GIS RECEPTION
TOCA members attending this year’s Golf Industry Show in Atlanta are encouraged to visit the annual TOCA GIS Breakfast Reception. Join us Friday morning Feb. 10 at the Hyatt Regency 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.  

MEMBER NEWS
TOCA welcomes the following new members: Kristi Phillips, Canyon Communications; Michele Baird, The Toro Co.; Pete Cookingham, Turfgrass Information Center-Michigan State University Libraries; Debra Holder, The Brickman Group, Ltd.; Michael Lednovich, Turnstile Publishing Co., Jennifer Lennox, Davey Tree Expert Co.; James McLoughlin, Golf Course News; Jim Paluch, JP Horizons, Inc.; Don Staruk, Tree Care Industry Association.; Karen Zellner, Falls Agency; Laurie Riggs, Norman Barclift and Scott Cole, Syngenta; Stephanie Jonas; Tony Cooler, Trone and Ellen Vincent, Environmental Landscape Specialist, Clemson University. Welcome everyone!

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR
As always at this time of year, TOCA is beginning its search for the next Environmental Communicator of the Year. Nominations for the 2006 winner are now being accepted. The award, which is sponsored by Advan, LLC, may be given to anyone in the Green Industry. It is presented each year at TOCAís annual meeting and for the eighth time will be awarded in May 2006 in Napa, CA.

Last yearís winner was Jeff Gullikson of Spokane Country Club. Nominees for the 2006 award must be nominated by a current TOCA member or it can be a TOCA member. The winner receives a $500 cash stipend. All applications must be postmarked by March 1, 2006.

If youíre interested in obtaining an application or receiving further information on the award, contact Den Gardner or Chris Moore at TOCA. You can call the office at (952)758-6340 or e-mail TOCA at tocaassociation@aol.com. You can also find application forms on the TOCA Webs site: www.toca.org .

TOCA INTERNATIONAL CONTEST
TOCA will again conduct a pilot program for international entrants in the 2006 TOCA Communications Contest. E-mails were sent in early January to international corporate folks and international turf publications to try to get the contest off the ground. Interested parties will be directed to the TOCA Web site for more information. Entries must be in English and will compete only with other international entries, not in the general U.S. TOCA contest. Entry fees will be waived for the 2006 pilot program. The contest is sponsored by Syngenta International Professional Products.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

2006:
Feb. 10: 2006 Golf Industry Show
Atlanta, GA
TOCA Breakfast Reception
Hyatt Regency
7:00 - 8:30 a.m.

March 1: Environmental Communicator of the Year application deadline

March 1: Publisher's Scholarship application deadline

March 1: TOCA Communications Contest (formerly Writing/Photography/Design contests) entries due

May 2-4:
TOCA's 17th Annual Meeting
May 2-4
Embassy Suites
Napa, CA