Editor: Al Bathum We have a fresh new Board with many new and innovative ideas. Please come out and attend a meeting and get involved. In conversations with peers, I have picked up many ideas that have helped me out— and had a good time doing it. Sincerely, Alan C. Bathum President W M G C SA M onthly M eeting D ates 2001 J a n u a ry 9 ...... T h e H ig h la n d s F e b ru a ry ....... G C S A A C o n f e r e n c e M a r c h ....... .... R o u n d ta b le M e e tin g A p r i l ........... .... N o m e e tin g p la n n e d M a y ........... .... T h o rn a p p le P o in te J u n e ........... .... C a n d le s to n e J u l y .............. .... N o m e e ti n g p la n n e d A u g u s t ...... .... N o m e e ti n g p la n n e d S e p te m b e r .... G o l f D a y O c to b e r .. .. .... A n n u a l M e e t i n g — M o s s R id g e N o v e m b e r .... Fall R o u n d ta b le D e c e m b e r .... N o m e e ti n g p la n n e d Dates still to be determined. President's Message As the gentleman beat the ice off the roof of the maintenance building, I sit and ponder this last President's Message. 1 hope that all of you have had some time to relax with family and friends over the holidays. The hunting season— although not very bountiful for me— was a great time to relax and reflect. that have served on As I sat and reflected, I would like to take some time to thank all the people the West Michigan Board of Directors with me in the past eight years. The Past Presidents and Directors that put so much of their personal time into this organization should be commended for their hard work and commitment. A few that stand out in my tenure are Kieth Paterson who served as Sec­ retary Treasurer. Kieth was the guy who helped keep many of the Boards and Presidents organized, and for that I would like to personally thank him. Roger Barton, Kurt Thum m el and Harry Schuemann were the veterans that also helped steer the newcomers in the right direction with their years of Board experience. Editor's Note: Please write me if you have any corrections or if you are interested in doing an article for us at: Western Views 8121 Cowan Lake D rive Rockford, M ichigan 49341 And there are some others that have given their time to the West Michigan Board and also to other endeavors that we can be proud of. Two that 1 can think of are Kathy Antaya, who has co­ chaired the Turf Conference at the M.T.F. and has been involved with that organization for many years, and Jeff Holmes, who has been very prominent in the Michigan Environmental Stew­ ardship Program. Both should be com­ mended and we should be proud to have these people in our organization. The West Michigan area has no shortage of talented, intelligent people in the golf business, and I would encour­ age anyone with a desire to help pro­ mote the profession and its fellowship to get involved. It's been said— and I think the meeting numbers reflect this— that we are losing a great number of members' interest in recent years. I'm not sure if this is through alienation because of dif­ ferences in public and private golf courses, or big or small budgets. Or maybe a fact that superintendents are just like others in our society and have so many activities that they have very little time to take a day to put into fel­ lowship with others in their profession. But we all know through the hard work that we put in at our golf courses that we are only as good as the effort we put forth. And if no effort is put forth to attend a meeting or take part in this or­ ganization, the results will be dismal. Chapter Delegate Report and PDI The annual GCSAA chapter delegates meeting was held September 8-10 in Kan­ sas. Here is a brief synopsis of what was discussed pertaining to PDI. PDI—The new and final version of PDI was explained in detail. Most delegates did agree with the direction the GCSAA has taken with this initiative. Chapters need to educate members as best they can prior to a vote on this issue. The chapter del­ egate should give the final presentation to the membership. The board has to decide how to vote. Will the vote be majority, all for or against? Will the vote be split for and against as a percentage of members that voted? Proposed Amendments to the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws Pertain­ ing to PDI • Articles of incorporation: Change no­ menclature, and add modification of qualifications for Class A membership. • Bylaws#!: Add qualifications for Class 2001 Board of Directors Western Michigan GCSA A membership to "Application for Mem­ bership" section. • Bylaws #2: Add comply with qualifi­ cations for Class A, and change the name from Class B to Superintendent member. • Bylaws #3: Nomenclature changes in the "Rights of Membership" section. • Bylaws #4 and #5: Add the ability for the delegate to vote for "Qualifications for Membership." Do the same for the proxy vote. I f these don't pass, then there will be no need to vote for any other portion of PDI. r DUES CHANGE: 1 $25.00 for a Conjunction Membership with GCSAA's. $75.00 for One-Time New Membership. PRESIDENT Jeffrey S. Hopkins, CGCS 7719 Bass Creek Court Hudsonville, MI 49426 Work...........................616-878-9191 Home...........................616-669-7574 Fax ............................. 