Pair recognized for government relations

Michael A. Stachowski and Patrick Blum have been selected to receive the 2006 Excellence in Government Relations Awards for their commitment to government relations in the areas of advocacy and compliance.

Both members of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, they will receive the awards Feb. 10 during the General Session of the 2006 Golf Industry Show in Atlanta, Ga.

“Mike and Pat have increased the profile of the golf course management industry and go far in showing the positive impacts that golf courses and those who manage them can have on their surrounding environment,” says GCSAA president Timothy T. O’Neill, CGCS.

Michael Stachowski

Stachowski, superintendent at the Golf Course of Concordia in Cranbury, N.J., won the advocacy award for his prominent involvement in addressing legislative issues in New Jersey. Stachowski has served as the government relations liaison for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey since 1999. He was vital in the formation of the Alliance for Water Conservation, a statewide green industry group that works to gain reasonable restrictions during times of drought.

In 2002, Stachowski and AWC were instrumental in gaining substantial relief for the golf industry from burdensome water restrictions originally imposed during the 1999 drought. They also started an annual “Day on the Hill” in which members of the green industry gather to meet with key legislators and discuss important issues affecting the profession. Stachowski also has served as an AWC representative at various fundraisers to emphasize the goals of the AWC to key legislators.

Stachowski and AWC have sought through legislation to add two seats to the state’s Water Supply Advisory Council, including one seat that would be held by a member of the GCSANJ. If passed, this legislation would give golf course superintendents a voice in guiding future legislation regarding water use in state. The legislation did not pass during 2005 but will be reintroduced in 2006.

Patrick Blum

Blum, superintendent at Colonial Acres Golf Course in Glenmont, N.Y., manages Colonial Acres Golf Course, a small limited-budget facility that was designated a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary in 1998. Since that time, Blum has worked closely with Audubon International staff to maintain Sanctuary status and implement pollution prevention measures that go above and beyond state and local compliance requirements.

In 2000, Colonial Acres won the New York State Governor’s Award for Pollution Prevention in the small business category. Since that time Blum has continued to educate the state’s pollution prevention department about the golf industry.

Because of Blum’s environmental stewardship and diligence, Colonial Acres was the first golf course in the U.S. to participate in the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Environmental Performance Track Program. Blum has worked with EPA to tailor the program to make it appropriate for further golf course involvement. Blum and Colonial Acres also were named the overall winners of the 2002 GCSAA/Golf Digest Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards.

EGR Award nominees were judged on how their efforts served the interests of the golf course superintendent profession and the golf course management industry. Members of the GCSAA government advocacy and compliance task group conducted the evaluation.