Spring 2017
INVESTING IN YOUTH. BUILDING THE FUTURE.
Lincoln City Golf Jim
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GCBAA Charter Member Sunbelt Rentals helps sponsor Jim Ager’s Sticks for Kids event
Stick for Kids is having an excellent Summer and the GCBAA Foundation would like to thank GCBAA Charter Member Sunbelt Rentals for their generous donation of $5,000 and the Jim Ager Golf Course for getting us closer to our goal of inclusivity in golf. We admire their belief in our mission and its drive to continue to work with us in exposing underprivileged and at risk youth to the game of golf. Sunbelt Rentals dedication was greatly noticed when GCBAA Member Kevin Grieder attended the Jim Ager’s Sticks for Kids event this June in Lincoln, Nebraska. On June 8th, Sunbelt Rentals and Jim Ager Golf Course joined forces to host 40 kids from both the Calvert Recreation Center and the Lincoln Lighthouse for a wonderful day of junior golf instruction. Jim Ager Golf Course opened its facilities for the eager children to play and learn the game of golf. Sunbelt Rentals sponsored snacks, beverages and prizes throughout the day. Many of the children who attended had never been on a
golf course nor played the game but were ecstatic to learn. The group was separated into three groups, with different golf stations at each. The first group was on the putting green, which was set up as a miniature putt-putt course being taught by PGA Certified Golf Professional Joe Canny. The second group was at the driving range being instructed by PGA Teaching Professional Tim Fox, and the final group was with PGA Professional Wade Foreman instructing at the chipping area. Once everyone went through each station, they broke for lunch and had a great time talking about their experience at each station. Each group rejoined for a game of footgolf, and the kids had a blast. Thanks to the Jim Ager Golf Course for allowing the Stick for Kids programs in the area to use its course for teaching and practicing purposes. We admire its dedication to our cause and it reminded us first-hand how the GCBAA Foundation is positively affecting the children in our community. We continue to thank our supporters for believing in us and helping us bring our mission to life.
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It is with great contentment that I address our members, sponsors,
TOM SHAPLAND
GCBAA Foundation President
Board Members MARK ARRIMOUR Total Turf Services JIMMY KIRCHDORFER ISCO Industries BILL KUBLY Landscapes Unlimited, LLC KUN LI Forward Group RICK LOHMAN The Toro Company DENNIS WAGNER Hunter Industries DOUG YORK Ewing Irrigation
Golf Course Builders Association of America and Foundation 6040 S. 58th St., Suite D, Lincoln, NE 68516 Tel: 402-476-4444 • Fax: 402-476-4489 information@gcbaa.org www.gcbaa.org JUSTIN APEL Executive Director justin_apel@gcbaa.org
volunteers and avid followers. So far, this year we’ve experienced amazing growth with our Sticks for Kids programs and we could not have done it without you all. I would like to touch on a few of the many strides that we’ve taken so far in 2017. We have established a Sticks for Kids program at the School District of Terlingua, Texas, have received a generous $5,000 donation from GCBAA Charter Member Sunbelt Rentals to replace rundown equipment at existing Sticks for Kids programs, and finally in conjunction with the Jim Ager Golf Course, GCBAA member Kevin Grieder with Sunbelt Rentals hosted a day of junior golf instruction for around 40 kids from the Calvert Recreation Center and the Lincoln Middle Atlantic Lighthouse, in Lincoln Nebraska.
Blind Golf Association
We are delighted that our mission to diversify and make golf inclusive and more accessible has become yours as well. Your hard work, dedication and resilience have not gone unnoticed and for that we are forever thankful. My job as President is to continue to put forth energy and dedication to our mission, give you the incentive to continue to support us and continue to recognize and praise your good work. I hope to see all of you in Charlotte this August for the GCBAA Summer Meeting. We’re looking forward to yet another fun, successful auction and raffle that will allow us to continue supporting junior golfers through the Sticks for Kids program. Please contact the office if you or your company would like to donate to this year’s auction or raffle. Thank you for your unchanging support.
