and here's a word from our President

In addition to working full-time at the Salmon Valley Golf Course as the Superintendent, my husband also now owns a part-time mowing business (more on that later). He's been working on a lot of projects this spring at the golf course that have been keeping him busier than normal (and spring is always a busy time for him regardless!): building new teeboxes, building retaining walls, and working on new bridges across ditches on the course.

He volunteers his "extra" time, too: he serves on the School Board (but after 5 years, his term is finally ending next month), is in the Elder's Quoroum Presidency in our ward, and is also the President of the Idaho Golf Course Superintendent's Association. He is gone a lot--either to work, or mowing his clients' lawns, or to any assortment of meetings. At least 3-4 nights a week he is gone to meetings, and the boys are so used to it by now, that when he's gone, they no longer ask "Where is Dad?", instead they ask "What meeting is Dad at tonight?".

One of Josh's duties as President of the IGCSA is to write an article in their quarterly newsletter. I've always wanted Josh to write blog posts on here, but he's not interested in journaling (because he doesn't have the time, I guess). Since he doesn't want to write his own posts on the family blog, I'm going to post the last article he wrote for the IGCSA newsletter published at the beginning of April instead. I always find it interesting to read his point of view on subjects, and in this particular article, he speaks about his job and our sons, so I felt like it was blog-post worthy!

                                          President's Report April 2013

      "I was thinking that rather than “President's Report”, the title for this article should be, “Have you thanked an office worker lately?”   Strange title I know, but hopefully by the time I am done writing you will know what exactly I am referring to.

      This all began with the recent spring break from school that my kids were experiencing. For those of you who have been to Salmon Golf Course you may have noticed that #9 fairway is lined with willow trees that are over 100 years old. Needless to say this creates A LOT of cleanup. When the wind blows, when the wind thinks about blowing, or even when there is no wind at all, the branches are dropping constantly.  Enter my four boys.  A portion of their “break” was spent with rakes in hand, helping me clean up the above-mentioned branches in preparation for fairway mowing. 

     My oldest son is 13 and is actually turning into pretty good help.  He is still at the age where he is willing to trade a couple hours' of raking for an afternoon of golf.  This same son is also working towards his Eagle Scout award and is currently involved with earning merit badges for this effort.  One merit badge in particular requires him to pick a local nonprofit organization that can use the help of youth, and volunteer eight hours of service to the selected group.  We have a local thrift store that helps support our animal shelter. Twice a year they do an inventory change-over, which requires moving all the winter stuff downstairs and hauling all the summer stuff upstairs, and vice versa.   So also during “break”, my son spent one full eight-hour day hauling boxes of clothes up and down stairs, and sorting and hanging clothes on hangers and racks.  When I picked him up, his very first comment to me was, “I never want to have to work indoors ALL DAY. I would much rather work outside like you do, even if I have to rake branches a lot.” I am glad he is learning this at an early age, before he might have to take an “office” job.  I have spent a grand total of one 12-hour shift at an indoor factory  job.  I decided right then and there that no matter the pay, it was not worth it, and that ended my career as an “office” worker.

      As we begin to emerge from our winter cocoons inside our offices and mechanic shops, as the grass begins to turn green (even in Salmon, Idaho),  I think now is a great time to thank an office worker that they are willing to do that job so we don’t have to!  There is no greater feeling than watching people enjoy the fruits of your labor, and being able to see the results of your work on a daily basis.

     Steve Randall from GCSAA led a great strategic planning session at our spring meeting in Boise.  We have a great association and we are looking to continue to build towards the future.  So get out there and recruit some people to join our cause going forward.  And along your way, don’t forget to thank an office worker for giving you the pleasure of not having to do their job."

 

Josh was made President of the Idaho GCSA last fall, at the bi-annual convention of Idaho Superintendents. He hosted that meeting & golf tournament here in Salmon, which was the first time our course has hosted the event. It was a big deal, and Josh worked hard to get the course in great shape because it was the first time that many of his colleagues had ever come to Salmon and golfed here! Here's some photos of Josh at that golf meeting/golf tournament in Salmon last October:

 

 

 

And here's some more photos of him at the bi-annual meeting this spring; his first meeting serving as the official President! (thanks to Lori Russell, IGCSA chapter executive for taking these photos):

I'm so proud of my handsome, hard-working husband! He gives his all to whatever he is involved in! He is so good at his job, and he does great work with whatever he volunteers for, too!