World-Wide Certification Sponsored by The Toro Company

[StephenTucker]

There has been a lot of talk over the past year about certification and what the IGCEMA 's plans are. Over the past year we have had conference calls with the major manufacturers, other certification companies, we talked with the GCSAA and many, many others to determine what the best route is going to be for certification. One of the biggest items on our certification program is that with us being an International Association we need something world-wide. We have proven that the web certainly works for that. While taking a certification program all over the world is a tough task so was putting together an association.
With the above in mind we went out and looked at some way we could make this happen on-line. After looking at many programs we just recently found the one that would do everything we wanted and more with opportunities to expand it in the future. With that always comes a cost and being a free association this is where the point was going to come that we were going to have to turn over to a dues collecting association. We knew at some point that time would come. However once we begin collecting dues it makes it difficult for some courses to become members due to budget reasons and we are not interested in losing members. The reason we put this association together was to make sure that "ALL" courses were included not just those with big budgets.

So it comes with great pleasure that I announce today that The Toro Company with much help from Carl Osterhaus has offered to sponsor our certification program by paying $4000 for the initial set-up of the system. The system will allow us to create world-wide proctors, on-line testing and results immediately following the test, and a full database for logging all data. These are just a few of the benefits of the program. The program is currently under development and has a planned completion date of 4-6 weeks. Once the program is complete the certification committee will begin uploading test data.

Over the past month the certification committee has been meeting to discuss the outline of the test, where the material will come from, etc. We have split into groups to compile test questions and study guides. The planned launch date for the certification program is expected to be in the first quarter of next year. There is currently a plan to have 2 tests one for the Turf Technician and the second for Equipment Managers. You would have to pass both tests to become a certified Equipment Manager. These are all the details we are prepared to release at this point. I would like to thank everyone who has helped with this process as it has certainly been a long process to get to this point. I would also like to thank The Toro Company for their support of this initiative. This is a very exciting time and we all can't wait.

[PatrickCallaby]

It is with great pleasure I have just read the above post and would like to thank The Toro Company for their support and generosity. It is difficult to imagine where the Association would be without Toro’s massive contribution in public support and their equally important financial backup.
This is due to liaisons between the Board of Directors and the Toro Company and I thank both groups for their hard work.
Regards
Cal

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[HectorVelazquez]

TORO YOUR THE BEST!!!!!

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!

that is AWESOME!!

[KarlBaumann]

Very well done! Thank you Carl O from Toro and the BOD for your vision and the countless hours you put in for our profession. I couldn't be more pleased.

Much success to us all!

[BillRaisch]

AWESOME! I'll bet that if we need any more financial assistance, Jake and Deere would be more than happy to help us! Thanks Toro!!

[StephenTucker]

We have received great support from all the manufacturers on many different levels it's great to see them "all" supporting our efforts.

[JohnTutchen]

I was quite delighted to read this news item. Thanks must go to everybody involved in the certification process and especialy to the BOD and the Toro Company for their vision in supporting us from the earliest days.
In addition Ransomes Jacobsen Ltd and John Deere have shown that they too support our ideals and we are all working towards a common goal.
These are exciting times.