Virginia Golfer January/February 2014 | Page 11

The Gib Palmer File the Middle Atlantic Golf Association board of directors. He was chairman of the VSGA’s longrange planning committee that set strategic imperatives––governance, participation and access, membership and golfer experience––to drive the association’s growth and to make it stronger in the years to come. The principal feedback out of interviews from what the planning committee called stakeholders was that “the VSGA is a strong organization. We didn’t find there were any major issues holding us back,” Palmer says. “We also learned that we need to increase our communication to all stakeholders. People hear things differently from their own perspectives. It’s an incredibly diverse group of stakeholders. We want to reach beginning juniors all the way through to the elite championship golfers. “Because of my opportunities with U.S. events, I get to travel around the country. I talk to a lot of people involved in the game, and everyone who knows Jamie Conkling and knows the VSGA staff holds them in the highest regard. Virginia enjoys a very solid reputation in the country for the way we conduct our championships, for the way we organize our programs, and for the leadership in our staff.” Palmer’s enthusiasm and passion for golf is demonstrated by his attendance at nearly 50 (and counting) major championships. Palmer has another passion: baseball’s Boston Red Sox, the reigning World Series champions. In his house, on a wall in the “Red Sox room,” is a replica of the famed Green Monster left-field wall at Fenway Park. Oh yes, and there are two seats from Fenway as well. A longtime sportswriter for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, author Arthur Utley is a regular contributor to Virginia Golfer. VSGA Women’s Division Installs New President At the VSGA Women’s Division Annual Meeting in November 2013, Nellysford’s Sarah Robertson, a VSGA member at Wintergreen Resort, was elected by the VSGA Women’s Division board of directors to serve as its 33rd president. She has been a member of the Women’s Division Board since 2008, and previously served as a member-at large (2008–09) secretary (2010–11) and vice president (2012–13) of the board of directors. Robertson succeeds Fran Wray of Staunton, who served as the division’s president in 2012–13. Wray remains on the board of directors as immediate past president. At Wintergreen, Robertson has been on the club’s handicap committee as well as serving as the ladies golf chairperson. She has also served on the golf committee and is currently the secretary of the Women’s Eastern Golf Association. Sarah Robertson For more information about the election of VSGA administrators and award recipients, please visit the VSGA website at www.vsga.org. VSGA Award Winners for 2014 VSGA PRESIDENT’S MEDAL AWARD (recognizes contributions and service to the game and the VSGA) Jan Sutherland, Danville, Va. Sutherland served on the VSGA board of directors from 2002–2013, and is believed to be the first woman to serve o