The Rounds for Research Auction opens up on Monday, April 29^th and runs through May 5^th. We have another great line-up of courses this year, and a big thank you to all of those who generously donated.  This year features an even better mix of Public, Private, and Resort courses.  Be sure to tell you friends, family, and members about this opportunity to play golf at some world class facilities they might otherwise not have the chance to play, all the while helping support turf research in our industry. 

 The OGCSA Annual Meeting is coming up May 16^th at Willamette Valley Country Club, you should have received your ballot in the mail.  We will have a packed schedule of events, followed by some afternoon golf for those interested.  Besides the business meeting and introduction of our 2019-2020 Board of Directors, we will also be inducting Al Nielsen, CGCS into the Hall of Fame, and presenting Larry Gilhuly with the Richard Malpass Distinguished Service Award.  We will have the presentation of our Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent of the year awards, as well as all our scholarship winners and this year we will also be recognizing four OGCSA members who reached Class AA Life Member status in 2018.  Steve Randall will also be in attendance from GCSAA to talk about developing your Business, Communication, and Leadership Skills.  It is sure to be a great day and provides a great opportunity to catch up with some friends and peers you might not have seen in a while.

  One of the larger action items the board took on this year was updating the associations Bylaws and Articles of incorporation.  It was a big undertaking, but with the help of C. Atha Mansoory of Osage Legal & Consulting and the Bylaw Task group, we were able to accomplish what we set out to do.  You received a notice of this change along with your voting packet, and a more detailed view of what was changed can be found by following this link https://www.ogcsa.org/bylaw-and-articles-of-incorporation-amendment/ .  A vote will take place at the Annual Meeting to adopt these changes.

  Instead of looking back as I wrap up my final Presidents message, I’d like to look forward, to what lies ahead for our association.  We have some great events already planned for the Fall and Winter.  Dr. Micah Woods will be joining us for this years Fall Meeting on November 6^th at Illahee Hills Country Club.  The OTF Golf Tournament will be taking place at Eugene Country Club on September 30^th, and the Pest Management Seminar will be taking place from a new venue, The Crown Plaza Portland, December 4^th and 5^th.  None of this is possible without the dedicated support of our volunteer board members.   Serving the OGCSA through the years, first as an Assistant liaison, and now as President, has given me the opportunity to meet and learn from so many wonderful people throughout our industry.  I couldn’t be prouder of what the 2018-19 Board of Directors has accomplished, and look forward to seeing what future Boards are able to achieve.  To all the members of this great association, the pleasure has been mine.

Gabe Hughes

President-OGCSA