T
he 2002 Chapter Delegates Meeting was held November 1–3 in Kansas City, MO/Lawrence, KS. 102 delegates representing all chapter affiliates were in attendance. The meeting began on Friday at 5:30 P.M. and seemingly continued straight through to Sunday at 12:00 P.M. As a first time representative of the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association, I was introduced to an arena that pleasantly exceeded my expectations. On Friday evening, I was given the opportunity to see our headquarters for the first time. Quite frankly, I had never felt the need to go to Kansas until now. Many of the staff was available and it was nice to put names with faces and see a portion of where my dues and fees have been going all of this time. Given this impressive facility, it is amazing that our association continues to operate “debt-free”. In a “state of the association” address, Steve Mona, CEO, re-enforced the notion of the GCSAA transitioning to “A golf organization that emphasizes turf, and not a turf organization that happens to be involved with golf”. He also presented the goals that will help achieve the mission of the organization. They are
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1.
To enable members to achieve career success.
2.
To be a powerful and influential advocate for the interests TENNESSEE TURFGRASS DECEMBER/JANUARY 2003
of our members, the profession, and the industry. 3. To be the recognized authority on continuing education, information, and issues related to golf course management 4. To be a strategically positioned, dynamic, and responsive organization. Whether you agree with the methodology or not, programs and services provided by the GCSAA are intended to help the members and the organization as a whole, achieve these goals and become a more powerful factor in the golf industry. On a Saturday filled with upsets in college football (many of which I was told were on television), the meatier portion of the agenda was presented to the delegates. Rest assured, many of these topics generated enthusiastic discussion and the Board of Directors (BOD) was put to the test. The day began at 7:00 A.M. and ended at 9:15 A.M. What may be the hottest topic within the organization is the proposed dues increase. Julian M. Arredondo, CAE, CFO stressed that the GCSAA is currently a financially strong organization which carries no debt, and regarded a dues and education fees increase as a means of providing additional, more reliable revenue to sustain positive momentum and member services. Therefore, the
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