Lawn-O-Gram LOG — Quarterly Newsletter for Members of THE LAWN INSTITUTE Volume 3 Number 1 January 1986 Preparation and mailing of Harvests and Lawn-O-Gram received major attention during October. Both releases have generated a positive response for the Institute. Travel was heavy during November but even so, with progress made in September and October, several writing projects were completed. The highlight of November was a visit from Lawn Institute President Bob Peterson. Now, he too can report concerning the location of the Institute and Pleasant Hill here in East Central Tennessee. December travel was restricted to attendance at The American Society of Agronomy meetings in Chicago the first of the month. As another calendar year has closed, we express our appreciation for the opportunity to be of service to so many reached by The Lawn Institute in distant places as well as close to home. Bev and I look forward to 1986 with enthusiasm and wish for each of you a most satisfying and successful new year. Sincerely, Executive Director Office Manager CONTENTS Topic - New Member Applications - Lawn-O-Gram volume 2 Number 4 - Harvests volume 32 Number 3 - Mid-year Budget Statement - Variety Review Board Activities - Files and Mailing Lists and Invoices - Holiday Greetings - Grounds Maintenance Magazine Catalog Corner - New LISTS - Institute Releases in Trade Journals - Newsletters Include Items from Harvests - Press Kit Releases Published - Sports Turf Forum II - Turf and Grounds Management Conferences — University of Tennessee - Martin Career Day - Association of Turf and Ornamental Managers - American Society of Agronomy Meetings - GCSAA Seminar Evaluation - National Garden Week - Lawn Institute Appreciated Page 2 3 3 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 9 9 9 10 10 11 11 11 12 Applications for affiliate Membership have been received from the following: New Member Applications - Jack Wright - Individual 2318 Goldpoint Circle Hixson TN 37343 - Ernest J Lauer - Individual 3509 York St Munhall PA 15120 - Keith Throckmorton, President Southern Spray Company 37665 Homewood Road Memphis TN 38118 - Wayne A George Sr, President Green Seasons Lawn & Tree Care of Delaware RD 4 Box 120A Dover DE 19901 Lawn-O-Gram Volume 2 Number 4 The October issue of Lawn-O-Gram was mailed October 28. A total of 67 copies were delivered at a unit cost of $1.09 compared with $1.52 for the July issue. The following production and cost details are of interest: Postage: Ireland Canada [4] USA $3.32 2.92 46.62 $ 52.86 11.39 8.71 $ 72.96 Pages: LOG - 5 sheets, 9 sides Paper: 67 x 20 sheets Envelopes: 67 Addendum - 15 sheets, 24 sides Total: 20 sheets, 33 sides Harvests Volume 32 Number 3 The October issue of Harvests was mailed October 28. It consisted of 32 pages [8 more than normal] and included 32 reviews of recent turfgrass related research reports from across the country. Two papers from the most recent Missouri Turf Conference and four from the last New Jersey Turf Expo were highlighted. A listing of turfgrass research projects conducted at five stations in the eastern and midwestern United States identified areas of highest priority. Material on Wetting Agents, Turfgrass Surveys, New Publications and Slide Sets was presented in P O Box 108. And, articles on Foliar Feeding and Career Opportunities in Turfgrass Management were included. One thousand two hundred and ten copies were delivered at a unit cost of $0.57 which was up from $0.46 for the July issue. The following production and cost details are of interest: Zip 0 - 104 - ME, NH, VT, CT, RI, MA, NJ, PR 1 - 118 - NY, PA, DE 94 - MD, DC, VA, WV, NC, SC 2 - 3 - 198 - TN, MS, AL, GA, FL, 92 - MI, IN, OH, KY 4 - 90 - MT, ND, SD, MN, IA, WI 5 - 6 - 119 - NE, KS, MO, IL 52 - TX, OK, AR, LA 7 - 8 - 70 - ID, WY, CO, NM, AZ, UT, NV 9 - 197 - CA, OR, WA, AK, HI 1134 61 CANADA 15 OVERSEAS 1210 Costs were as follows: Envelopes: Printing Labels, string etc Postage $5.32 381.80 20.00 282.56 $689.68 With $500.00 budgeted per issue, this release ws $189.68 over budget, The one quarter increase in size accounted for this over-run. Mid-year Budget Statement empty table cell Press Kits Harvests Lawn-O-Gram Reprints Office supplies Travel Annual meeting Dues Publication purchase & subscriptions Postage Hourly assistance Equipment service Photography Op exp incl telephone TOTAL Budget 7000.00 2400.00 200.00 1500.00 1700.00 6000.00 1000.00 350.00 200.00 1500.00 100.00 500.00 800.00 1600.00 24850.00 Nov 1 5732.11 1818.89 124.72 956.85 1380.41 1182.30 1212.88 190.00 65.00 853.56 -0- 343.40 441.23 799.54 15100.89 Bal 1267.89 581.11 75.28 543.15 319.59 4817.70 (212.88) 160.00 135.00 646.44 100.00 156.60 358.77 800.46 9749.11 Notes from Office Manager: 1. For each Harvests issue, about $180.00 comes back in payment for company payments and subscriptions. This does not show in above [as it is deposited into National account] nor in cost of Harvests. 