President’s Message *s?o„e Wow! Something I have always wanted is now reality. I want to thank the Board of Directors for their vote of confidence to allow me to steer the ship of the best turfgrass association in Michigan. I have some big shoes to fill. Those being of Craig Hoffman, Steve Hammon, Dan Bissonette, and all the other past presidents. Thank you for your visions and sacri­ fice to get us where we are today. Currently we are at a crossroad with the statewide association. Each association which includes the Northern, Greater Detroit, Mid Michigan and the Western need to appoint three people to help put together a business plan for the statewide association. These people do not have to be serving on the current board of directors. For those of you who are still not convinced that the statewide association is not for us, please reconsider. Our voice will be heard. There is power in numbers. GCSAA has a goal of bringing the superintendent to the front of the line ahead of the golf professional. If you really think about it, we as su­ perintendents control the success or failure of our operations. Moving on. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the MTF Conference in Grand Rapids. I have heard nothing but great reviews and one person I talked to said it was the best conference he attended and that included the national! Your board is very busy planning the mini conference at Treetops (March 13th) and other events throughout the summer. Stayed tuned. We have some great events coming up. On a sad note, one of our own, Chris Whitman passed away on January 6, 2006 while cross-country skiing. This was an outside activity that Chris loved. Chris was the superintendent at March Ridge Golf Course for eighteen years. From all members of the Northern our condolences go out to Chris’s family. I believe we are in the turf business because it is our passion in life. All too often, I personally lose sight of what is important. Yes, our jobs our important to support our families, however family is more impor­ tant. After learning about Chris, I realized just how short life can be and what I am missing by not spending more time with my kids and wife. Turf will recover but you cannot get back the time that you lost with your family by working all the time. So plan to spend some quality time with your family this summer. Think Spring, Joe Breighner Statewide Association Update from the Conference Thanks to Dan Bissonette, Dave Pawluk, John Fulling and Dan Billette for all of their time spent servi ing on the statewide association sub-committee. All four of these fine men spent loads of volunteer hours working on this hot project. The update from the special meeting during the state conference is listed be­ low. Thanks again for your fine leadership and taking a few shots for the team during the process. We met as planned on Wednesday afternoon and the sub-committee gave its final recommendation to the group, which was; the committee has taken the development of a statewide association as far as it can. The committee cannot dictate to a new board of directors how it will operate the new association, and therefore cannot get detailed enough to provide a business plan for the memberships to vote on. The committee recom­ mended to the group, the chapters and the memberships at large that they form the new board of directors for the Michigan GCSA and allow it to finish this journey by creating a detailed business plan that can be brought to the memberships when it is ready. There will be no time limit. There will be no change in current chapter status and no vote until such time as the new board brings a plan to the memberships. The chapter boards have agreed, and will be choosing 3 representatives from each of the 4 chapters to serve on this new board for a guesstimated commitment of 2 years. The sub-committee will most likely not serve as board members but will remain as council for the new board as long as deemed necessary. This plan to slow down and get very detailed was received and accepted very well by the group at the meeting. The plan is to have a new board in place by March to begin work. Dan Bissonette has posted the power point presentation given at that meeting on the nmtma.org web­ site. The committee wants to thank everyone in the state for bearing with us over the last year while we spent time detailing potential structures, costs, programs, etc. We all look forward to continuing to serve as long as necessary to help make this a reality. We also feel very positive about turning this project over to a larger more representative group that will be able to take it to the finish line. Your Statewide Sub-committee; Dan Billette, Bloomfield Hills CC, Dan Bissonette, Walloon Lake CC John Fulling, Kalamazoo CC, Dave Pawluk, Four Lakes GC News Around The North ♦ Congratulations to Jeff Miller from MSU on being the recipient of the 