NEWSLETTER OF THE FLORIDA GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION Palm Beach Chapter Wins 2009 FGCSA Golf Team Championship. Deron Zendt, front row center won the Individual Title. Upcoming Events Nov. 12th - Seven Rivers GCSA Annual Fishing Trip, Thunder-Spring Hill Christmas Tournament - TBD Monthly Meeting, Copperleaf Country Club th Nov. 12th - Calusa GCSA - Monthly Nov. 17 - Florida West Coast GCSA Meeting, Palmetto Pine Country Club - Monthly Meeting, The Dunes Nov. 13th - Palm Beach GCSA Monthly Meeting, The Fountains Country Club Nov. 23rd - Suncoast GCSA - Monthly Meeting, The Founders Club Nov. 17th - South Florida GCSA Chapter meeting, Doral Nov. 30th - North Florida GCSA Annual Education Conference, San Jose Country Club Nov. 17th - Everglades GCSA - Dec. - Calusa GCSA Annual Charity Dec. 10th - Seven Rivers GCSA Holiday Meeting, Juliette Falls Dec. 10th - North Florida GCSA Christmas Meeting and Golf Tournament, Hyde Park Country Club Dec. 16th - Treasure Coast GCSA Golf Only Meeting, Grand Harbor Dec. 18th - Suncoast GCSA Christmas Meeting - Gasparilla Inn and Club 1 President's Message President's Message By Bill Kistler It's hard to believe that we are approaching the end of another year. Hopefully 2010 will prove to be a better year than 2009. A new year it will certainly bring new challenges. Before then we must do some housekeeping before 2009 comes to an end. I'm speaking of the Methyl Bromide issue. As all of us should know by now the EPA still has its sights on the immediate discontinued use of Methyl Bromide for turfgrass and several other crops instead of the usual orderly phase out period. They have rejected proposals from the Methyl Bromide task force for a timed phase out with no explanation. So what do we do now? We need a grass roots effort in contacting our Congressmen and Senators. In addition, we should also contact the U.S. Senate Ag Committee. This can be done by Fax or email. You can go to your chapter link on the GCSAA web site at www.gcsaa.org. There you'll find email attachments with sample letters along with talking points. You can also write you own letter or email. Whichever you choose, we ALL need to send letters and emails. We can no longer sit on the sidelines and watch. If each and every one of us don't get on board with this, we are certain to achieve the unexplained result EPA is trying for. It is up to us. Once again I would like to remind everyone to please go through your BMP check list and see where you are. I know we don't have a certification program yet, but let's be proactive on this. We can get ahead of the curve and help direct it if we take collective action and show a unified willingness to get behind the BMPs. Many think mandatory BMPs are coming and a tougher more liberal EPA is certainly ramping up the rhetoric on beefing up the Clean Water Act. One last item: the GCSAA Board of Directors election is coming up in February. Please make sure your vote counts. Please check your chapters voting roster to make sure your vote is assigned to your chapter, or to the FGCSA. We News Coordinator: Jennifer Innes PO Box 65 Jensen Beach, FL 34958 (772) 334-7515 (772) 334-6015 e-mail: fgcsa(focomcast.net The Green Sheet is a bimonthly FGCSA Newsletter printed as follows: Jan/Feb, 2 In closing, I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season. Financial Support: This issue of the Green Sheet is being sponsored by: Golf Ventures 5101 Gateway Blvd., Suite 18 Lakeland, FL 33811-2704 800-330-8874 800-481-8911 888-222-7072 Please complete our survey question on the FGCSA website: w w w.floridagcsa .com All material submitted for printing will be edited at the discretion of the editor. Material must be typed or clearly printed. Photos are encouraged. Items must be for the good of the association. March/April, May/June, July/August, Sept ./October, November/December. want to make sure every Florida vote gets counted. We want to know if you are planning to attend the FGCSA Reception in San Diego? Your answer is important!! <§REEN SHEE Editor: Joel Jackson, CGCS (407)248-1971 (fax/phone) E -mail: FLGrn (foaol.com Bill Kistler Deadline next issue December 15. Please check out our website for upcoming events and member information. Executive Director Report Executive Director Report By Joel Jackson, GCCS 1. Action Alert to All Members - Three items that need your immediate attention: A. Log on to http://capwiz.com/gcsaa/issues/alert/7alerti d=14119511 and learn how to contact your legislators (Senators and Congressman) to protest EPA's immediate cancellaton of methyl bromide without a fair phaseout period like most cancelled products. B. GCSAA Member Voting Status - If you are not going to San Diego and attending the Association's Annual Meeting your vote on the candidates and any pending issues will not be counted. To make sure your vote is counted you can assign your vote to your local chapter or to the FGCSA. Your specific vote will be cast as you wish, but you must assign your vote to a proxy - either the local or the state. Please do this ASAP as February will be here before you know it and you will be busy with the winter golf season. Call 1-800-472-7878 (GCSAA) and ask to speak to Scott Woodhead to assign your voting proxy. C. FGCSA Reception in San Diego - If you are planning on attending the GIS in February and will be also coming to the annual FGCSA GIS Reception on Thursday, February 11th, then please contact Jennifer Innes at 800-732-6053 or fgcsa@comcast.net and RSVP so we can have an accurate headcount for food and price guarantees. Please let us know if you're coming. Thanks. 