SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/231240
From the Sidelines Eric Schroder Editorial Director SportsTurf eschroder@specialtyim.com 1030 W. Higgins Road Suite 230 Park Ridge, IL 60068 Phone 847-720-5600 Fax 847-720-5601 717-805-4197 The Official Publication Of The Sports Turf Managers Association Turfgrass goes to Washington G ROUND WAS BROKEN last month for a new exhibit at the US National Arboretum called "Grass Roots," the centerpiece of a 4-year initiative that focuses on the environmental, economic, aesthetic, and recreational benefits of turfgrass in athletic fields, landscapes, and golf courses. Turfgrass scientist and professor Frank Rossi, PhD from Cornell University delivered the keynote address. No word yet whether Ted Cruz will try and defund the project. The National Arboretum, operated by the Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service, and the National Turfgrass Federation have collaborated in developing this new public exhibit to highlight modern uses of turfgrass. The exhibit is "committed to helping citizens, including national decision-makers, understand new and emerging science underlying our nation's beautiful lawns, athletic fields and gardens," according to National Arboretum Director Dr. Colien Hefferan. The project will feature a website accompanying the exhibit, professional and scientific symposia, and homeowner-focused workshops and demonstrations, directed to audiences ranging from children to policymakers, to showcase the value of turf to the environment and the importance of research to continue to leverage that value. According to Dr. Hefferan, the interactive outdoor exhibit will highlight the results of turfgrass research and communicate that managed turf landscapes are essential in conserving soils, retaining and filtering water, offering a venue for socialization and recreation and enhancing the aesthetics of a property. The exhibit will be thematically linked over the nearly 450 acres of the National Arboretum by displays and gardens. For more info see http://www.usna.usda.gov. STMA members Michael Sullenberger and Jimmy Rodgers, CSFM, were at the ceremony; their comments here are courtesy of STMA's new public relations firm, Buffalo Communications: "This exhibit will benefit STMA members because the organization will do a great job of getting out information about the Grass Roots Exhibit to our membership and updates as they occur over the next four years," Sullenberger said. "Anytime you have a spotlight on the science of our industry happening now in Washington, D.C., only good things can happen, not only for the association but for the industry of turfgrass," Rodgers said. Sullenberger added, "Without the STMA, I wouldn't be in the field that I'm in today. I grew up working on a sod farm and that was my hobby. Now, my hobby is my dream job and the association has helped develop it." "STMA was the first professional organization I joined in 1996. It was the only place that I knew of where I could sit around and talk about something I was really passionate about with other people who were doing the same thing in other points of the country," Rodgers said. n 6 SportsTurf | December 2013 President: James Michael Goatley, Ph.D. Immediate Past President: Troy Smith, CSFM President-Elect: David Pinsonneault, CSFM, CPRP Secretary/Treasurer: Allen Johnson, CSFM Vice-President Commercial: Rene Asprion Professional Facilities: Phil McQuade Academic: Jeff Fowler Parks & Recreation: Debbie Kneeshaw Higher Education: Jeff Salmond, CSFM K-12: Andrew Gossel Commercial: James Graff At Large: Mike Tarantino, CSFM At Large: Tim VanLoo, CSFM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Kim Heck STMA Office 805 New Hampshire Suite E Lawrence, Ks 66044 Phone 800-323-3875 Fax 800-366-0391 Email STMAinfo@STMA.org www.STMA.org Editorial GROUP PUBLISHER Jeff Patterson EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Eric Schroder TECHNICAL EDITOR Dr. James Brosnan ART DIRECTOR Brian Snook PRODUCTION MANAGER Karen Kalinyak STMA Editorial Communications Committee Phil McQuade, Brad Park, Jim Cornelius, CSFM, Jason Henderson, PhD, Gwen Stahnke, Cale Bigelow, PhD, Jamie Mehringer, David Schwandt, Mark Frever, CSFM, Joey Fitzgerald SportsTurf (ISSN 1061-687X) (USPS 000-292) (Reg. U.S. Pat. & T.M. Off.) is published monthly by Specialty Information Media at 1030 W. Higgins Road, Suite 230, Park Ridge, IL 60068. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Sportsturf, PO Box 4290, Port Jervis, NY 12771. For subscription information and requests, call Subscription Services at (845) 856-2229. Subscription rates: 1 year, $40 US & Poss.; 2 years, $65 US & Poss.; 1 year, $65 Canada/Foreign Surface, 1 year, $130 Airmail. All subscriptions are payable in advance in US funds. Send payments to Sportsturf, PO Box 4290, Port Jervis, NY 12771. Phone: (845) 856-2229. Fax: (845) 856-5822. Single copies or back issues, $8 each US/Canada; $12 Foreign. Periodicals postage paid at Park Ridge, IL and additional mailing offices. COPYRIGHT 2013, SportsTurf. Material may not be reproduced or photocopied in any form without the written permission of the publisher. www.sportsturfonline.com