Golf Industry Association of Arizona (GIA) to Host Annual Meeting November 12 at Moon Valley CC

The Golf Industry Association of Arizona (GIA) will host its Annual Meeting on November 12, 2008 at Moon Valley Country Club from 7:30 to 11 a.m.

Current board members, including Tom Colceri, GIA president, will speak about several important topics related to the golf industry, including water, the economy and legislation updates. GIA lobbyist Jeff Sandquist will discuss legislation updates and Andrew Craddock from the Arizona Department of Water Resources will speak about water compliance.

In 2009, the GIA plans to initiate a new Economic Impact Study focused on golf in Arizona. The group will also elect board members for 2009 at the meeting. Free for GIA members, non-members are required to pay $35. In addition, three CE credits for PGA members and one credit for PGA apprentices may be earned by attending.

Agenda

7:30 - Registration and continental breakfast
8:00 - “State of the Association,” - The GIA in 2009
8:30 - Golf Course Water Compliance and Conservation
9:15 - Legislation Updates - Election Results
9:45 - Break
10:00 - Taxation and the State Budget
10:25 - Impact of the Economy on Golf Development
10:55 - Conclusion - Adjournment

Colceri said the non-profit GIA works with members of the state's golf community to identify issues and opportunities, set priorities and take action on behalf of the golf industry. Since the GIA was formed in 1996, the organization’s biggest accomplishments are the formation of a unified voice for each and every segment of the golf industry. Until then, no one represented the industry and the golf business was a large target for harmful legislation for taxation, water restrictions and overall public scrutiny from people who don’t understand golf’s benefits. 

For the last 10 years the GIA has been working closely with a lobbyist that keeps the group aware of anything on the forefront so that they can quickly communicate and take appropriate action before rules are made that could have an adverse effect on golf courses, owners, operators or anybody else in the business.

Key Roles of the GIA

• Establish and maintain an effective presence before the Arizona legislature, as well as state and federal regulatory agencies, in order to represent the interests of the industry.

• Participate in rule-making and other regulatory processes affecting the industry, including sales and property tax regulations, the formation of 'management plans' by the Arizona Department of Water Resources, effluent reuse and other regulations promulgated by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

• Annual monitoring of proposed legislation, which affects the golf course industry.

• Sponsorship of legislation for the betterment or protection of the industry.

For more information call Sarah Glover, executive director of the GIA, at (480) 443-9002. You can also learn more about the GIA by visiting, www.azgia.com