What Does The LPGA T&CP Membership Mean To Me?
The LPGA T&CP (Teaching and Club Professionals) Membership is the most important organization in my life. I have been a member since 1994. Through my membership, I have not only received world-class educational training, but the organization has helped elevate my career to a level that I could not have done on my own.
What makes the LPGA T&CP Membership so unique is that our membership is entrenched in many different roles in the golf industry. The LPGA T&CP has allowed me to discover my own definition of who I am within the industry. Since joining the LPGA T&CP in 1994, I have worked in several different areas of the golf world including at golf academies and schools, as a teaching professional at private clubs, in golf event/tournament management, and as managing editor/writer for various golf magazines. Through the leadership training and seminars, career development events and continuing education programs that the LPGA T&CP has offered throughout my 20 years as a member, I gained the knowledge and skills to handle these various positions.
Membership in the LPGA T&CP has provided countless opportunities for me to lead various educational seminars, develop teaching curriculum, participate in the Girls Golf Academies and present golf tips. These things have helped elevate and improve my speaking and interpersonal communication skills that are now invaluable to my career. The LPGA T&CP Membership has basically helped me become the professional that I am today.
Fellow LPGA T&CP members are not only my friends, but they have also become significant allies in business and in life. Nothing is more nourishing to the soul than being around like-minded people that ‘get you.’ I have long time friends and colleagues that I have gotten to know through attending LPGA T&CP seminars and playing in golf tournaments. We have similar passion and it has been so terrific to help and share mutual successes. Colleagues in our organization are my support system and I am grateful for the strong and powerful women who help me to continue to grow and develop for personal and professional success.
Why Am I Running For LPGA T&CP National Vice-President?
TEAM DEB VANGELLOW AND KAREN PALACIOS-JANSEN
This is an important decision. When current LPGA T&CP National Vice-President Deb Vangellow asked me to be her running mate this past year, I was, at first, reluctant. Would I have enough time to dedicate to the job? Do I possess the leadership skills needed to hold such an important position? How would the membership respond to my pursuing this role on the 2016 Leadership Team?
I had so many questions that I wanted to answer for myself, but it didn’t take me long to respond to Deb. I said ‘yes.’ The organization has given so much to me that I feel the need and I WANT to give back. My hope is to continue the great work of the leaders before me, and support the T&CP Mission to “Be the recognized leader in golf education and the development of female professionals worldwide”.
As the LPGA T&CP continues to grow, I want to be a bigger part of the organization, not only to work for our currents members and elevate our standing in the golf community, but also to inspire and mentor new and future women (and also the many men who are LPGA T&CP advocates) that want to be a part of this elite group of golf professionals.
One of the hardest things about being a golf professional is organizing and managing your time. We have to wear so many different hats during working hours and at home.
I have business to run, a family and household to take care of, and aging parents that need attention. I teach approximately 25 to 30 hours of private golf lessons a week, I record 10 to 15 online golf video lessons a week, I teach 4 Cardiogolf fitness classes a week and maintain my golf instructional blog; posting 4 to 5 golf tips a week. I know it’s hard to find the time to attend seminars and educational programs and challenging to work on our own golf games to play in section and national events. All of these things cost money and take time. However, these are the things we must do our best to do as LPGA T&CP members to maintain our professionalism and keep in good standing in the golf community. Our male counterparts recognize this very thing and do the best they can to elevate their careers. If we want to be on the same playing field when competing for employment opportunities, we also need to continue to elevate our careers.
I recently took the PAT for the PGA of America and am now working through the Level 1 program. It was overwhelming plugging in the USB I was given for the Level 1 program and seeing that I had over 150 hours of reading ahead of me. I know how our newer members feel as they go through their educational process. I want to be a part of the solution that helps our overwhelmed and overworked members become better teachers, leaders and businesswomen. My hope is to help our membership get the most out of the resources the organization already has as well as improve and expand them.
If we are elected into these important leadership positions, We hope to inspire our younger members and connect with the members who have fallen through the cracks to get involved to help utilize the educational programs and seminars that we already have in place. We would also like assist with events that are accessible, convenient and affordable so that our participation increases. I know that this is an important area of focus for Deb and myself…this is clearly spelled out in our Campaign Platform.
