I hate shopping but I will sometimes go to the Christiansburg mall with my wife, Lisa, as long as she will let me sit in one of the rocking chairs out in the common area so I can watch and listen to all that is going on around me. And if you pay attention for just a little while, wow... the things you see and hear! I think successful turf managers are inherently good listeners and observers because if you aren't, you probably wouldn't have a job. Here are a few of the things I saw and heard this past month:

I continue to be amazed by the 'volunteer spirit' displayed by so many in this industry. Having the privilege of serving as STMA President for 2012, it was my responsibility to form the 23 committees that do all the heavy lifting of our association as we strive to achieve the Goals and Objectives of our new 3-yr strategic plan. I am amazed at how several hundred national and international volunteers give of their time on a monthly basis to serve their industry with their time and talents. And I am particularly pleased to have so many volunteers from Virginia serving on committees. Do we have disagreements? Sure. If we didn't, THAT would be a problem. I remember when I was first elected to the STMA Board how I was both surprised and frustrated at first that a few of the Board members seemed to be constantly asking challenging their peers. However, after you finally start to understand the function of a board, you really come to appreciate that their inquiries and willingness to challenge their colleagues was not to show disrespect, but to ensure that the decisions we were making had really been vetted. The major take-home points that I got from a weekend of 'Exceptional Boards' training earlier this year was the importance of two things to a Board: 1) a 'bobblehead' Board that rarely challenges its members is probably not doing its job, and 2) at the end of Board meetings when decisions have been hammered out, the Board is a unified voice in whatever its final position becomes. Come to think of it, this sounds like a strategy we could use a little more of in our government these days.

One of our state's top sports turf managers and high school educators, Marc Moran, CSFM, got a little face time the last week of April with an appearance on Virginia Farming. Moran and his Atlee High school turf program were recognized for their award-winning sports turf program at the school. It's well deserved praise for Marc and his kids and I hope it leads to invitations for other high school educators like Marc that have similarly successful programs.

Peter McDonough, CGCS, of the Keswick Club was invited by GCSAA to Washington DC for National Golf Day on April 18. National Golf Day featured all the allied golf associations coming to the nation's capital for one day to tout the value of golf as an industry and a sport. Peter was one of a select group of superintendents asked by GCSAA to participate in National Golf Day and he had plenty of great things to say about Virginia and its recent efforts in environmental stewardship. Congrats on your selection to participate and thanks for your time and service Peter.

Finally, I was very pleased to see two of my turf team colleagues recognized by their peers this spring. Dr. Jeff Derr, Extension Weed Specialist at the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center, was named a fellow of the Weed Science Society of America, the WSSA's highest honor for its membership. Jeff served as the president of WSSA recently. Shawn Askew, Extension Turfgrass Weed Specialist, was selected for WSSA's Outstanding Early Career Weed Scientist Award. It's no surprise to the Turf Team members to see our colleagues recognized as being at the top of their profession.

Michael Goatley, Jr., Professor and Extension Turfgrass Specialist, Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences. Dr. Goatley periodically contributes to LSI Connections as a columnist.