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TOCA Leaves Building In Memphis
2005 Award Winners Listed
Gardner Awards Announced
TOCA Names 2005 Environmental Communicator of the Year
Calendar of Events |
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By Bill Klutho
In the scheme of things, I'm a relative newcomer to the ranks of Green Industry communicators. My career began with the John Deere Commercial and Consumer Equipment division five years ago in June, 2000. But my career communicating started much, much earlier.
In my St. Louis high school, I had an opportunity to have a weekly radio show on the school's closed circuit TV station. Even then, I had the face for the medium. Did I mention I was part of the last class at good ole McBride High? Could have had something to do with the Green and Orange school colors.
After graduating from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, I stuck around and became the ag editor for the public radio station, KASU. We featured news, classical and easy listening music. What is 'easy listening' music you ask? As our station manager once put it, "Even Andy Williams and Barbra Streisand have electronically-amplified guitars in their music and that is too harsh for our listeners." Two things really set my looking-for-a-new-job ball in motion: editing a version of Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven to fit our 'easy listening' format and the fact that I was only making $600 less than the governor of the state who at the time was a soon-to-be headliner named Bill Clinton.
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Members of the Turf & Ornamental Communicators Association went walking in Memphis and found that its "Hunka Hunka TOCA Love" theme for this year's meeting fit like a guitar in David Cassidy's (or I suppose Elvis') hands. Needless to say, we were all shook up! And not a suspicious mind left the city, convinced that Elvis may not have left the building. But TOCA members sure left the Heartbreak (aka Peabody) Hotel, and the Peabody ducks taught us a lesson in branding. And what about the secret life of Dr. Joe Vargus of Michigan State University? Well, his appearance as Elvis Sunday night stunned and delighted the crowd.
A record 80 attendees found the professional development better than crying in the chapel. "Are you lonesome tonight?" was rarely heard on Beale St. as members fit in with the tens of thousands folks who invaded the city for the Memphis Music Festival. "The Wonder of You" was whispered by many Sunday night as the awards were handed out to worthy winners. As for the winning golf foursome of Jerry Roche, Jeff Gullikson, Trent Bouts and Rob Thomas: all their opponents could cry was "Too Much!"
We congratulate all of the 2005 winners in the Writing, Photography and Design contest. Over 360 of our talented members entered their work this year. Following is the complete list of winners.
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Gardner Awards
The Gardner Award was given for the overall best in three categories—photography, design and writing.
Member News
TOCA welcomes more than a dozen new members.
Calendar of Events
Check out upcoming events in the turf and ornamental industry.
TOCA Names 2005 Environmental Communicator of the Year
Jeff Gullikson of Spokane Country Club was named the 2005 TOCA Environmental Communicator of the Year, the association's seventh recipient.
New Board Members
Congratulations to the newly elected TOCA board members.
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