•----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ' President’s Message It seems almost impossible that another winter has gone by. Most of us are gearing up for another golf season and are frantically (or at least I am) trying to determine the who, what, where and why of all the things that need to be done. More specifically, who is going to get it all done? What happens if it isn’t all done? Where are the people coming from to get it all done? And why did I ever get myself into this mess anyway? I really feel there is no other time of the year when we all become so aware of how quickly the time passes and how soon the seasons go. There are in the future, and there has been some very good educational opportunities available. The NMTMA and GCSAA sponsored seminars on human resource management and drainage are good examples. The GAM seminars this year will provide a host of golf course superintendents as speakers. This is a chance for all of us to hear what some of the best in the industry have to share. This will be a joint seminar, which will give us an opportunity to exchange some ideas and thoughts with our profes­ sional colleagues from the Mid-Michigan Association. Our annual mini-conference in April always provides that last kick right before the season starts and I encourage you to attend. The education committee has worked hard to provide topics and speakers relevant to our interests. The available information can increase our professionalism in both our commu­ nity and jobs. The goal of the NMTMA has always been education. It’s worth repeating because it keeps us focused as an association and provides us with some direction. So as I am frantically trying to answer these questions on how all this is going to get done by spring; I am reminded of what this association has to offer and what it has done for me...I’ll be ready opening day. Mark R. Wildeman, C.G.C.S. TO: Members ofNM.TMA. I would like to open this letter by giving the scholar­ employed at is scheduled to host the 1996 N.M.T.M.A. - ship committee and the membership of the N.M.T.M.A. my M.T.F. Fund-raiser and I am very excited by this, because it deepest appreciation for awarding me the 1996 Scholarship. will allow me to return something to an industry that has been This award means a great deal to me not only financially, but very good to me, while raising money for research at the same has given me a sense of pride that my peers have recognized time. In closing, I look forward to seeing you throughout the me for my accomplishments. upcoming season and would like to THANK YOU again for I know that the members of the N.M.T.M.A. have this wonderful award. given a great deal of their time to help promote research and Sincerely, education in our industry and I hope to follow in their footsteps Michael Normand, as I move on with my own career. The course I am currently 1996 N.M.T.M.A. Scholarship Winner Q _______________ New Format For Turf_ Times^________________j Jon Maddem, C.G.C.S. As most of you are aware, Mike Morris is no longer editor of “Turf Times.” I would like to take this time to Thank him for all his work on this, over the past years. Just getting into it I can see how he put a lot of time and effort into it. With Mike gone and no one volunteering to take over, your board discussed and discussed this issue. It was agreed that a committee approach would be tried. The committee appointed was Karen O’Dell, Kim Olson and myself. We discussed the “Turf Times” and what members liked and disliked about it and came up with a plan. We are going to bi-monthly issues and have five total issues a year. Meeting notices will be handled as a separate mailing. This was to improve the notice of meetings and not to pressure the “Turf Times” schedule around meeting deadlines. We also discussed advertising. We appreciate the great support of our vendors, but decided to keep the format short and to the point, and not include ads in “Turf Times” except for listings on the back page. Please support these companies who show their support for us. Content of “Turf Times” will be four pages which will include President’s Message, report of committees, classifieds for members, newsworthy updates, and an article from two board members. Articles from members are welcomed. Our goal will be to have this to you around the 20th of March, May, July, September, and November. We envision using this to keep you informed and up to date with what is going on in Northern Michigan, the state, G.C.S.A.A., M.T.F., and N.M.T.M.A. Again meeting notices will be done as a separate mailing on its own notice so you can get it sooner. If anyone has any suggestions, comments, or articles please contact Karen, Kim or myself. We hope you like this format. The Membership Directory is being printed and should be out in April. Q It’s YourAssociation by Karen O’Dell Treetops Wins I look back at what this association has meant to me and Environmental StewardAward I have a big list. Education, research results, improving our professional image, improving public speaking skills, fun at outings/ Treetops Resort received the Environmental Steward parties, knowledge of the game and improving my handicap, Award in the Resort Division national competition. This working with a group to solve problems, meeting people, the list award is presented to proven