Association News: March 1997

The Ohio Turfgrass Foundation elected its new board of trustees during its annual meeting. The new trustees are: Hank Chafin, president; Joe Duncan, president-elect; David Webner, vice president; and Cindy Code, group publisher of Lawn & Landscape magazine, treasurer.

The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America selected Gerald Faubel, Coleman Wards and Joe Vargas to receive its 1997 Distinguished Service Awards. Faubel is a certified golf course superintendent and past GCSAA president. Ward has spent the past 45 years sharing his research as a professor and agronomist, while Vargas has been extensively involved in teaching, research and extension work for 25 years.

The Professional Grounds Management Society opened its membership to physical plant and property managers with grounds responsibilities.

"Both the American Public Works Association and the American Physical Plant Association are very eager to work very closely with PGMS, with us working as the green arm of their groups," said John Gillan, executive director of PGMS.

"One of the greatest benefits that we offer is networking," he continued, "and this will allow us to do that to an even greater degree while we provide even more information with a broader base to the members."

PGMS also reprinted its Grounds Maintenance Estimating Guidelines. The manual is available for $15 by calling the PGMS at 410/584-9754.

The Associated Landscape Contractors of America is accepting entries for its 1996 ALCA Safety Award Contest until April 1. The contest is open to all independent landscape contractors and land-scape industry suppliers with three categories: fleet safety, employee safety and combined em-ployee and fleet safety. These categories are then divided into subcategories based on company size. All companies who have had no lost-time accidents or no vehicle accidents will be recognized. For an entry application, call 800/395-2522.

The Professional Lawn Care Association of America chose WeisburgerGreen Insurance as the ven-dor of insurance services to PLCAA members. Coverage options have been tailored specifically to the green industry and include: general liability, umbrella liability, commercial auto, workers’ compensation and property.

PLCAA also published a new educational brochure  Water Quality and Your Lawn  for members to share with clients. The brochure offers preventive turf care tips and can be ordered from PLCAA. For more information, call 800/458-3466.

The Sports Turf Managers Association elected its 1997 officers and board of directors. Re-elected to office for a second term are: Mike Schiller, presi-dent; Steve Guise, president-elect; Henry Indyk, vice president (commercial); Eugene Mayer, secre-tary and Rich Moffitt, treasurer.

The STMA also issued the following awards of special recognition: Greg Petry, STMA Groundskeeper of the Year; Partac Peat Corp., Outstanding Commercial Affiliate Award for 1996; The Colorado Chapter of STMA, the Presidents Award; and Kent Kurtz, the Excellence in Research Award.

The Metro Milwaukee Chapter of the Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association honored Robert Craig, Patrick Hughes, Debra O’Brien, Barbara Lietke and Cheryl Primeau with academic scholarships ranging from $250 to $750.