BMP Committee Formation Cancel The title field is required!

1. William Bieck

   

   0 posts
   
   3/3/2017 9:03 AM

   I'll be the first to use this new forum! In Nebraska we are getting started forming our first BMP. Our steering committee is currently scheduled to meet next week and is entirely composed of superintendents. We have talked about forming sub-committees......like a technical committee and advisory committee. What have other states done in their composition of committees? What is the make-up of other steering committees? University Professors? Regulatory Individuals? Thanks! Bill Bieck, Nebraska Chapter

   
   
   
   
2. Peter Grass

   

   0 posts
   
   3/3/2017 3:03 PM

   Bill,
   
   With my free time now I have volunteered to head the Montana BMP Task Group. We are having our first meeting at our Peaks & Prairies Chapter meeting next Monday. Just Superintendents/Assistant on the group so far but want to have State Golf Association, a few well known avid golfers in the state, MT Dept. of Ag, MT DEQ, and even any recognized environmental groups within the state at the very least review and give feedback before being finalized.
   
   As we all do our work, hopefully we can all share the good, bad and ugly that we have gone thru to get BMP's done for each state.
   
   Pete Grass
   Hilands Golf Club
   Billings, MT

   
   
   
   
3. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   3/4/2017 7:03 AM

   Hi Guys,
   
   The Florida BMP's were originally created using input from a multitude of sources, including:
   
   Golf Course Superintendents
   Golf Course Designers
   University faculty and researchers
   County extension officers
   Water Management District personnel
   Landscape Designers
   GCSAA Environmental Specialist
   USGA Agronomists
   Florida Nursery Association Directors
   Audubon International members
   Department of Agriculture personnel
   Golf Course Owners
   Sierra Club members
   Florida League of Cities Directors
   Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection personnel
   
   As you can see there was a lot of input that needed to be shuffled through. You probably want to keep the actual committee fairly small, and then assign portions of each chapter to a designated person or group of persons. Like Pete said, get the manual at least on paper, then let some of the other organizations review it and offer their input. Not everybody needs to be involved with the initial creation.
   
   I commend both you for jump starting the program!

   
   
   
   
4. William Bieck

   

   0 posts
   
   3/4/2017 8:03 AM

   Pete and Andy, It was good to see you both in Orlando. I agree with both of you. Our committee has already met via conference call. Our discussion has addressed the "make-up". Thanks Andy for your list! Our committee will physically meet this Tuesday. I think our approach will be to create a diversified (and manageable) steering committee and then formulate sub-committees that can offer technical, science-based conclusions, agronomic principles, pertinent language, etc. This will be a challenge for our small chapter, but we have a core group of supers who are energized and ready to go! Bill Bieck, Nebraska Chapter

   
   
   
   
5. Mark Johnson_2

   

   0 posts
   
   3/7/2017 12:03 PM

   Bill, Andy and Pete,
   
   Thank you for starting the first discussion on this forum. You have brought up and discussed a common question regarding who should be on the steering committee.
   
   One informational resource for the steering committee is Bryan J. Unruh, Ph.D.'s article, "Developing golf course best management practices: 50 by 2020," GCM, January 2017, pp 124 - 134. Steering committee information begins on page 130.
   
   Another resource is: Dr. Unruh and Stacey Kingsbury, M.S., will host a webinar on Monday, March 13, 2017 beginning at 10:00 a.m. central time during which they will go over the steering committee and their experiences in Florida, Virginia, New York, and Maryland. Register for this webinar on GCSAA.org. The seminar will be recorded and available after airing.
   
   One process that might help is to identify stakeholders who would review BMPs, provide feedback and that could be involved in the stakeholder review process in lieu of the steering committee. Differentiate between stakeholders and steering committee members. We recommend that the steering committee be kept to 5 to 7 individuals including a turfgrass scientist, superintendents (BMP/Chapter leaders), a regulatory authority, an appropriate watershed/conservation organization representative, and other golf course professional representatives (architect, golf association, etc.). We recommend that states begin with their non-point source authorities, those who do the water quality, TMDLs and watershed planning. All of these individuals on the steering committee will help guide the process through experience, business/personal contacts, resources, and knowledge. Feedback will come through other stakeholders focusing on the BMP draft. Ultimately the steering committee should be formed to meet the needs in the state/region the BMPs are intended for. "One size, does not fit all," is an appropriate statement in that initial startup will involve discussions to include the most appropriate leaders on the steering committee.
   
   We appreciate everyone's efforts with the BMPs and encourage further discussion on this topic. Sharing what works and what doesn't will help others.
   
   Thank you.
   
   Mark Johnson
   Associate Director, Environmental Programs

   
   
   
   
6. Brian Benedict

   

   0 posts
   
   3/20/2017 9:03 AM

   William,
   
   Our committee in New York was made up of 1 or 2 representatives from each local chapter and we met at Cornell University as a focus group to brainstorm the topic a few years back. Frank Rossi was the lead in the group and we had the support and knowledge from all the other professors at Cornell as well in the room. As we defined topics and began an outline of ideas to cover each professor took a topic and thus it began. Stacy Kingsbury is the editor of the NYS-BMP and she has done a great job with the format and set up. Ken Benoit is the lead Superintendent on the project representing all the local NYS Chapters, he's a volume of knowledge when it comes to the set up (c) (914) 760-3575.
   
   I will recommend as your BMP grows it will change and evolve. We set up the NYS-BMP as a web-based document that can evolve on-line and change as needed. In place of printing hundreds of books that can go out of date with changing ideas and added content we chose to have PDF files and information available on the web so you can cherry pick what you need and keep the printing costs and re-printing down to a minimum.
   
   The biggest dilemma we now all will face is; once you have it and all the information is collected and out there how do you implement it? Is it for everyone? Does it apply to low, medium and high budget facilities?
   
   Hope this information helps.
   
   Brian Benedict, GCS
   The Seawane Club

   
   
   
   
7. William Bieck

   

   0 posts
   
   3/21/2017 11:03 AM

   Brian,
   Thanks for your helpful input. In Nebraska we don't have multiple chapters, but we have a very large state in which the different areas within the state have highly variable conditions and challenges. We are also working hard to engage our land grant university as much as possible to help provide the technical knowledge and use all their resources and "contacts". I really appreciate your comment concerning the creation of a BMP that can be utilized by all courses including "limited budget" and 9-hole courses. We have already had the conversation of how to "validate" the BMP for everyone and still maintain "high standards". Thanks for sharing!
   
   Bill