A/z ? % Turf Times The newsletter from the Northern Michigan Turf Managers Association Chap''' Bi-Monthly Update July/August Volume 33, No. 3 President’s Message As I come to the end of my six years on the board of directors I reflect on many things, (soft music in the background please) the monthly meetings where we worked so diligently to improve this special association of ours, the hard work and dedication by everyone involved in NMTMA to make it as professional and positive that it is today, but what I will remember most is the valuable personal relationships I have made during the past six years. I was very fortunate to have many wonderful people support me before and during my time on the board. First I would like to thank my wife Sue for her love and con­ tinued support of my profession. I want to thank my current assistant Mike Bogroff and my mechanic Dave Ertl for always keeping HQ operating while I was traveling and at meetings, you guys are incredible! I want to thank Mike Morris and Marty Sommerfeld for their leadership and guidance while showing me the golf maintenance business. I want to thank all of the past board members who I worked with over the past six years and to the current board, thanks for all of your time and dedication, it’s been my pleasure. Keep up the great work! Thanks to my General Manager Jeff Anderson, CCM and my board of directors for letting me take the time to give back to the northern Michigan turf industry. Now, turn the soft music off and let’s get back to it. The board is looking for a few good people to help di­ rect the association. We have three, three-year terms available as well as one three-year vendor term. It is not an overwhelming commitment; we meet once a month from November to April. During the summer months we communicate by phone and email, no meetings. The board meetings usually run from 9:00 to 1:00 followed by lunch at a local eatery. We rotate the board meetings to different locations. If elected you will serve on the committees of your choice, usually (don’t miss the November meeting or you will be ap­ pointed to every committee there is). For a list of committee descriptions, check out the membership infor­ mation section on the web site. After the meetings most of your work will be communicating with committee members and planning or making phone calls relevant to your assignment. Please call me or any board member so we can discuss what it takes to be a board member. Check out the events section on our web site for the times and dates for our August - October meetings. The association’s annual meeting is scheduled for October 13 at Walloon Lake Country Club. Please con­ sider getting involved with the NMTMA. Enjoy the remainder of summer and we will see you at a meeting soon. Steve Hammon Equipment Technician Meeting On Wednesday, July 28 equipment technicians from across the state converged onto Forest Dunes Golf Club for a day of education, camaraderie and golf. The day began at 8:30 a.m., with coffee, donuts and registration. At 9:00 a.m., Jim Bluck and Bill Hughes thanked everyone for their attendance on behalf of the Northern Michigan Turf Managers Association and encouraged their further involvement in future meetings. The group of 34 equipment technicians were broken into 2 small groups. The representatives from Wein- gartz Turf instructed one group in electrical troubleshooting, while a representative from Spartan Distribu­ tors instructed the other group in hydraulic troubleshooting. The classes were 2 hours in length and at the end each class switched rooms for the remaining 2 hours. After the learning sessions, Spartan Distributors sponsored a pop and pizza luncheon, during which many of the participants were able to meet other equipment technicians and share ideas and stories. It was challeng­ ing to keep a number of these individuals around for an extended length of time as many took advantage of the golf opportunity to play Forest Dunes. I personally would like to thank my equipment technician Bill Hughes for setting up and orchestrating this entire meeting. It certainly would not have been such a great success without his commitment. Also, I would like to thank Spartan Distributors and Weingartz Turf for their commitment to this educational op­ portunity for the equipment technicians. The next meeting is scheduled for October 20 at Traverse City Golf & Country, Dave Ertl and Steve Hammon will be your hosts. Jim Bluck Golf Course Superintendent Forest Dunes Attention Members If you have any problems with receiving e-mails, invoices, Turf Times, meeting notices etc., please contact Kay Patrick at 517-327-5474 or e-mail her at nmtma@comcast.net. Her information is only as cur­ rent as you keep it. If you are interested in signing up for events early for 2004 you may do so online at nmtma.org. Applications for the 2004 Members Scholarship are now available. Please contact Jim Bluck for further information. Your 2004-2005 dues invoice