SAMANTHA HUFF Program & Planning Manager samantha_huff@gcbaa.org STEPHANIE BRUSS Information & Education Coordinator stephanie_bruss@gcbaa.org
Middle Atlantic Blind Golf Association
SARA GILLIAM Writer/Editor sarapipher@gmail.com NEBRASKA PRINTING CENTER Design & Layout www.npcenter.com Information in this publication may be reproduced for non-profit education purposes. Please include source credit if reproducing. Contact the Executive Director if material is used for any other purpose to obtain written permission. News releases via email or fax are welcomed and encouraged Archived issues available at www.gcbaafoundation.org
Sandhill Crane Golf Course
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New Sticks for Kids Programs Welcome! We can’t wait to watch your program grow!
Hickory Swing Golf Course Contact: Billy Thompson Location: Great Falls, MT
Ball Golf Center Contact: Stan Ball Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Kankaee Valley Junior Golf Association Contact: Thomas Dolliger Location: Bourbonnais, IL
City of Middleton, Public Lands, Recreation & Forestry Contact: Rebecca Price Location: Middleton, WI
The First Tee of Silicon Valley Contact: George Maxe Location: San Jose, CA
MPS Golf Contact: Mark Psensky Location: Algonquin, IL
The Jazzii A. Foundation Contact: Phillip Pratt Location: Alamo, TN
Terlingua Common School District Contact: Reagan Reed Location: Terlingua, TX
North American Martyrs School Contact: Mary Kate Miner Location: Lincoln, NE
The First Tee of Monmouth and Ocean Contact: Tara Kelly Location: Ocean, NJ
Pine Lake Jr. Golf Center Contact: Dave Malone Location: Lincoln, NE
Twin Brooks Golf Course Contact: Fred Lasena Location: Hyannis, MA
North American Martyrs School
Pine Lake Jr. Golf Center
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Support the GCBAA Foundation While You Shop What is AmazonSmile? AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop at no cost to you. When you shop at www.smile.amazon.com, you find the exact same low prices, vast selection, and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization. How do I shop at AmazonSmile? To shop at AmazonSmile, simply log on to www.smile. amazon.com on your computer or mobile device.
Can I use my existing Amazon. com account on AmazonSmile? Yes, you use the same account. Your shopping cart, Wish List, wedding or baby registry, and all other account settings are the same. How do I select the GCBAA Foundation to support when I’m shopping on AmazonSmile? On your first visit to AmazonSmile, you will be prompted to choose a charity. Choose the GCBAA Foundation and start shopping.
Annual Foundation Auction The 2017 Foundation Auction is scheduled for Wednesday, August 9 in conjunction with the GCBAA Summer Meeting at the Omni Hotel in Charlotte, NC. Funds raised at the auction will be used to support the ever growing Sticks for Kids programs. To continue growing our Sticks for Kids programs, your undivided help and support is needed. Please consider making a donation to this year’s auction. If you have something you’d like to donate, please visit www.gcbaa.org/Events/Summer-Meeting to fill out and submit the 2017 Auction Donation Form or contact the GCBAA office at 402-476-4444. Last year, our Live Auction, Silent Auction and Raffle raised $80,000. The GCBAA Foundation has already received several fabulous donations, including a Disney Vacation Package, hunting and sightseeing tours, golf packages and construction equipment deals. This year, we know we can achieve more with your support. The GCBAA Foundation is grateful for your support and knows that without you we would not have so many successful programs. We look forward to continue working towards our mission with you and see you soon in Charlotte!
Don’t know what to donate? No problem! The GCBAA office always has a list of ideas and items that we know our bidders will love. You can make a monetary donation and have us choose an item on your behalf, or call 402-4764444 to discuss ideas.
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Partner Incentive Programs Benefit GCBAA Foundation The 2016 Caterpillar, Inc and Cat dealer incentive program proved to be very beneficial to not only our GCBAA members but to the Foundation and the game of golf. Their program presented the GCBAA Foundation with a check for over $10,000. Which in turn, prompted other members to create their own incentive program to help support the organization and Foundation. Profile Products, LLC have started their own incentive program to show their commitment to support their fellow GCBAA members and the Foundation. They are donating a portion of the earnings for “every ball, roll or ton” purchased by a GCBAA member to the Foundation. For more information on the Profile Products’ incentive program, go to https://www. gcbaa.org/Membership/GCBAA-Partner-Programs.
