EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S TURF Updates from the Road
Casey Reynolds, PhD
It’s been a great couple of months out on the road visiting with TPI members and speaking at local sod producer events. Appropriately enough, I am typing this article titled “Updates from the Road” while sitting in the Orlando, FL, airport. Since the last issue of Turf News, I’ve participated in events in Greensboro, NC; Cedar Rapids, IA; Bay City, TX; Howey-In-Te-Hills, FL; and of course, Nashville, TN. Te winter conference season is always a great time to catch up with old friends and meet new ones before the spring harvesting kicks into full speed. I wasn’t able to make it to the Sports Field Management Association Conference this year, but I had at least two TPI members reach out to me about the positive message on natural grass from the Executive Director of the NFL Players Association.
Other topics of discussion on the road have routinely been updates on the proposed sod checkoff referendum, recent progress and wins on various legislative issues, and future TPI conferences. If you attended the TPI International Education Conference in Nashville, TN, there were sessions that discussed each of those topics at length. If you happened to miss the Nashville conference, we hope you join us this summer at the TPI International Convention & Field Day in Belleville, MI, from July 24-26, 2023, where we’ll continue to build on those discussions.
One item specifically from Nashville that we hope to expand upon throughout 2023 is the natural grass needs of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Tis event is going to require natural grass fields for as many as 150 sites throughout Canada, Mexico, and Te United States. It's also going to be an opportunity to showcase the value of natural grass and why the world’s best footballers demand it.
I’m also excited to announce that I’ll be speaking virtually to Canadian producers in March and visiting in-person with European producers at the International Congress in Madrid, Spain, from April 19-21. I always strive to recognize the “I” in TPI! We appreciate all of our international members who come from abroad to TPI conferences, and we want to do the same.
Another update to expect at the 2023 TPI International Convention & Field Day in Michigan is going to be the results of the TPI membership consultant survey that was conducted over the winter months. AvenueM, a firm hired by TPI in late 2022, has spent the last several months working with TPI staff, the Board of Trustees, and many members, on a thorough review of TPI policies, structure, benefits, membership model, and more. We’d like to use at least some of our time at the summer Convention to share the results with our members and get more feedback on any proposed changes to TPI policies.
Tanks as always to each of you for your support and don’t hesitate to contact me any time if you have thoughts or questions on any of our initiatives. We hope to see you somewhere out on the road soon!
Cheers,
I always strive to recognize the “I” in TPI! We appreciate all of our international members who come from abroad to TPI conferences, and we want to do the same.
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@TurfgrassProducersInternational @TheLawnInstitute
@TheLawnInstitute TPI Turf News March/April 2023
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