616-878-3882 E-mail ............ rgchopkins@aol.com VICEPRESIDENT John Fulling, CGCS 3509 Oakland Drive Kalamazoo, MI 49008 Work...........................616-345-5013 Home...........................616-327-0439 Fax ........... 616-345-5072 E-mail.........KCCjfull@voyager.net SECRETARY/TREASURER Paul Richter, CGCS 15784 Pruin Spring Lake, MI 49456 Work...........................616-842-4840 Home...........................616-842-7504 Fax ..............................616-842-7523 E-mail .. prichter@springlakecc.com PAST PRESIDENT Alan C. Bathum, CGCS 8121 Cowan Lake Drive Rockford, MI 49341 Work...........................616-493-6410 Home...........................616-691-7450 Fax..............................616-949-0835 DIRECTORS Joseph C. Hancock 3263 Gateshead NE Rockford, MI 49341 Work...........................616-363-1262 Home...........................616-863-9266 Fax ..............................616-363-4628 E-mail.................. gijoe@altelco.net Jeffery T. Holmes, CGCS 4421 Bay wood Grand Rapids, MI 49546 Work...........................616-676-2280 Home...........................616-940-0975 Fax ..............................616-676-0684 E-mail..........jeff@egyptvalley.com Daniel Litogot 29795 Heritage Lane Paw Paw, MI 49079 Work...........................616-657-2553 Home...........................616-657-8014 Fax ..............................616-657-2533 Gary Peters 854 Watson SW Grand Rapids, MI 49504 Work...........................616-453-0705 Home........................... 616-459-2987 Fax ..............................616-453-4243 E-mail .... garyapeters@ah.world.net Joseph Jehnsen 9725 W. Gull Lake Drive Richland, MI 49083 Work...........................616-629-9866 Home...........................616-345-6722 Fax ..............................616-629-5045 E-mail....................jmj@net-link.net Kevin Welp, CGCS 3084 Country Club Drive Muskegon, MI 49441 Work...........................231-759-0694 Home...........................231-755-5115 Fax ..............................231-755-2046 E-mail.....................kwelp@aol.com Noted Michigan Architect Dies_ W. Bruce M atthews, known to many as the father of course architecture in Michigan, died September 28. He was 96. Matthews designed and renovated more than 106 courses, including Grand Ha­ ven Golf Club, which he de­ signed, built and owned. The Grand Haven resident was inducted into the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame in 1993 as the first landscape architect to receive this recognition, and Matthews had been a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects since 1970. Matthews, who earned a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture from Michigan State University in 1925, also co-founded the professional golf management program at Ferris State College, started the W. Bruce Matthews Scholar­ ship Fund through the West­ ern Michigan Golf Course Su­ perintendents Association, and founded the Michigan Turfgrass Association. Memorials may be made to Hospice of North Ottawa Com­ munity, 1515 South DeSpelder, Grand Haven, MI 49417, or to the Western Michigan Superin­ tendents Association's Bruce Matthews Scholarship Fund, 8585 Winter Forest, Rockford, MI 49341. Bruce M atthews was a p ra ctica l g o lf course arch itect. M ost o f his courses were very playable, although his greens were con­ toured and very interesting to putt for his time. Bruce graduated from MSU and was one o f the founders of the Michigan Turf Foundation. In his early years he worked in Florida build­ ing courses. When he came back to Michigan, he worked as General Manager at Green Ridge Country Club. Fie got them through some very tough years, and made the course outstanding for that period. In the '50s Bruce started building courses in Michigan and the north. I first met Bruce when he finished Lake Isabella Developmenty now called the Pines Golf Course. I had worked five years as a golf course superinten­ dent at Morrison Lake Golf Club, then went to work at Grand Haven Golf Club for Bruce Matthews. Bruce was difficult