2. Office supplies are running high. We have used cartons of paper for copier as we answer the hundreds of requests that have come in. About $450.00 has been reimbursed to us [into National account] from Musser Foundation for any mailings we have done for them. This does not show in figures above. 3. Postage again is high. Although many requests for LISTS of cultivars come in with self addressed stamped envelopes, there are also many that do not have stamps. We feel that correspondence has been higher this year than before and this is terrific and shows an increase in those who receive our materials, but it puts the postage up. 4. The account for the Press Kit looks low in balance because we have -ordered enough folders for this spring and next fall; envelopes for spring and fall; and labels for 3 issues. We would order even more at one time to lower unit price, but our storage is limited. Since envelopes, labels and folders are already paid for, the expenses for this spring will be for postage and printing which together should run about $3000.00 - $3100.00. Cost of the fall Press Kit, not including reprints, which are budgeted separately, was $3928.00 so we should be just about at budgeted amount of $7000.00 for Press Kits for the year. Variety Review Board Activity The Variety Review Board has approved the recognition of Ranger perennial ryegrass sponsored by van der Have Oregon. Warren’s has asked to have A-34 BenSun listed by The Variety Review Board. Necessary forms and documentation are being made ready for review. Peterson Seed has requested that Classic Kentucky bluegrass be listed by The Variety Review Board. Necessary forms and documentation are being made ready for review. International Seeds is working on forms for submission of Gator perennial ryegrass and Checker Chewings fescue to The Variety Review Board. Files, and Mailing Lists, and Invoices Good office management involves a continuing effort to review and reorganize materials and files. We are able to keep reasonably up-to-date month to month; however, June and December usually are identified as months for more intensive checks on record and information keeping systems. Good progress has been made in this area. Garden Writers Association of America membership list shows many changes each year. The new list has been checked and changes made in our Press Kit mailing list. The headquarters office has begun to issue Proprietary invoices quarterly. Bob Russell, who has done all of this work for so long, has guided Bev on format and procedures. He sent a printout as a guide for the October invoices which was appreciated. We hope that this transition has been orderly and accurate. Please feel free to call us on any questions you have about your invoice. Holiday Greetings A Holidays Greeting card from The Lawn Institute was made graphic by Bev this year. We have appreciated the many favorable comments regarding "Blades of Grass". These cards were mailed to 162 members and friends of The Lawn Institute. Grounds Maintenance Magazine Catalog Corner The September issue of Grounds Maintenance contained a paragraph describing Lawn Institute Special Topic Sheets in their Catalog Corner section. Labels for those 161 who circled # 133 on the reply card indicating interest in receiving LISTS were sent to us. Copies of our leaflets "Who We Are and What We Do" and "Lawns Across America" have been sent to each along with a set of LISTS describing VRB selections. Requests were received from the following interest groups: - Landscape Contrators - Lawn Care Service - School, College, University - Golf Course - Multiple housing - Industrial Grounds - Landscape Architect - Dealers & Distributors - Park Grounds - Municipal Grounds - Private Estate - Cooperative Extension - Memorial Gardens - Roadside Turf, Sod Grower, Land Reclamation, Custom Applicator, Military Turf and Public Estate 29 % 25 % 9 % 7 % 5 % 4 % 4 % 3 % 2 % 1 % 1 % 1% 1% less than 1% Postage costs for this release have amounted to about $75.00. Requests have been received from the following states: - CA - PA - MA, NY, IL 15 % 8 % 7 % - NJ - OH, MO, FL - IA, TX - MD, VA, AL, OK - MI, OR, NE, IN, CT GA, NC - RI, WV, KS, TN, SC, KY, MS, MN, MT, CO, ONT 5 % 4 % 3 % 2 % 1% less than 1% New LISTS Sports Turf In response to