ATLANTA - Sensing that its members wanted more information before proceeding with the relocation process, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America removed a vote on the articles of incorporation from the annual meeting’s agenda.
The decision not to ask for an amendment to the articles of incorporation means the board of directors must win approval from its membership on the relocation of its headquarters.
“We realized that we didn’t have all the facts out there,” said new GCSAA president Jon D. Maddern. “This is the primary reason why the articles vote was pulled. There will be a vote [on relocation] and you [members] will have the information that you need to make a proper vote.”
The association has also slowed the relocation process because it has not received any “fantastic deals” from the top three cities that it has focused on (Jacksonville, Fla., Orlando, Fla., and Phoenix). City officials in Lawrence, Kan., are reportedly putting together a package to keep the GCSAA at its current headquarters.
The possible relocation of its headquarters was discussed at an hour-and-a-half long meeting during the show in Atlanta. While the session was originally billed as a “town hall meeting” open to all members, GCSAA officials decided to limit the meeting to voting members only, due to time and space constraints.
During the meeting, the GCSAA board explained why the association is studying relocation and where they are in the decision making process.
“We had gotten an offer or two on the building from a local person in Lawrence that was interested in buying our building,” said past president Tommy Witt. “It’s incumbent upon the board of directors from time to time to either research or explore where the best place for us to have our headquarters located so … [we] can most advantageously serve our members.”
According to Maddern, the primary reason behind the move was to improve the GCSAA’s ability to interact with other golf organizations.
“The leadership of GCSAA believes today that to maximize the visibility of the association in the golf community, to continue to broaden the scope of membership services, and to continue to solidify its leadership role in golf requires a re-examination of the benefits to the membership of moving GCSAA to a high-traffic, golf-intense region,” he said.
Many voting members felt statements like this underscored the perception that the GCSAA had already made up its mind to move.
“It kind of sounds to me like you’re saying ‘We believe we should move, now we’re going to let you say yes or no,’” said Roger Hoffman, superintendent at Desert Winds Golf Course in Twenty Nine Palms, Calif.
Both Stephen Cadenelli and Gerald Faubel, who were presidents of the GCSAA during the time of the construction of the Lawrence headquarters, questioned why the association needed to move.
“I do not see us as a golf organization,” said Cadenelli, superintendent at Cape Cod National Golf Club in Harwich, Mass. “We are a golf course management organization. I think there’s a very significant difference there.
“And a foundation of what we do is educate golf course managers and superintendents,” he continued. “And I in no way understand how location is going to enhance the ability to do that or the value in which we ultimately develop and help our members in this association.”
Faubel, superintendent at Saginaw Country Club in Saginaw, Mich., agreed.
“The PGA, golf professionals, they teach the game of golf,” he said. “And we maintain the playing surfaces that golf is played on. And I still can’t understand how we are going to improve our image by moving to Florida with the PGA.
“We could put a billboard up along the highway and say Golf Course Superintendents Association of America,” Faubel continued. “And does it have to be anchored by a building?”
While there is obviously still more fact-finding and information-sharing to do, Maddern said the GCSAA’s relocation decision making process will forge ahead.
“We’re going to move forward and we’re going to come out with a proposal,” he said.
The decision not to ask for an amendment to the articles of incorporation means the board of directors must win approval from its membership on the relocation of its headquarters.
“We realized that we didn’t have all the facts out there,” said new GCSAA president Jon D. Maddern. “This is the primary reason why the articles vote was pulled. There will be a vote [on relocation] and you [members] will have the information that you need to make a proper vote.”
The association has also slowed the relocation process because it has not received any “fantastic deals” from the top three cities that it has focused on (Jacksonville, Fla., Orlando, Fla., and Phoenix). City officials in Lawrence, Kan., are reportedly putting together a package to keep the GCSAA at its current headquarters.
The possible relocation of its headquarters was discussed at an hour-and-a-half long meeting during the show in Atlanta. While the session was originally billed as a “town hall meeting” open to all members, GCSAA officials decided to limit the meeting to voting members only, due to time and space constraints.
During the meeting, the GCSAA board explained why the association is studying relocation and where they are in the decision making process.
“We had gotten an offer or two on the building from a local person in Lawrence that was interested in buying our building,” said past president Tommy Witt. “It’s incumbent upon the board of directors from time to time to either research or explore where the best place for us to have our headquarters located so … [we] can most advantageously serve our members.”
According to Maddern, the primary reason behind the move was to improve the GCSAA’s ability to interact with other golf organizations.
“The leadership of GCSAA believes today that to maximize the visibility of the association in the golf community, to continue to broaden the scope of membership services, and to continue to solidify its leadership role in golf requires a re-examination of the benefits to the membership of moving GCSAA to a high-traffic, golf-intense region,” he said.
Many voting members felt statements like this underscored the perception that the GCSAA had already made up its mind to move.
“It kind of sounds to me like you’re saying ‘We believe we should move, now we’re going to let you say yes or no,’” said Roger Hoffman, superintendent at Desert Winds Golf Course in Twenty Nine Palms, Calif.
Both Stephen Cadenelli and Gerald Faubel, who were presidents of the GCSAA during the time of the construction of the Lawrence headquarters, questioned why the association needed to move.
“I do not see us as a golf organization,” said Cadenelli, superintendent at Cape Cod National Golf Club in Harwich, Mass. “We are a golf course management organization. I think there’s a very significant difference there.
“And a foundation of what we do is educate golf course managers and superintendents,” he continued. “And I in no way understand how location is going to enhance the ability to do that or the value in which we ultimately develop and help our members in this association.”
Faubel, superintendent at Saginaw Country Club in Saginaw, Mich., agreed.
“The PGA, golf professionals, they teach the game of golf,” he said. “And we maintain the playing surfaces that golf is played on. And I still can’t understand how we are going to improve our image by moving to Florida with the PGA.
“We could put a billboard up along the highway and say Golf Course Superintendents Association of America,” Faubel continued. “And does it have to be anchored by a building?”
While there is obviously still more fact-finding and information-sharing to do, Maddern said the GCSAA’s relocation decision making process will forge ahead.
“We’re going to move forward and we’re going to come out with a proposal,” he said.
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