2. Government Relations: Fertilizer Ordinances: Word from the Green Industries Coalition is that the Marco Island city government is drafting a fertilizer ordinance that would require golf courses to have an applicator certified in the Green Industry BMPs. The Florida DEP and IFAS have partnered to provide training around the state for the landscape industry which has been the primary target up till now in having their personnel trained in the BMPs. No mention was made of the Golf BMPs. Sounds a little like the left and right hands not knowing what's out there, but then we don't have a BMP certification program either. We have other issues covered in our BMPs that could and probably should have a certification program statewide. Methyl Bromide: On September 23rd and 24th I participated in two conference calls in reference to MeBr. The first was with the MeBr Task Group and end users/stakeholders to prepare for the EPA meeting the next day and the other was a call-in with EPA and the MeBr Task Group meeting in Washington. Tim Hiers and Dr. Unruh were also on the call among others. After once again making the case for an orderly phase out of MeBr, and trying to explain that turfgrass and some o the other seven crops that are being cancelled on the labels can be very adversely affected by lack of access to this fumigant, the call ended with EPA saying they would respond quickly, and they did. On Friday they rejected the proposal for a timed 4-year phase out without explanation. The next steps are for stakeholders to write the U.S. Senate Ag Committee and each of our senators and congressmen to apply pressure on EPA to be fair and reasonable since we do not yet have a reliable product to replace MeBr. This was part of the Montreal Protocol and EPA has ignored the fine print many times in this process. Each chapter has a link on www.gcsaa.org and email attachments with sample letters and talking points. We need to really get those letters and/or emails sent to our legislators. MSMA: I attended the Florida Pesticide Review Council meeting on September 23rd in Quincy, FL and learned from David Daiker of FL DACS that the deadline for using MSMA in Florida may not be December 2010, but rather all uses in Florida except for cotton will likely be cancelled at the end of 2009 due to the reported incidences of arsenic in Florida ground water samples. Also mentioned by Dr Keith Tolson, Toxicologist with Geosyntec that EPA may be on the verge of lowering the soil screening levels for residential soils to .1 mg/kg from 2.1 and industrial sites from .8 mg/kg from 12 . Florida's natural backgound level is about 1.0 mg/kg, so EPA is requiring a clean up level lower than mother nature. This will be very interesting west of the Mississippi where the naturally occuring background levels are as high as 40 mg/kg. The take home message is that all of a sudden your mix/load sites and other areas may require clean up. NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System): You may recall an item reported not too long ago when a federal district court ruled that farmers had to get permits to spray their crops because they might pollute "nearby" water bodies. It was supposed to be a protect the salmon streams in Washington or Oregon. Well that ruling has taken on new importance nationwide as application of materials designed to control aquatic weeds, mosquito control etc are under fire. The chemicals being applied are not considered to be pollutants, but once applied any residue is considered a pollutant. Once again government double-speak at work. While the initial push is on those products applied to water, there is a push to work back from the bank of the water body. How far? Anyone's guess. If the knotheads persist you will have to apply for a permit for everything you apply. The state DEPs etc are talking to EPA since this ruling nullifies FIFRA labels and creates a whole new layer of permitting, etc. The Court has granted the EPA a 2 year stay to gather information, stay tuned. 