It is an honor and a true privilege to lead this association for the next twelve months. I would like to thank my fellow board members for their vote of confidence and for trusting me with this awesome responsibility. I promise to work hard on your behalf to ensure our association remains strong and prospers into the future.

In May, we had the opportunity to take part in a strategic planning session, facilitated by GCSAA staff members Steve Randall and Richard Pavlasek. The session is always energizing! Hearing input from the entire board to build on our strengths and understand areas our chapter can improve helps create a road map for success and helps us to move forward.

I would like to share a few outcomes from that session and goals for the coming year. First, the strength of the California GCSA is working on your behalf to represent our members in Sacramento. All of us understand the impact legislation may have in our profession. To capture the essence of our work in this area, we will launch communication titled “California Capitol News,” or as our board called it CCN in the coming weeks.

The purpose of this message is to not only provide updates on legislative issues, but to highlight the work done in this area. Our government relations chairs, Jim Ferrin and Jim Alwine, are working to inform and advocate on behalf of the membership. The California GCSA needs to tout our efforts in this area and we see CCN as a way to deliver the message directly to our members.

As we move forward during these tough economic times, we must remain focused on issues that impact our industry. To no surprise, water is at the top of the list even though the drought is supposedly over. We need to work very closely with water agencies and local government, focusing on two primary initiatives. First, we will endeavor to create an open line of communication with the appropriate agencies with the objective of affording superintendents a voice as it relates to the type of water restrictions that would be reasonable and appropriate for golf course properties. Secondly, we hope to get as many golf course superintendents as possible involved in a public relations campaign aimed at communicating and educating the local government and water agencies as to the kind of proactive and voluntary water conservation efforts already initiated and implemented throughout our industry. Our efforts to conserve water shall be for naught if not communicated and brought to the forefront. Our Government Relations Committee will

continue to monitor the approximately 40 initiatives on CGRC’s “radar.” These initiatives are in the areas of water conservation, pesticide regulations, and labor. The State of California is broken, but this doesn’t stop them from bringing new bills to the table that could have a direct impact on our business.

We also need to continue to enhance our web site. We feel the site has taken great strides over the past year. We view our web site as a key communication tool and we want you to visit the site on a regular basis. Content and messaging will be relevant and timely for your needs!

Soon, you will see information outlining our annual conference and chapter golf championship. This will be a great opportunity for affordable education, networking and communication. Not only is this a large endeavor, but also our board continually looks for ways to enhance the value of your membership. The board has also discussed bolstering programs for research, pursing an allied relationship with the California Turfgrass Landscape Foundation and will consider working jointly with our local chapters to promote our profession.

A great team leads the California GCSA. Irene Cline and Kim Milne have assumed the chapter executives role and are a great asset with our day-to-day operations. I would also like to thank immediate past president Kevin Friesen, CGCS and incoming vice president Mike Swing, CGCS from Visalia Country Club and newly elected secretary-treasurer Jason Green from San Jose Country Club for their continued leadership, and the rest of the board members current and newly elected for their support.

Great individuals work together to form an effective team. Our team looks forward to working with you.