67 delegates representing 72 chapters meet in person at GCSAA Headquarters and the Kansas City Airport Marriott

After a virtual session in 2020, delegates from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America met in-person during a two-day event at GCSAA Headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., as well as the KCI Airport Marriott Hotel October 21-22, 2021.

The annual event brings delegates together from GCSAA’s 98 chapters to discuss initiatives, provide insight on moving the association forward, and to begin discussions on electing board members and officers at the February 2022 annual meeting.

Highlights of the meeting included a new delegates orientation session at GCSAA headquarters. New delegates were given an overview of expectations for the event, toured headquarters and heard from department leaders how GCSAA is moving the association forward. 

Members also heard from President Mark Jordan, CGCS, and CEO Rhett Evans. Both discussed GCSAA’s influence in the world of golf, facing difficult times during a global pandemic, and the importance of the delegates to lead outward. GCSAA continues to showcase the organization and its members as the global leaders in golf course management.

A member dues discussion also took place. GCSAA follows a dues adjustment process created in 2006 from input and approval from chapter delegates. The process is tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and equates to smaller and more frequent adjustments in dues rather than infrequent, but larger adjustments. This year’s proposal is the following:

• 6.6% adjustment n CPI since 2019
• $30 adjustment for A and B ($430) and $15 adjustment for C ($220) is being proposed
• Approval rates for dues adjustments using this process has ranged from 87% - 96%

The GCSAA Board of Directors will consider delegate feedback as they discuss the proposal. Delegates are encouraged to communicate the proposed dues adjustment with their membership and provide chapter feedback to GCSAA.

The delegates offered their thoughts on a variety of industry issues during breakout sessions. Questions on labor, professional development and best management practices were of focus.

Wednesday’s town hall session allowed delegates the chance to ask questions of the GCSAA Board. The interactive session focused on processes with the annual meeting and allowed further discussion on items discussed during the two-day event.

Candidate breakout sessions concluded activities. The delegates were awarded ample time to interact and ask questions of the candidates. Those running for the GCSAA Board in 2022 are:

• For President – Kevin P. Breen, CGCS
• For Vice President – Kevin P. Sunderman, CGCS
• For Secretary/Treasurer – Jeff L. White, CGCS; T.A. Barker, CGCS
• For Director (electing two) – Douglas D. Dykstra, CGCS; Steven J. Hammon; Christopher A. Reverie; Marc E. Weston, CGCS; Richard Wit, CGCS

As Dykstra and Weston are at the end of their director terms, there will be two (2), 2-year director terms up for election. Both Barker and White are in the middle of their two-year director term and will remain on the board as a director if not elected Secretary/Treasurer. The membership will also elect a one-year director seat to fill the vacancy left by the winner of the Secretary/Treasurer race.

GCSAA’s Annual Meeting will take place Thursday, February 10 from 8-10 a.m. at the San Diego Convention Center.

EPA Takes Next Step in Review Process for Herbicide Glyphosate, Reaffirms No Risk to Public Health

04/30/2019

Contact Information: 

EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking an important step in the agency’s review of glyphosate. As part of this action, EPA continues to find that there are no risks to public health when glyphosate is used in accordance with its current label and that glyphosate is not a carcinogen. The agency’s scientific findings on human health risk are consistent with the conclusions of science reviews by many other countries and other federal agencies. While the agency did not identify public health risks in the 2017 human health risk assessment, the 2017 ecological assessment did identify ecological risks. To address these risks, EPA is proposing management measures to help farmers target pesticide sprays on the intended pest, protect pollinators, and reduce the problem of weeds becoming resistant to glyphosate.

“EPA has found no risks to public health from the current registered uses of glyphosate,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “Today’s proposed action includes new management measures that will help farmers use glyphosate in the most effective and efficient way possible, including pollinator protections. We look forward to input from farmers and other stakeholders to ensure that the draft management measures are workable, realistic, and effective.”

