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Leadership Commitments Chart the Course – Campaign Update from the Dean
Published in The Newsletter of the GCSANE
February 2004
By Cleve Willis
Dean, College of Natural Resources and the Environment, UMass Amherst
We have reached a milestone in our campaign to fund the construction of a new building at our turf research facility. With the inspired efforts of our campaign captains and the generous response from alumni and friendsin the industry, we are well over half way toward reaching our goal in what is a historic capital campaign.
Having achieved this remarkable milestone, it is time to take a moment to recognize some of the individuals and organizations who have helped to create the momentum that will, with your continuing support, ensure that the Stockbridge and UMass Amherst turf facility is the cornerstone of the premier turf program in New England. While our donor roster is by no means complete, it is a pleasure to be able to recognize the following groups and individuals for their inspired generosity, commitment, and determination that we will succeed.
Every successful capital campaign is built upon the extraordinary commitment of those individuals and organizations who step up to the plate in a truly leadership way. We are particularly grateful for the generous support of the New England Regional Turfgrass Foundation and TurfLinks, Inc. Their individual six-figure commitments have been transformative for our campaign efforts and have set the bar high indeed, establishing a solid base for our success. Special thanks to Geoffrey Cornish, ASGCA, for his enthusiastic and generous support of the campaign and for continuing to champion the Winter School tradition, a landmark program that was initiated in 1927 by Professor Lawrence Dickinson.
We could not have anticipated such a swift and generous reaction to our appeal to help raise the funds for this essential construction project, and it is due in large part to our campaign captains, Stockbridge and Winter School graduates who are leading superintendents from Maine to New Jersey. The efforts of these captains are ongoing, and the response from alumni and friends has been overwhelming, both in individual pledges and in matching gifts from clubs. With particular thanks to Paul Miller, CGCS, for his vision in assembling this dynamic group of captains, we recognize the great team of: John Clark, Tom Colombo, CGCS, Jim Conant, CGCS, Charlie Cross, Steve Curry, Gregg Grenert, Peter Hasak, Don Hearn, CGCS, Wayne LaCroix, CGCS, Ken Lallier, CGCS, Jim Medeiros, CGCS, and John O’Keefe, CGCS.
This building project is a journey that is now well underway, and it is a critical step in the overall investment in our turf program. Moving forward, we are excited about additional faculty hires in those areas of strategic interest to the industry. We will rely on you to help recruit the best candidates available to join our turf team, and we will assemble a committee of leaders, representing a broad cross-section of the turf and green industries, to meet with the top candidates. Building on your participation and leadership, and forging partnerships that will sustain us for years to come, we will succeed with our turf campaign, bringing the resources that will ensure a future of excellence for our turf program.
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