environmental leaders in the golf could go on and on. I feel the only reason I have gained so much industry who incorporate innovative and outstanding out of the association is because I got involved. I go to most every management efforts in preserving and enhancing the meeting, help out when needed, and offer my help and opinion all environment. The award was presented during the the time. How can we keep our association strong if each and every Environmental Session of the 67th International G.C.S.A.A. “member” doesn’t do the same thing? Just going to a meeting and Conference and Show in Orlando, Florida. Treetops is not adding nothing to it, or taking nothing from it is just as bad as not unfamiliar with this award, as they were selected regional going at all. I was not happy with every decision the board had made winners in 1992 and 1993. in the past, I didn’t feel they cared about “me,” the “member.” But Accepting the award was Bruce J. Wolfrom, C.G.C.S., then I realized that “they” didn’t know what I wanted from the Golf Course Manager at Treetops and a driving force behind association. Well, I started to tell them, I let them know what topics this award. Congratulations to Treetops, Bruce, Mark, Karen, I was interested in, what was important to me. Then I took the next Dan, Brian, and Roberta for all your work showing how golf step and ran for the board. I have felt better about the association enhances properties, benefits wildlife, golfers, and surrounding since then, at least now the board knows how I feel. communities. Q Granted, everyone can’t go to every meeting and everyone is not interested in running for the board, and you may not even have an opinion on every subject brought up, but some of our “membership” doesn’t get involved at all. At our annual meeting last October when the floor was open for comments and discussion, only one person stood up and stated an opinion. Out of 300+ GOLF COURSE MECHANIC WANTED at Crystal Mountain Resort. Involves maintenance and repair of all members, everyone is so happy with our association, our profession, golf course related equipment. Must have own tools. Contact that no one needed to say a word? I DON’T THINK SO! You have Michael Call or Michael Burguard at (616) 378-2000, ext. 650. got to speak up if you want something changed, if you’re not happy. Just because you state an opinion or let someone know that you’re WANTED not happy does not mean you’re whining. It means that something Leland C. C. is looking for a certified applicator and other experienced maintenance people. Wages D.O.E. Send resume is important enough to you to get some action, get some change. to Jim Balamucki, 9219 Blackburn Dr., Traverse City, Ml 49684. Being a member of the board, I feel it is our responsibility to take all of your thoughts, ideas and opinions and act on them. If M. T.F. Fund-raiser (Mertz) -1996 event will be held at The Loon we don’t or won’t address them then you need to voice your opinion Golf Club in Gaylord on Monday, June 3rd. Look for more again, either verbally or by changing the board through voting at the information concerning this event in late April. MARK annual meeting. I ask each of you that are “members” to assess what YOUR CALENDARS and form your team(s). you give to the N.M.T.M.A., what you get from the N.M.T.M.A., Public Relation (Faucher) - nothing to report at this time and what you want changed. Think of all of the items that you N. M.T.M A. Fund-raiser (Mertz) - The site for the 1996 event is discuss with your fellow superintendents, all of your complaints, Treetops Resort, the Rick Smith “Signature” course on and consider if the association can help in any way. There are September 18th. several topics that can be addressed and they don ’ t have to be strictly Bylaws (Meindertsma) - nothing to report at this time “turf” related. The board tries to come up with speakers for the Winter Party (Kendziorski Co-Chair) - Unfortunately, we were meetings and we never receive phone calls or letters on what you, unable to have the 1996 Winter Party. Due to lack of the “member” wants addressed. MEMBERSHIP PARTICIPATION and prediction of Please consider getting more involved and help make unseasonably warm temperatures the party was cancelled. your association stronger. It will only help improve our professional Hopefully we will be able to discuss this party at the next image, make us better superintendents and help us grow as people. annual meeting and see if members really are interested in a Only by having strong “member” involvement and commitment party of this nature. can we improve the association. I, and all board members, look Mechanics Group (Ross) - Tentative meeting set for May 7th at forward to hearing from you, the “member.” Q Garland Resort. Topic and times should be out in April. If anyone is interested in hosting a meeting or topic to cover Committee^ Report^ please contact me. Environmental (Maddern) - The president and I wrote letters to Program & Golf (Kendziorski) - We have an exciting line-up of both United States Senators and House of Representative wonderful golf courses to play in the 1996 season. The Stupak asking for their help in getting an Interpretative Guidance tentative meeting schedule, locations, and hosts are: May 8th Group of E.P.A. to change its interpretation of the 1992 @ Marquette