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: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/34725
From the Sidelines Eric Schroder Editor eschroder@m2media360.com 717-805-4197 SportsTurfTu 1030 W. Higgins Road Suite 230 Park Ridge, IL 60068 Phone 847-720-5600 Fax 847-720-5601 The Official Publication Of The Sports Turf Man- agers Association Education opportunities shouldn’t be missed stances, poorly prepared presenters, or ill-conceived program choices. It may appear self-serving but I’ll go there anyway: in my experience, the Sports Turf Man- agers Association and their affiliated chapters take a back seat to no one in pulling off great and useful events. Last month I was in Knoxville for the Southeast Regional Conference that was put together by National STMA HQ and six regional chapters: Tennessee Valley, Kentucky, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. It’s difficult to imagine an attendee leaving this event thinking, “I didn’t learn a damn thing.” The event was held at the University of Tennessee (my eyes readjusted from all the orange in I a few days) and, just as was the case last summer in Seattle, the venue brings much to the event. Like many of you, I’m a sports fan and get a thrill from getting to see and be in places most people don’t—for example, standing midfield at huge Neyland Stadium or touring the Volun- teers’ first-class locker room. The Vols’ indoor practice facility would dwarf most airplane hangars, it is huge! But the facility tours are cake icing compared to the workshops. Those in Knoxville heard from most of the turf team experts from the University: Drs. John Sorochan, Tom Samples, Brandon Horvath and James Brosnan, plus research techs Adam Thoms and Marty Wallace as well as university turf managers Darrell Denney, Darren Seybold and Jimmy Andes. Also on the program were regional big hitters such as Dr. Mike Goatley from Virginia Tech, Dr. Grady Miller from North Carolina State, Eric Fasbender, CSFM, who manages fields and facilities at LSU, and long-time industry leader Bill Marbet, president of Southern Athletic Fields. And as you might expect, topics related directly to the region, with lots of information on bermudagrass, including new information from National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) traffic trials, managing bermuda to prevent winter injury, and info from Dr. Samples on the best new bermudagrasses for athletic fields (appears there are some real winners soon to arrive from the minds at Oklahoma State). Other topics covered included field painting, using field covers, pest management, and a number of talks and demonstrations on maintaining infield skins for baseball and softball (not exactly the same thing I learned). And it should be noted that if you signed up before the event, all this, plus some meals, transportation, and CEU credits, not to mention the trade show with national and regional vendors, cost $95! We all have a bag of excuses we dip into when it comes to things we know are good for us but for some reason are reluctant to do. Next time you have a chance, pass on the broccoli but not these education opportunities from STMA. They are more than worth the effort and ex- pense. 6 SportsTurf | July 2011 N MY MORE THAN 25 YEARS covering educational events and trade shows in in- dustries including construction, auto repair and dentistry as well as turfgrass, I’ve wit- nessed some terrific programs and some real clunkers. As well-intentioned as an organizer might be sometimes you get a dud, whether because of unforeseen circum- PRESIDENT: Troy Smith, CSFM IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT: Chris Calcaterra, M.Ed., CSFM, CPRP PRESIDENT-ELECT: James Michael Goatley, Jr., PhD SECRETARY/TREASURER: Martin Kaufman, CSFM VICE PRESIDENT-COMMERCIAL: Chad Price, CSFM PROFESSIONAL FACILITIES: Allen Johnson, CSFM HIGHER EDUCATION: Ron Hostick, CSFM K-12: Mike Tarantino PARKS & RECREATION: David Pinsonneault, CSFM, CPRP ACADEMIC: Pamela Sherratt COMMERCIAL: Rene Asprion AT LARGE: Jeff Fowler, AT LARGE: Jeff Salmond, 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 EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Charles Forman EDITOR Eric Schroder TECHNICAL EDITOR Dr. James Brosnan ART DIRECTOR Brian Snook PRODUCTION MANAGER Karen Kalinyak EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Richard Brandes STMA Editorial Communications Committee Jim Cornelius, CSFM, Jason Henderson, PhD, Paul Hollis, Clayton Hubbs, Joshua McPherson, CSFM, Brad Park, David Schlotthauer, & Grant Spear SportsTurf (ISSN 1061-687X) (USPS 000-292) (Reg. U.S. Pat. & T.M. Off.) is published monthly by m2media360, a Bev-Al Communications company at 1030 W. Higgins Road, Suite 230, Park Ridge, IL 60068. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Sportsturf, P.O. Box 2120, Skokie IL 60076-7820. For subscription information and requests, call Subscription Services at (847) 763-9565. Subscription rates: 1 year, $40 US & Poss.; 2 years, $65 US & Poss.; 1 year, $65 Canada/Foreign Surface, 1 year, $130 Airmail. All sub- scriptions are payable in advance in US funds. Send payments to Sportsturf, P.O. Box 2120, Skokie, IL 60076-7820. Phone: (847) 763-9565. Fax: (847) 763-9569. Single copies or back issues, $8 each US/Canada; $12 Foreign. Periodicals postage paid at Park Ridge, IL and additional mailing offices. COPYRIGHT 2011, SportsTurf. Material may not be re- produced or photocopied in any form without the written permission of the publisher. Member of BPA Worldwide. www.sportsturfonline.com