a need for material on Sports Turf, a new LISTS entitled "Play Safe - Football and Athletic Fields Should be Turfed" has been released. Lawn Fertilization A Lawn Institute Special Topic Sheet has been released under the title "Lawn Fertilization - Methods, Timing and Rates". [Copies of these 2 new Lawn Institute Special Topic Sheets are enclosed.] Institute Releases In Trade Journals Weed Seeds A technical feature entitled "Weed Seeds" was published in the September issue of American Lawn Applicator [see copy attached], American Lawn Applicator Recognizes Lawn Institute The September issue of the American Lawn Applicator contained the following releases from The Lawn Institute: - Officers and Board of Directors of The Lawn Institute; - Lawn Institute is Thirty Years Old; - Lawn Institute Selects Proprietary Turfgrasses. Proprietary Lawngrasses for 1985-1986 An article entitled "Proprietary Lawngrasses for 1985-1986" was presented in the September/October issue of Southern Golf-Landscape and Resort Management [see copy attached]. Recognition of Proprietary Lawngrasses The November issue of Lawn Care Industry contained an item under Industry News that recognized The Lawn Institute and 40 proprietary lawngrasses [see copy of page attached]. Lawn Institute Officers Recognized November issues of Seedsmen's Digest and American Lawn Applicator used pictures in recognizing Lawn Institute Executive Committee and Bob Russell. Southern Golf-Landscape and Resort Management Item on The Lawn Institute The November/December 1985 issue of Southern Golf-Landscape and Resort Management gave good coverage of the 1985 Lawn Institute Annual Meetings [see copy enclosed]. Newsletters Include Items from Harvests Amenity Grass Marketing Association The September issue of the magazine published by The Amenity Grass Marketing Association in Wellingborough England included the following material from The Lawn Institute: - Seven Perspectives on Seed Certification; - Wetting Agents - When Should I Use Them; - Nitrogen Fertilizers; - Turfgrasses for the Nation; - Three Research Reports. Bull Sheet The October issue of The Bull Sheet reprinted the article from January 1985 Harvests entitled: "A Tribute to Turfgrass" by Dr James H Boyce. Professional Grounds Management Society The December issue of Grounds Management Forum published by The Professional Grounds Management Society contained material on Turfgrass Slide Sets from October 1985 issue of Harvests. Western Canada Turfgrass Association The December 1985 issue of The Turf Line News released by the Western Canada Turfgrass Association featured the article ’’Foliar Feeding, Friend or Foe?” by Dr James H Boyce. This was credited to Harvests October 1985. Greener Gardening The December 1985 issue of Greener Gardening picked up The Lawn Institute release on weed seeds. Bull Sheet The December 1985 issue of The Bull Sheet, newsletter of the Midwest Association of Golf Course Superintendents of The Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area included material from the January 1985 issue of Harvests.. Press Kit Releases Published The Baltimore Sun An article entitled ’’Spring Grass Needs Fall Preparation” was included in the September 28 issue of The Baltimore Sun [see copy attached]. Amalie Adler Ascher used material from the Autumn 1985 Press Kit. Sports Turf Forum II Jack Murray and Fred Grau arranged for a meeting on sports turf held at USDA in Beltsville Maryland on October 29 and 30. The two day meeting resulted in the formation of The National Sports Turf Council. Statements relative to the Council are being drafted. Transactions of Sports Turf Forum II were completed and mailed to participants for reference and follow-up [see copy attached]. Increasing interest in and concern for sports turf is evident throughout the United States and Canada. Athletic turf Management Seminars sponsored by The National Parks Institute are scheduled for Providence, Rhode Island and Roanoke, Virginia next March. The Western Canada Turfgrass Association has identified Resources for Improving Play Surfaces. Lawn Institute involvement with The Musser Foundation in the promotion of natural turf fields is having an impact in this area. Turf and Grounds Management Conferences National Institute on Park and Grounds Management The 1985 Convention of the National Institute on Park and Grounds Management was held in Knoxville on November 3-7. The following two presentations were made by The Lawn Institute: - Turfgrass Varieties and Tips for Parks and Campuses; - Tough Grasses for Sports Turf. Good notes were taken from a number of talks