President’s Message
It is hard to believe what is happening to our country and world today. The war in Iraq, our recovery from 911 and lately not one but two hurricanes of such magnitude hitting our shorelines so close together and only a few weeks apart.
These events touch each and every one of us in one way or another. We either know, or have, a loved one serving in Iraq or we have friends or relatives who have been impacted by the storms. With all the events taking place today, what will tomorrow bring? We must all stand together in all aspects of our lives to come through these challenging times.
One of the challenges we all face is the cost of fuel. This rising expense will be taking a large bite from our grounds maintenance budgets. These times have proved trying for our Fall Maintenance Seminars, and we could find sponsors only for southern Ohio. We still need to go on and work together, showing our continued support and commitment to the Association. The Executive Committee is hard at work on all fronts to continue to expand our horizons by strengthening and improving our Association.
Our immediate future is in expansion by reaching out to more people through our new OACS&O website, which is now online at: www.OACSO.org. It was created by Harold Perlstein of Adaptive InfoSystems of Amelia, Ohio. We look forward to the membership response to the new web page.
The Executive Committee met September 14, 2005, at Ferncliff Cemetery in Springfield. The following committees will help to strengthen the future of our Association:
Membership Committee – Tom Kayati is working on a new membership brochure.
Insurance Committee – Tom Pfeifer is working on a new BWC Group Rate program.
Budget Committee – Tom Pfeifer and Pat Gray.
Dispute Resolution Committee – Tom Kayati, Bob Shenifield and Marilyn Brandt.
Health and Safety Committee – Eric Watne
Strategic Planning Committee – Dan Applegate, Stan Spitler.
Legislative Committee – Dan Applegate, Stan Spitler.
Nominating Committee – Marilyn Brandt, Dan Applegate and Jerry Wantz.
Audit Committee – Fran Comeriato, Linda Burkey.
Allied Memorial Council – Frank Comeriato, Linda Burkey.
Program Committee – It’s full steam ahead on the Mid-Year Conference March 21 and 22, 2006, at Mohican Resort and Conference Center, Perrysville, Ohio. Stan Spitler is working on the Annual Convention at the Hope Hotel in Fairborn, Ohio, slated for July 23, 24 and 25, 2006.
As you can see we are hard at work with highly motivated professionals striving to move our Association forward. If any member would like to help with any of the committees listed above please contact Stan Spitler or Scott Brown. This would be welcomed and highly beneficial.
The Fall Maintenance Seminar was held on Wednesday, October 5, 2005, at Calvary Cemetery in Dayton. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Rick Mead and his staff for showing their genuine interest by hosting this event. For those who were unable to attend, the guest speakers were: Vern Stone of Central Sales in Miamisburg; Tom Federle of Siebenthaler Company of Dayton; and Rich Martell with the Brickman Group of Cincinnati.
There were the following participating suppliers: Bobcat of Dayton; Lesco; Noah Mowing Systems; R.L. Shane; Koenig Equipment; Ohio Cat; Steinke Equipment; and Terry Industries.
Thank you ALL for your continuing support for the growth and future development of OACS&O. A job well done.
I would also like to reiterate a sincere “Thank You” to Don Martin for five years of dedicated work and support of our Association. I would also like to thank his wife, Laurie, for her behind the scenes support. Thanks goes to Dan Applegate for his staunch support, going above and beyond.
In closing, I would like to say that I am excitedly looking forward to the coming year and asking all the members to come together uniting to form a strong bond for the future of the Association. In today’s world we are but a puzzle, fitting together piece by piece to form the whole picture and I am convinced that we will do it well.
Stan Spitler
President