Grand Rapids

Heading to Grand Rapids today to meet with Kevin Fuchs and Marc McCoy from Harrell's at Egypt Valley. Board member and Egypt Valley Superintendent  Jeff Homles, CGCS will be meeting us as well. This is another chance to speak with one of our valuable Industry Partners. Harrell's has supported the MiGCSA from the start and is an important part of the MiGCSA success. As everyone's budget begins to shrink at the course it in turn decreases the budget for distributors and the amount they can support very worthy causes. The MiGCSA is more than a cause to support however, we are also the most direct line for marketing to Superintendents available. But the real question is how can the MiGCSA help our partners improve their bottom line while they also help us, which in turn helps us to have great member benefits. I ask you as members as I always do to really make sure you look at the companies that support the MiGCSA and when you can please support them as well.

Detroit District Survey

Working on a Detroit District member survey today with the Detroit District Events Committee chaired by Gregg Matthews. We are trying to get the right set of questions for our members. We want to make sure we are doing the best things we can for them and to make the events more popular. In the last few years, even before the MiGCSA came to be attendance in all 4 chapters were slipping. There are many ideas as to why this is happening from cost, to time to venues and I think they are all valid. But we are hoping to get some more concrete evidence as to how we can make the events better. The Detroit District is by far our most populated, but often has the lowest attendance for events. So we are starting there to see what type of response we get. It is short only 5 questions so hopefully we get some responses. I know how tough it is to find time for these things but a little information can go a long way to help all of us.

Legislative Day

Had a great turnout yesterday and the rain held off until after "Lunch at the Turn". In the morning we heard from Dennis Muchmore, Governor Snyder's Chief of Staff on his thought on the State and fielded questions about golf. He used to be a lobbyist for the Golf Course Owners Association, so he is familiar with our industry. We then went out in groups with bags of information and visited the House of Representatives. I paired up with Greg Lyman and John Miller, CGCS from the GCSAA. We had the opportunity to sit with many Representatives or to speak with their staffs. Everyone was invited to "Lunch at the Turn" thanks to Eagle Eye Catering, hot dogs and hamburgers. The tent on the front lawn of the capitol building was packed with Representatives, Senators and their staffs. In the afternoon we visited the Senate. They were still in session so we spoke to their staffs and left information for the Senators. A great day thanks to the newly formed Michigan Golf Alliance.

Off to Grand Rapids

I will be heading to Grand Rapids today to have dinner with Dave and Linda Wheeler, the owners of Automatic Supply Michigan the Rain Bird Distributor for Michigan and a Silver Industry Partner for the last two years. I try to meet all of our Industry Partners and take them to dinner to discuss the program. The Industry Partner program with the MiGCSA is really the key to our operation. Without the support from these companies we would not be able to charge such a low membership fee. In the last two years these companies have supported the MiGCSA to the tune of $180,000. These funds go to magazine and digital advertising, and also to help sponsor every event we have that is not a fundraiser. The Industry Partner sign at the golf events represents a hue commitment to the members, and we encourage to look at that sign and see if there is an opportunity for you to help support them, because they do a lot to support you.

Lansing

Another gap in the blog as I get accustomed to keeping up. I was in Lansing this weekend for my little brothers wedding. We had a drop in by Sparty in a tux. I will be heading back to Lansing on Wednesday for the Legislative Golf Day. Jay Eccleton the MiGCSA President and I will be meeting with the Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader along with other Michigan golf association presidents. It should be a great event. 

Legislative Day

Almost a week away from the 2011 Michigan Golf Legislative day in Lansing. I am hoping we can get some more MiGCSA members to sign up. It is a great day to get with your legislator to make sure they know how important golf is to Michigan. This year the MiGCSA joined the Michigan Golf Alliance which is a group of all the golf associations in Michigan to help plan and fund the event. There will be two large tents on the capitol lawn, along with large blow up hitting nets where PGA members will be giving lessons to legislators and their staff. There is no cost for the event and it is one of the most important of the entire year.

Arcadia Bluffs

A small lull in the blog during the 2011 MiGCSA Northern Fundraiser at Arcadia Bluffs. Another great event this year, over $8,000 was raised at just this event. I did a full recap on the website, CLICK HERE to view it. It was a fun two days for me, I only live about 15 minutes from Arcadia so it was nice to be able to stay at home for an event. We will be heading back to Arcadia in 2012, it is a great fundraiser site and they do a fantastic job.

Q & A with Mike Giuffre of Congressional By: Terry Moore

Terry Moore from www.teemoore.com sent me a great Q&A with Mike Giuffre, Superintendent at Congressional and a Traverse City native.

Click Here for the entire interview - http://www.migcsa.org/index.php?catid=8&newsid=288

Wee One in Michigan

The MiGCSA was a sponsor of the 2010 and 2011 Wee One outing in Michigan. Yesterday we received a nice note of thanks. This really is a great cause and can directly effect you or someone you know if times get tough. Next year the event will be held at the Country Club of Detroit on May 12th. If you have not made it to a Wee One event yet it is well worth the time, mark you calenders now!

www.weeone.org

Off to Traverse City

I have a 1:00 appointment with Mike Meindertsma today. If the name rings a bell it is because Mike used to be a Superintendent at the Grand Traverse Resort, and then Highpoint in Traverse City. He is now the manager for the Northwestern Mutual in Traverse City. He is interested in advertising with the MiGCSA and getting involved in the association and seeing some old friends. A bank run is also overdue to 5/3 to deposit checks from members and Industry Partners, the closest 5/3 bank is in Traverse City, 45 minutes away. I usually try to pair up errands. Only one spot left for Arcadia skins game to get to the 10 teams we were hoping for, get signed up today!