I know there are so many members that participate in LPGA T&CP seminars and tournaments and take advantage of the educational resources that we have. They have and always will succeed and excel in their positions because of it. But we have numerous members, in each membership classification, that are unable or do not participate in events, and, therefore, struggle to reach their CU requirements each year. I would like to encourage and inspire this group of women to become more involved as increased participation would elevate our group as a whole. More participation and stronger numbers in seminars, educational programs and tournaments would show sponsors and media that our group is a valuable network worthy of attention and connection, the LEADING Professional Golf Association!
As Deb Vangellow’s Teammate, I will be happy to do whatever it takes to promote, improve and increase our membership. I want to connect with our members to get feedback on how to improve, evolve, and implement continuing educational programs that coincide with our research-based industry-recognized Global Teacher Education Program, promote and showcase our talented members, and continue to increase member services and opportunity.
Under the current leadership of National President Dana Rader and National Vice-President Deb Vangellow we have seen tremendous growth and evolvement in all things LPGA T&CP. They, along with the Executive Committee and HQ Staff, have been successful in elevating our membership in a number of critical areas. I want to be a part of this excellent continuity and believe that Deb and I are a team that will combine the institutional knowledge with an infusion of new energy and ideas to build on the accomplishments over the last six years, including:
- New Mission Statement and Logo
- New Leadership Committee Established
- Increased Membership Numbers
- Expansion into Korea/International Section Established
- Increased Online Continuing Education Courses Testing
- Teaching Her Course Developed and Implemented
- Changed TEP Testing Procedures To Be More Member-Friendly
- Improved TEP Pass Rates at all Levels
- Reintroduction Teaching and Coaching Summits
- New Membership Management System At HQ
- LPGA Career Center and Online Registration System
- Golf Channel Tips and Media Training
- Increased Playing Opportunities and Pro-Ams
- And Much More
Nancy Henderson and the LPGA T&CP Headquarter staff already do an outstanding job of managing the day-to-day operations of our T&CP Membership, managing education and events. It would be a privilege and an honor to work with this outstanding team and to continue to be a part of the unprecedented growth and development of our Membership.
It’s been an exciting election process and we are grateful for the support. Thank you for considering our candidacy for the 2016 LPGA T&CP Leadership. I look forward to future potential and possibility and mostly, the honor of service!
Thank you, Karen Palacios-Jansen
About Karen
Karen Palacios-Jansen, 2008 LPGA T&CP National Teacher of the Year, has been voted as one of America’s “Top 50 Female Instructors” by Golf Digest Magazine for the past 20 years.
Karen has her own golf events company-Swing Blade Enterprises in Mooresville, North Carolina. She is a certified personal trainer, a Nike Golf Performance Specialist and developed a golf-specific fitness system called Cardiogolf available online at Cardiogolf.com and on DVD.
As a member of The Nike Golf Advisory Staff, Karen participates in Nike product development and promotions.
Karen has appeared on The Golf Channel and is a regular content contributor to Golf Digest Magazine’s ‘Fitness Friday” column and other online platforms.
A former David Leadbetter trained instructor and Jim McLean Golf School master instructor; Karen has been a member of the LPGA T&CP since 1994.
Karen, a freelance golf instructional and fitness writer, is formerly the managing editor for Golf Fitness Magazine. Her blog “KPJ Golf” is read by thousands of golfers each week. Karen has spent the last 10 years developing her online and social media presence. She has over 10,000 followers on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram and more than 100,000 views of her online video tips. Her blog, KPJ Golf, ranks 26th out of thousands of golf blogs according to Blog Rank and is ranked among the “Top 50 Golf Blogs” according to Blog Metrics Ranking.
Karen is married to Olympic Gold Medalist speed skater Dan Jansen. Frequently requested as a public speaker and lecturer at golf shows and conferences, Karen has helped thousands of golfers improve their golf games. For more information visit KPJgolf.com.
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