October, 1980 ouròe Superinten uterini OF N E W clentó E N G L A N D , ^Slââociation I N C Sponsors and administrators of the Lawrence S. Dickinson Scholarship Fund — A w a r d e d yearly to deserving Turf Management Students. Article Four...Forever The proposed changes in the bylaws of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New England have gained a ripping endorsement from the membership....as expected. "There really wasn't much of a drastic revision involved," NEGCSA president Ron Kirkman related after a turnout of 67 raced through the voting at Thorny Lea last month. "For the most part, it was just a matter of changing the rhetoric in the old membership rules. And changing it was more or less a confirmation to common sense." Of course, the only new bylaw, which commanded any attention, was the wording in Article IV. That pertains to the waiting period of new members. In the past, a regular member had to have five-year tenure as a superintendent before he became enfranchised to vote and eligible to hold office in the association. Now, that lame-duck status has been revised to conform to logic. A superintendent becomes a full-fledged member upon the completion of one year's service at his golf course. Kirkman and most of the members of the bylaws study committee were leery about this one. "We figured we would get a lot of flak from some of the veterans of the organization," Kirkman remarked. "After all, it is only natural that the 'old timers' would object to accepting members after a short period of on-the-job service. When you have had to serve time, - so to speak, you must expect that the younger element follow the same route to regular membership." Strangley, Article IV never became an issue for the obvious reason of the time clause. Rather, there surfaced some negative reaction over the section which added that a regular NEGCSA member must also be a member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. During the first discussion session of bylaws changes earlier in the summer at Westover Golf Club, there were some heated exchanges over the national membership requirement. They centered on the feeling that one restriction (the five-year waiting period) was being substituted for another (membership in the GCSAA) to make for another penalty against the incoming New England member. Therefore, it might appear that there was a trade-off in pushing the Article IV through. " I was surprised by that," Kirkman continued. "Actually, we are a wing of the national and it only seems logical that a chapter member also should be a member of the mother group. Most people forget that we are an association within an association. Both groups have the same objectives and are influenced by the same factors leading to attaining them. However, I respect any and all opposition on those grounds since we are a democratic organization." Kirkman also expressed satisfaction about a tie-in change to Article IV which protects the NEGCSA membership rights of those superintendents whose title or job specifications are altered through "promotion" or a diverted form of duties. The old stipulation for membership considered a golf course owner, golf professional or club manager ineligible because said person was not solely interested in golf course maintenance. Under the new writing, that stipulation is deleted. "Again, we're not trying to dilute the principle definition of a golf course superintendent," Kirkman told. "Under the old bylaw, those supers who assumed added responsibilities-while still retaining maintenance of the golf course as their main function-could be dropped as members of our association. This was highly unfair and improbable. I know of a few solid members of the New England group who have gone into course ownership and club management. Yet, they qualify as superintendents since they still carry out the work assignment of conditioning and grooming the course. So, why should they be penalized for bettering their professional and economic standing?" And there the new bylaws stand. "We should be a better and stronger organization because of the changes," Kirkman added. "As far as I'm concerned, it was simply a matter of bringing our association up to date with the times. Now, we can go ahead and use this new strength for the betterment of one and all." Gerry Finn West Meeting Pro-Supt. Championship October 17, 1980 Brae Burn C.C., Newton, Mass. Starting times may be obtained by calling the director at 617-777-3773. For carts call Mickey Lane at 617-244-0680 on Oct. 7, 1980. *Note- This tournament is open to all NEPGA Members and their supers