Prepared by Keith Lyall

Well, I think that was the sound of collective relief.  BC politics is a funny monster; I find myself voting to stop a person or party from getting into office and not the party I actually want to see run this province. I will admit with all the efforts put into the Special Committee on Pesticides, I am glad to see this government will get four more years. However, the battle will continue.  Our opposition groups are not going to stop lobbying government and the public and nor should we.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
50th Annual WCTA Conference & Trade Show
Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, Penticton, BC  
Salon B-C 11:30 am Tuesday, March 05, 2013    

1.    Call to order
• President Buckner called the meeting to order at 11:32am.
• Quorum: A quorum of 61 was present.

By Jerry Rousseau

Our 50th anniversary conference and trade show was an incredible success.  Although a final delegate tally is not yet ready, attendance was better than expected with 300+ turf managers participating.  Supplier support was staggering with 79 companies selling out the trade show floor even after additional space was created several weeks prior to the event to meet the needs of increased demand for booth space.  This number was up significantly over the 62 companies participating in Victoria last year and is historically second only to a tie of 81 exhibiting in Victoria in 2009 and Penticton in 2005.

NOTICE TO WCTA MEMBERS

The Annual General Meeting of the Western Canada Turfgrass Association will be held:

Tuesday, March 5, 2013 11:30am – 12:30pm Penticton Trade and Convention Centre Penticton, BC

Any WCTA member in good standing may put their name forward for open Board positions.  More candidates than open positions will force an election which is a good thing.  If fewer candidates come forward than there are Board vacancies, the positions will be filled through an election by the Board of Directors. 

From Scott Mitchell, WCTA Past President & Nominating Committee Chair

In preparation for the Annual General Meeting taking place March 5th, 2013 in Penticton, BC, members of the Western Canada Turfgrass Association are invited to offer nominations for vacancies on the WCTA Board of Directors. 

WCTA President Tab BucknerAs the WCTA celebrates 50 years as one of the premier non-profit associations in Canada for individuals who manage turf, it continues to invest in Research, Education and Discussion. Currently for 2013, your Board is working on new opportunities and activies for the membership to participate in. Your association is only as strong as the membership. 

WCTA President Tab Buckner

Season’s Greetings!  As my term of President began this past January, the year was already starting off as a very difficult one for our association.  Major challenges we were and are still dealing with include attracting new members, adding value to WCTA membership, putting on a worthwhile and financially viable trade show, strengthening allied partnerships and exploring new avenues of revenue generation just to name a few.

WCTA President Tab BucknerAs I look outside my office window it is just another grey day with the rain falling and high winds in the forecast……… the fall/winter blues have already hit the west coast of BC while everybody east is bracing for old man-winter or has been hit already.