to work fory but soon we devel­ oped a very good friendship. The experience of working with Bruce was the best in my career. He taught me about design and high standards for playing conditions. His expe­ rience in design, drainage, soils and club management was priceless. / worked with Bruce at Grand Haven Golf Club from 1969 to 1974. After what l learned from Bruce and working on the sand dunes at Grand Haven Golf Club, 1 was ready to take the job at Dearborn Country Club. Bruce and 1 were friends for years. For a lot of yearsy Brucey Wally and 1 went deer hunting and talked turf! Bruce Matthews will al­ ways be missed in the golf world. Sincerely; Roger Barton Superintendent Pohlcat Golf Course The Process Behind Good Chemistry By Jim Shone and Mike Tysowski, Zeneca Professional Products Tough jobs are simpli­ fied when you have the right tools. The right tools come in many forms, but they certainly don't come easy. Take a second and think about the chemical tools used to control pests on the golf course. What does it take to bring new chemistry to the turf man­ agement industry and also maintain the older, but still reliable, products? Does a specific process exist, or are products discovered by accident? What are the im­ plications of the new Food Q uality Protection Act (FQPA) legislation? To un­ derstand the answers to these questions, we first must look at the societal, safety, environmental and economic circumstances that influence the decision to bring or keep a particu­ lar type of product to the market. Pesticide manufactur­ ers are constantly search­ ing for newer, more effec­ tive and safer products. In an effort to find potential agricultural or horticultural products, the industry in­ tensively screens hundreds of thousands of molecules each year. Even with the intensive screening pro­ cess, fewer than one in 20,000 products developed makes it to the market.(l) Although some products are discovered by "acci­ dent," today's competitive environment requires high- tech screening processes that do not allow for mis­ takes. Upon discovering a potential product, the m anufacturer must first satisfy a slate of conditions set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and next justify the eco­ nomic feasibility of the po­ tential product. The EPA conditions are valid safe­ guards that protect us not only as product handlers and applicators but also as members of the general public. More importantly, the safeguards give the as­ surance that someone is watching our interests as family guardians. Human safety issues are at the top of the list when a product undergoes consideration for registra­ tion. Potential human expo­ sure is determ ined and evaluated through a proce­ dure called a "risk cup" analysis. Testing produces an average daily intake (ADI) for each specific out­ let or crop proposed for a product. Think of the ADI, or safe potential exposure, for each outlet or crop as filling the risk cup. When the risk cup becomes full of ADI points, the manu­ facturer can no longer seek registrations for the prod­ uct on further application outlets. Continued on page 4 Good Chemistry, The nation’s food and pesticide regulations have become even more pro­ tective with the passage of the FQPA in 1996. Think again of the risk cup. This "cup" contains the amount of pesticide residue that a person can be exposed to daily without affecting health. The risk cup must make room not only for resi­ dues on food but also from residues found in drinking water, produced in and around the home and encountered on lawns, gardens and public spaces such as parks, rights-of-w ay and golf courses. Safeguards for infants and children, as well as other sensitive popu­ lation subgroups, have been ex­ panded.(1) The new legislation also re­ quires that where two or more pesti­ cides act on human health in the same manner they must share a common risk cup. Therefore the risk cup has become smaller, resulting in potentially fewer pesticides or pesticide uses. While the FQPA makes it more difficult to regis­ ter or maintain products in the market, we can be assured that the products that receive approval have been thoroughly reviewed by the EPA and pose a rea­ sonable certainty of no harm to people or the environment. To obtain federal registration, rig­ orous research into environmental issues including water quality, product degra­ dation, the analysis of the degradates and effects on soil microbiology are neces­ sary. Ecological research involving non­ target effects on native and endangered species is also part of the process. Pes­ ticide registration decisions are based primarily on the EPA's evaluation of the test data provided by manufacturers. Some 120 or more tests may be re­ quired.