GCSAA Benefits Cancel The title field is required!

1. Christopher Boldreghini

   

   0 posts
   
   1/10/2013 12:01 PM

   What would you consider the best benefits of belonging to GCSAA? I am a class A superintendent and considering dropping my membership.
   
   Charlie B.

   
   
   
   
2. Wahlin Scott B

   
   1/10/2013 1:01 PM

   My first head job lasted for 10 years and I resigned. GCSAA Membership did not matter to them. In fact, my time away from work for education and meetings was considered a detriment. Then I was in sales for two years and they liked to tout my resume including my GCSAA Certification. My third job was as a superintendent and the CGCS mattered. That lasted 5 years. My fourth job was as a Regional Manager for a management company and they too liked to tout my resume. My present job has lasted 12 years and the only reason I got it was because of my CGCS. It appears I will be promoted to GM soon and the job includes a pension.

   
   
   
   
3. Christopher Boldreghini

   

   0 posts
   
   1/10/2013 6:01 PM

   Scott,
   
   I guess if i decide to remain a member of GCSAA my main focus should to become certified?
   
   Charlie B.

   
   
   
   
4. Wahlin Scott B

   
   1/10/2013 8:01 PM

   Christopher Boldreghini said: Scott,
   
   I guess if i decide to remain a member of GCSAA my main focus should to become certified?
   
   Charlie B.

   
   
   I don't think you can do this job and be on top unless you are willing to move. If you are willing to move then membership matters. I was told by one of my mentors early on that you have to be willing to move. Unfortunately I had to say to my kids on more than on occasion, "Go say good-bye to your friends, we're moving again."

   
   
   
   
5. Mark Van Lienden

   

   14 posts
   
   1/11/2013 6:01 AM

   Charlie, I spent the first twenty years of my career as a superintendent as a non-member as I thought the $40 per year dues was too much.I spent the second half as a member and the last 20 years as certified.The education opportunitys and the networking has been well worth joining.The free webinars are worth the cost of membership if you use them.As far as wether the certification has helped or not is debatable.The classes that I had to take to get certified and to maintian certification has made me more comfortable in my position.

   
   
   
   
6. Trevor Monreal

   

   5 posts
   
   1/11/2013 8:01 AM

   If your club pays for the membership...keep it.
   If you have to pay for it...I think you could find better use for the money including continued membership in your local association.
   Back to your question though, the best benefit??? No idea...maybe this forum followed closely by the pretty membership card.

   
   
   
   
7. Brian Roth

   

   0 posts
   
   1/11/2013 10:01 AM

   Even if you personally do not take advantage of education, networking, or other services, GCSAA provides an incredible level of support in the area of government advocacy and promotion of the profession. Every single golf course and every superintendent is the beneficiary to some degree from work done by GCSAA, whether they are members or not. GCSAA has the ability to connect with legislation that does and can significantly impact the business of golf, and what resources we will have to do our jobs. If my employer didn't cover my dues, I would find a way to pay myself. The old $400 magazine is just the visible surface, there is extremely valuable work "behind the scenes" that benefit all.
   
   Brian J. Roth CGCS
   Oquirrh Hills G.C.

   
   
   
   
8. Sam Welch

   

   0 posts
   
   1/11/2013 12:01 PM

   In all honesty my favorite benefit of my membership is that I can walk right in to the Masters every year

   
   
   
   
9. Rosenthal Gregg

   
   1/11/2013 4:01 PM

   All I would say is I have been a Certified GCS, Audubon Steward, Environmental Stewardship Award Winner, Had to stop working for over a year to do battle with Epilepsy and have brain surgery to remove the left frontal lobe where my seizures came from! Now able to return to working again have come back as an Assistant Super working doing what I love, as part of a team! The GCSAA Supported me kept me as a member while I could not afford to pay, allowed me to keep up with my friends here on line and when able to return to working allowed me to utilize the job search network to go back, doing what I love! So for what it is worth the GCSAA is about support Us as members of a team of environmentally sound, proud Golf Course Managers who do what they love for a living, keeping the turf green for golfers to enjoy! JMO....
   
