News and Information
03/03/2010
Recap of Legislative Day in Lansing by MiGCSA President Ron Dahlin
The day started early for all involved as the contingent from the North District left early enough to make it to Lansing by 9 am. Vice President Adam Ikamas and Past President Steve Hammon were concerned enough to drive down the night before to strategize and be ready for that first meeting. I had the privilege of getting ready early so I could do a radio interview about the Legislative Day in Lansing on the “The Big Show" hosted by Michael Patrick Shields that's heard all across the state on the Michigan Talk Network before I hit the highway headed east. Click HERE to listen to the audio interview.
Dan Bissonette and Steve Randall
John Dodge (R.I.P.) Chairman of The MGCOA Government Affairs Committee
The collaboration between the MGCOA and the MiGCSA resulted in over 60 representatives from the two organizations that assembled in the Mackinac Room on the 5th floor of the Anderson House Office building across the street from the capital building. This is quite a difference from the 7 owners who assembled the first time that this day was organized 8 years ago. The MiGCSA was well represented with 6 of the board of directors present along with superintendent, assistant superintendents and affiliate members. Steve Randall, the Sr. Manager, of the GCSAA Chapter Outreach Program was able to join us from Kansas, his wisdom and insight was great to have on this important day. Spartan Distributors had a very strong showing and it was nice to see that segment of the industry so well represented.
The group listened to Mr. John Dodge who laid out the real reason for us putting forth all of this effort is to be “present at the negotiating table in Lansing”. After listening to the political insights of Mr. Bill Ballinger the group split up and headed out to shake the hands and talk with our state legislators. Lunch was set and our legislators and their staff were invited to join us. Many of the participants from the golf industry were able to enjoy a meal and a great conversation with those that craft the laws and govern the finances of the state. After lunch we listened to the comments from the president of both the MiGCSA (see Ron’s comments below) and the MGCOA, along with a great explanation of the current budget process by Mr. Howard Ryan the Senate Majority Fiscal and Budget Advisor. Many then went out to meet with the state senators after they came out of their extended morning session.
Bill Ballinger Inside Michigan Politics editor/publisher
“It is once again a pleasure to be able to join with the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association and be here today. Our relatively young partnership has already born some great fruit for our collective membership. I don’t know if any of us realized the power of our collaboration and the scope of the synergy that would ensue. Thank you to Ms. Moore and Mr. Dodge for sharing your expertise with the board and the membership of the MiGCSA.
I am excited to stand here today representing the men and women who care for the golf courses in Michigan & I can tell you that we are proud to be part of the solution for the economic worry that has gripped us all.
In this time when we seem to be a little battle weary from the daily barrage of less than good news, the golf course industry in Michigan has seen an increase in rounds played across the board, an increase that means that more families are taking the time and spending the resources to use golf as a means of recreating, to use the public and private courses as a means to spend time with their spouses, their children their friends or even using this as a way to have their clients ears for an extended period of time.
Ron Dahlin, MiGCSA President
MiGCSA Vice President Adam Ikamas
We take pride in knowing that we are part of the fantastic experience that Michigan has to offer to those that consciously choose to spend their tourist dollars here. The highly successful Pure Michigan campaign chose golf as one if it’s first bright spots to show the rest of the nation the wonders that Michigan has to offer. With golf’s ability to use resources like the Environmental Stewardship Program, research provided by Michigan State University and our allied industries like the Owners, the industry of golf has positioned itself as one of the guiding lights to show the way out of our economic tunnel.
Michigan ranks in the top 5 states in the nation for number of golf courses and first in the number of public courses with research showing that we directly employ nearly 30,000 people and are responsible for a positive fiscal impact of 4.2 billion dollars annually. And nationally we know that golf is responsible for nearly 2 million jobs paying $61 Billion in wages.
A new initiative called We Are Golf is a national partnership of the Superintendents, owners, PGA and managers which will make it easier for you as our legislators to find answers and build alliances. It will make it easier to bring you information on the financial, environmental, philanthropic & recreational impact of golf nationally, regionally and in the state of Michigan. Please contact the MiGCSA or the MGCOA to find out ways that we can help you tap into this new resource.
Thank you for coming today and it is my hope that you leave knowing that there are things that are going right in Michigan.
I invite you to enjoy a bright sunrise with any one of the superintendents in your district this summer; they would love to show you firsthand why they are so proud of Michigan golf.”
The largest A-Ha moment was the realization that nearly 50% of our state legislators will be new in 2011! We have 35 members of the house that have reached the end of their tenure due to term limits and another 12 who have announced, so far, that they will not seek a second term. That is 47 of the 110 representatives. When you combine that with the fact that 28 of the 38 seats in the state senate will be vacated due to term limits means 75 of the 148 people in the capital building will be newly elected this fall. Do you think that this is all that we need to worry about this fall? No, we also will elect a new person to all 4 of the constitutional offices such as Governor, Attorney General and new Supreme Court Members as well.
Kate Moore and David Gilstrap
Undecided "Senator" Craig Hoffman and Jim Bluck
As important as this day was, we will need more support next year to get our message out to those who will be new to our state government. So get ready to join us in 2011.
Sincerely,
Ron M. Dahlin, CGCS
MiGCSA President