(2) Established products will also be subject to review by the EPA. This re­ view process requires manufacturers to reexamine the older products' chemical components, reassess their risk in light of the risk cup and evaluate the prod­ ucts' ability to meet the new legislative standards. Expenditures related to this continued___________ re-registration review are significant. This costly process has already resulted in the elimination or limitation of the number of tools available for superin­ tendents. Organophosphate and carbam­ ate insecticides are among the first of the products now undergoing review by the EPA as a result of the new legisla­ tion. A grassroots initiative is presently encouraging the EPA not to rush to judg­ ment on invaluable pesticide products and use preliminary and incomplete in­ formation. Rather, this grassroots cam­ paign calls for use of realworld data and sound science as the basis for the EPA's analysis. In addition to the EPA's strict re­ quirements, the economics of product development also affect the process. The research needed to bring a particu­ lar product to market can take from 6 to 10 years and cost the manufacturer $50 million or more.(l) You may won­ der why large pesticide manufacturers are also in the pharmaceutical business? The answer is research. With the emer­ gence of biotechnology, the synergy between pharmaceutical and agricul­ tural platforms provides the manufac­ turers with exciting new possibilities, skills and resources that enhance com­ petitive position in the marketplace. What are the fruits of the extensive research and registration efforts put forth by the chemical manufacturers? New user-friendly products and the con­ tinued availability of reliable, time-tested chemicals that provide excellent alter­ natives for pest control in the turf envi­ ronment. Endnotes 1. And Now, The Good News. American Crop Protection Association, 1997. 2. Lawn Care Chemicals: What Consumers Should Know. American Council on Sci­ ence and Health, 1992. Reprinted from Through The Green, January/February 2000 Office Politics A new test measuring an employee's charm and social astuteness proves to be a strong predictor of job success. By Lee Green The relentless effort to measure the human intangibles that enable some people to get ahead in business while others merely round out the bell curve has produced a shiny new tool: the Political Skill Inventory. The PSI is so new, in fact, it's still a work in progress, says the man who invented it, University of Mississippi business profes­ sor Dr. Gerald R. Ferris. But early returns suggest it may be a supremely effective way to predict professional success, which could prove useful in corporate hiring and pro­ moting. You've got your basic intelligence, or what researchers call cognitive ability, and then you've got your emotional intelligence, a concept popularized a few years ago by psychologist and New York Times science writer Daniel Goleman. Then, of course, there's practical intelligence, elucidated in the writings of Yale psychologist Robert Sternberg. Political skill is none of these, and all of these. "It's a social astuteness," Ferris says, characterized by a "disarmingly charming and engaging manner that inspires confidence and trust." In twenty years of researching organi­ zational bureaucracy, Ferris acquired a keen understanding of political skills. Finally, he decided to try to quantify them. Through his PSI, he asked workers to rate themselves in six areas, including their ability to empa­ thize with others and to get people to re­ spond positively to them. Ferris discovered that those who scored highest were also perceived by their supervisors to be the best at their jobs. In fact, political skills, or the lack of them, proved to be the most reliable predictor of job-performance ratings, bet­ ter even than intelligence or other personal­ ity factors. Continued on page 6 This is your membership dues at work! o l v 0 K U IH L K 9 m f i CVCT1TD C o l v 9 1 9 i C i I % 9 Because of your contribution this year to the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, we have been able to match 132 additional children to Big Brother and Big Sister volunteers. Thanks to you, Mike and Michelle Phillips' match to Cody Roberts was one of those matches. r am thonkfu1 f 0r having both Q S'S B ro th e r and Big s is t e r I Just have fun with my’ B-g Brother, Mike. Sometimes I spend time with my Big Brother and my Big Sister, Michelle and their daughters,/liexis and Lauren. ... We i'a'/efun going to the park, ing bikes, playing games or on the computer at their house. I also like tram"9, P the trampoline. They take me to fun P aces and Big Brothers Big Sisters events." ^ ^ ' " 9 y Cody Roberts Please patronize our advertisers as they have made this newsletter possible. A d vertisers Aventis Environmental Science.............. ... (734) 782-0323 S cotts...........................................................