I know it's winter because I'm sitting here watching a quarter inch of ice falling from the trees. Because the ice is melting from all the trees at the same time, it’s like watching falling glass shards at an Irish crystal store disaster. This is the same ice that just a few days ago knocked out power to the homes of so many of my co-workers and caused an oncoming motorist to have a series of conversations with my automobile insurance company.

But no matter. Now that we’ve had our winter storm and we’re immune to any others this season, and we can turn our attention to other matters, chief among them the upcoming Golf Industry Show in Orlando and the show’s most important event – at least to TOCA members – the TOCA New Member Breakfast Reception.

By Chris Higgins
I came here from the West Coast. Exploring, I guess. I learned later about the tradition of exploration in this northern wilderness. French trappers and voyageurs paddled the state’s waterways before roads. Modern polar explorers tested resolve as kids in their frozen Minnesota backyards. Those explorers, like all who live here, share this in common: we endure winter and celebrate spring.

This spring, May 6 - 8, we welcome you to Minneapolis to celebrate the 19th annual meeting of the Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA) at the Radisson Hotel in Downtown Minneapolis.

Why Minneapolis?

The 18th Annual TOCA Communications Contest
Sponsored by the
Turf & Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA)

GENERAL RULES
This contest will be open to all active and affiliate TOCA members and non-members.

Photocopied entries must be articles published between Jan.1 and Dec. 31, 2007, or collateral/ads/brochures, etc., produced and printed within the same time period.

An entry fee of $30 per entry will be required. Non-members: First entry $145. First entry includes a one-year TOCA membership. All entries thereafter are $30 each. Checks should be made payable to the Turf & Ornamental Communicators Association.

GIS Reception
TOCA members attending this year’s Golf Industry Show in Orlando are encouraged to visit the annual TOCA GIS Breakfast Reception. Join us Friday morning at the Rosen Centre Hotel, Salon 11, for a delicious continental breakfast, an update on TOCA topics and some otherwise scintillating conversation. The breakfast runs from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. We thank BASF and GCSAA for their support.

New Member Breakfast at GIEE
More than 50 TOCA members attended the TOCA and Bayer Environmental Science New Member Breakfast Reception at the Green Industry & Equipment Expo in Louisville, KY, in late October. The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) provided the room for TOCA for the breakfast reception.

Calendar of Events
Check out upcoming events in the turf and ornamental industry.

TOCA International Contest
TOCA will again conduct a program for international entrants in the 2008 TOCA Communications Contest. E-mails were sent in early January to international corporate folks and international turf publications to encourage participation. Interested parties will be directed to the TOCA Web site for more information.

Environmental Communicator
of the Year
As always at this time of year, TOCA begins its search for the next Environmental Communicator of the Year. Nominations for the 2008 winner are now being accepted.

Member News
Read about our exciting member news and new members.