countdown to tpi’s 5oth

anniversary in 2017 2000-2009

Attendees tour the research plots at MSU’s Hancock Turfgrass Research Center during the 2009 TPI Summer Conference and Field Days in East Lansing, Michigan.

include the following pamphlets: Benefits of Turfgrass, Establishing A Lawn, Why Are Most Lawns Sodded?, Measuring For Turfgrass Sod, Turfgrass Watering Guide & Post Installation Care, and a Benefits of Turfgrass DVD PowerPoint presentation. Te TPI E-Newsletter, a monthly electronic publication, was also introduced as a means to provide members with timely information about TPI, member-related activities, and industry news. TPI’s Eleventh Study Tour visited Iceland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

2009

TPI’s 2009 Midwinter Conference was held February 5-9 at the Marriott Grand Hotel, Point Clear, Alabama. Tuesday morning began with a Prayer Breakfast. Pre-conference choices were the TLI Memorial Golf Tournament fundraiser or the Mobile, Alabama, City Tour. Forums and educational sessions covered a broad range of topics. Te Exhibitors Reception again provided excellent opportunities for interaction. Friday afternoon tours visited the WMI Factory and Craft Turf Farms. Rain initially brought the Alabama Turfgrass Association’s Saturday Field Day at Woerner Turf Bon Secour Farm inside, with participants viewing products and equipment on computer screens. By afternoon, skies cleared, allowing for outdoor activities.

Te Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, East Lansing, Michigan, headquartered TPI’s 2009 Summer Convention and Field Days July 27-31. Te Field Day Host was the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center on the Michigan State University (MSU) Campus. Pre-conference tours visited Van Agen Sod & Tree Farm, Bancroft, MI, and the Turfgrass Information Center (TIC) and its Turfgrass Information Files (TGIF) at the MSU campus. An option for those not playing in the TLI Memorial Golf Tournament fundraiser was a Walking Tour of MSU, including Spartan Stadium and a presentation by Amy Fouty, MSU athletic turf manager. Fouty also addressed the Women’s Forum. Charles

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(Chip) Lain, Jr., Pine Island Sod Nursery, Pine Island, NY, was elected TPI 2009-2010 President. Roundtable Forums were again a highlight of the educational sessions.

TPI relaunched the organization’s website at www.TurfGrassSod.org. Te new and improved website offered more features, content and expanded resources for members, industry professionals and homeowners.

Happenings in the 2000s Y2K passed without the serious, widespread computer failures predicted. Te world changed in 2001 with the 9/11 events. Te Department of Homeland Security was established in 2002 and started operation January 1, 2003. Tere were numerous technology and internet advances. PlayStation 2 was released and became the best-selling game console in history. Xbox 360 and the Wii made their appearance. Apple developed the iPod, the MacBook Air, the iPhone, and iPod Touch. Apple introduced iTunes in 2001 and within five years sold their one-billionth tune. Wikipedia, Facebook and YouTube went online. Harley-Davidson celebrated 100 years and Disneyland 50. Harry Potter books and movies were high on many lists. Tiger Woods became the youngest person to win a Grand Slam. Gas started out at $1.26 and ended the decade at $2.73 a gallon, after a 2008 high of $3.38. U.S. First Class postage went from 33 to 42 cents. Interest rates hit

record lows, with no substantial rises. Editor’s Note: The History of Turfgrass Producers International is available to TPI members in digital format. Also available are PDFs of the ASPA Charter Members and all ASPA/TPI Conference and Convention dates and sites, including the Host Farm names. Past Weeds, Trees and Turf magazine articles and other historical resources are available to TPI members through the Turfgrass Information Center (TGIF). To access these materials, visit the “For Members” tab on the TPI website www.TurfGrassSod.org. If you see someone you know that is unidentified in any of the photos or have further information on any of the events, please let your editors know so that we might update the photos for future use. Also, if you have any photos that you’d like us to consider for uture issues, please contact your editors.

nsider All photos from TPI Archives. TPI Turf News November/December 20 2016