3 3. IF AS: Dr. Mark McCellan Dean of Research at UF rolled out the new IFAS Roadmap to Research. Copies will be supplied. This is a big picture look at various disciplines and how to synergize efforts moving forward. A self examination of strengths and weaknesses as all universities face budget cuts like everyone else. 4. Media/Public Relations: Web Site: We are making weekly reviews and updates to the web site information. I am also working on creating an article resource bank on the website for members to use for club newsletter articles, member emails and bulletin board postings. FGCSA members can use the articles as is or as templates and edit and rewrite the articles as needed to fit their specific conditions and needs at their clubs. I have also posted pdf files of the 2009 Winter and Spring Issues under The Florida Green link under the Information Tab on the Home Page. A Special Thank You to the following companies who have already committed to sponsoring the FGCSA Reception at The Hotel Solamar in San Diego: The Kilpatrick Company Aerification Plus, Inc. FGCSA Reception Sponsorship Thursday, February 11th, 2010 Hotel Solamar Solamar Terrace, 4th Floor Rooftop Terrace San Diego, CA 7'10pm ( with a special hour for our sponsors only from 6-7pm) • LEVEL ONE - PLATINUM SPONSOR: $3,000 Includes twenty admission tickets for your company. Listing on the Sponsor Board the night of the reception. One banner in the reception room. Listing in the Florida Green magazine, Green Sheet Newsletter and FGCSA website. • LEVEL TWO - GOLD SPONSOR $1,600 Includes ten admission tickets for your company. Listing on the Sponsor Board the night of the reception. Listing in the Florida Green magazine, Green Sheet Newsletter and FGCSA website • LEVEL THREE - SILVER SPONSOR $ 650 Includes four admission tickets for your company. Listing on the Sponsor Board the night of the reception. Listing in the Florida Green magazine, Green Sheet Newsletter and FGCSA website • LEVEL FOUR-BRONZE SPONSOR $335 Includes two admission tickets for your company. Listing on the Sponsor Board the night of the reception. Listing in the Florida Green magazine, Green Sheet Newsletter and FGCSA website Call the FGCSA office at 772-334-7515 or e-mail Jennifer at fgcsa@comcast.net for more information. Forms are also available on our website: www.floridagcsa.com. go to the information Tab, click on Reception 2010 San Diego # MP* * * vif * i IMIi it The Andersons, Inc. Sullivan Electric & Pump, Inc. Syngenta 4 san ciego Minutes of FGCSA Fall Board Meeting Minutes of FGCSA Fall Board Meeting The Fall 2009 Board Meeting of the FGCSA Board of Directors was called to order by President Bill Kistler at 12:45 p.m. on Friday October 16th at Disney's Osprey Ridge Golf Course. All officers were present. All Chapters, with the exception of South Florida, Palm Beach and North Florida, were represented. The Chapter Representatives were: Calusa - Nancy Miller, Everglades Brian Beckner, Central Florida - Gary Myers, Ridge - Jim Rowland, Suncoast Bob Wagner, Treasure Coast - Roy MacDonald, Seven Rivers - Mark Kann, West Coast - Kevin Sunderman Others attending the meeting were: Mike Goldie, Lobbyist; Jennifer Innes, Association Manager; Joel Jackson, FGCSA Executive Director; Joe Ondo, FGCSA Golf Committee Chair; Todd Lowe, USGA; Greg Pheneger, President FTGA; Ralph Dain, GCSAA Minutes of the FGCSA Summer 2009 Board Meeting were approved as written. Minutes of the FGCSA Annual Minutes were approved as written. Treasurer's Report - Mark Kann presented to the Board the Publications and Operations budget reports for the first quarter. The current budget figures were approved. The Board also approved to have the Association's Tax Returns prepared and filed by Proctor, Crook, Crowder and Fogal, a downtown Stuart firm. The location and the cost reduction were both determining factors. Government Update - Mike Goldie The first week in October marked the first legislative committee meetings; this first round of meetings were generally fundraising meetings for the upcoming 2010 elections. Committee meetings will continue the first week of Nov., Dec., and Jan.. Although the economy is beginning GCSAA has reduced staff, and will furlough current staff during the weeks surrounding the holidays. These are all strategies to help improve and strengthen the GCSAA's position when the economy fully recovers. As a whole, the golf industry is unified more than ever and the GCSAA is working hard to keep member numbers level. The GCSAA is also hard at work preparing for the GIS in San Diego. Ralph reported to the board that USGA Report - Todd Lowe reported to the GCSAA will begin to roll out a the Board that the USGA is continuing to Sustainable Environmental program that focus on education and is especially will incorporate many BMP's and present looking forward to the continued partnership with the FGCSA and the local a National front for golf and the environment. They are asking for 50 Chapters in providing education for chapter events. On Oct. 30th there will be volunteer facilities from around the country that offer a diverse cross-section a live one hour meeting; "What We to participate in the pilot program. In Learned About Managing Ultradwarfs in addition to this program, Ralph also Florida". This will be a round table reported that the GCSAA will be looking discussion and Ceu's are available. Please