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/575944
FIELD SCIENCE 20 SportsTurf | October 2015 www.sportsturfonline.com FACILITY & OPERATIONS I originally tried Facebook but found it too time consuming and too public. I was looking for some way to communicate with fellow professionals and not former classmates or shirttail rela- tives. Twitter has been a great way to follow industry folks and I've come to appreciate the many active posters. Twitter is not overwhelming but the platform still kind of intimidates me, so mostly I lurk. It's a great way to hear from and see photos from, in real time, colleagues fighting the same fights we are. Mike Andresen, CSFM, Director of Facilities and Grounds, Iowa State athletics department I have embraced Twitter for my social media use. I joined Twitter about a year and half ago, and have loved it. It a great way to connect to other sports turf managers, see what they are doing, and exchange ideas. I have gained vendors by the use of Twitter. My external commu - nications director at Worcester Academy retweets my posts for use on the Academy's Twitter feed. It's a great way to show off my skills, and also to show some of the issues that we have. I have connected to turf professors, professional venue sports turf managers, golf course superin - tendents, and vendors. Ben Polimer, Sports Turf Manager, Worcester (MA) Academy Your question mentions "daily activities"; I wouldn't say any of them are daily for me. I have thought about prioritizing daily interaction but have not since most is "social." My hope for daily interface would be more with intent to inform, educate, etc. I do like to observe when I can to keep myself informed and educated to current events/issues. Mostly I use them to connect and stay connected to the industry and other professionals. I try to be prepared to help or be helped. The job change I just made was because of an STMA contact I met 18 years ago that reached out to me on LinkedIn. Facebook and Twitter can be used the same way to network the "fraternity" of like passionate professionals and friends. Many times homeowners or coaches look for help this way. UT Extension in Nashville has a helpful Facebook page. You know how it is. Daily is a commitment but having social media as another tool in the toolbag is most accurate. I use these tools to promote STMA resources/events/people. I also use them to support cultural practices. Martin Kaufman, CSFM, GCA Services Grounds Manager Using social media should be part of your daily job activities. Social media has allowed me to share sportsturf stories and ask questions about ideas to people around the world. I say world because what and how we manage our fields in the USA is the same thing they are doing in Australia, UK, Singapore etc. We are all trying to make our fields better and safer for our com - munities. If you're not using some type of social media platform, you are missing out on some great opportunities to exchange information with your peers. It's also a great way to share what our industry does to the general public. Sharing news via Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, about pulling the tarp to mowing new patterns creates positive energy that allows people to comment and see how we deal with adversity and celebrate our successes. Communicating via social media is another tool for the sportsturf manager that will open professional and personal growth opportunities. Murray Cook, President, Sportsturf Services, Brickman Group I think social media is great for the industry. I enjoy the sharing of ideas and maintenance practices from across the country and the world. I find it interesting to see how others manage their fields and seeing how it may or may not relate to my situation. Being able to make connections and start conversations with other managers only helps me become a better manager myself Brian Winka, CSFM, Supervisor at City of Chesterfield The simplest reason that I use social media is to promote and adver - tise our turf program at Texas Tech. We have a very small program, and many people in this region don't know that we have a turf HOW, FOR BETTER OR WORSE, has social media affected your daily job activities? IMAGE ©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/MACTRUNK Editor's note: The question above is what we asked some STMA members; here are the responses we received: