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/433388
46 SportsTurf | December 2014 www.sportsturfonline.com STMA in Action News from the Sports Turf Managers Association STMA dollars to members who recruit new members is proving to be highly successful. STMA should reap the benefits of a larger membership in future years. Our retention statistics show that members who attend conference are more likely to continue to renew their memberships. Other plan accomplishments include the development of a strong international outreach program, an environmental facility certification program, and a public relations program that has resulted in hundreds of media hits promoting members. Our conference continues to grow, we are better engaging commercial members, have created government relations tools, strengthened our chapter network, and have greatly enriched our educational resources for members. Outside organizations know us and work with us on collective issues. Building a new plan During its summer meeting, the STMA Board of Directors created a new plan that builds on the successes of its previous plans. Working with facilitators from Leading Associations, they created a new mis- sion and vision, added new layers to some of the previous goals, and shifted direction from growing the association in numbers to growing STMA's influence. STMA's new mission better states why the association exists: STMA advances professionalism in sports field management and safety through education, awareness programs, and industry development. Its previous mission: To be the recognized leader in strengthening the sports field manage- ment industry and enhancing members' competence and acknowledgement of their professionalism, now serves as the vision for the association. New strategic goals include: Goal 1: Communications Plan - Develop and implement a compre- hensive communications plan that focuses on brand awareness, public relations and marketing. Goal 2: Increase the reciprocal value between STMA and its Commercial Members; expand the mutual commitment and engage- ment of Commercial Members in STMA. Goal 3: Environmental Stewardship - Position STMA members as environmental stewards. Goal 4: Natural Grass Benefits - STMA promotes the benefits and possibilities of properly managed natural grass for athletic surfaces. Goal 5: Education Programming - Provide education to all mem- bers where they are and where they need it. Objectives and tactics are currently being developed by Committees for the Board of Directors approval. Goals 2 and 5 build on last year's plan. Although environmental stewardship and marketing and public relations were objectives in the previous plan, their importance to achieving our mission is so great that they are now core goals in the new plan. New to our plan is to make known the benefits of natural grass athletic fields. As with all of STMA's initiatives, members are stakeholders in this plan. As STMA advances these goals, members benefit through access to more services and resources. A larger association with a vibrant mem- bership also has a more powerful voice in the industry. The profession becomes better understood and our members become more highly valued for the work that they do. STMA will be reporting on its progress to the new plan as work is accomplished. Look for regular updates. ■ I t is that time of year—membership renewal time. The easiest and fastest way to renew is to go online. Log in to your members only page. Click on the Membership, Merchandise and Online Registration and select the correct dues renewal category. Are you taking full advantage of all that your membership offers? There are dozens of new educational resources for members only under the Knowledge Center tab at STMA.org. STMA also is debuting a new webinar series, which is being recorded so that you can watch and listen at your convenience. STMA has a membership benefit that we hope you'll never need to use, the extension of your STMA membership at no cost to you, if you lose your job. We know that organizations are cutting back, which could adversely affect your job security. STMA stands behind its members and will assist any member in any category who loses his or her job by continuing their STMA membership, at no charge for 6 months. This benefit relies on the honor system, and if you become employed during this 6 month period, the association assumes that you will pay your regular membership dues. This membership extension allows you access to very important job search benefits on the Members Only side of the website. You'll be able to view job listings, post your résumé, access career informa- tion and actively network with your peers using the online STMA Membership Directory. Your membership continues seamlessly, with all rights and privileges of your membership category. STMA's membership year is calendar based, January through December. As this year draws to a close, if you are affected by a job loss, please call STMA to activate this benefit. There are very few rules. You must have been a member of STMA for at least 1 year. If you have not found employment after 6 months, STMA will offer an Affiliate Membership to you at the $50 member rate. ■ Renew your 2015 Membership; a Member Benefit that is not used much, thankfully!