visit the USGA website for a list of future into a possible virtual format for the webcasts, provide suggestions, and to also annual meeting, as many members would like to participate in the meeting but may access previous live webcasts. not have the means. Ralph also reminded the FGCSA Board of the dual membership FTGA - The FTGA had another requirement of the GCSAA; remind the successful Conference and Show at PGA local chapters that TAN scholarships are National. They also introduced the new available and facility memberships are Executive Director, Pete Snyder, who brings experience and creative energy to also available to our members. And the association. Greg Pheneger also finally, Darren Davis and Dale Keuhner, reported that the FTGA sent out a survey our voting delegates, would like to remind to all exhibitors from the FTGA all members to please assign your GCSAA Conference and Show and another survey vote to your local or state chapter. Each will be sent to all participants in hopes of year, many of these votes go uncounted gaining information to help with planning as these individuals do not vote and improvement of future conferences themselves. Jennifer printed a list of the and shows. Currently, the FTGA is voting roster and will forward it to all the focusing on generating research support local chapters so they can contact their directly through businesses and increasing members who have not renewed or have revenue. The next FTGA Board meeting not assigned a vote to do so. Daren and will be held on Dec. 11th. Dale will present their voting recommendation at the January meeting. GCSAA - Ralph Dain reported on a successful Chapter Delegates meeting this Executive Director Report - Joel year. The meeting took on a new format; Jackson -Word from the Green Industries hosting two small town hall style meetings Coalition is that the Marco Island city which provided more opportunity for government is drafting a fertilizer questions and answers. Mark Woodward ordinance that would require golf courses gave the delegates a financial update and to have an applicator certified in the Green presented ways in which the GCSAA is Industry BMPs. The Florida DEP and working to reduce costs. Currently, the IFAS have partnered to provide training to turn a bit toward the positive, with housing making gains, the state still has a $1 billion shortfall in the coming year. All cabinet officials will be running for office next year and there is a new Senator from Jacksonville, John Thrasher - the former Speaker of the House. Our continued focus is on fertilizer restrictions and local ordinances 5 .. ..Continuation of Fall Board Minutes around the state for the landscape industry which has been the primary target up till now in having their personnel trained in the BMPs. No mention was made of the Golf BMPs. Sounds a little like the left and right hands not knowing what's out there, but then we don't have a BMP certification program either. We have other issues covered in our BMPs that could and probably should have a certification program statewide. Methyl Bromide - The EPA rejected the proposal for a timed 4year phase out without explanation. The next steps are for stakeholders to write the U.S. Senate Ag Committee and each of our senators and congressmen to apply pressure on EPA to be fair and reasonable since we do not yet have a reliable product to replace MeBr. This was part of the Montreal Protocol and EPA has ignored the fine print many times in this process. Each chapter has a link on www.gcsaa.org and email attachments with sample letters and talking points. We need to really get those letters and/or emails sent to our legislators. Sending the letters as a Chapter letter listing all of the members and clubs will create a visual impact. Please have your chapter send a letter to your representatives, especially those members who are up for re-election. MSMA - the FDOACS has confirmed that the sale of MSMA labeled for use on turf in Florida will end by December 2009. Users can use existing stocks of MSMA labled for turf until the end of 2010. Also mentioned by Dr Keith Tolson, Toxicologist with Geosyntec that EPA may be on the verge of lowering the soil screening levels for residential soils to .1 mg/kg from 2.1 and industrial sites from .8 mg/kg from 12 . Florida's natural background level is about 1.0 mg/kg, so EPA is requiring a cleanup level lower than mother nature. This will be very interesting west of the Mississippi where the naturally occurring background levels are as high as 40 mg/kg. The take home message is that all of a sudden your mix/load sites and other areas may require clean up. 6 Publications - The Fall issue of the Florida Green is currently in production and should be a 44 page issue. Upcoming Hands On Topics are as follows and any help is appreciated: Winter 2010 Practical Water Conservation Practices; Spring 2010 - Use of Organic Fertilizers and Bio-Stimulants; Summer 2010 Equipment Purchasing and Fall 2010 Effective