Turf Line News

September 2012

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ASSOCIATION NEWS TO VIOLA FREER After 18 years of service as the WCTA Executive Assistant, Viola Freer and her family have relocated to Prince George for a new position her husband Roger has taken. Viola has been with the WCTA since 1994 and nearly every member has had a July 17, 2012 - The Western Canada Turfgrass Association (WCTA) and Sports Turf Association (STA) are pleased to announce the formalization of a partnership agreement between the two organizations. WCTA BIDS FAREWELL chance to get to know her personally through countless member service interactions in person, on the phone and via email. Always friendly and courteous, Viola did a lot of behind the scenes work too. As well, her son Douglas has been helping with the conference for a number of years.The move happened fairly quickly as opportunity knocked only semi- expectedly for the Freer family. Over the past three years Viola's primary focus has become the CEC program and maintenance of the email distribution lists as well as playing an integral role in conference production. development and resources in this sector niche. The WCTA mandate includes the promotion of further education, turfgrass research and the exchange of information related to turfgrass management and recognizes within its membership a Sports Turf Managers Group. By partnering with the STA, these members will now have greater access to specialized education, professional The Sports Turf Managers Group will be able to complement the benefits offered by their regional association by enjoying reduced membership rates in the Sports Turf Association, the non- profit professional association dedicated solely to the promotion of better, safer sports turf. Moving forward, the WCTA will be the conduit for STA membership originating in the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. The associations will explore joint educational and professional development opportunities. The On behalf of the entire membership, the Board of Directors would like to thank Viola for the tremendous hard work and dedication over her entire term of service with the association, much of which helped shaped where we are today. "These were the formative years with the association growing from 300 to over 700 members," stated WCTA Executive Director Jerry Rousseau, "and Viola still knows almost every member's name and background." The Board is working on a fitting departing gift of thanks to be presented before Viola WCTA AND STA ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP agreement recognizes the Sports Turf Association as the national body for the promotion of better, safer sports turf in Canada and the Canadian International Affiliate Organization of the USA-based Sports Turf Managers Association. WCTA President Tab Buckner is enthusiastic about the new partnership stating, "This is a major step forward in uniting Sports Turf Managers across the country and will undoubtedly have a positive effect on everyone in the industry." Paul Gillen, STA President, concurs, "The synergy created by this relationship will result in better educational and training opportunities for all associated with the industry". STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP MEETING OF WCTA AND STA DURING THE WCTA CONFERENCE IN VICTORIA, BC, JANUARY, 2012 BACK ROW L-R: TENNESSEE PROPEDO/STA VICE PRESIDENT, PAUL GILLEN/STA PRESIDENT, TAB BUCKNER/WCTA PRESIDENT, JERRY ROUSSEAU/WCTA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BRIAN HOLL/WCTA DIRECTOR FRONT ROW: LEE HUETHER/STA EXECUTIVE MANAGER, SCOTT MITCHELL/WCTA PAST PRESIDENT; ABSENT FROM PHOTO: TREVOR SMITH/WCTA DIRECTOR COMING EVENTS WCTA SHOWS ITS SUPPORT FOR THE CGSA / BCGSA'S BY JERRY ROUSSEAU As of August 11th, there were still limited spots available to participate in the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association 'Fall Field Day' taking place Saturday, September 15 through Monday, September 17 at the NK'Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course in Oliver, BC and Spirit Ridge Resort in Osoyoos. The BC Golf Superintendents Association has taken an active role in the event, foregoing their annual Exchange Tournament in favour of hosting the Saturday afternoon wine UPCOMING FALL FIELD DAY tour and evening welcome reception. The Western Canada Turfgrass Association has also seen the event as an opportunity to further expand collaborative efforts between allied groups and has committed to sponsoring a hole during the golf tournament and partially sponsoring the Saturday reception. The WCTA plans to hold fun turf research fundraising activities during both those portions of the event. The CGSA Fall Field Day is an annual event that moves around the country 42 WESTERN CANADA TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION About WCTA The WCTA is a not-for- profit association founded in the late 1950's by a small group of turf managers who were interested in becoming better at their profession. Today, over 700 members represent a diversity of sectors such as golf courses, sports fields, school boards, municipalities, sod farms, nurseries, and includes an educational component, 18 hole stroke play golf tournament to determine the CGSA's national champion golfer and several networking opportunities for golf course superintendents and suppliers. This year's speaker is Bruce R. Williams, CGCS presenting The Business of Golf Course Management. "We hope all those who travel here to play this great course appreciate the layout and style," said NK'Mip superintendent, Ken Bruneski, who is looking forward to hosting his friends and colleagues from across North America. "We are looking forward to hosting both the CGSA and the BCGSA members for this great annual event and I'm positive that anyone who attends will be very happy with the departs and would also like to thank Douglas Freer for his efforts to help make our conference successful year after year.WCTA members looking for assistance can email Jerry Rousseau directly at exec.director@wctaturf.com until Viola's replacement is trained and ready. landscapers, lawn bowling greens, mechanics, horticulturists and industry suppliers, all supported through a variety of member services and education delivery programs. One of the WCTA's primary mandates is to raise and distribute funds for a variety of turfgrass research projects. About STA 2012 marks the quarter- century milestone of the Sports Turf Association. Its roots go back to 1987 when after a brain storming session at the University of Guelph a broad segment of the turf industry endorsed its need. Of particular concern at that meeting was the need to minimize and avoid injury to participants using athletic fields where they relate to sports turf. Twenty-five years later the Sports Turf Association continues to promote better, safer sports turf through innovation, education and professional programs. For further information, contact: Jerry Rousseau, Executive Director, WCTA 604-869-9282, exec.director@wctaturf.com Lee Huether, Executive Manager, STA 519- 763-9431, info@sportsturfassociation.com decision to choose our site," he added. A full program of activities is planned including a 9-hole 2 person best ball tournament and wine tours on both Saturday and Monday. Companions and non-golfers are welcome to partake along with non- CGSA members and non-sponsor industry members but CGSA members receive priority sign- up for the limited golf spots. To become a CGSA member and eliminate that problem, just join! Pre-registration & sponsorship can be completed online or via fax/mail by using the registration forms. For more general event information or questions on registration please contact Kathryn Wood, (519) 589-9282. IMAGE CREDIT: RAIN DESIGNS

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