News and Information
01/16/2010
A New Way of Doing Business
Welcome to a new year, a new decade and a new way of doing business. I am honored to be your president in 2010 as it allows me to be the one to introduce some of the great changes in the MiGCSA. The men that comprise your board of directors are a talented group of leaders who have worked very hard to make your organization run as smooth and effective as possible. After learning that running the organization in house and by committee was the most effective way to manage the affairs of your organization, they rolled up their sleeves and started the business of doing the bulk of the work themselves. While this was not the way that we all envisioned doing it a few years back the business climate that we find ourselves in today dictated a call to action and a change in the traditional thoughts of how to best manage an association with nearly 700 members. These changes are much like the way many of us have had to change our way of thinking about the management of the properties that we are responsible for. While few have changed who manages the day-to-day operations, many have changed the way that we reach out to our clients, how we treat them, what we offer them along with the realization of who our clients really are. The MiGCSA has changed from a management company back to the volunteer board to manage day-to-day operations, implemented the use of a full functioning web-site and efficient electronic communications, instituted a policy that puts members requests directly to board members, offered nearly a dozen educational opportunities along with over 2 dozen networking opportunities and realized that our clients are not only superintendents but also assistants, technicians and affiliates. We have forged new alliances (MGCOA) and strengthened old ones (MTF), learned to pull from the strengths of those we are associated with (MSU & GCSAA) and started looking at better ways to do business in the new decade.
What gives me the desire to contribute to this organization is the collective strength of its board and membership. We have those whose dedication to the strength and structure of your organization is astounding (Sec/Tres Jay Eccleton), those whose abilities to sort out and effectively use new technologies (VP Adam Ikamas) are unmatched, those who have the drive and network to provide a dynamic learning experience for the membership they serve (Director Jeff Holmes) and those whose leadership has delivered us from some trying and unfamiliar territory and placed us on a solid foundation (Past President Steve Hammon). There are examples of this type of caring and dedication in all of the men who serve on your board and so many more instances from you and your fellow members. I have no extraordinary ability to lead this organization but I do find that I have the time to dedicate to it and the desire to give back to the group of people who have helped pave the path that I walk to achieve the successes that I enjoy in the golf industry. I also find that there is no better example to show my children than the importance of giving back to the organizations that help you to succeed. Should you find yourself in a position to give back, either helping a little or maybe even taking that step out to serve on the board, please feel free to contact me or one of your board members and offer to spend a little time working with great people who care about you and your organization. I am looking forward to meeting you and sharing a great new year and the start of a new decade filled with strong potential for the golf industry in Michigan.
Sincerely,
Ron M. Dahlin, CGCS
‘The Meadows Golf Club’ at GVSU
