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/369217
46 SportsTurf | September 2014 www.sportsturfonline.com STMA in Action News from the Sports Turf Managers Association S everal STMA programs, including Innovative Awards, Field of the Year Awards, SAFE Scholarship and Founders Awards, have application deadlines October 15. STMA Innovative Award The deadline for STMA Commercial Members to apply for the STMA Innovative Award is October 15. All commercial compa- nies that are exhibiting at the 2015 STMA Annual Conference & Exhibition are invited to submit an entry (electronically only) to be recognized as an Innovative Award Winner. New this year: All entries will be recognized on signage and in the conference on-site guide. This recognition will help attendees identify new products, the company that developed them, and the booth number. As you select the product, equipment, technology, or service to enter, consider this description of "innovative": • is cutting edge • has never been seen Any STMA Commercial member who is exhibiting at the upcom- ing STMA Annual Conference and Exhibition is eligible to submit one entry annually. The company must display the innovation in its booth and have introduced it for sale within a 2-year period. The only criteria that the innovation must meet is that is should substantially enhance the effectiveness of the sports turf manager and/or make the surfaces safer and more playable for athletes. A panel of non-commercial STMA members representing all seg- ments of membership will judge the entries and may give the award to multiple companies that meet the criteria. Winner(s) will be kept confidential until announced during the first day of the STMA Trade Show. Winner(s) will be able to use the special Innovative logo in their promotion of the win- ning product, service, technology or equipment and will receive an award to display. STMA will publicize the winners through its communication vehicles, STMA press releases, signage at the conference and with special recognition during the Annual Awards Banquet. STMA Field of the Year The STMA Field of the Year program deadline is October 15. All materials must be submitted electronically by this date. Be sure to read the application carefully, as the entire process is done electronically. The process requires that applicants fill out no less than four STMA Playing Conditions Index (PCI) worksheets to apply for Field of the Year. The STMA PCI is also available online. New this year: Now only PCI scores need to be transferred to the application; the full PCIs do not need to be attached. Through the Field of the Year program, STMA is able to sig- nificantly further one main element of its mission: To gain acknowledgement for the professionalism of its members. This year, based on the results of the judging, the "Fields of the Year" Awards will be presented at the STMA Annual Awards Banquet, January 16, 2015, in Denver. In addition to being featured in this magazine, winning fields will also receive: • A plaque recognizing the field and the Sports Turf Manager Registration to the STMA Conference • Three nights of lodging, excluding incidentals, at the STMA Conference •STMA signature apparel for the winning sports turf manager and their crew Suggestions from the STMA Awards Committee on Putting Together Winning "Field of the Year" Award Entries: Start taking pictures and documenting your progress now! The STMA Awards Committee encourages sports turf managers to be creative in their applications and pictures, while still working within the framework of the program. The committee encourages creative photos, photos that show the versatility of the field, display unique characteristics of the field, and photos that show the unique talents of the crew. Focus on issues specific to your field which tell the story; issues such as drainage, traffic, weather, etc. Provide before and after shots. Do not simply provide "beauty shots" of your field, as they do not reflect the true struggles and triumphs of you and your crew. SAFE Scholarships & Grants SAFE Scholarship applications are due October 15. All materials must be submitted in one packet and faxed applications will not be accepted. STMA Founders Awards nominations STMA Founders Award nominations are due October 15. These are STMA's most prestigious awards and are presented in honor of the founders of STMA: Dr. William Daniel, Dick Ericson, George Toma and Harry Gill. More information is available online at stma.org. For applications, nomination forms, to get the STMA ■ Several major STMA Awards deadlines fast approaching! Start taking pictures and documenting your progress now! The STMA Awards Committee encourages sports turf managers to be creative in their applications and pictures, while still working within the framework of the program.