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Register for Conference by Dec. 15
Take advantage of the discounted full Conference registration fee of $350, if you register prior to midnight on Fri., Dec. 15. After Dec. 15, the rate increases to $375. The conference fee includes 66 educational seminars from which to choose, more than eight hours of trade show time to research new products and equipment, 16 hours of networking, breakfasts and lunches, two receptions and the Annual Awards banquet.
To register, go on-line at www.sportsturfmanager.org, or call our office for a form, 800-323-3875.
Networking Kicks Off on Jan. 17
Network with professionals from facilities that are similar to your own. This sports turf networking forum is actually seven separate sessions, each being conducted simultaneously on Jan. 17, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The sessions address the challenges and issues specific to sports turf managers in similar employment/business situations. Join your peers at one of these informal and highly informative forums: School facilities, Colleges and Universities, Parks and Recreation, Facilities used by Professional Athletes, Students, Teaching/Extension/Research and Commercial companies. All sessions will be held at the Convention Center.
$200 Available to Every STMA Chapter
Any chapter that sends at least one Chapter Officer to the Chapter Officer Training Session, which will be held on Tues., Jan. 16, 4 to 8 p.m. during the annual STMA Conference, will receive $200 to help fund one person’s stay. Each chapter can send as many officers as it wants. No paperwork will be required — any officer attending will just sign in at the session, and STMA will send that chapter a $200 check after conference. Those attending will learn valuable ideas and strategies to strengthen their local chapter.
Patricia Heuser, an expert in organizational management will facilitate the session. She will address 1) the roles and responsibilities of Boards of Directors; 2) the roles and development of committee structures; 3) how to effectively use staff to facilitate the volunteer process; 4) volunteer involvement -- how to recruit, train, and support volunteers; 5) building leadership for the future of the organization; and 6) planning -- an essential part of an organization's operation and future growth.
VOTE by Midnight December 29
Be certain that STMA has received your Bylaws/election ballot by Dec. 29. All voting members will receive a specially marked business-sized envelope: TIME SENSTIVE VOTING MATERIALS INSIDE by next week. Included in that envelope are the ballot and proxy, and information about the candidates and proposed bylaws changes. Click here to view the candidate biographies and the proposed bylaws.
Donate to the SAFE Auctions/Raffle
The Foundation for Safer Athletic Field Environments (SAFE), STMA’s charitable arm, hosts a live and a silent auction during the trade show at the Conference to fund scholarship, research and education. We need your help to make these events successful.
We need items to auction off! Donations can include team gear, logo items such as shirts, hats, jackets, autographed baseballs, footballs and vendor products. Be creative! Any donation is appreciated and will promote your company or team.
Please contact Tom Curran at 954-786-4138 or Steve Torske at 402-472-4638 with questions, and the list of items that you can bring. Send your donations to STMA Show Office, 28 Pelham St., Newport, RI 02840. Donations are also accepted at the conference.
Pursing CSFM?
Take the Exam at Conference.
For your convenience, STMA is offering the CSFM exam two times during the annual conference: Tues., Jan. 16, 2007, 4 to 8 p.m., and Sat., Jan. 20, 2007, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Pre-registration is required, we must receive your application for the Certification program by no later than Dec. 15, so please contact Leah at lcraig@sportsturfmanager.org, or at 800-323-3875, to verify your eligibility.
Eighty-nine percent of those who take the test pass it within the three allowable chances, so take the initiative and register for the exam. Certification validates your professionalism and commitment to continuous learning. Look for information next year about the compensation differences between certified and non-certified members.
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The STMA conference offers an excellent opportunity to recruit staff or hire a summer intern. More than 100 students attend the conference including scholarship winners and student challenge competitors. These highly engaged students are interested in learning about internship and employment opportunities in the industry. Here are three easy tips to recruiting:
1. Start by placing a listing of your opening on the STMA Employment Board. Email it to STMAinfo@sportsturfmanager.org prior to the conference, or bring it with you.
2. Be sure you have provided enough detail in the listing including salary range, benefits, job requirements, etc. If you are seeking an intern, housing or a housing allowance and a bonus structure are strong recruiting tools.
3. Be sure to note on the listing that you are available during the conference to meet prospective candidates. Offer your cell phone number, or information on how you can be contacted. The Marriott Rivercenter Hotel and the Convention Center offer many places for you to meet candidates and start the interviewing process. Even if you choose not to officially begin interviewing, you can judge quite a bit about a person by observing their behavior in an informal setting.
Bonus Tip - Cell Phone Etiquette: Put your cell phone on vibrate/silent mode during the conference. Your peers and the speakers will appreciate not being interrupted during the educational sessions.
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• Spring dead spot in North Carolina;
• Winter salinity issues in the Southwest;
• Traffic on dormant bermudagrass and zoysiagrass;
• Late fall fertilization in the Northeast.
Click here for the regional map and select any of the eight regions for turfgrass specific information.
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