2021 AGM Minutes

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
58th Annual WCTA Conference & Trade Show
2:00 pm Thursday, February 11, 2021, Online - Zoom

CLICK HERE for printable version
CLICK HERE for the ED report

1.  CALL TO ORDER
     • President Travis Olson called the meeting to order at 2:14pm, introduced the Board of Directors and Past Presidents.
     • Quorum A quorum of 35+ WCTA members was met.

     M/S/C N. Barbour / S. Kazymerchyk; to approve AGM Agenda  

2.  MINUTES

     M/S/C C. Iverson / J. McGeachie to adopt minutes of the AGM February 12, 2020

4.  PRESIDENT'S REPORT – Travis Olson
     • Necrology Report - A moment of silence was observed for WCTA Members and Turf Industry Colleagues
       - Dr. Robert Sheard, Guelph Turfgrass Institute, Oct 21, 2020 
       - Ernie George, Tsleil-Waututh Nation, Nov 11, 2020

5.  FINANCIAL REPORT 2020 Fiscal Year End (Sept 30, 2020) - Presented by Gary Bartley
     Balance in bank accounts 
     o General operating: $61,081.97
     o Research $21,735.92
     o Term Deposits $101,040.24

     M/S/C J. Hooper / S. Bailey that September 30, 2020 year end Statement of Revenues and Expenditures be adopted as reviewed by Evancic Perrault Robertson, Certified General Accountants, and circulated at the AGM. 

     The 2020 AGM resolution to circulate a ‘Request for Proposals’ to perform the annual financial review for forthcoming fiscal year was not implemented due to COVID-19 and will be carried forward for the October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021 fiscal year. The RFP will be circulated to at least three certified public accounting firms, including the current firm (EPR), with appointment to be made by the Board within 90 days of the 2021 AGM.

6.  RESEARCH REPORT
     Given orally by Peter Sorokovsky, Research Chair (full report posted online).
     • 2021 Research project funding decision(s) – Two projects put forward by research committee: 
       o Enhancing Turfgrass Carbon Sequestration to Improve Sustainability and Market Access 
       o Effects of Plant Growth Regulators on Putting Green Aerification Recovery
       o A third project pending a partnership agreement

7.  COMMITTEE REPORTS
     CGSA – Ken Bruneski
       o all associations need your support this year
       o CGSA to handle admin duties for MGSA
     GCSAA, First Green Program – David Phipps
       o  First Green has had few field trips due to the pandemic
       o  Created new handouts
      STC – Gary Bartley
       o  Events have been canceled due to Covid-19 but have created online learning.
      BCGSA – Warren Blue
       o  Professional Development Days will be held online in November 2021
       o  Exchange Event in August cancelled
      AGA-BC – Trevor Smith
       o  Website updated regularly, visit it often
       o  Economic data regarding golf especially useful
      KPU – Stan Kazymerchyk
       o  Pat Dooley Golf Tournament postponed until October 8, 2021
       o  Turf Program still running, enrollment up 33%

8.  NEW BUSINESS
     • Presentation of Life Member Awards
        - Ernie George
        - Bruce Klassen 
        - Keith Strom
        - Fritz Verkerk
        - Dave Woodske

     • Special Resolutions to amend bylaws
        1) To amend article 3.1 to clarify requirements for year-end financials (3.1.3.3 & 3.1.3.4):
             Currently:
             3.1.3. The business of the Annual General Meeting shall include:
                  3.1.3.1  The Minutes of the previous year’s Annual General Meeting.
                  3.1.3.2  Report from the Board of Directors on the business of the preceding year.
                  3.1.3.3  Report of the Reviewed Financial Statements for the fiscal year.
                  3.1.3.4  Appointment of the Auditor for the next year.
                  3.1.3.5  Report of the Executive Director.
                  3.1.3.6  Special Resolutions and Ordinary Resolutions as may be presented.
                  3.1.3.7  The election of Officers and Directors for the succeeding year.
                  3.1.3.8  Other business as may be presented.

             Change to:
              3.1.3. Business of the Annual General Meeting shall include:
                  3.1.3.1  Minutes of the previous year’s Annual General Meeting.
                  3.1.3.2  Report from the Board of Directors on the business of the preceding year.
                  3.1.3.3  Report from the Financial Director for the fiscal year.
                  3.1.3.4  Appointment of the certified public accountant for the next year.
                  3.1.3.5  Report of the Executive Director.
                  3.1.3.6  Special Resolutions and Ordinary Resolutions as may be presented.
                  3.1.3.7  The election of Officers and Directors for the succeeding year.
                  3.1.3.8 Other business as may be presented.

           2) To amend article 7.8 to clarify requirements for year-end financials, remove redundancy with article 3.1.3 (7.8.1 & 7.8.2) and consolidate 7.8.3:
               Currently:
                7.8  Each year, prior to the annual meeting, the financial statement of the previous fiscal year will be subject to a financial Review by a qualified certified public accountant. Following the Review, the statements will be signed by the President and a second Director.
                  7.8.1  The members entitled to vote at the Annual General Meeting shall appoint an auditor to hold office until re-elected or a successor elected at the next Annual General Meeting.
                  7.8.2  The auditor may be removed by ordinary resolution.
                  7.8.3  No Director or employee of the Association shall be the auditor.

               Change to:
                7.8  Each year, prior to the annual meeting, financial statements of the previous fiscal year will be subject to assessment by a qualified certified public accountant who is not a Director or employee of the Association. Following the assessment, statements will be signed by the President and Financial Director.

                 M/S/C T. Buckner / J. Hooper to amend the resolutions as stated.

8.   NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT - Presented by Committee Chair, Peter Sorokovsky
      President: Cameron Watt (UBC Athletics)
      Vice President: Gary Bartley (UBC Athletics)
      Directors with 1 year remaining: 
          Jesse Cowan (Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Course)
          Andre Dionne (City of Coquitlam)
          Jed McGeachie (Overton Environmental)
          John Perry (Poppy Estates Golf Course)
      Directors to be elected (2 years):
          Stuart Carmichael (City of Courtenay)
          Davin Marr (Hillview Golf Course)
       Past President (2 years): Travis Olson (Kamloops Golf Course) 

       M/S/C T. Buckner / S. Kazymerchyk to acclaim candidate slate as presented 

9.   PRESIDENT REMARKS
      Cameron Watt
          o Thanks to all, staff for all the hard work, thanks to the entire board for a great year, Travis for all the years given to the WCTA. 
      Jerry Rousseau
          o Thanked Peter Sorokovsky for his 14 years of service on the board.  

10. ADJOURNMENT 3:11pm 

       M/S/C   P. Sorokovsky / D. Marr to adjourn