and to all NEGCSA members and their pros. No assistant pros or assistant supers unless they are members. One team per club. OF NEW E N G L A N D , INC. Anaheim to Host 1981 Conference The 1981 GCSAA International Turfgrass Conference and Show Jan. 25-30 in Anaheim, Calif, will include a joint educational meeting with the USGA Green Section, the return of the popular golf course tour and an expanded schedule of conference functions. Because both GCSAA and USGA will be meeting at the same time in California, the two organizations have agreed to co-host one education session, scheduled for Jan. 29 in the Anaheim Convention Center site of most of GCSAA's conference and show activities. No theme has been determined for the joint session, although Palmer Maples Jr., CGCS, GCSAA director of education, said that it would be related to GCSAA's general conference theme, "Meeting Golf's Challenges Efficiently." GCSAA's conference activities will begin with a preconference golf tournament at Industry Hills Golf Course near the conference site. Practice rounds will begin Jan. 21, with tournament play Jan. 22-23. Several one- and two-day seminars will be offered Jan. 24-25, followed by the opening session on Monday, Jan. 26, and general sessions throughout the week. A ribboncutting ceremony will kick off the Turfgrass Trade Show Tuesday morning. The Anaheim Convention Center, one of the largest in the country, is located within walking distance of several convention hotels as well as Disneyland. Several theme parks, museums and other tourist attractions also are close by. The combination of valuable educational opportunities, social activities, sun and fun for the entire family promises to make GCSAA's 52nd International Turfgrass Conference and Show one to remember. Field Day Oct. 9, 1980 at the Cape Cod Tech School, Harwich, Mass. Route 124 exit from route 6, go left over route 6. School is 1/4 mile on right. One of the most popular activities from past conferences has been returned to the 1981 program. A tour of the 36-hole Industrial Hills complex has been scheduled for Friday morning, Jan. 30. Two unique social functions have been added to the 1981 conference schedule. A special "GCSAA Family Fun Day" at Disneyland Amusement Park is scheduled for Friday after the close of conference activities, and negotiations are now underway to purchase a block of tickets for a Harlem Globetrotters basketball game sometime during the conference week. Congratulations to Robert St. Thomas, Thomas Pollack Voted in at last meeting There will be a seminar sponsored by the National on Insect control and identification at the Springfield Marriott Hotel on Nov. 17-18, 1980. Information to be arriving shortly from the National. G O L F CHAIRMAN Ken Mooradian 134 Green St. Hopedale. Mass. 01747 H o m e Phone 473-2352 O f f i c e Phone 473-3508 Club Affiliation H o p e d a l e C.C EDUCATIONAL CHAIRMAN Paul Miller 173 Salem St. S w a m p s c o t t . Mass. 01907 H o m e Phone 581-2808 O l f i c e Phone 595-3107 Club Affiliation Tedesco C.C. NEWSLETTER CHAIRMAN Tom S c h o f i e l d CGCS 290 North Rd. Sudbury. Mass. 01776 H o m e Phone 443-3712 O f f i c e Phone 235-7333 Club Affiliation Wellesley C.C. PAST PRESIDENT Dean Robertson 24 Riverview Drive Newbury, Mass. 01950 H o m e Phone 462-4540 O f f i c e Phone 745-7289 Club A f f i l i a t i o n K e r n w o o d C.C. Super-Super Tournament results 1st Pollack & Jamrog 2nd Kirkman & B. Mucciarone 3rd Brearley & Lavangie 4th Allen & Blodgett I n f o r m a t i o n contained in this p u b l i c a t i o n may be used freely, in w h o l e or in part, w i t h o u t special permission as long as the true c o n t e x t is maintained. We w o u l d appreciate a credit line. Çjoff? (Gourde Superintendents Slôôociation New Blood a Lifestream Now that the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New England has opened its regular membership ranks to a number of young and enthusiastic additions to the profession, a renaissance of sorts should be expected in the group's working ranks. "Certainly, I'm all for the younger members to take an interest in the association with their input," NEGCSA president Ron Kirkman offered after bylaw changes opened the door for them. "Let's face it. Some of our members have taken the attitude of leaving the operation of our group to a few. That's not the way it should be, and I'm hoping that the addition of regular members will have a domino effect on the whole picture." Kirkman makes it emphatic that the NEGCSAjs not embarking on a hunt for members to swell the ranks. "We're not trying to lure 6,000 people