that will be featured in future issues of Harvests. In addition, an opportunity to visit with the following turf specialists was most worthwhile: Dr John Hall, Virginia; Dr John Street, Ohio. Southern Turfgrass Association Convention The Southern Turfgrass Association Convention was held in Nashville on November 17-19. Emphasis at this conference was on winter injuries of warm season grasses. These meetings also provided an excellent opportunity to visit with: - Dr Richard Duble - Texas - Dr Wallace Menn - Texas - Dr Ray Dickens - Alabama - Dr Coleman Ward - Alabama - Dr Lloyd Callahan - Tennessee Notes from talks will be used for future issues of Harvests. University of Tennessee - Martin Career Day A Career Day held on November 20 at The University of Tennessee-Martin campus provided an opportunity for The Lawn Institute to be recognized as an organization concerned about Turf Management career opportunities. Two new LISTS were made available for this event: - 1985 Salary Survey for Grounds Maintenance [from the October 1985 issue of Grounds Maintenance magazine]. - Turfgrass Management Careers. The article on careers in the October issue of Harvests has generated a favorable response. [See copy of letter from Hilliard M Lee attached]. Association of Turf and Ornamental Managers A new organization ATOM in Memphis, Tennessee is getting lawn care specialists together so as to upgrade their business opportunities. An evening meeting with this group on November 25 served to introduce the services of The Lawn Institute. Over 2 hours were devoted to culture of bermudagrasses, zoysiagrasses, turf type tall fescues and turf type perennial ryegrasses. Interest in tall fescues and ryegrasses is high. Tips on how to obtain the best response from these grasses were well received. This market will continue to expand. American Society of Agronomy Meetings The 1985 annual meetings of The American Society of Agronomy were held in Chicago the first week in December. Eighty nine papers were presented that were relevant to some aspect of Turfgrass Science. A research synthesis utilizing this new information will be presented in the January 1986 Harvests. These meetings provided the L I Director with a unique opportunity to meet with Turfgrass Scientists from across the country. This year an unusally large number of new PhD Turfgrass Specialists have replaced those retired during 1984-1985. All of these "new boys on the block" were on hand in Chicago and it was good to provide them with an introduction to The Lawn Institute. The Turfgrass Division C-5 business meeting is always a well organized affair with a full agenda covering world wide turfgrass science concerns. Dr Al Dudeck of the University of Florida chaired the meeting with Dr Don Waddington of Penn State University chairman elect. Of the many items submitted for action, one provides an opportunity for support by The Lawn Institute. The Division approved the creation of an Endowment Fund for Division C-5 awards. This fund would be administered by the ASA Endowment Fund which has nonprofit status and provides a service in this area for all divisions of the Society. Separate records and accounting procedures are kept for each division fund. Monies credited to Division C-5 would be used to draw interest for the purpose of funding Turfgrass Science Awards. These would be established in several categories to recognize outstanding performance in teaching, research and extension. Requests for contributions will be made first to turfgrass related associations, societies and institutes representing the turfgrass industry in the broadest possible sense. Then opportunities for support by individuals and firms will be made available. GCSAA Seminar Evaluation Letters of October 2 and 7 from The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Headquarters Office provided a favorable evaluation of the continuing education seminar presented by Rich Hurley and me in September. On a 1 to 7 scale, our mean evaluation was 6.62. Those attending the seminar presented interesting and helpful comments on their evaluation sheets. National Garden Week A letter of November 14 from The National Garden Bureau concerns National Garden Week. Help is needed for support from California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York and Wisconsin. These are all good lawn and garden states. Nona will appreciate any leads to contacts. [See copy of letter attached]. Lawn Institute Appreciated Letters of appreciation for what we do continue to help make us feel that we’re doing something right [see copies of two letters attached].