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- NEWS YOU CAN USE - Last Chance!, Conference Reg., Golf, Volunteer
- The 2-MINUTE TIP FOR SUCCESS
- Turf Rundown: New Research on Soil Sampling for Football (Soccer) Fields
- DOC'S DUGOUT
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Today is your last chance to cast a vote for the 2006 STMA Board of Directors. Go to the STMA home page, www.sportsturfmanager.org and follow the instructions to email or fax in your vote. It must be received at STMA Headquarters by midnight CST on Fri., Dec. 30.
Conference Registration Open 24/7 until Jan. 13
You can still register for the annual STMA conference via mail, fax or on-line until Jan. 13. After Jan. 13, please register on site in Orlando. For conference registration information, go to the STMA homepage, www.sportsturfmanager.org.
SAFE Golf Tournament is Nearly Full
There are limited spots left in the SAFE/Jacobsen, A Textron Company, sponsored golf tournament, scheduled for Jan. 18 at ChampionsGate Golf Club in Orlando. To sign up, fill out the registration form www.sportsturfmanager.org/Conferences/2006/ . Be sure to include your handicap.
Volunteer for an STMA Committee at the New Committee Fair
STMA is hosting a Committee Fair at the STMA Annual Conference to showcase the hard work of all of our committees. Plan on attending the informal ‘walk-about’ on Sat., Jan. 21, from 3:00 to 3:30 p.m., at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort and Convention Center. You will have an opportunity to talk with members of each committee, and let them know if you are interested in volunteering in 2006. If you aren’t able to attend the Fair and would like to be considered for committee service, please contact STMA headquarters, ph. 800-323-3875 or STMAinfo@sportsturfmanager.org.
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Here are five steps to help you be sure you’re paying attention to the ‘lost customers,’ the internal ones – the people you work with every day. Keep these by your desk and learn them step-by-step. Good internal customer service creates a collaborative work environment, which benefits your external customer, too.
1. Internal Service is Everyone’s Responsibility. This includes management. Internal customer service isn’t just for the worker bees. It’s for everyone. No double standards. Internal customer service is for EVERYONE and it starts at the top.
2. Respect Employee Differences. Cub Fan? Sox Fan? Republican? Democrat? Rock Music? Classical? Whatever. Just because you don’t agree with someone doesn’t make you right. Differences are crucial for an organization. Differences are the key to understanding people. If everyone thought the same way, most of us wouldn’t be needed.
3. Recognize the Personal Space of Others. Simply put…this boils down to the ‘Golden Rule.” Those who can work with a radio playing music may disturb others around them who aren’t able to concentrate. Loud voices around someone who’s on the phone can be annoying. If you’re sharing an area, recognize there are others around you. Be sensitive to their wishes.
4. Work to Resolve Conflicts. If you and a co-worker strongly disagree on a project or idea, you need to work it out. Not trying to make it work can only lead to more stress and frustration. Even if you need to call in a mediator…another co-worker or someone not involved and who can keep an open mind.
5. Show Appreciation. Everyone wants to be appreciated and you can show you care with a genuine “Thank You.” It can be a note, phone call or just stopping by an office and telling someone they did a great job or that you enjoy working with them. This makes a huge difference in internal relationships. There are surveys upon surveys that show how much genuine appreciation is a welcomed, non-monetary reward.
Source: Essential Elements of Internal Customer Service – The Telephone Doctor
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“As no general agreement exists about the number of soil samples to be taken on a football field to obtain a statistically reliable value of a soil physical or soil mechanical characteristic, a study was carried out on 77 undisturbed soil samples from the top 5 cm layer of a football field of Ghent University, Belgium. Another 77 disturbed soil samples were taken at the same spots but at a depth of 5-10 cm. Soil characteristics determined were: the particle size distribution (texture), organic matter content, moisture content at time of sampling, bulk density, total pore volume, moisture content at field capacity and at wilting point, available water percentage, free drainage (%), penetration resistance determined with 4 different probes. It was found that with a small number of samples the highest level of accuracy was obtained when determining sand content and the density. Moisture content and especially the penetration resistance determination required a large number of samples. With exception for the penetration resistance, 7 samples taken at spots in extensively played areas were sufficient to obtain more than 80% level of accuracy for the other soil characteristics."
For a copy of the nine-page article, which appeared in Vol. 80, 2004, Journal of Turfgrass and Sports Surface Science, contact the STMA office, 800-323-3875 or by email, STMAinfo@sportsturfmanager.org.
Abstracts, such as this, and thousands of full articles may be accessed at no charge by STMA sports turf manager members through TGIF. A complimentary subscription to Michigan State’s Turfgrass Information File is included as one of STMA’s member benefits. Simply log-in to the members-only side of STMA and the link to TGIF is on the lower right.
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