I had my first opportunity to attend National Golf Day this year and it was quite an experience. Not only do I have a greater understanding of how our government works but I also came away with a positive feeling for the district and the people who live and work there.
First of all, the business end of the meeting:. I had three congressional meetings and four senate meetings with my regional delegation from North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. The delegation consisted of Tenia Workman, Wally Gresham and Lydell Mack from Georgia, Billy Bagwell and Chuck Connolly from South Carolina and Bob Farren, CGCS, from North Carolina. Everyone did a great job speaking with the staffers and staying on topic asking for support on this year's three key initiatives, H-2B visas, the Clean Water Act fix and the PHIT Act. During the course of the seven meetings, I got the chance to visit all three buildings on both the senate and house side of the hill. While wandering through the buildings, you wind up seeing many famous politicians and news reporters. At that point, you realize that you are in the middle of the political world. At the end of the day, my feet were tired but it felt great to tell our story to the lawmakers and really be involved in the political system.
Perhaps the most rewarding time in DC happened the day before when our group had over 100 volunteers working on the National Mall's lawn. We were divided into work groups with different assignments ranging from cleaning and straightening park benches to mowing, aerating and seeding the turf "panels" that make up the mall. I worked with GCSAA Vice President Darren Davis, CGCS, on adjusting the Rain Bird 900 Series' heads that irrigate the panels. The work of adjusting the heads was second nature to us since we've done it most of our professional lives, but when you lifted up your head and saw the Washington Monument to your right and the U.S. Capitol to your left, it gave the simple task a great deal more significance. I think everyone involved with the project came away with a great sense of pride and accomplishment.
Finally, a shout out to the people of D.C. I tried to strike up conversation with the D.C. denizens whenever I could: at lunch, in the hotels or with any of the number of people who shuttled me around the town during my stay. The district has a certain vibe to it and it's reflected in the people who call this area home. You really never know who's sitting next to you. After being in the city for only a few hours. while I was having lunch at Old Ebbitt's Grill, I struck up a conversation with the three people sitting next to me. They were soaking wet having just participated in the "Science March" on the mall. After some quick introductions. our conversation quickly turned to climate change and global warming. I could feel the confidence and passion in their speech as we had our spirited discussion for about half an hour. As my new friends got up to leave one of them said, "thanks for the great discussion, you know your stuff." I handed him one of my business cards and told him thank you for the great discussion! He apologized for not having a card to give to me but said he'd send me a note later. Sure enough, that evening, I got an email from him with some articles to read on climate change. I did a Google search for his name since he seemed to know so much about climate change. It turns out that for 10 years he was the head of the EPA's climate change section and the lead U.S. author on the Paris Climate Agreement. You just don't know who's sitting next to you when you're in D.C.
I look forward to getting a chance to make this trip again. It was truly a tremendous experience and I would encourage everyone to get involved in advocacy on behalf of our profession and the game of golf. It's time and effort that really does pay off for our industry.
First of all, the business end of the meeting:. I had three congressional meetings and four senate meetings with my regional delegation from North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. The delegation consisted of Tenia Workman, Wally Gresham and Lydell Mack from Georgia, Billy Bagwell and Chuck Connolly from South Carolina and Bob Farren, CGCS, from North Carolina. Everyone did a great job speaking with the staffers and staying on topic asking for support on this year's three key initiatives, H-2B visas, the Clean Water Act fix and the PHIT Act. During the course of the seven meetings, I got the chance to visit all three buildings on both the senate and house side of the hill. While wandering through the buildings, you wind up seeing many famous politicians and news reporters. At that point, you realize that you are in the middle of the political world. At the end of the day, my feet were tired but it felt great to tell our story to the lawmakers and really be involved in the political system.
Perhaps the most rewarding time in DC happened the day before when our group had over 100 volunteers working on the National Mall's lawn. We were divided into work groups with different assignments ranging from cleaning and straightening park benches to mowing, aerating and seeding the turf "panels" that make up the mall. I worked with GCSAA Vice President Darren Davis, CGCS, on adjusting the Rain Bird 900 Series' heads that irrigate the panels. The work of adjusting the heads was second nature to us since we've done it most of our professional lives, but when you lifted up your head and saw the Washington Monument to your right and the U.S. Capitol to your left, it gave the simple task a great deal more significance. I think everyone involved with the project came away with a great sense of pride and accomplishment.
Finally, a shout out to the people of D.C. I tried to strike up conversation with the D.C. denizens whenever I could: at lunch, in the hotels or with any of the number of people who shuttled me around the town during my stay. The district has a certain vibe to it and it's reflected in the people who call this area home. You really never know who's sitting next to you. After being in the city for only a few hours. while I was having lunch at Old Ebbitt's Grill, I struck up a conversation with the three people sitting next to me. They were soaking wet having just participated in the "Science March" on the mall. After some quick introductions. our conversation quickly turned to climate change and global warming. I could feel the confidence and passion in their speech as we had our spirited discussion for about half an hour. As my new friends got up to leave one of them said, "thanks for the great discussion, you know your stuff." I handed him one of my business cards and told him thank you for the great discussion! He apologized for not having a card to give to me but said he'd send me a note later. Sure enough, that evening, I got an email from him with some articles to read on climate change. I did a Google search for his name since he seemed to know so much about climate change. It turns out that for 10 years he was the head of the EPA's climate change section and the lead U.S. author on the Paris Climate Agreement. You just don't know who's sitting next to you when you're in D.C.
I look forward to getting a chance to make this trip again. It was truly a tremendous experience and I would encourage everyone to get involved in advocacy on behalf of our profession and the game of golf. It's time and effort that really does pay off for our industry.
