it only plays [The number was thereby to a length of 6,100 yards, the undulating course places a premium on a I reduced from 11 to nine, so golfer's short game. Valley hosts 18,000 rounds per year, weather permit­ that a complete round of ting. the links comprised 18 Eric is a 1990 graduate of the Penn State University Turfgrass Certificate holes. Program, and a 1987 degree holder of The University of Akron's Business Management Program. Prior to arriving at Valley, he had garnered his golf course experience at Firestone Country Club, and Aronimink Golf Club. Four years with a sheisty construction company in Ohio renewed his exuberant return to golf course maintenance at Valley. Dave Tetlak is completing his second season as Eric's able as­ sistant. A peak crew of eleven maintain the greens and grounds. In his spare time, Eric enjoys more work and fatherhood. Joined in life by Becky, his wife of ten years, they are the proud parents of Madison, 6, Megan, 4, and Bryce, 1. y^OCO/ President's Message....... A big thank you goes out to all who were in attendance at the July meeting at Fox Hill C.C. The amount of questions submitted prior to the PRESIDENT meeting was very low: one. However, this discussion went very well. RonGarrison, CGCS, Fox Hill C.C. As soon as you start talking turf with a group of turfers, it is hard to stop 570-655-2383 Rgarrison@aol.com them. The Pattersons were in attendance. Jack and Rick, and another VICE PRESIDENT Eric Reed, Valley C.C. crowd favorite Fran Berdine. It was great to see them all again. 570-788-4277 Rumor has it they will be at the clambake this year. Next month we will Barley5@aol.com be at Valley Country Club. I'm sure Eric will have the course in its usual TREASURER terrific condition. Mark Eisele, CGCS, C. C. at Woodloch Springs By the time this issue hits the street, the clambake will have been a 570-685-2980 eiselemk@ltis.net success. Thanks to all the supporters at this annual event. Thank you to Keith Snyder and staff for being our gracious host. We have Great SECRETARY Bear locked in to host another monthly meeting in the near future. Jason J. Barndt, Berwick Golf Club 570-759-6480 We will all be getting our GCSAA Conference and Trade Show grassman72@hotmail.com brochures in the mail very soon. This year's conference is in beautiful DIRECTORS San Diego, California. Get your applications in as soon as possible in order to obtain the classes for which you desire. Steven Chirip, Egypt Farms, Inc. 570-894-3131 Thank you to all members who have been supporting the Association this year. It has been a difficult year for all of us. Your support and John Downer, Elkview C.C. participation has made this year much easier to get through. 570-222-9247 Andrew Jubinski, Jr., Glenmaura National G.C. See you at the meetings! 570-457-8733 Duane Schell, Blue Ridge Trail G. C. Ron Garrison, CGCS 570-868-8113 djschell@epix.net Richard Sweeney, CGCS, Glen Oak C.C. 570-586-5791 r.j.sweeney@att.net CHIPS & PUnS STAFF From the Editor’s Desk, EDITOR Eric Reed Managing Editor Melinda Wisnosky Well, I think we can almost say that we have this one under our Editorial Committee belts. I never thought I would say this, but given a choice of one of the Jason Barndt previous two seasons, I think I would take a drought over this soaker of Jeff Koch Jim MacLaren a year. Actually, having a weekend off in June or August because there is nothing you can do while it's raining would be a difficult thing to give up, though. This year left us defenseless against the weather. One of my members wants to sue the company that installed the PTGA Office RR 1, Box 219 course drainage system some eight years ago because of how poorly Harding, PA 19643 it performed this year. The membership feels that the course should be Phone/Fax: (570) 388-2167 as dry as popcorn flatulence after a 2-inch rain. It's difficult to convey that it would also mean that we would be brown and crusty after a mere 2 weeks of dry weather. I'd say "let it snow", but I'm afraid of what that season has yet to bring! Any opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author a n d /o r person quoted, and may not represent the Eric Reed position of PTGA. Information contained in this publication may be used freely, in whole or in part, without special permission as long as the true context is maintained. W e would appreciate a credit line. W h a t is a n H -2 B V is a P r o g r a m ? M ichael T. Glah, President International Personnel Inc. The H-2B visa establishes a means for U.S. non- • Determines the “ prevailing wage" for each job agricultural employers who anticipate a shortage of category petitioned domestic workers, to employ temporary nonimmi­ • Issues "advertising instructions" for the number grant foreign workers. H-2B eligibility requires that the and type of positions requested job and the employer's need for the foreign worker • Approves or denies the request for Allen Employ­ be of a temporary nature, such as seasonal employ­ ment Certification ment. The H-2B visa is ideally tailored to meet the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) needs of the green industry in the Northeastern United (Formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Services States where the typical seasonal employment period of I.N.S.) requires less than eleven months. Turnover amongst • Reviews the DOL application and certification this