Executive Director’s Report

CAREY MITCHELSON

Welcome to year two of the newly revised MTF NewsNotes!

Each year the MTF sets its sights on new goals and ways to improve itself to and improve for our members. Those thoughts and meetings are sometimes very successful. Sometimes not as successful. However, this year marks our second year of the New – NewsNotes and the Foundation considers this a successful endeavor. Congratulations to our President Curt Boak for taking it on and making our Foundation a bit stronger in doing so. It isn’t easy to prepare a publication. There are always items of interest and lots of subject matter to present. With those subjects come deadlines and time-consuming attention to detail that can make or break any writing. But with it comes deadlines and a great deal of attention to detail in order that is time PRESIDENT’S consuming. To produce a professional publication even if it is only 2 times a year is a task that MESSAGE isn’t easy. It takes a certain persona to take on a mission like this because once started it is an expectation that comes repeatedly and beyond. In your normal, chaotic workday it would be very simple and easy to not make mistakes – but if giving up on ideas is a way to avoid mistakes, what would the world be like? Ideas make us fresh and energized. It offers a chance to explore what everyone else may have given up on …or never thought of. We will continue to improve and learn how to produce a publication that has interesting items, and we hope you share It is with great pleasure that the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation once again is able to present our Annual Turfgrass Conference. The decision four years ago to return to East Lansing and make the emphasis on education has proven your thoughts with us.to be the correct choice. Our speaker line-up is once again wellrounded and the topics for your consideration have been planned Spring Highlightsfor months. A great deal of debate regarding what our attendees may be interested in always takes place and the goal is to anticipate GAM Annual Meetingthe priorities of the attendees. Your input on topics during the The MTF is proud to be a close partner with the Golf Association of Michigan. The GAM itself supports the Conference and throughout the year is always welcome and we MTF with an annual donation from the proceeds of its annual Golf Auction. It shares the revenues it receives look forward to any thoughts you may have. We hope you find from that event with both the MTF and the Evans Scholars Program and is an indication of how the GAM respects both organizations and joins in their success. Many of our host courses for the TT4Turf auction are a part of the GAM organization and these clubs are the core of our fundraising effort each spring just prior to the Conference suited to your expectations and trust you will let us know your opinions on where we may improve and if we have Mother’s Day. In addition there are several courses that contribute annually to the MTF and we are grateful effectively planned your time as well. for their contributions annually.

Many people are involved with the planning process of the At this year’s GAM Annual Meeting there were many individuals who have ties to the MTF. J. Lee Juett Conference and it starts the day after the last session ends. The of Oakland Hills Country Club, a longtime GAM volunteer and rules official, was the recipient of the catalyst of the event is our current Vice-President Amy Fouty. She has set the tone the last three years and always strives to enhance and improve each day of the sessions. Fellow Board members Mark

Wildeman and Curt Boak have been under her wing this past year and they will be chairing the Conference for the upcoming VOL 2 | ISSUE 1 www.michiganturfgrass.org years. Many thanks to all of them as they continue to provide a conference that we all enjoy and learn from.

“To swear off making mistakes is very easy. All you have to do is swear off having ideas.”

Leo Burnett – Advertising Executive.

Distinguished Service Award. Mr. Juett is well known for his commitment to the GAM, golf and Oakland Hills and his selection is well deserved. Juett, a member at Oakland Hills since 1976, first got involved with the GAM in the early 1990s through Peter Jackson, a fellow Oakland Hills member and GAM Governor.

“Peter got me involved with the (GAM) green committee working with the superintendents and the Michigan Turfgrass (Foundation),” he said. “I was a member of that committee for a long time, an Honorary Governor and then became a Governor in 1999. That kind of morphed into an interest in the rules and working as a rules official, being part of the championship committee. I was president of the GAM (2010-11), and I still enjoy being a rules official.”

Also recognized was David Baughman – another member of Oakland Hills and the GAM Green Committee Chairperson responsible for the creation of the Superintendent of Merit Award given annually by the GAM. This award recognizes individuals who have served their industry and their respective clubs in a manner that is appreciated by not only the club but also by their peers. This year’s awardee was Ron Dahlin of The Meadows Golf Club of Grand Valley State University. Mr. Baughman was recognized at the annual meeting for his efforts with the GAM and was recognized as an Honorary Governor of the GAM by the Board of Directors for his service to the GAM and the Golf Industry. Mr. Baughman has supported the MTF since his introduction to the MTF and we congratulate his selection. Along with David, Linda Lester of Gowanie Golf Club and Lynn Saunders of Lakelands Golf and Country Club were also presented as Honorary Governors. Each of their clubs have also supported the MTF and the MSU Turf Program.

With 3 years since the last in person meeting there was also an opportunity to acknowledge three of the MSU Professors for their roles at MSU with the Turf Program and interaction with the GAM over the years. Dr. James Crum who was unable to attend was acknowledged for retirement and years of service to the students and research at MSU. Dr. David Smitley who would be giving his final exam to students after the GAM meeting was thanked by the GAM for his years of passing along his knowledge from the Entomology Department and finally Dr. Joe Vargas was present to accept kind words and thank you for all his 52 years of professional service as the patriarch of the Turf Team. Plant, Soils and Microbial Sciences Chairperson, Dr. Brian Horgan, was on hand to present the awards and spoke on behalf of MSU and its effort to fund the Dr. Joseph Vargas Endowed Chair in Plant Pathology.

TT4Turf

This year’s TeeTimes4Turf auction was the most successful ever and we would like to thank all the participating courses and industry partners who help make the event something all golf courses in the state of Michigan can be proud of. This year’s event raised a record $49,484 for the Turf Program at MSU and is an example of how strong our golf alliances are in Michigan.

Club Donations

Each year there are several individual clubs that donate annually to the MTF and it is there continued support the we would like to acknowledge. The 2020-21 Clubs include:

Oakland Hills Country Club, Detroit Golf Club, Red Run Golf Club, Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club, Meadowbrook Country Club, Forest Lake Country Club, Bucks Run Golf Club, Crystal Downs Country Club, Edgewood Country Club and Egypt Valley Country Club. We also received contributions from the Golf Association of Michigan, The Northern Great Lakes Golf Course

Superintendents Association, and the Dul Foundation on behalf of Fox Hills.

These individual clubs and organizations have supported the MTF for many years and we thank them for their longtime consideration. All clubs know the importance the turf program can be in everyday use. Those that can do the little extra are appreciated. Like the surgeon said –

“It’s fifty dollars for cuttin’ and a full hundred for knowin’ where.”

Summer thoughts

As we approach summer and the many decisions that will be made. The MTF hopes you approach all those choices knowing that for every good choice made their will be some not so good choices as well.

Always remember: The best way to be right or wrong is humbly. And humility is like underwear – essential, but indecent if it shows.

Let’s wish for some good weather and the Foundation hopes to see you soon at one of our events.

Membership

Dan Mausolf, Vice President, and Membership Chair has taken on the enormous duties of updating our files and correcting the vast data base of our Membership. The Board of Directors determined a couple of changes to clarify our Honorary Membership and wanted to thank those who have served to better the MTF by allowing a new category on our Membership roster to include Honorary Service Membership. This classification will provide a membership to those individuals and clubs who have supported the MTF financially or with their time to benefit the MTF. Many of you received notification on this change and we thank all of those who voted to approve this category in our membership roster. He has also been updating our Founders Society list to include all those who may have been omitted or not recognized in previous years for their contributions. If you have any questions or would like to become a Founders Member please feel free to contact the MTF with your inquiry.