Tiger by the tail...

Well I have been a long supporter of all that is communication and social media, and this week I really made my belief stronger. I had seen many of these memes flying around about what you think you do, what they think you do etc. so I decided to make one for the Golf Course Superintendent. So on Thursday I found myself with a few extra minutes in the morning and went to work. In about 30 minutes I was able to put together the image you see on your right.

I had no idea what was about to happen when I posted in on Facebook at 12:18. It started slow, the GCSAA shared it with their feed and many MiGCSA followers commented on it and started to share it. But then it went off like a wildfire in an open field. I started to see it on other pages within hours, and they were getting comments and shares as well, I can not track those as they took it and posted it as their own.

As of today it has 300 likes, 51 comments, and 169 shares just on the MiGCSA page alone. I have no idea the total reach yet, Facebook does have metrics on these things but I won't see the results until tomorrow. I have offered to send hi resolution versions of this out via email if they contact me, and this morning I had a request fro SWEDEN! It went from Northern Michigan around the world in less than three days. It has been interesting to be on this end of something that went "viral" and I have to admit it is pretty cool.

The response has been overall extremely positive, so thank you for that. And of course if you want a hi res copy you can email me at adamikamas@migcsa.org, this is for personal use only and not for re-sale, the images are just grabs from the internet and I am sure at least the Carl Spackler image is copyrighted.

Gearing up for Vegas

As with most things it seems like everything is much farther away than they are, like the objects in mirror are closer than they appear warning. But here we are less than a week away from the 2012 GIS in Las Vegas. I have been asked to do a presentation in the Chapter Executives track on the Communication efforts of the MiGCSA. I have been involved with the communications with the chapter since the day the committee was formed. I believed then as I do now that this is the fulcrum of the MiGCSA. Just as it becomes an issue at a golf course when people do not know what is going on, without proper and easy communication to decision makers you absolutely can not succeed.

As I write this I am taking a break from my power point, I am getting to the point where I will cover this Blog. I am the first to admit it is the weakest of the MiGCSA communication. Like many people in this age I lean towards the quick concise routes of Email, Facebook and Twitter.

This will be my first time attending GIS not as a Superintendent I am not sure what to expect. Add to this presenting to a group of my new piers may be a little nerve racking. I have done presentations in the past to Superintendents on turf, which is something I have more experience with. However I feel that the MiGCSA has a great story to tell. The fact that it exists from the 4 original chapters is amazing, and the way we use so many ways to make our information available to the members is well ahead of many other chapters. So it is my hope and goal to help other chapters to move ahead into the new digital social media age, if they are not there. It can be intimidating, and can be easily dismissed as trivial. Many people have a view of Twitter and Facebook of their teenage daughter constantly on their phone wasting time. But even thought it may be a small percentage of members who are on Facebook or Twitter now it is a terrible mistake to not prepare for future members. Think back to the mid 90's, how many members used Email? Probably about as many as are using Facebook now. So using that same curve it will likely be the main form of communication in the next 10 years. In doing research for this presentation I found some startling facts,take 1:45 to see the video below.

Pretty amazing way to communicate. I am looking forward to presenting this data to other Chapter Executives and how they can use it for themselves.

Of course I hope everyone joins us at The Las Vegas Hotel and Casino on Wednesday night for the MiGCSA Gathering featuring the Bronk Brothers concert. See you in Vegas!

Conference Season

It is closing in on the time of year for conferences. And of course here in Michigan that means the GLTE in Grand Rapids. This will be the last year for the conference here as the MTF is moving it back to Lansing in 2013. I joined some MTF Board Members in mid December to tour the Kellogg Center where the conference will be held. It is really going to be a great event and much improved from the Holiday Inn conferences of the past.

This will be my first time attending any conference as the Executive Director of the MiGCSA. I am really looking forward to it. My main focus this year will not be on education to take back too the course, I will be more focused on being available for members and to get the 2012 Industry Partner Program out to all of our very supportive partners. 

Of course there is also the MiGCSA Annual Meeting where we will be nominating three new board Members. This is significant as these will be the first new Board Members since I started in my new role. A clean slate for them without all of the turbulence of the past and only a new positive direction. We will also be presenting a check to the MTF for $25,000! This is from all of the great support we had at our fundraisers this year. There is also $7,000 in scholarships and a donation to the MSU Turf Club.