“If we are going to feed 10 billion people by 2050, we are going to need all the tools at our disposal, which includes the use the glyphosate,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said. “USDA applauds EPA’s proposed registration decision as it is science-based and consistent with the findings of other regulatory authorities that glyphosate does not pose a carcinogenic hazard to humans.”

Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in U.S. agriculture and has been studied for decades.  Glyphosate is used on more than 100 food crops, including glyphosate-resistant corn, soybean, cotton, canola and sugar beet. Non-agricultural uses include residential areas, aquatic areas, forests, rights of way, ornamentals and turf. 

Once the Federal Register notice publishes, the public will be able to submit comments on EPA’s proposed decision at www.regulations.gov in docket # EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0361. Public comments will be due 60 days after the date of publication in Federal Register. EPA’s responses to the comments received on the draft ecological and human health risk assessments and the benefits assessment will be in the docket.

For more information about glyphosate, including today’s proposed interim decision and supporting documents, visit: https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/glyphosate.

The glyphosate draft risk assessments and supporting documents can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/draft-human-health-and-ecological-risk-assessments-glyphosate.

Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.

Discover.

Glyphosate Update

by Government Affairs Team | Mar 11, 2019

Last August, a state court jury in San Francisco decided Roundup caused a Vallejo, California man’s non-Hodgkin lymphoma and awarded him $289 million in punitive damages. The award was later reduced to $78 million and Monsanto has appealed.

Read more: https://www.gcsaa.org/advocacy/advocacy-hub/gcsaa-government-affairs-blog/2019/03/11/glyphosate-update#ixzz5hzF2lcb2

WHERE IS GCSAAPAC MONEY GOING?

So far, GCSAAPAC has made several, bipartisan donations to Members of Congress who have impacted golf. $500 was contributed to Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), who is the Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee which has jurisdiction over water and pesticide issues. $500 was also contributed to Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), who has supported a number of our positions on environmental issues and represents GCSAA headquarters in Lawrence, Kansas. $500 was contributed to Congressman Kevin Yoder (R-KS-3) as part of a larger event attended by GSCAA superintendents and staff at Shadow Glen Golf Club in Olathe, Kansas. Finally, $500 was contributed to Senator John Barrasso, the Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Learn more here

The GCSAA Podcast features relevant association and industry content that includes educational information, updates on GCSAA programs and services, reports from industry events, human interest stories and interviews with some of the biggest names in golf course management.

Whether you listen out on the course, during your daily commute, or while catching a work out, make the GCSAA Podcast a permanent addition to your podcast playlist.

GCSAA Podcast

Gov. John Kasich wants to crackdown on phosphorous run off that feeds Lake Erie algal blooms

Read more  Kasich on phosphorous

 Before administering the naturalization oath of allegiance to a recent class of new U.S. citizens, federal judge Stephanie K. Bowman reminded them never to take for granted what she was about to bestow upon them.

read the rest here  http://www.turfnet.com/news.html/_/pat-obrien-completes-path-to-us-citizenship-r1020

 A funeral mass will be held at 12:30 PM on Saturday, December 2nd at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Boca Raton, FL. A “Celebration of Life” will follow the mass at the Mercy Center at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Jerry’s life.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial foundation is being established in Jerry’s honor. More details will be available this week on social media and at www.jerrycfoundation.org

Congratulations to Jim Westendorf our Superintendent Champion and Jason Brown our Affiliate Champion for 2017

Both shot rounds of 78 at Cincinnati Country Club 

Below is a link to an excellent info graphic you can pass on to your golfers who don't understand the specs when it comes to aeration.  Also there is a link to a good article on bunker maintenance that can be printed in PDF form.

 http://www.usga.org/course-care/infographics/infographic--the-ins-and-outs-of-aeration.html#expanded

http://www.usga.org/course-care/infographics/infographic--the-ins-and-outs-of-aeration.html#expanded