Communication Tips During Tough Times. The FGCSA Membership Directory is currently in production and should be mailed in November. Advertising sales met budget - please remember to call on our loyal advertisers who continue to support our association by advertising in the Florida Green and the membership Directory. Education Committee - Mark Kann handed out a schedule of all of the upcoming education opportunities. He also agreed to e-mail this schedule to the External VPs to distribute to the local chapters. If your chapter sponsors an event, please let Mark Kann and the FGCSA office know so that it can be included on the calendar. Awards - Nancy Miller presented a letter to the External VPs requesting awards nominations. Award nominees are needed for the President's Award, Distinguished Service Award and the Marie Roberts Award. Please bring your nominees to the Winter Board Meeting. Golf - The FGCSA Championship was a huge success. 40 superintendents representing 7 chapters competed. Individual Gross Flight winner was Deron Zendt. Individual Net Flight winner was Bryce Hock. The Palm Beach team, consisting of Deron Zendt, Mark Henderson, Mark Heater, Kevin Downing and Steve Bernard, came in first. The following members will be notified that they have qualified to represent the FGCSA at the GCSAA Tournament in February: Deron Zendt, Jim Torba, Seth Strickland, and Mark Henderson. Logo - Kevin Sunderman presented to the board a proposal for the FGCSA to adopt the GCSAA Florida Chapter as the state logo to be used on all letterheads and envelopes. He also suggested the original FGCSA logo continue to be used on the Florida Green, Green Sheet, and FGCSA Directory in conjunction with the new logo. Kevin appealed to the board that the logo of the GCSAA created branding and the FGCSA would benefit using the GCSAA logo by creating recognition, especially as the FGCSA continues to work hard on Environmental and Legislative issues. This proposal generated much discussion as many of the members were opposed to the logo change. After much discussion it was agreed that each External VP would present to their board the proposed change. Kevin's services are available to help make presentation to the boards or provide any additional information if needed. The External's will report back to the board at the Winter Board Meeting. Membership - Kevin Sunderman presented to the board the Membership numbers. On a whole membership is down about 15% in all categories, although the Treasure Coast chapter has shown an increase. GCSAA - The GIS Conference and Show will take place in San Diego Feb. 8-12th. Hotel room reservations can currently be made via the GCSAA website. The FGCSA has decided not to have an independent block of rooms. The FGCSA Reception will take place on Feb. 11th on the 4th floor, rooftop terrace of the Hotel Solamar located in the Gaslamp Minutes continued on page 7... .. Minutes continued from page 6 District. We are already getting receptions sponsors after only the first wave of solicitation letters and forms were mailed out. Reception information and forms are available on the website. Old Business - Farmlinks - the FGCSA Board will tentatively, depending on Farmlink availability, plan a Farmlink trip for the FGCSA Board of Directors on March 29,30 and 31,2010. New Business - Nancy Miller reported on the Carolinas GCSA's success in raising research dollars through their Rounds for Research on-line donated golf rounds auction program. The program generated $80k for research. Greg Pheneger, Johns Island Club takes over as President of the Florida Turfgrass Association from Todd Himmelberger of DuPont. The meeting was adjourned at 3:45 pm. The Winter Board Meeting will be held at Disney's Osprey ridge on January 22nd, beginning at 10 a.m. with a midmeeting lunch break at noon. PALM BEACH WINS THE FGCSA GOLF TOURNAMENT AT SOUTHERN DUNES 7 chapters teed it up on Saturday, September 26th at the Southern Dunes GC for the 13th Annual FGCSA Golf Championship. Southern Dunes has hosted the event since it began in 1996. The winners were: Individual Gross Flight 1 st Deron Zendt 2nd Rob Torri 3rd Ralphael Villegas Individual Net Flight: 1 st Bryce Hock 2nd Mark Heater 3rd Matt Neider Team Gross 1st Palm Beach #1- Deron Zendt, Mark Henderson, Mark Heater, Kevin Downing and Steve Bernard Team Net 1st Central Florida - AJ Balomy, Raphael Villegas, Joe Ondo, Rob Torri and Jerry Yeomans 2010 GCSAA Golf Championships The following members have qualified for the #1 FGCSA Golf Team at the 2010 GCSAA National Championship at the Greg Norman Course at PGA West, Feb. 6th - Feb. 7th, 2010. Deron Zendt, FGCSA Championship and FTGA Championship Jim Torba, Crowfoot Open Champion Mark Henderson, Poa Annua Classic Champion Seth Strickland, Low Average Non-Winner in Championship Events 7 Jupiter: 888-222-7072 Lakeland: 800-330-8874 Golf Ventures would like to t a k e this opportunity to thank you f o r your business in 2009! 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