Turf Line News

September/October 2013

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TLN1309-proof 9/11/13 1:49 PM Page 1 ASSOCIATION NEWS Lyall - Continued From Previous Page BY TAB BUCKNER THE WCTA WANTS YOU! As an elected member of the Board, HOW DO YOU GET INVOLVED? your voice represents WCTA members, Simply send past President Tab Buckner the sportsturf management industry an email at tbuckner@tol.ca putting and impacts the future direction of your name forward along with answers our association. ELECTED POSITIONS TO BE FILLED AT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING TAKING PLACE DURING THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE, WEDNESDAY, FEB 19, 2014. President • Vice President • Five Two-Year Directors Board members who will be at the end of their term (all have option to re-run): Peter Sorokovsky, Jeff Bennett, Stan Kazymerchyk, Casey O'Connor & Garrett Squire Note: if VP is nominated from list of Directors with one year remaining, we will require an additional one year Director. Every association needs diverse representation of its members. The WCTA is in a state of dynamic change making it a great time to be involved. It's time for new ideas and directions, time to step up and get involved with the industry that continues to do so much for all of us. WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS? -Must be a member in good standing of the WCTA. -Be willing and able to attend 9 board meetings per year. (Jan, Feb [at the conference], March, April, May, June, September, October, and November) Note: Some meetings are conference calls, some expenses for travel are covered. -Be willing to learn new areas of the industry. -Be willing to share and exchange ideas for the advancement of all members of the Association. -Care about what the WCTA stands for and commit to two years service on the Board of Directors. -Be willing to accept a WCTA Portfolio of your interest. There are many ways to attend a meeting and if "distance" is your issue, we can make it work!! WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU? -Meet new people from all walks of the industry: Golf; Industry Suppliers; Municipal; Irrigation; Horticulture; Mechanics; Landscapers; and Growers… -Make new contacts. -Travel the province. -Become part of the solution. -Have your voice heard on issues that affect us all. -Have your conference registration paid for. to the following questions: We often hear members say they didn't vote for someone because they didn't know them. Please provide a brief description about yourself in a short paragraph: 1. How long have you been a WCTA member and in what capacity, ie. golf course, sportsfield, schools, mechanic, hort, industry, other? 2. List any previous board experience you've had. 3. How do you feel about the following key issues in the turf industry: a. Pesticides b. State of the economy c. Other (your choice) 4. Can you provide two or three ideas on how to improve the WCTA? 5. Where do you see association growth over the next 5 years? 6. Any further comments We will post candidate names and answers to the above questions on our website and publish in the conference edition of the Turf Line News. If you wish to include a photo of yourself for publication, feel free to do so. DUE TO PRINT DEADLINES, NOMINATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY NOV. 22, 2013. Keep in mind that if we get more applications than we have spots available there will need to be an election which is a good thing! Also note that nominations can even be made from the floor at the AGM. PLEASE CONTACT TAB IF YOU NEED FURTHER INFORMATION OR DETAILS!! 34 WESTERN CANADA TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION industry sector professionals? There is no doubt that we need to ensure that members of our associations are getting their money's worth for belonging and if that means we as directors need to look at this, then so be it. As directors we must also be aware of the concerns of our suppliers. I have heard a few times from reps that in BC they are supporting two associations, this is unique in Canada and costly to them. Ultimately we all need to understand that these associations are by no way rich, all the dollars that come in are spent and if we do amalgamate, there will be an expectation that cost will go down. If that happens, what suffers? Research? Education? TLN: You were in construction before entering the world of sportsturf management on golf courses. What do you think people in the turf industry could learn from people in other professions? KL: Regulations, other than pesticide laws, I find most are not familiar with regs pertaining to health/safety, environment and employment standards. I do think that our newly established environmental advisory committee will be the catalyst that takes our industry to next level. TLN: Compared to people you know in other professions, do people in the turf industry have attributes that stand out? KL: Absolutely, as I have stated many times before, I have never seen competing professionals so willing to help each other even when it can mean a loss of business to the ones "helping". Without sounding too emotional, it is heartwarming to know that at any time I can call almost everyone from our directories to get advice on a situation. TLN: Here's a set of standard questions that we try to stay away from but which still need to be asked: In your career, who was your biggest help/influence along the way? First off, my Grandfather, for all the pump and mechanical skills he taught me as a kid. Secondly my mom and dad for their devotion to horticulture and the game of golf. From the industry side, Terry Smith and Rod Siddons from the glory days at the Dunes. Bart Zayshley during my time at Morgan Creek. But I would have to say that the person I learnt the most from over the last 10 years is John Reid. He has always made himself available for my stupid questions and has really been a great friend. Thanks John, hope I can return the favor one day. Any funny stories? Many but probably nothing that I would have published. Most exciting moment? Crashing tractors into creeks. Greatest achievement? My two kids and my lovely wife. Biggest frustration? The lack of respect from customers at this resort, walking, jogging, skiing, sledding and biking on this course, regardless of signage. But what bugs me the most when I confront these people and they say, "This is a golf course?" Open your eyes Skiers. If you could have a Mulligan? Probably start education sooner, pissed away most of my twenties. TLN: If you were zapped 300 years into the past, knowing what you know now, what do you think you would be doing? KL: Getting on the first boat to the New World. TLN: Give us three predictions for the future of the turf and golf industry: KL: 1) Less courses and players, I think we may be heading to pre 1980's, when members were our biggest revenue generators. 2) More opposition from special interest groups, these groups keep telling the public that we are not sensitive to our environment, and we all know how much BS that is. 3) The continuing saga of do more for less. TLN: Any other random thoughts, comments, ideas, tips, advice or why? KL: The tourism/hospitality industry needs to catch up with other industry in this province. Please stop undervaluing your products, charge your customers what the product is worth and pay your employees a wage which they can survive on. Otherwise it won't be long before no one can afford to work in this industry, when the others are paying three times as much. Every year I lose my best employees to mining, oil/gas, construction and municipalities for jobs that are not all that different than what they do on the course.

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