Director’s Corner
Staying the Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director
“W
Course
hatever you do, Mr. Cunningham, don’t turn all the lights on in this building at the same time.” So began Christopher Newport University’s (CNU) classes on September 8, 1961. This university, which is now over 50 years old, has grown and thrived, developing beyond those dire words of warning from a city electrical inspector given just days before the start of classes in a renovated, abandoned public school building. CNU’s consistent growth may be attributed to its vision and to its drive for excellence. Long before the doors opened in 1961, CNU’s leaders knew they wanted the school to be more than a two-year college. They envisioned the day when not only Bachelor degrees would be offered but also Master’s and Doctoral programs. The vision of what the college would become drove many decisions made during the first two decades of the college’s existence. “Excellence” was more than a word on a plaque at the fledgling college. Every instructor was committed to providing rigorous, relevant instruction. Classes were not designed to focus on preparing children of local families for careers in the local shipbuilding industry. Nor was the goal to simply allow students to complete a two-year degree just by attending classes. Initially, students were surprised. Many were
expecting to coast through their two years at this upstart college. Like CNU, the Virginia Turfgrass Council grows because we maintain a strong commitment to a few driving forces: adherence to our mission and our constant quest for improvement. The VTC’s mission is clear and simple — we exist to serve Virginia’s turfgrass industry. We do not spend extensive resources on homeowners or other segments of the green industry. Our board makes decisions based on the filtering question, “Does this activity or endeavor serve Virginia’s turfgrass industry?” Do we feel hindered and shackled by the mission-mandated focus on the industry? No! On the contrary, we are freed! We cannot be all things to all people. As someone has said, “He who seeks to please everyone pleases no one.” Adhering to our mission frees us to focus our limited resources. The drive to continuously improve is not just an empty slogan. We always examine everything we do with the goal of making it better. We keep what works well and modify — or discard — what does not. Christopher Newport University is now a highly respected, thriving university in Newport News. Its leaders’ commitment to a vision and to excellence enabled then to grow beyond worrying about how many lights could be turned on at the same time. The Virginia Turfgrass Council will con-
8 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal March/April 2013 www.vaturf.org
tinue to grow and thrive as long as we never forget the members and industry we serve, and as long as we always strive to excel. c