TPI’s 2018 INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE & FIELD DAY RECAP

Te reviews are in. TPI’s 2018 International Education Conference & Field Day, held in Tucson, Arizona, February 12-15, drew overwhelmingly positive comments. Excellent! Stimulating! Inspiring! So welcoming! So worthwhile! Flocking to Tucson to take part in this event were more than 700 participants, representing 41 states within the US and a total of 17 countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Finland, Hungary, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Te United Kingdom and the United States.

Folks from turfgrass farms across the globe filled the week engaging with exhibitors, networking, getting reacquainted with long-time friends—and making new ones, attending two days of outstanding education programs, checking out the Inside Exhibits, taking part in the Field Day at Evergreen Turf, and enjoying the many social functions. It was indeed a time of joining together to experience everything promised and more!

Tis special section of Turf News, compiled by Steve and Suz Trusty, captures many highlights of the Conference.

Share it with all your team via the online version. To view even more conference photos, just go to SmugMug at www.tpiphotos.smugmug.com/.

TPI Annual Business Meeting Reports presented during the TPI Annual Business Meeting showed both TPI and TLI remained strong in 2017 and that is continuing in 2018. TPI Executive Director Casey Reynolds, PhD, and Associate Executive Director Karen Cooper are working in conjunction with the TPI Board of Trustees to even more effectively serve the association’s membership, including bringing wider attention to turfgrass sod producers and the importance of natural grass. Because of Bylaws amendments passed by the vote of the membership, beginning January 1 of 2019, the TPI Membership Year will coincide with the calendar year, fiscal year, Turf News editorial calendar, and TPI employee policies. Tat results in a condensed, 6-month Membership Year in 2018, running from July 1 to December 31. Te current TPI officers and Board of Trustee members will continue in their positions during that span. Conference photos by Steve and Suz Trusty.

Te TPI 2017-2018 Board of Trustees members and officers will remain in their current position through December 31, 2018. Pictured here are (standing, from left to right): Hank Kerfoot, Mark Tribbett, Tim Wollesen, Keith Wittig, Steve Griffen, Jimmy Fox, Randy Jasperson, John Coombs, Sr., Jim Keeven, Linda Pittillo Bradley, and Eric Heuver. TPI staff members are (seated, from left to right): Casey Reynolds, PhD, Geri Hannah and Karen Cooper.

20 TPI Turf News May/June 2018