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/442256
STMA in ACTiOn 44 SportsTurf | January 2015 www.sportsturfonline.com News from the Sports Turf Managers Association T he top reason for joining STMA has remained unchanged since 2004: networking to share information and learn from peers. That approach has helped STMA to further its mission of advancing professionalism in sports field management and safety through education, awareness programs and industry development. It has also helped STMA reach out to an international audience. "STMA's culture is one of sharing," says STMA Past President and current International Committee Chair Abby McNeal, CSFM. "Reaching out to those who are managing fields in other countries to offer our educational resources, and in turn learn from them, is a natural process for STMA." STMA has had a focus on international outreach since 2010, when a new task group was formed by then-President Chris Calcaterra, M.Ed, CSFM, CPRP. It was quickly expanded to a com- mittee in 2011, and has been a staple in the association's strategic plan since that time. The International Committee has made great strides in exposing STMA to international audiences. One outcome of this outreach has been an increase in the number of international attendees at the annual conference. "We drew participants from eight countries last year," says McNeal, "more than STMA has ever had at the conference." STMA communicated specifically with those attendees in advance of the con- ference, but realized it could do more to make them feel welcome. "This year our Committee is staffing an international networking area on the trade show floor," says McNeal. "In addition to continuing our early communication efforts, we feel that this face-to-face interaction will help engage them in the entire conference experience." This networking area will be open to all conference attendees. STMA has reached out to academics at universities and higher education institutions in other countries to offer its informational and educational resources. Academics are the go-to resource for those who manage sports fields outside of the US. These academics were also extended an invitation to speak at the annual conference through the call-for-presentations process and to provide articles for this magazine. Additionally, US academics have been asked to be ambassadors for STMA as they travel internationally. This same strategy was implemented with commercial members. "Many commercial members work internationally. They have a great opportunity to share information about STMA," says McNeal, "and they do." Very few countries have membership organizations like the STMA. Sports Turf Canada and the Institute of Groundsmanship (UK) are two exceptions. STMA has developed very good relationships with each organization and both are International Affiliate Organizations (IAO) of STMA. Being an IAO means that we collaborate on initiatives, share information and provide education and programs at member costs to the members of these organizations. STMA has spoken at their educational conferences and vice-versa. A long-term goal of the International Committee is to help to facilitate the formation of international groups like the STMA, and it has succeeded in adding one in Brazil. The Associacao Brasileira das Empresas e Profissionais de Gramados Esportivos (ABGE) was established in 2011. Another area that STMA has made progress internationally is in translating educational materials to languages other than English. McNeal says that language is still a barrier, but we are making slow and steady progress. Five resources are offered in Spanish, and STMA has its website "Welcome" page in seven languages. "We are very pleased to have a personal touch for our international visitors who come to our website. This hopefully tells them that we are an organization that truly wants to connect with them," says McNeal. Providing content to international publications is also underway. STMA is working with TGM Latin America to provide content in English for that online publication, which will then be translated to Spanish. One future initiative involves STMA working with international "green" and "golf " organizations to encourage them to expand their conference education by adding a sports turf track. A certification program internationally is also desired. Although it is unlikely that the Certified Sports Field Manager (CSFM) program will undergo sweep- ing to address international sports field managers, other certification options are being explored. Also for the future is further outreach with ministers of sport and other international sports governing agencies. "We feel that if we can build a relationship with these international orga- nizations, we will be able to help those who are maintaining sports fields. Having these agencies understand the resources needed, such as equip- ment, and how field use and other factors affect maintenance, helps to bring credibility to those who are on the front line," says McNeal. STMA's public relations firm has also helped these efforts by lever- aging international high-profile events. Most recently, STMA received quite a bit of coverage pre-World Cup on the pitch preparation and post-World Cup with articles that highlight why natural grass surfaces are preferred by soccer players. "The International Committee members are making great efforts to promote the value of STMA to other areas of the world," says McNeal. The committee members include Tab Buckner (Canada), Murray Cook (US), Ken Curry (Canada), Paul Gillen (Canada), Simon Gumbrill, (UK), Roberto Gurgel (US), Marcela Munoz (Chile & UK), Massimillian del Viva (Italy), Don Scholl, CSFM (US), Paula Sliefert (US), Gerard Van't Klooster (Netherlands), Andy Yeaman (US), and Doron Zur (Israel). When these members travel they are equipped with STMA business cards and letters of introduction. Although STMA has made progress with its international initiative, McNeal knows there is much left to do. "We've started the process and have learned a lot along the way," she says. "We'll continue to focus and adjust our strategies, but I never see this initiative as having a 'check- mark' of completion." ■ ST STMA'S collegiAl culTure AdvANceS A globAl ouTreAch iNiTiATive For more on the latest news, please visit www.sportsturfonline.com and www.stma.org.