Just last month, the Michiana GCSA board convened in Crown Pointe, Ind., for a strategic planning session facilitated by Steve Randall, GCSAA’s director of chapter outreach, and hosted by Michiana GCSA President Mike Papineau, a 12-year GCSAA member and superintendent at Youche Country Club. To begin the day, those in attendance honored the late Earl Ogle, a 23-year GCSAA member and dedicated Michiana GCSA member who served as longtime chapter secretary. Earl will be missed by his peers both locally and nationally. 

Strategic planning is crucial for the continued success and growth of any organization, and it’s a service GCSAA provides for each of its 94 chapters across North America. It provides a roadmap for the future, helping to identify strengths, challenges and opportunities while aligning efforts toward common goals. For the Michiana GCSA, this planning session allows the chapter to enhance member services, improve communication and establish clear, actionable objectives to guide the organization’s development. The process set both short- and long-term goals and ensures the chapter is responsive to the evolving needs of its members and fosters an active membership. 

The planning session began by discussing the session’s objectives. Once that was complete, we moved into a SCOR analysis (strengths, challenges, opportunities, risks) to identify key areas for improvement. Chapter strengths included strong attendance at events such as the spring education and Christmas party, and challenges such as updating the website, attracting new board members and expanding membership were noted. Growth opportunities included increasing membership, offering tiered pricing and enhancing communication.

The meeting also revisited the chapter’s mission statement, with the group proposing three pillars: serving members, enhancing turfgrass management and promoting the profession. Action items were set, such as improving e-communication, updating the website and creating a board expectation document. Focus for Fall 2025 will include understanding non-members’ interests and expanding outreach, while early 2026 will include additional event offerings.

The session concluded with a commitment to communicate the strategic goals to the membership, ensuring transparency and continued growth. Special thanks are extended to the leaders of the Michiana GCSA (thank you to Mike Papineau for hosting) for their dedication and efforts in guiding the chapter through this important strategic planning process.