foreign labor force is traditionally extremely low, • Reviews the BCIS application form, the 1-129, Peti­ stabilizing the seasonal labor force. The individuals will tion for a Nonimmigrant Worker typically return year after year, significantly reducing • Performs criminal background checks on all for­ retraining costs. eign nationals identified in Form 1-129 • Approves or denies the Petition for a Nonimmi­ The H-2B Visa Program: grant Worker • Permits U.S. employees to hire seasonal foreign Department of State workers • Operates United States Embassies worldwide • There must be a lack of willing qualified U.S. work­ • Performs additional criminal background checks, ers available for the positions fingerprints, photographs, and interviews all for­ • Is for seasonal employment eign nationals petitioning an H-2B visa • Is restricted to non-agricultural work • Issues the H-2B visas • Involves three U.S. government state and federal agencies and applications What is an H-2B Agent and what are the benefits of • Applications are by job title and rate of pay and using one? may have multiple employees An Agent is a subcontractor and is not required to • Application submission requires 120 calendar days be an immigration attorney. An Agent will perform before workers are needed. from the most basic services, filing the required appli­ • Certification is issued to the employer, not the cations for an employer to be certified to participate worker in the H-2B program, to the most comprehensive, per­ • Certification is not transferable from one employer forming ongoing human resources employment sup­ to another or between employees port services. An employer may use the following as • Re-certification of the employer is required annu­ a checklist to determine the level of support services ally an Agent is quoting in their proposal. • An employer must file for its H-2B certification— 1. Basic Agent Representation multiple employers cannot jointly file • Interviews client to acquire information for appli­ • H-2B employees must return home annually to cation procedures have their H-2B visas re-issued • Accurately complete, for client signature, govern­ • Housing and transportation are not required ment application forms • Hourly rates paid to foreign workers must be com­ • Timely file required documents with U.S. govern­ petitive to local labor rates ment agencies • Place recruitment advertisements and track and What government agencies are involved and what is report results to the DOL their role? • Ongoing communication with all levels of U.S. govt, agencies involved in application Department of Labor (DOL) 2. Embassy Representation • Reviews fhe applying company's application • On-site representation at appointed U.S. Embassy form, the ETA 750 (Continued on page 4) (Continued from page 3) => Assist 1st year personnel to establish bank interview with Embassy accounts and gain access to low fee money • On-site assistance in foreign country to fill out H- transfer procedures to families at home 2B personnel's visa applications => Assist personnel to access credit card com­ • Experienced staff in foreign country available to panies to establish credit in the U.S. resolve challenges with Embassy 3. Recruitment In my twelve years of experience with the H-2B Pro­ • Utilizing client referrals or other databases, pro­ gram, both managing it for my own company and vide on-site candidate screening in foreign now as an H-2B Agent, I am convinced that a success­ country ful H-2B Program requires a comprehensive commit­ 4. Employment Support Services ment to both its administrative and personnel manage­ • Translation services ment issues. The H-2B is not a once and done solution. => Offered on site or via telephone, transla­ Just like all labor management objectives, the H-2B pro­ tion assistance with employee orienta­ gram takes ongoing management commitment in or­ tion, policies and procedures, and per­ der to increase its efficiencies and, therein, its suc­ formance related meetings cesses. A comprehensive, “ turn-key", H-2B Agent ser­ • Acquire for H-2B personnel International Drivers' vice providing all of the above-described services, still Licenses (IDL) requires significant management commitment for a • Travel Planning successful outcome. Having said that, I believe that the => Coordinates chartered bus services H-2B visa program is the best available solution to the => Negotiate group airfare discounts labor crisis experienced by U.S. seasonal employers in the green industry. • Housing and Transportation Assistance => While housing is not required of em­ ployer, Agent can coordinate with local Latino community service organizations Michael T.Glah, President to acquire housing and transportation. International Personnel Resources, Inc. • Social Security Administration (SSA) P. O. Box 1507 => Accompany 1st year personnel to local West Chester, PA 19380 SSA office for Social Security numbers Phone: I -877-H2B-VISA • Replacement Workers Fax: 1-877-H2B-WIPR => Including recruitment, embassy repre­ Email: mglah@H2BwithlPR.com sentation, travel coordination, and orien­ Web address: www.H2BwithlPR.com tation • Banking and Financial Planning Irrigation Specialists 4 CJolf Course Irrigation Renovation 4 Irrigation Additions 4 Clubhouse <5 Landscape Irrigation Simplofc 4 Reelcraffc PC^K/j Syringing Systems E jJ jJ jp ju l p fr R J n e s 4 Irrigation Service