Notes From The Field

Cheer on Turf Editors at BASF Booth 3039

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

by Tom Hill

BASF hosting media for Charity Round of Superintendent Thousandaire on Thurs., Feb. 11, 2 p.m.

The special Media Round for Charity of Superintendent Thousandaire offers editors from Golf Course Industry, Golf Course Management and Golfdom a chance to win and donate up to $2,000 to the charity of their choice! Each editor is guaranteed a $1,000 donation from BASF, with the opportunity to earn additional funds for each correctly answered trivia question. Read on to learn about who they're playing for and come by Thursday during the show to cheer them on at BASF booth 3039! Note: GCI Columnist Pat Jones will stand-in for Editor Mike Zawacki, who is unable to attend.

Mike Zawacki, Golf Course Industry – "I'll be playing for Love-A-Stray, a no-kill animal shelter in my hometown, a no-kill animal shelter in my hometown,” Zawacki said. “Love-A-Stray is a bare-bones operation that does an incredible job finding homes for abandoned and

unwanted cats and dogs. The shelter subsists on the kindness and big hearts of its patrons. It’s truly amazing what they can do and how many lives they can touch with so few financial resources.”

“My wife, Kelly, and I adopted two wonderful dogs, Bella and Trent (pictured: Bella-left and Trent-right), from Love-A-Stray. We also volunteer our time to walk dogs at the shelter, run errands and do odd jobs, as well as promote and support the organization at their regular adoption and fundraising events. There are so many animals with lots of love to give and who simply need someone to care for them and love them back. Without groups like Love-A-Stray these animals would end up spending a week to 10 days at an already over-burdened municipal or county kennel before being euthanized.”

Seth Jones, Golf Course Management – “This year, let’s make my BASF 2010 Media Thousandaire check out to the LiveStrong Foundation,” Jones said. “My father, Boyd, was diagnosed with brain cancer in August of 2009. It took his life a mere six weeks later, one week shy of his 63rd birthday. I think about my dad every day, but even more now that we’re in college basketball season. We are KU Jayhawks fans and we used to talk several times a game to discuss what was going on. Not having my dad around has taken a little bit of fun out of everything, even KU basketball.”

“Every year I host a charity event in Lawrence called the John Wake Laugh Olympics in honor of a friend I lost in 2003. We’re going into our 9th year. For one day (the Sunday before Labor Day) about 80 participants gather to golf, bowl, play pool and throw darts. Whoever has the best overall score is the Laugh Olympics champion. Last year, thanks to BASF’s

2009 GIS Turf Media Jeopardy contribution of $1,000, we were able to disperse over $5,000 to the charities we support.”

Larry Aylward, Golfdom – “My BASF 2010 Media Thousandaire funds will go to support the The Cleveland Foodbank,” Aylward said. “To me, there’s nothing sadder than to see people going hungry. It’s a complete shame. We waste so much food in this country and this world that hunger should not be an issue; but it is for many reasons, and it always will be. Fortunately, there are places like The Cleveland Foodbank, which does a wonderful job of helping people obtain food.”

“In 2009, The Cleveland Foodbank distributed over 27.3 million pounds of food to 456 hunger programs in six Northeast Ohio counties. That’s enough food to provide over 21.3 million meals! The people who run The Cleveland Foodbank are superstars, in my opinion. I’m very thankful for BASF doing this! It’s so cool!”