As I close in on a full year in my new position I am very happy about my choice to take on this new challenge. The MiGCSA is in a positive financial standing and I believe a positive industry standing. I am excited to dig into 2012 and see what else we can do to improve this chapter.

Hunting and Membership Renewal Season

I still live in Northern Michigan about 10 minutes away from Crystal Mountain and I am not a hunter. I have hunted birds once and am an avid fisherman, and I do love some venison sausage, I say all this to let you know I am in favor of hunting in all forms but it is just not my thing. Being raised in Metro Detroit (Clinton Township) and having a Father who did not hunt deer I was unaware of the November 15th holy day of hunting until I re located to Northern Michigan. For any of you who are still unaware it is opening day of rifle season for deer. Living in Northern Michigan where I do it is very rural, and I am still surprised by the amount of gunfire I hear every year on this date, I think there is an average of 3 to 4 shots every hour I can hear from my house. It also still surprises me how most businesses except those catering to hunters are shut down today.

I wish golf had the same type of opening day, where everyone knew the course would be packed. Could you imagine, setting your budget around opening day every year, knowing the parking lot would be packed. Maybe the Michigan Golf Alliance should get a pact going and ask everyone to let the spring golf itch build until a set date, charge a premium and get the year off to a great start. I am not sure that is the message we want to send, but a sure fire opening day would be nice for the registers.

The fall is also the time we try to get members to renew their memberships with the MiGCSA. Last year we were in the middle of a large transition and let the membership renewal fall off the radar a little. So this year we are going to send monthly reminders via email until the middle of the winter, then we will send paper mail, followed by a separate cover of the winter Course Conditions to members that says it will be their last issue. We are down about 60 members from last year at this time, but the board and I are working on our expired member spreadsheet and will be making some calls this winter, so if you let your membership lapse renew now before you get the call from your district Board Member.

By paying your dues to the MiGCSA you are helping to support one of the strongest chapters of the GCSAA, we advocate for our members all of the time in conjunction with the allied associations in Michigan. You get 4 issues of the best chapter magazine in the country, a Membership Directory (Yes we will be printing one in 2011, within the next month) access to the member only section of MiGCSA.org, email with news that affects you and golf in Michigan, and access to over 20 great networking and educational events. All of this for only $75, that is a steal, it is even less if you are a Student or Assistant Superintendent. If you have not renewed for 2012 yet please do, and remember when you renew your membership you are not supporting us you are supporting yourself and your industry.

Two Fundraisers and a Wedding...

This is where we had our ceremony.

Just Married

Well the hope for a two week gap at the most between posts did not apply for the last month. We had two well attended fundraisers since my last post. The Western Golf Day Harbor Shores Golf Club in Benton Harbor and The Big Event at Warwick Hills Country Club. Both events had over 100 players and we have gone well over the $30,000 mark for fundraising in 2011, this is more than the last two years combined! Western Golf day was on September 26th and The big Event was on October 3rd, I got married on October 1st at Crystal Mountain. This schedule was not ideal, but when we planned the wedding in July a year and a half ago I was not in this position and was the Superintendent at Crystal Mountain. It was a very busy week but the wedding went very well thanks to my wife Laura. We got married at the top of the Mountain at Crystal, guests rode the chairlift up for the ceremony and then rode down after. It was a bit chilly but the sun was shining and it was a beautiful fall day. We had our reception at the Resort as well and it really was a day to remember.

Whispering Pines is a hidden gem, owned and operated
by Ron Weingartz and his family.

The Equipment Techs gathered in the Golf Maintenance shop
at Crystal Mountain. Thank you to Chad Corp Golf Course
Superintendent for letting us host this event again.

The MiGCSA has had two other events since my last post as well, the Assistants Golf Outing and the Equipment Technicians Education event. The Assistants committee really does some great work and had a really good educational and networking event set up at Whispering Pines in Picnkey. This event was free to new members if they signed up for an MiGCSA membership and only $25 for current members. Representatives from John Deere spoke about their equipment and the leasing vs. buying options when it come to equipment. Then lunch and an 18 hole scramble, followed by prizes for 1st place and a long drive and closest to the pin. A great event but we only had 14 people attend. For someone who has an assistant there is no better way to get them involved and to bring value to your facility than by having them attend one of these Assistant events. I hope more Superintendents start to see the value in having their Assistants attend these events.

