President’s Message
BE SAFE OUT THERE
D
uring this time of Covid-19 Virus when I first wake up in the morning and before I go to bed at night the turf community is in my thoughts and prayers. I am so proud of all you are doing to keep the standard of service high for your customers plus protecting your workers who are then able to keep their families safe and secure. Thank You. What is the new normal? I don’t have an answer… Mine seems to be Zoom meetings, social distancing, planning for a safe time to go shopping, not going to baseball games and eating all meals at home (other than curbside pickup), etc… This is what it has meant for the VTC. 1. Our normal face to face Board
meetings is now on Zoom. Tony saves a 4+ hour drive time one way. We seem to have better attendance from our Board members because they are able to take less time away from work and families. 2. We have formed new and reactivated old committees, so we are at a new stage of very active committees with the turf industry and members their primary commitment. These committees are working hard and coming up with fantastic ideas with viable plans to be put into action. Please contact Tom Tracy if you are willing to serve on any of our committees. They are: a. Membership b. Government Relations
Virginia Turfgrass Journal is the official publication of The Virginia Turfgrass Council P.O. Box 5989 Virginia Beach, VA 23471 Office: (757) 464-1004 Fax: (757) 282-2693 vaturf@verizon.net
Mike Skelton VTC President
c. Development d. Finance e. M-A-T-E Conference f. Come to the Bay 3. We are very focused on how to help
the Virginia turfgrass community adjust to whatever the new normal is at the moment. a. Pesticide recertification available through a webinar and maybe soon in person as the state opens up. b. Fertilizer recertification. c. VT Field Day as a virtual meeting. d. VT Short Course maybe as an online event. (Stay tuned) 4. The Membership and Legislative committee are working on establishing a close relationship with education programs. The committees will be working closely with Dr. Dan Sandor as an advisor and member of the membership committee. Some of the ideas are: a. Special membership for High School and College Students b. Students to visit legislators with the Legislative Committee Thanks to all who are serving the Turf Community through their commitment to the Virginia Turfgrass Council. Please contact Tom Tracy or any of the Board members with your ideas or concerns that will help our Virginia Turf Community. It’s not an issue we can address unless it is brought to our attention. BE SAFE OUT THERE.
6 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL July/August 2020 www.vaturf.org
PUBLISHED BY Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedgecommunications.com EDITOR Mark Vaughn, CGCS VTC OFFICERS President Michael Skelton (540) 718-4133 Vice President Phil Bailey, CGCS Virginia Green Lawn Care (757) 572-1981 Secretary / Treasurer Jimmy Viars, CGM Gloucester County Public Schools (804) 815-2779 Past President Scott Woodward Woodward Turf Farms (540) 727-0020 VTC DIRECTORS Wes Bray Sam Burris Scott Caskie Tony Montgomery Bruce Sheppard T.J. Skirsky Craig Zeigler VTC ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Mike Goatley, Ph.D. (Chair) Shawn Askew, Ph.D. Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D. David McCall Ph.D. Dan Sandor, Ph.D. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/ DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS Tom Tracy, Ph.D. (757) 464-1004 VIRGINIA TURFGRASS FOUNDATION Brandyn Baty (757) 585-3058