   GreggR

   
   
   
   
10. Jeffrey Sexton

    

    0 posts
    
    1/13/2013 7:01 PM

    GCSAA has many staff members doing battle with Congress about water usage issues, they help protect our pesticide usage, etc. I have learned not to think about what they are doing for me as an individual, but what they are doing for our industry. If you are having trouble with your true value, then become your chapter delegate and attend the meeting in Kansas City. You will leave with a better understanding of what GCSAA does for us on a daily basis. Pay the dues and continue supporting our tough industry.
    
    Jeff Sexton
    Evansville CC

    
    
    
    
11. Andy Jorgensen

    

    1 posts
    
    1/14/2013 12:01 PM

    Brian Roth, CGCS said: Even if you personally do not take advantage of education, networking, or other services, GCSAA provides an incredible level of support in the area of government advocacy and promotion of the profession. Every single golf course and every superintendent is the beneficiary to some degree from work done by GCSAA, whether they are members or not. GCSAA has the ability to connect with legislation that does and can significantly impact the business of golf, and what resources we will have to do our jobs. If my employer didn't cover my dues, I would find a way to pay myself. The old $400 magazine is just the visible surface, there is extremely valuable work "behind the scenes" that benefit all.
    
    Brian J. Roth CGCS
    Oquirrh Hills G.C.

    
    
    Ditto. It's more than just a magazine....

    
    
    
    
12. League Michael

    
    1/14/2013 10:01 PM

    There is also a 10,000 life insurance policy on every member. This is not a benefit to look forward to but it is a nice thing to have. With all the regulations imposed and many more looming the GCSAA even has a whole branch (EIFG) dedicated to supporting us and going to bat for our interests. I think this is the biggest benefit to our membership as we dont have time to do these things.

    
    
    
    
13. David Brandenburg

    

    3 posts
    
    1/15/2013 6:01 AM

    I have paid my own dues in the past and would again if needed. For me being a superintendent is not just a job at a club but makes me part of a community with a responsibility to support the greater good of the community as well as my own. For me the top 4 in no particular order would be -
    Education both through the magazine, the website, seminars and the show. (The website has a surprising amount of info if you take the time to look around.)
    Governmental relations: Neither I or our chapter leaders have time to follow and lobby on national political issues. The best way to fend of new regulations that hurt us is by being on the ground floor. At the same time the best way to get help is to build relationships in Washington.
    Networking: The information from this forum and at the national from my peers is second to none. I do not have time to visit my neighbor much less visit or call ten people to see what they think of a idea.
    Public Relations: We have come a long way but have a long way to go. Our disadvantage is we are working on the golf course while the golf professional is standing in the golf shop having one and one conversations with our golfers.

    
    
    
    
14. Verdun Scott M

    
    1/18/2013 12:01 PM

    As others have mentioned there is a LOT more to GCSAA than most members will ever know. A few years ago during his Presidency, Dave Downing came to speak at our Assistant Supt Winter Workshop and mentioned that there is over 55,000 pages on GCSAA.org. He also came to speak at the function at no charge to our Chapter, another benefit that many don't know about. I was fortunate to take part in a Leadership Academy in Lawrence and walked away with a much greater appreciation of what the association does aside from GCM and the GIS.
    
    If I were to list the biggest benefits of membership I would say
    -Education
    -Advocacy both in Gov Relations and PR
    -Networking
    -Masters Admission - a benefit I hope to utilize for the first time this year as a Class A member.
    
    As others said, if my employer ever decided they weren't going to support this membership I would from my own pocket. I am a member of 2 Chapters and I pay one of those from my pocket because I feel the benefits outweigh the $180 membership fee.

    
    
    
    
15. Wahlin Scott B

    
    1/26/2013 8:01 AM

    Every golf course in Florida has used MSMA. My golf course has been singled out by the EPA for arsenic contamination. After two rounds of site assessments overseen by the EPA totaling $200,000 there is no evidence whatsoever that there has been a spill or misapplication of MSMA. How have my 30 years of dues helped me with government relations?

    
    
    
    
16. Peter Bowman

    

    11 posts
    
    1/26/2013 8:01 AM

    Scott Wahlin, CGCS said: Every golf course in Florida has used MSMA. My golf course has been singled out by the EPA for arsenic contamination. After two rounds of site assessments overseen by the EPA totaling $200,000 there is no evidence whatsoever that there has been a spill or misapplication of MSMA. How have my 30 years of dues helped me with government relations?

    
    
    I think you should sue the EPA for the $200,000, and call for somebody's resignation.