Message from the WCTA President - Jan/Feb 2021

A new year brings new… and familiar challenges. With 2020 in the rear-view (phew!) many of us have looked to 2021 with a sense of hope. Hope that we will be rid of the pandemic, hope that we will return to normal.

I’ve always said after an injury or illness, “I’ll never take feeling normal for granted again.” Only to take it for granted just a few days after the discomfort is gone. As the pandemic stretches on into 2021, I am sure that we will all appreciate the return to normal when it finally comes, and I hope that we don’t take it for granted. I hope we can realize how important we all are to each other and continue supporting each other and all those in our turf community. 

I recently read a quote that really seemed to resonate, it was a tweet from Denzel Washington and it read: “Beware of destination addiction: The idea that happiness is in the next place, the next job, or even with the next partner. Until you give up the idea that happiness is somewhere else, it will never be where you are.” I thought it was interesting and was certainly relatable to our current situation.  Put into turf terms, we could say, “The grass isn't always greener on the other side.” Maybe if we try to appreciate what we have now, then when we finally do return to normal, we will really be able to feel that sense of happiness and we will truly be able to appreciate some of the things we used to take for granted.

I know I personally can’t wait to get back out and visit with my friends and colleagues. To share stories with each other and talk about our success and failures. To reminisce about the days of the pandemic. In the meantime, let's take advantage of what we have in front of us.  We have our ongoing WOW webinar series still on the go; I am also very excited for our upcoming Virtual Conference and Tradeshow (WOTS-UP) on February 11th and 12th which will be free to all of our members. Yes, FREE!  I hope you will take advantage of these opportunities while we wait for the return to normal. You can be sure that when we do return, the WCTA will be back and better than ever with our traditional live and in-person Conference and Tradeshow. It will be a great opportunity to finally get back out and get together again. I’m sure there will be a lot more hand sanitizer and probably a little less hand shaking.

This will also be my last message as President.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jerry Rousseau and his staff for their tireless efforts and steadfast dedication to our Association.  I would like to thank my fellow Directors both present and past who have provided leadership, insight and direction for all of us. I would also like to thank our Past President, Peter Sorokovsky, for his continued mentorship and guidance throughout my time on the WCTA board and for his tireless efforts toward turfgrass research and promoting the benefits of turf.  

Finally I would like to thank our membership, YES YOU! It has been a pleasure and an honour to serve you over the last six years. The opportunity has allowed me to meet many new people and learn a great deal of new things that I would have never been exposed to otherwise.  I am looking forward to taking a step back over the next two years as I move into the role of Past President. I hope to see everyone at the upcoming Virtual Conference and Tradeshow, and of course, live and in person, when we once again return to normal.