Chapter Update, Part 1: Redefining The Chapter Role
January 16th, 2010
Where does the greatest opportunity lie to further advance the job security and professionalism of the golf course superintendent?
Is it via the continued inspired work of individual superintendents? Not really, because: the indispensable work of the golf course superintendents collectively throughout the country already has had its meaningful impact on the national golf community and doesn’t promise the opportunity for significant future professional advancement.
Because GCSAA does not interface directly with the nation’s approximate 16,000 golf courses, it is dependent on its chapters to establish a meaningful industry-wide connection with the country’s estimated 26 million golfers…
Is it via GCSAA with its ever-expanding educational and service programming? Again, not really: because GCSAA does not directly interface with the approximate 16,000 golf courses across America, while chapters do. Fundamentally, GCSAA is to the 26 million golfers throughout the national golf community as the federal government is to the 300 million-plus citizens across the country; i.e., both institutions are dependent on regional intermediaries to establish meaningful contact with the people. For the federal government, the 50 states supported by local governments effectively fill this intermediary role.
The myriad of regional chapters should be filling the intermediary role for GCSAA. However, though well intentioned, it is becoming apparent that the 103 regional chapters that populate the country are functioning without a timely mission statement that addresses their members’ current needs. Consequently, the chapters have defaulted primarily into social forums (i.e., member gatherings, golf tournaments, modest educational forums, etc.) through the years while at the same time failing to provide: critical career enhancing, job securing programming for their members; or constituent targeted educational programming that would shed a constructive regional light on the mission of the golf course superintendent.
Consequently, the professional image of the golf course superintendent languishes; the correlation between job security and the value of the job delivered gets lost in the shuffle; compensation levels stagnate; superintendents (i.e., chapter members) are left with a discomforting feeling about themselves; and family stability suffers.
Where Does The Responsibility Lie?
Many will instinctively think that it is GCSAA’s responsibility to remedy the situation to bring substantive meaning to the chapters’ existence. I disagree and believe the problem must be solved from the grass roots level up and not from the top down because GCSAA does not have the manpower (staff or otherwise), or the prerequisite local knowledge to address the varying needs of each of 103 chapter entities – while the individual chapters do.
…the fundamental welfare of golf course superintendents’ future careers will be primarily determined by how effectively their chapters identify with and support their members’ pursuit of an optimum employment environment.
Furthermore, GCSAA is basically meeting its national “umbrella” responsibilities effectively now. This is not the problem because the fundamental welfare of golf course superintendents’ future careers will be primarily determined by how effectively their chapters identify with and support their members’ pursuit of an optimum employment environment.
Accordingly, the coming weeks’ blog messages will address the following:
* Updating chapter mission statements for today’s challenging times.
* Profiling chapter management options, including Executive Director considerations.
* Generating the necessary funding to implement new era chapter planning.
* Identifying the service spectrum that chapter members’ require today; and
* Suggested fine-tuning of GCSAA’s complementary role.
Stay tuned.
An Invitation: I will be at the Vinyl Guard Golf (sponsor of this blog) GIS booth #4023 on Wednesday and Thursday mornings (February 10th and 11th) from 11:00 AM through noon+ each day. Stop by and say hello. I look forward to meeting some of you.
6 Responses to “Chapter Update, Part 1: Redefining The Chapter Role”
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Interesting idea and on paper sounds very reasonable. However, in my opinion, only the largest chapters and those with the most financial resources can realisitically make a very big impact regarding these matters. Additionally, I think that through continued better communication and networking between the GCSAA and the regional chapters, some of the inroads on the educational fronts can by attained.
I currently am involved in a very large chapter than can and indeed has made some inroads on both fronts. However, I (previously) have been involved in much smaller chapters and I think it would be a stretch for some of them to devote many resources to remedy these issues.