into the organization by relaxing some of our membership eligibility rules," he said. " W e don't want to make this a walk-in thing. We still retain the right to vote against a candidate. In fact, it's very simple. All we need is a negative singular reaction and the membership application is tabled." Therefore, the overall membership can be assured that the association will not be overrun by an influx of drugstore superintendents who come into the profession one day and leave the next. " T o think and visualize that is stupid," Kirkman maintained. " W e will continue to scrutinize the application of every aspiring member. There is still the stipulation that a candidate must be recommended by at least two regular members. And it's only common sense that no one will be offering fly-by-night people for acceptance." Kirkman does think that any kind of new participation in the matters of the association are a benefit to the operation. " I know that certain jobs, most of them thankless types, have been going wanting because of a lack of interest by regular members," he told. "I'm not trying to put the finger on any one person or persons. But, we have had instances where we had to go begging for certain members to fill positions on our board and some of our committees. Maybe that will change, now that the added members are available for those posts." — The fact that the membership has been extended to include many of the younger additions to the profession could have a two-fold effect. "That's true," Kirkman went on. "Some of our older members have sat back and let the running of the organization to a select few because there always was that select few to depend on. Now. they could come under a rush of new interest because of the numbers of young people who seem ready to assume roles of responsibility. Overall, it should be a big boost in operational involvement. I'm all for it." There has been a transition in the makeup of the socalled "involved members" over the past decade. Naturally. superintendents of past eras feel that they have contributed their fair share to the operation of the association and are ready to let others duplicate their efforts. PRESIDENT Ronald K i r k m a n 25 Green St. Needham, Mass. 02192 H o m e Phone 444-8412 O f f i c e Phone 444-5548 Club Affiliation N e e d h a m Golf Club FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Brian C o w a n C G C S R o b i n s Way Harwich, Mass. 02645 H o m e Phone 432-9041 O f f i c e Phone 945-9230 Club Affiliation Eastward Ho. SECOND VICE PRESIDENT Donald Hearn CGCS 4 Topeka Rd. C h e l m s f o r d , Mass. 01824 H o m e Phone 256-8709 O f f i c e Phone 894-5906 Club A f f i l i a t i o n W e s t o n Golf Club "I've seen this happen in my short time on the board and during my succession to the presidency," Kirkman explained. "It's just a matter of certain people pulling their oars for so long and then looking for somebody else to take over their seat in the boat. I hope that the new members become involved immediately." There seems to be a place of involvement for many of them, too. Some members of the governing section of the association have been carrying a heavy load for a number of years. Certainly, they are entitled to relax and enjoy the benefits of association membership without being burdened with the assignment of creating those benefits. So, the new blood of the organization-brought into the main body by the adoption of bylaws ^making it eligible to become a viable part of the group- represents a promising lifestream. Hopefully, it will jump right into the mainstream and refuel the operational fires. In the end, too, everyone will be richer for it. Gerry Finn TREASURER SECRETARY Pete Coste - CGCS David Barber CGCS 121 Granite St. 145 Dedham St. Medfield, Mass. 02052 Canton. Mass. 02021 H o m e Phone 828-7266 H o m e Phone 359-7247 O f f i c e Phone 828-6540 O f f i c e Phone 566-0240 Club Affiliation Club Affiliation Blue Hills C.C. •The C o u n t r y Club TRUSTEE Bert Frederick 45 Stoney Brook Rd. Nabnaset. Mass. 01861 H o m e Phone 692-6445 O f f i c e Phone 453-1231 Club Affiliation VesperC.C. TRUSTEE Meindert Schults 737 P r i n c e t o n Blvd. Lowell. Mass. 01851 H o m e Phone 458-7605 O f f i c e Phone 452-8228 Club Affiliation Mt. Pleasant G.C. TRUSTEE Melvin O'Kelly 345 Plain St. Marshfield. Mass. 02050 H o m e phone 834-4229 O f f i c e P h o n e 837-3321 Club Affiliation Marshfield C.C. FINANCE CHAIRMAN Robert J o h n s t o n CGCS 128 W i l b r a h a m Rd. Hampden. Mass. 01036 H o m e Phone 566-3075 O f f i c e Phone 566-3096 Club Affiliation H a m p d e n C.C. Pte