will be arriving soon. Please take the time to get the payment to Kay Patrick as soon as possible. Your dues payment will help speed up the production and distribution of the 2005 NMTMA Directory. Page 2 NEW CS A Award The 2004 NMTMA Board of Directors has decided that it is time to give back to the many people in our organization that give to so many others. The Community Service Award will be presented at the 2005 Mini-Conference to a member of the NMTMA that volunteers their time to a specific organization or com­ munity for no monetary value. The award winner will receive a $500.00 check made out to the organiza­ tion of their choice in their name. The simple rules are as follows: 1. The person being nominated or ap­ plying for this must be a current member and have been for the past two years. 2. Must not receive pay­ ment for services they provide. 3. Must have been volunteering for the organization for two years, one in­ cluding the present year. If you would like to nominate a person or would like to apply for this yourself, please contact Craig Hoffman @ (906) 493-5658 or Scott Pulaski @ (989) 732-6711 Ext. 2809 for an ap­ plication. The Remaining Schedule of Events for 2004 NMTMA September Fundraiser 09-14-2004 Location: The Nightmare Tuck Tate Chapter Championship 10-13-2004 Location: Walloon Lake Country Club October Equipment Technician Meeting 10-20-2004 Location: Traverse City Golf & C.C. 2004 Par-3 Shootout on Threetops at Treetops June 27-28,2004 Whoever grabbed the first skin on day two was going to win the whole tournament. After no one was able to validate their claim to prize money in the opening round on Monday, all of the money carried over to the second day. The first person to win a hole and then successfully validate turned out to be Fred Couples. Cou­ ples sank a wonderful 36-foot birdie putt on the 11th hole of competition to win 220,000. Couples then validated his claim to the money on the following hole to clinch the Shootout title. Couples needed to either win or tie on the 13th hole and did so, chipping from the fringe to within 6 feet of the pin and sinking it for par. Couples finished with a total of $270,000 in prize money to win the Shootout title for the second time in three years. Phil Mickelson and Lee Trevino tied for second place with $130,000 while defending champion Fuzzy Zoeller won just 10,000. Mickelson earned a $60,000 skin on the 14th hole and validated with a birdie on the 15th. Trevino rallied on day two to earn the final skin of the event, worth $80,000. Treetops Resort will once again hold the Par-3 Shootout in 2005 with Fred Couples returning as de­ fending champion. Page 3 On the Lighter Side of Things Following is an actual letter sent to a man named Ryan DeVries by the Michigan Department of Environ­ mental Quality, State of Michigan. This guy's response is hilarious, but read the State's letter before you get to the response letter. SUBJECT: DEQ File No.97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Montcalm County Dear Mr. DeVries: It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality, that there has been recent unau­ thorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity: Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond. A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A Review of the Department's files shows that no permits have been issued. Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, annotated. The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31,003. Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be sched­ uled by our staff. Failure to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action. We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions. Sincerely, David L. Price, District Representative Land and Water Management Division Here is the actual response sent back by Mr. DeVries: ** Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Montcalm County. Dear Mr. Price, Your certified letter dated 12/17/02 has been handed to me to respond to. I am the legal landowner but not the Contractor at 2088 Dagget, Pierson, Michigan. A couple of beavers are in the process of constructing and maintaining two wood "debris" dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond. While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of natures building materials "debris." I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persis­ tence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic. Page 4 As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they must: First fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity. My first dam question to you is: (1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers, or (2) do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request? If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through the Freedom of Information Act, I re­ quest completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued. Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, annotated. I have several concerns. My first concern is; aren't the beavers entitled to legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are un­ able to pay for said representation — so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer. The Depart­ ment's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event, causing flooding, is proof that this is a natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect. In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling their dam names. If you want the stream "restored" to a dam free-flow condition please contact the beavers — but if you are going to arrest them, they obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter, they being unable to read English. In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream. They have more dam rights than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond. If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the environment (Beavers' Dams). So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until 1/31/2003? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice by then and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them then. In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention to a real environmental quality (health) problem in the area. It is the bears! Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecut­ ing the defecating bears and leave the beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step! (The bears are not careful where they dump!) Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office. THANK YOU. RYAN DEVRIES & THE DAM BEAVERS Would you like to get more involved with the Northern Michigan Turf Managers Association? Do you ever think about running for a position for the Board of Directors? If you are interested in running for the 2004-2005 NMTMA Board of Directors contact anyone on the BOD. Election are coming up soon and we are looking for highly motivated people that want to make a difference in the turf industry. We have three, three-year terms available as well as one three-year vendor term. It is not an overwhelming commitment; we meet once a month from November to April. During the summer months we communicate by phone and email, no meetings. The board meetings usually run from 9:00 to 1:00 followed by lunch at a local eat­ ery. We rotate the board meetings to differentlocations. If elected you will serve on the committees of your choice, usually (don’t miss the November meeting or you will be appointed to every committee there is). For a list of committees and their description, check out the web site at Committee Descriptions. After the meetings most of your work will be communicating with committee members and planning or making phone calls relevant to your assignment. Please call any board member so we can discuss what it takes to be on the board. „ Page 5 r n The NMTMA appreciates the support from the following businesses... *SOD, SOIL, & CONSTRUCTION* *FERTILIZER, CHEMICAL & SEED* *GOLF CART SALES & SERVICE* Tri Turf Soils, Inc. Sweeney Seed Company Kodiak Equipment Company Tom Reed, Sr. It Pays To Plant The Best Golf Cart Sales, Parts and Service (231) 943-7806 / (888) 616-7806 (989) 773-5391 / (800) 344-2482 (888) 746-0800 / (231) 264-9900 Huggett Sod Farm Rhino Seed and Supply Boylan Sales—Yamaha Golf Cars Bent & Bluegrass Sod, Shade & Ornamental Trees Next Day Delivery Guaranteed! Jim Atchison (989) 635-7482 (800) 790-1898 / (800) 677-1006 (269) 685-6828 / (616) 437-2602 Beck Sod Farm, Inc. UHS/Verdicon David Beck Steve Fent *TIRES & TUBES* (800) 968-2325 I (989) 864-3549 (989) 277-4704 Tire Wholesalers Company, Inc. Great Lakes Golf Construction, Inc. Lesco, Inc. Dan Cress Christopher Furness Mark Hensley / Jason Pettus (231)775-6666 (231) 582-6783 (800)321-5325 /(248) 789-8315 Tri-Turf *EQUIPMENT, SERVICE & SUPPLIES* “J Warehouse On Wheels ” *CONTRACT SERVICES* (231) 943-8343 / (800) 636-7039 WEINGARTZ GOLF & TURF John Deere One Source Turf Services, Inc. Turf Chemicals (877) 465-9040 / (616) 696-2913 Matt Heiss Russ Hancock (616) 842-4975 /(616)638-5819 (989) 725-7145 I (800) 733-7145 W. F. MILLER COMPANY Mark Vogler Cleary Chemical Corporation (800) 555-8189/ (248) 349-4100 Tim Keating - "There When You Need Us" *EQUIPMENT/IRRIGATION* (630)885-7587 Spartan Distributors Lebanon Fertilizers and Seed John Read or Jeff Rogers Better Technology For Todays Turf ' (800)822-2216/(616) 887-7301 “Mesa”- SR N & “EXPO” - SR N-K L -----------------------------... and we encourage you to support them, j Northern Michigan Turf Managers Association P.O. Box 80086 Lansing, MI 48908 Dr. James B. Beard International Sports Turf 6900 E. Kelenski Dr. Cedar, MI 49621 NMTMA Executive Committee BEARD Steve Hammon President COLLECTION Craig Hoffman Vice President Joe Breighner Treasurer INTE900 T496513O51 1504 IO 041/25/04 Tom Reed, Sr. Executive Secretary :INTL SPORTS TURF INSTITUTE lOia SHADOWWOOD DR COLLEGE STATION TX 77340-4347