2005 NMTMA student scholarship Jeff worked with Gary Pulsipher at the Leelanau Club at Bahle Farms as a full time assistant during the 2003 & 2004 seasons. The NMTMA wishes Jeff well in his future. ♦ Many thanks to the MTF, MNLA and the MFPA on the GLTE this year in Grand Rapids. ♦ Congratulations to Phil Hilliker of Wyoming, Michigan who won the 2006 Harley-Davidson Road King Custom. ♦ If you haven’t paid your 2006 NMTMA dues you still have time. Contact Kay Patrick @ 517-327-5474. ♦ Congratulations to Mr. Craig Hoffman on receiving the 2005 Distinguished Service Award. ♦ Mark your calendars for MARCH 13th to attend the 2006 NMTMA Mini-Conference at Treetops Resort. Please note the date change. ♦ For all the latest news and happening around the north, check out the web at nmtma.org Page 2 Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program Workshop Treetops Sylvan Resort March 23, 2006 ^Stewa'^ 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Please join us to obtain the latest information on management practices designed to maximize en­ vironmental stewardship on your course. Learn about: *Water Resource Protection * Pesticide Handling & Application * Fuel Storage * Equipment Washing * Shop Maintenance * Wellhead Protection * Buffer Zones * Emergency Response & Spill Prevention * Pesticide & Fertilizer Storage Please complete the registration form, enclose the proper amount and return it to: Michigan Turfgrass Foundation (attention: Kay Patrick) P.O. Box 80071 Lansing, Michigan 48908 FAX: 517-321-5822 / e-mail mtfturf@comcast.net/ phone: 517-321-1660 Your name:_________________________________________ Title:______________________________ Name of golf course:_____________________________________________________________________ Billing mailing address: __________________________________________________________________ City, State and Zip: ____________________________________________________________________ _ Business phone #:___________________________ Fax #: _____________________________________ _ E-mail address: ______________________________________________________________________ ___ Others attending:______________________________________________________________________ __ Michigan Department of Agriculture Recertification Credits and GCSAA PDI Education Points are available. MTESP members..................................................................................................................................$30.00 Non MTESP members...........................................................................................................................$200.00 Additional people from your course are encouraged to attend at a rate of $30.00 per person. Number of additional people........................................................................... ........... x $30.00 = $______ Total amount enclosed (payable in U.S. funds only)........................................................................ $______ Please make check payable to: Michigan Turfgrass Foundation Page 3 r “1 The NMTMA appreciates the support from the following businesses... r *SOD, SOIL, & CONSTRUCTION* ‘FERTILIZER, CHEMICAL & SEED* *GOLF CART SALES & SERVICE* I Tri Turf Soils, Inc. Lebanon Fertilizers and Seed Kodiak Equipment Company Tom Reed, Sr. Better Technology For Today’s Turf New / Used E-Z-Go Golf Cars and Utility Vehicles (888)616-7806 “Mesa”- SR N & “EXPO” - SR N-K (231) 264-9900 / (888) 746-0800 Huggett Sod Farm Grigg Brothers Boylan Sales, Inc. Bent & Bluegrass Sod, Shade & Ornamental Trees Specialty Fertilizers Jim Atchison (989) 635-7482 (888) 246-8873 (269) 685-6828 / FAX (269) 685-6051 Beck Sod Farm, Inc. Tri-Turf Ellis Sales Inc. David Beck Serving all of Michigan Bob Hope (800) 968-2325 (800) 636-7039 (269) 375-3535 / (800) 962-4128 Great Lakes Golf Construction, Inc. Christopher Furness (231)582-6783 *EQUIPMENT/IRRIGATION* *EQUIPMENT, SERVICE & SUPPLIES* I Spartan Distributors I John Read (Equipment) /Kris Early (Irrigation) Weingartz Golf & Turf (800) 822-2216 / (800) 232-6288 FAX Jo/zzi Deere One Source ‘TIRES & TUBES* (877) 465-9040 / (616) 696-2913 I Automatic Irrigation Supply Company Tire Wholesalers Company, Inc. The Automatic Advantage W. F. Miller Golf & Turf Dan Cress 877-222-0240 Jacobsen, Smithco, Tutfco, National (231)775-6666 (800)555-8189 ! Waterways Irrigation Ken Morrison (989) 906-3338 I Jim VanAntwerp (231) 838-3330 I I i______________________________________________ . and we encourage you to support them.j Northern Michigan Turf Managers Association P.O. Box 80086 LANSING MI 439 Lansing, MI 48908 16 FEB 2006 PM 1 T Information Center GCSAA 1421 Research Park Dr. Lawrence, KS 66049 NMTMA Executive Committee Joe Breighner President Jim Bluck Vice President Paul Galligan Treasurer Paul Emling Recording Secretary £■ £• O •+• 2 tsE- 3 ■ ’ iHm i 1111111111111J i 111111111111111 f i i 111111111111 ii 11111111