www.alaturfgrass.org Alabama Turfgrass Association 
 
Member e-newsletter March 2009
Greetings!
The weather the last couple of days has keep us all busy - Spring has arrived!  Thanks to everyone who participated in our Turfgrass RoadShow seminars and our Sod Producers Field Day!  They were successful due to our members support.  Thank you!
 
You should have received an email inviting you to participate in a membership survey.  Thank you to everyone who has already participated.  If you haven't, we encourage you to do so via our website, www.alaturfgrass.org.   The Board will use this to help plan events and membership benefits for the future. 
 
The Mole Cricket Classic & Poa annua Classic marketing brochure was mailed this week.  We are excited to take these tournaments back to Lakewood Golf Course and FarmLinks Golf Course, respectively.  We hope to see all of you at these fundraisers for turfgrass research.  You can register for these events on-line at www.alaturfgrass.org.
 
We also want to thank our newest annual sponsor, Regal Chemical Company!  Our Annual Sponsors supports our association in so many ways.  We could not survive without them.  Please remember them when making your purchases.  A complete list of ATA's Annual Sponsors are listed below for your convenience. 
 
Pat White, Southern TurfCare
ATA President
 
MOLE CRICKET CLASSIC
Lakewood Golf Course
Pt. Clear, AL 
March 30, 2009
 
   
Schedule of Events:
8 AM   Registration
9 AM   Education Session - How to Make the Most of Water Without Spending a Fortune
Mica Franklin, Aquatrols
11 AM  Lunch
12 PM  Golf Tournament 
 
Directions:
From I-10, take exit #35 (Daphne/Fairhope) and travel south on Highway 98 toward Fairhope. In downtown Fairhope, take a right on Fairhope Ave.  Take a left on Mobile Street in front of the pier (also Scenic Highway 98).  The golf course will be approximately three miles on the left.
 
Registration: 
$75 - Seminar, lunch & golf tournament
$40 - Seminar & lunch only
$150 - Tee sign sponsorship
 
Register on-line or contact the ATA Office:
1-866-246-4203 (toll free)
334-821-3800 (fax) 
 
 
ATA ANNUAL SPONSORS
  
Gold Sponsors
Ewing Irrigation, Golf & Industrial
Kilpatrick Turf
Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation
 
Silver Sponsors
Agrium Advanced Technologies
John Deere Landscapes
NaturChem
Syngenta T & O Products
 
Bronze Sponsors
Bayer Environmental Science
DuPont Professional Products
Harrell's, Inc.
Humphries Turf Supply
Regal Chemical Company 
Southern States 
 
 
ATA New Beginnings Project
 

Youth-Reach Photo

The New Beginning Project, which is a new endeavor of ATA, was designed to use our talents, services and products to benefit a charitable organization.  Gulf Coast Youth-Reach is an organization that fosters children in Baldwin county.  This facility, which opened in December, has a field that ATA members will convert into a multi-purpose sports field for the children to enjoy. A press conference to announce the project was held on February 12th.  Pictured above are ATA Board Members with Youth Reach staff and residents.

Upcoming ATA Events 

Mole Cricket Classic
March 30        Lakewood Golf Course, Pt. Clear, AL
How to Make the Most of Water Without Spending a Fortune, Mica Franklin, Aquatrols
 

Poa Annua Classic
April 20          FarmLinks Golf Club, Sylacauga, AL
How to Effectively Manage Your Facility in Down Economic Times, Jeff Higgins, PhD, ValleyCrest 
 
New Beginnings Work Day
TBA    Gulf Coast Youth-Reach, Summerdale, AL
 

Annual Conference & Tradeshow
Oct. 20-22       Auburn University Hotel &
                      Conference Center, Auburn, AL
 
Take the Membership Survey
 All ATA Members are encouraged to participate in the membership surverys posted on the ATA website, www.alaturfgrass.org.  Please note there are two surverys - one for turfgrass managers and one for our supplier members.