How to Participate in the Caterpillar incentive Participation in this rebate program couldn’t be easier. Simply rent machines from a participating Cat Dealer and all will be taken care of. The GCBAA will identify the names of eligible members, subsidiaries or divisions for participation. These names will be loaded into the Caterpillar tracking system and all eligible rentals will be combined and the rebate paid on the aggregate number. There is no additional effort on your part and this program does not increase your rental fees. Eligible machine rentals will be from a Cat Machine Dealer or Cat Dealer Rental store only and not include other dealer divisions such as Si Tech, Cat Power, or Cat Marine. Additionally, the rebate will be based on the rental amount only and won’t include transportation, fees or taxes. Caterpillar and the Participating Dealers will automatically track rental volume. Contact Chris Caccavale at (570) 647-9157 if you have questions regarding the program.
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Sticks for Kids has arrived in Terlingua, Texas GCBAA Foundation had the opportunity to speak with Reagan Reed of Texas about his new involvement with the Stick for Kids program. Mr. Reed is the Terlingua Elementary Principal, a small district in Texas near the USA/Mexico border. He recently had a very insightful conversation with GCBAA Foundation President, Tom Shapland about the Stick for Kids program. Tom explained to Mr. Reed that the Sticks for Kids program would be a great addition to the Terlingua Common School District. Since Mr. Reed was looking for a program that would provide clubs, bags and teaching materials, he decided to apply for the grant.
“luckily, we have access to the Black Jack’s Crossing Golf Club at Lajitas Resort” Mr. Reed said. Mr. Reed absolutely admires the Golf program in the Terlingua school district. So much so that his physical education class honors 10 students with afternoon clinics. The school is a title 1 school and most of the students are economically disadvantaged and a high percentage are in
English as a Second Language classes. There are no golf courses near the school but “luckily, we have access to the Black Jack’s Crossing Golf Club at Lajitas Resort” Mr. Reed said. He ensures that any student that is interested in playing golf gets the opportunity to do so at the Black Jack’s Crossing Golf Club at Lajitas Resort. Mr. Reed acknowledges that every student from PreKindergarden to 12th grade can strongly benefit from the Sticks for Kids program. He also makes a point to let us know that he oversees a very strong all girls golf team. Seeing that all the other schools have a boys team and rarely a girls team, his goal is to change that. The first step in accomplishing his goal is by providing clubs to those golfers that can’t afford to purchase their own sets of clubs. Like many previous testimonies from various SFK programs, Mr. Reed sees firsthand the confidence and discipline many of the students have gained since joining his golf program. Thanks to dedicated people like Mr. Reed, we continue to see success across the nation in our Sticks for Kids programs. We want to take the opportunity to thank many other leaders that are getting involved in growing the game through the Sticks for Kids program.
Terlingua Elementary students showing off their new Sticks for Kids clubs
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Foundation’s Harley Raffle Sells out for 2nd Straight year For the second consecutive year, the GCBAA Foundation sold all 500 tickets mirroring the equally successful 2016 raffle. This year’s winner was Robert Trebilcock of Naples, Florida whom instead of the $10,000 cash prize chose to take home a 2017 Heritage Softail Classic. To continue the tradition of the previous year, an additional 50 tickets for a $100 cash prize were drawn, and the participants listed below elected to donate their winnings back to the Foundation. The GCBAA Foundation is so grateful for your kindness! Rick Benson Barry Ferrell Jeff Bine Charlie Grant Ty Butler Richard Hagy Chris Caccavale Jeff Hiday Eddie Clark Todd Jenkins Gary Cloud Casey Jones* Chris Collins Randy Jones * Gary Collin Bryan Juwig Doug Condon Ken Kline Ann Dye Jerry Lemons *Indicates multiple donations to Foundation
Rick Lohman Mike McDaniel Jay Molnar Tracy Murphy Steven Smith Jim Sparks Scott Veazey Mike Webb Tom Works Doug York*
The GCBAA Executive Staff would also like to take the time to express its gratitude to all our GCBAA members who pre-sold tickets preceding the GIS. A special thanks to volunteer Jeff Davis, who threw on a Harley shirt and worked tirelessly to sell tickets to GIS attendees. The GCBAA Foundation could not accomplish this feat without you all!
Shannon Christman topping off the thermometer showing “Sold Out” status of tickets sold!
GCBAA Executive Director Justin Apel & GCBAA President Elect Patrick Karnick talking about Sticks for Kids with Past Don Rossi Recipient Brent & Jean Wadsworth.
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GCBAA Foundation • 6040 S. 58th St., Suite D • Lincoln, NE 68516 Tel: 402-476-4444 • Fax: 402-476-4489 www.sticksforkids.org 8
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