(248) 698-2358 Benham Turf Partners............................... ...(248) 474-7474 Spartan Distributors................ ...................(616)887-7301 Boylan S a le s............................................ ...(616)685-6828 Standard S a n d ............................................(616)842-5180 Commercial Environmental Turf Services.... 1-800-231-5296 T.C.I............................................ ...................(517)725-7145 Custom Aerification Services, Inc........... .. 1-800-824-3956 T ri-T urf....................................................... 1-800-636-7039 D&C Distributors, Inc................................ .. 1-800-888-7779 Tri Turf Soils, Inc....................... ...................(888) 616-7806 Ellis S a le s.................................................. .. 1-800-962-4128 Turfgrass, Inc............................. ................. 1-800-521-8873 Green Growth Supply Company, Inc. ......(616)878-9922 Turf Partners.............................. ................. 1-800-482-6520 Lesco.......................................................... .. 1-800-321-5325 Turf Services............................ ...................(616)842-4975 J. Mollema & S on s.................................. .. 1-800-234-4769 Valley T u rf................................. .................. (616)532-2885 Parmenter & A nd re .................................. ...(616)458-1546 Van Manen O il........................................... 1-800-654-4244 Peerless-Midwest...................................... ...(616)527-0050 W.F. Miller Co............................................. 1-800-555-8189 Professional Lake M anagem ent............ ..1-800-382-4434 W eingartz................................. .................. (616)696-2913 Rhino Seed & Landscape S u p p ly ......... .. 1-800-790-1898 Classifieds____ The Meadows Golf Club at Grand Valley State Uni­ versity is accepting bids for used equipment listed below. Sealed bids will be accepted until 4:00 p.m., December 15, 2000, at 227 Lake Michigan Hall, GVSU. Equipment sold to best offer, as is, where is, no guarantees. Owner reserves the right to refuse any and all bids. Equipment available for inspec­ tion between 6:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call for appointment: contact Chad Johnson, Robert Liedel or Kathy Antaya, CGCS at (616) 895-1005. Greens King 4 #2, 1994, 3793 miles, $4000. Greens King 4 #4, ac­ quired used in 1994, $500. Toro Greens Aire, ac­ quired in 1994, $3500. Dodge Dakota 1985,4WD, acquired in 1993, 105,131 miles, $2000. Vicon 402 Fert. Spreader, long & short spout, agitator set, acquired in 1992, $1500. Cushmen Utility Vehicle #1, acquired used in 1993, 4866 miles, $1000. Cushmen Core Harvester, extra hose connection, ac­ quired in 1994, $1500. Hijet, doesnl run, includes some parts, acquired used in 1993,11,970 miles?, $500. Toro Fwy Baskets (5), rarely used, acquired in 1994, $250. ESTERN M lEW S 8121 Cowan Lake Drive • Rockford, Ml 49341 Office Politics, continued____________ But would that correlation hold true in jobs where political skills were utterly superfluous? To find out, Ferris tested the PSI on a group of com­ puter programmers, with surprising results. 'The political-skill measure was still the single strongest predictor of performance ratings," he says. "It just kicked the heck out of everything." THE POLITICAL SKILL INVENTORY Using the following scale, choose the number that best describes how much you agree with each statement. 1 = strongly disagree 2 = disagree 3 = slightly disagree 4 = neutral 5 = slightly agree 6 = agree 7 = strongly agree 1. 1 find it easy to envision myself in the position of others. 2. I am able to make most people feel comfortable and at ease around me. 3. It is easy for me to develop good rapport with most people. 4. I understand people well. 5. I am good at getting others to respond positively to me. 6. I usually try to find common ground with others. If your answers total 30 or below, your political skills need improvement. If you scored 38 or higher, you have above-average political skills. Reprinted from American Way PRE SORT STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID GRAND RAPIDS, Ml PERMIT NO. 582 C o 0 K \ n ^ arn , hratV ^ 2A2 U b V 4 8 8 2 * Wtt p e te £ . v_ans'n<3