While mission statements are great to have, I have never seen a mission statement fix a problem. It has to be through participatory members that mission plans become action plans. And without action, I am not sure that much will change. Just my two cents on the matter. I like that these challenges are being discussed.
[Reply]
Jim McLoughlin Reply:
January 19th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
STEVEN:
RE: THE “COST” ELEMENT
You’re right when you make the point that – based on outdated historic precedent – many of the more modest chapters would not have the financial resources to implement innovative chapter programming. But, we are not bound to do things the same way indefinitely. It is important to note that the cost of doing business outside of major population areas is considerably less than the cost of doing business within major population areas. This factor, together with identifying multiple funding sources, would provide the smaller chapters with the opportunity to fund new programming should they so elect and plan effectively. I will directly address this “cost” issue in a soon coming blog message.
RE: MISSION STATEMENTS
I respectfully disagree with your comments regarding mission statements. True – stale, generic non-specific mission statements (that flood the industry and the chapter world today) will always fail to ignite an enthusiastic (or any) following. Conversely, a quality definitive mission statement would have the opposite impact.
The correlation between an organization’s mission statement and its operational needs will determine the effectiveness of the mission statement.
It is important to note that no company, no business, no organization succeeds today without first drafting and following a specific plan of action (i.e.- mission statement). Just as no airplane will reach its intended destination without a definitive flight plan; so too – no chapter will better serve its members today without a definitive contemporary mission statement.
After all, an organizational mission statement is in reality the equivalent of a “job description” but for for a company/organization versus an individual employee – and – we know how vital a good job description is to getting a job done.
As planned, I will address this “mission statement” issue in my next blog message. JMcL
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As chapter leaders we need to enlighten, envision and give our members tools to enhance their leadership abilities…every chapter could do better with more resources despite their size…most chapters effectiveness can be enhanced by services that can be done in quantities of scale….Those items should be provided the National Office which also suffers from lack of resources in comparing to other national golf organizations….That’s step one….if you can’t effectively communicate you have nothing…..
A little off subject….but I live in this world on a part time basis…i have alot more to say but need to move on with my day…thanks for the forum!
[Reply]
Jim McLoughlin Reply:
January 22nd, 2010 at 8:54 am
STEVE:
The primary issue where the tools of the chapter should be focused is on “job security” with all its related/supporting elements. GCSAA can’t do this effectively from its long distant perch in Lawrence – but chapters can get constructively in the face of their regional constituents. My next several blog messages will focus on this.
There are enough resources available in the market place for chapters to address their members’ needs – despite the bad economy. I will specifically address this funding issue soon. JMcL
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JIM,
There are alot of resources out there… which is a huge problem in itself; it takes people who understand the resources and how they interact.
If local chapters had a resource that can maintain the data of their members, publish content, send emails, send text, voicemails, tweet, collect dues and some basic accounting they would be able to focus more on the responsiblities at hand. Having worked on the PGA side of things these products/services make it easier to provide the professional services members can be proud of.
I agree with you on Job Security being the number one issue. It is for all of us. Some are more secure than others based on our understanding of our industry and our entrepreneurial spirit, which cannot be communicated enough. If a club is trying to make payroll, we need to provide tools to move away from these critial issues. That’s where most of my clubs in our market are.
Gotta run… looking forward to your next blog.
[Reply]
Jim McLoughlin Reply:
January 23rd, 2010 at 2:49 pm
STEVE:
FYI: Chapters acting collectively can negotiate comprehensive “data communications” packages as you reference above for a one-time set up fee as low as $1,000 per chapter. So, the issue is not “if” the chapters have enough resources because they frequently do; rather, do they know how to negotiate for better service agreements with the resources they have?
The answer is that chapters can learn to negotiate member service agreements effectively for themselves; and, then, should turn to GCSAA to negotiate nationwide agreements for all chapters when heavy discounting is available.
Granted just because resources are available does not mean they will be used effectively. But, there are ways to address this, which I will discuss later in this series. JMcL
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