The Equipment Technician event was well attended by over 20 members. This event is free for all current members of the MiGCSA and the education was put together by Dave Ertl, Equipment Technician at Traverse City Golf and Country Club. I really like this event because it always leads to lively conversation between the attendees and the speakers. I wish there was this much interaction at Superintendent events.

As we head into the Fall the board and I are busy preparing for the 2012 season, we already have over 75% of the schedule done for next year. Planning is in the works for a very special gathering in Las Vegas  for MiGCSA members and their guests, stay tuned to migcsa.org and email updates fro info@migcsa.org for more details.

Brrr and Blogs

It is really starting to feel like fall up here in Northern Michigan, it won't be long until we start to hear the snow forecasts, it comes too soon every year. Blog post about fall projects and aerification seem to be everywhere, if you have a Blog let me know, if you don't take a look at some of these for inspiration and start one this winter.

Yesterday I spoke to Steve Hammon, Past President of the MiGCSA and Superintendent at Traverse City Golf and Country Club about his latest blog entry on aerification http://tcgccgrounds.blogspot.com/. Steve really does a great job with member communication, not getting too detailed and giving them lots of photos.

Gregg Matthews, MiGCSA Secretary/Treasurer and Superintendent at Lakelands Golf and Country Club also uses his Blog http://lakelandsgccturf.blogspot.com/ to help communicate any course issues to his members, the latest is on aerification and some pump issues. 

Steve Cook, CGCS, MG at Oakland Hills Country Club has one of the best Blogs going. He posts often and has great photos and information for members and anyone interested in the operation there. http://ohccturf.blogspot.com/

Mike Edgerton at Meadowbrook Country Club has not only information for the course but he give a few tips for homeowners as well. This is a great way to reach a wider audience. http://mccgcm.blogspot.com/

The Blog from Forest Lake Country Club http://flccgreens.blogspot.com/ is also a good example of getting the information Superintendents all know out to the members to help them understand.

And for some great nature photography and environmental examples check out Scott Spooner's Blog on Leslie Park Golf Course in Ann Arbor http://treetownturfguy.blogspot.com/

Adam Garr at Plum Hollow Country Club is a great example of blogging often and using the information as a record for himself and his members http://phccgreens.blogspot.com/

I know it is said and heard a lot but communication is key in the Superintendent profession, a Blog is a great way to make information available when the reader has time, unlike an email that often gets deleted or set aside. Another great bonus of a blog is to use it as a journal. How many times do you think when did we do that? Now you can look back at your Blog entry and see pictures, weather, or any other circumstances you may have forgotten about. They are easy to set up, and to update.

Field Day and Fundraisers

As expected the Field Day at the Hancock Turfgrass Research center at Michigan State was a great event. It is amazing to see the direct focus they have there on Turf research. So many other facilities are doing many types of agricultural studies and they have a section of the area dedicated to turf. At MSU the entire property is dedicated to cutting edge turf research. We are very lucky to have this resource here in Michigan. As a former Superintendent I know how easy it is to take this for granted, but it is an incredible advantage to have the resources of the Turf program at Michigan State at our disposal. One of the major reasons we have this amazing facility and are leading the way on so much research is because of the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation www.michiganturfgrass.org. The MTF helps to fund and support the faculty and facilities dedicated to turfgrass management at MSU. It is because of this that the MiGCSA has four separate fundraisers every year. This year we had a bowling fundraiser in February, the June event at Arcadia Bluffs and we now have opened the registration for the event at Harbor Shores and will be opening registration for Warwick Hills on Friday. So far this year we have raised over $20,000 in sponsorship alone thanks to our Premiere Sponsors, along with $8,000 from Arcadia and $1,000 from the bowling event we are on our way to the biggest fundraising season the MiGCSA has ever had, the last two years we raised $15,000 a year, we are hoping to more than double that this year. The money raised at these fundraisers is mainly used for a donation to the MTF and Student Scholarships. Supporting the MiGCSA and MTF at these events is a great way to give back and get away to some fantastic venues. So hopefully you will sign up soon before we are sold out.

Sign up for Harbor Shores by CLICKING HERE