Trails G.C., Joe Balulis; July 16th @ Alpena Worker Protection Standard which golf courses are exempt. G.C., Bob Aube; August 13th @ The Rose G.C., Jeff Dorrell; However this group stated that nurseries for sod and trees were and the Annual Meeting and chapter championship, October, not and must comply with this regulation. This will result in @ Boyne Highlands, Joe Breighner. If you are interested in us having to purchase products labeled specific for application hosting a meeting for the 1997 season, please contact me at to nursery and more paper work. (616) 938-9083. G.C.SAA. (Maddern) - We will be discussing affiliation agreement Education (Olson) - GAM meeting program is planned as is the at the March meeting and voting at the Mini-Conference. This April Mini-Conference, which will be April 8th at Grayling is an important issue and I encourage you to attend both Holiday Inn. A full and diverse program is planned. We are meetings and hear the facts. Our vote at national will be looking for speakers and topics for monthly meetings if you published shortly and any questions concerning how or why have any ideas please contact me. we voted the way we did, please contact me. We are looking Scholarship (Olson) - see letter from 1996 recipient to use the Speaker’s Bureau for speakers at monthly meetings. Scholarship Interview (Meindertsma) - nothing to report until This cooperative program should allow us to get some later on outstanding speakers for a nominal fee as G.C.S.A.A. is Finance (Maddern) - The board has hired Kay Patrick to handle helping with travel costs. Topics and dates for the 1997 membership services. She will be mailing out meeting notices, Regional seminars are as follows - March 4 & 5,1997. dues invoices, and receiving payments and making corrections Seminar topics are Stress Management and Lake and Aquatic and changes to the mailing list. She will also be keeping track Plant Management, each is a one-day seminar. Mark your of and printing monthly to the Board a financial statement. All calendars. checks will be sent to and deposited by her, however checks M.T.F. (Maddern) - Another very successful conference. Mark from account to pay bills will be the treasurer’s responsibility. Wildeman was elected on the board of directors as your This should speed up the process and will make your board representative. I will remain on the Board for a couple of years. more aware of where the association stands financially. We are I would like to thank all of you for your great support. reviewing the use of left over money from past years and Expansion of Hancock Center and getting the Branham position N.M.T.M. A. Fund-raisers to be invested so interest earned can filled are the Board’s priorities for 1996. be used to fund the members scholarship. Nominating (Conklin) - Nothing to report at this time. Ifyou have Membership (Pretznow) - Roster book is in print and should be ever thought about running for Board of Directors, contact out in April. Look for updates of membership information for myself or any Board Member. the roster in ‘97 Dues Notice. O’Dell is in charge of committee Membership Scholarship (O’Dell) - The Board will be reviewing working on a survey for the association. Look for more proposals at the March Board Meeting. Look for information information on this soon. and application forms sometime in April. Q TheNM.TMA. appreciates the supportfrom the following businesses. •IRRIGATION* GOLF CART SALES & SERVICE • • EQUIPMENT, SERVICE & SUPPLIES • Thielen Turf Irrigation, Inc. Boylan Sales Inc. Spartan Distributors, Inc. Golf Course Installation Yamaha Golf Cars Your Full Line Toro Distributor (517) 773-3409 (616) 685-6828 800-822-2216 Century Rain Aid • CONTRACT SERVICES • Valley Turf, Inc. Now There’s A Third Option - Legacy Golf Jacobsen Equipment - Rainbird Golf Irrigation 800-347-4274 Mechanical Soil Technology (616) 532-2885 Verti-Drain Contract Aerification C. J. Colein & Associates, Inc. 800-743-2419 D & C Distributors, Inc. Irrigation Design and Consulting Your One Stop Shop (810) 656-6805 Commercial Turf Equipment 800-888-7779 Contract Aerification Watertronics Pumping Systems 800-231-LAWN Tire Wholesalers Company Automatic Pumping Systems, Rick Leslie Dan Cress - Tires & Tubes 800-356-6686 •FERTILIZERS, CHEMICALS & SEED • (616) 775-6666 D. G. Irrigation/Valley Turf, Inc. Benham Chemical Corporation Turf Services, Inc. Specializing in Rainbird Irrigation Equipment Serving Michigan and Ohio Verti-Drain & Seeder Distributor 800-334-7011 800-482-6520 (616) 842-4975 • SOD, SOIL & CONSTRUCTION • Tri-Turf W. F. Miller Company A Warehouse on Wheels Your Cushman/Ransome Distributor Bunting Sand & Gravel, Inc. (616) 943-8343 (800) 555-8189 Greens Mix • Bunker Sand • Drainage Stone (517) 345-2373 • (517) 345-1718 Chipco Bob Dugan Beck Sod Farm (313) 782-0323 George Beck (517) 864-3549 Turfgrass Inc. We Serve You Better Huggett Sod Farm (810) 437-1427 Bent & Bluegrass Sod, Bulk Peat 800-432-2763 f ~ ...and we encourage you to support them Northern Michigan Turf Managers Association P.O. Box 80086 Lansing, Michigan 48908 Turfgrass Info Center W212 Library - MSU East Lansing, MI 48824 NMTMA Executive Committee Mark R. Wildeman, C.G.C.S. - President Dave Faucher - Vice President Brian Conklin - Secretary Jon Maddern, C.G.C.S. - Treasurer Tom Reid - Executive Secretary