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/726375
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE President: Jeffrey Salmond, CSFM Immediate Past President: Allen Johnson, CSFM President-Elect: Tim Van Loo, CSFM Secretary/Treasurer: Sarah Martin, CSFM Vice President Commercial: Doug Schattinger Professional Facilities: Dan Bergstrom Academic: Beth Guertal, PhD Higher Education: Nick McKenna, CSFM Parks & Recreation: Jimmy Simpson, CSFM K-12: John Watt, CSFM Commercial: Randy Price Elected-at-Large: Weston Appelfeller, CSFM Elected-at-Large: Jeffrey Fowler 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 STMA Editorial Committee Chairman: Mark Frever, CSFM TJ Brewer, CSFM; Joe Churchill; Jim Cornelius, CSFM; Jeremy Driscoll; Cliff Driver, CSFM; Matt Hollan; Paul Hollis; Chrissy McLarn; Jamie Mehringer; Scott Stevens, CSFM; and Dr. Joey Young, Technical Editor Publisher's Notice: We Assume No Responsibility For The Validity Of Claims In Connection With Items Appearing In Sportsturf. 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COPYRIGHT 2016, SportsTurf. Material may not be reproduced or pho- tocopied in any form without the written permission of the publisher. www.stma.org October 2016 | SportsTurf 7 work. However, we need to encourage our human resources departments to use more professional terminology and descriptions. Many of these skill sets are in fact their own individual occupation. Here are some skill sets/job titles that we may have to possess: Turfgrass and Weed Technologist; Plant Nutritionist and Pathologist; Project Manager and Architect; Soil Engineer and Chemist; Coach, Business Manager, Finance Expediter, Human Resources Manager, Purchasing Agent; OSHA Facilitator; Irrigation Specialist; Picasso; Equipment Operator and Mechanic; Meteorologist; Waste Management Specialist; Sustainability Manager; Insurance Agent. People in these individual vocations have to work hard and be educated in their field. I am not undermining their years of valued expertise as I compare their job titles to what we do in reality as sports turf managers. No matter where the sports field manager fits in the level of hierarchy at their institution, each can touch some of these professions. The last title, Insurance Agent, may be the one least thought of or realized. On top of the other performance competencies, we need to ensure that our athletic surfaces are safe. What financial liability dollar figure can be put on that? We all have to pay insurance premiums for homes or automobiles. Employing skilled and educated sports field managers is the best insurance policy for our facilities. I would like to dedicate this month's "President's Message" in memory of Darian Daily, the head sports field manager for the Cincinnati Bengals, who passed away in late August. L ast month I talked "turf." Natural turf and artificial turf play only a portion of what our job descriptions really entail as sports turf managers. Taking care of our playing surfaces can be the very tip of the very top of the giant iceberg that lies beneath. Our human resources departments have typical descriptions of our job, but sometimes using layman's terminology. Here is an example of one: "Manages the care, maintenance, and renovation of all athletic fields, grounds, and related amenities. Performs, plans and organizes maintenance standards for mowing and painting. Implements development and maintenance goals, policies and procedures. Analyzes disease, insect, and other turfgrass stress problems. Applies appropriate pesticides and other measures to resolve problems. May assist in the selection of capital improvement projects. Responsible for interviewing, hiring, and discharging subordinates. Recommends and presents budgets to the Director. Responsible for selecting and purchasing equipment, supplies and materials. Oversees protection of athletic fields during special events. Works to ensure safe work operations, development, and the implementation of safety procedures for work crews. Ensures equipment is properly maintained and safely operated. Maintains the irrigation system for the fields and installs, and modifies system as necessary." In reality, sports field managers have jobs that require wearing many hats that span many professions. Granted, we do not wear some of these hats every day, but one must possess a thorough competency in each and be educated in these areas. Words such as manages, supervises, develops, implements, oversees, etc., are great action verbs to use before a professional description of our Jeff Salmond, CSFM jsalmond@ou.edu THE JOB WITH MANY HATS