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/765909
www.stma.org January 2017 | SportsTurf 39 NOTES FROM THE NEW MID- ATLANTIC STMA CHAPTER'S INAUGURAL MEETING for the turf against the long shadows of this second half of autumn. The on-field portion of the meeting also included a presentation by University of Maryland professor Dr. Kevin Mathias, who demonstrated uses of a variety of field tools and instruments that sports field managers can use to make their jobs easier and increase their turf management precision. The event provided a good opportunity for sports turf manag- ers in Maryland, DC, and northern Virginia to connect after what was a very difficult summer in the Mid-Atlantic region. Steering committee member Jason Kopp captured the mood when he said, "After the event talking with several people about what they liked and found useful they all said they got to meet other managers from the area who they didn't know. This is what the chapter is all about. Sharing resources, information, and building long- standing friendships." "It was a great day of learning, networking, and sharing ideas with other turf managers from the Mid-Atlantic. The overall attitude and response from the meeting was overwhelmingly positive, and I look forward to continuing to expand this network with MASTMA," said Ryan Bjorn, director of grounds and environmental maintenance at Maryland SoccerPlex. The groundwork of the chapter rejuvenation had been ■ BY GEOFF RINEHART T he newly re-formed Mid-Atlantic chapter of the Mid-Atlantic Sports Turf Managers Association (MASTMA) had their first member organizational meeting at M & T Bank Stadium last October. About 150 STMA members and prospective members attended the event that included an educational program, information about the re-kindling of the chapter, and a field tour. The educational program included PowerPoint presentations, a panel discussion, and a field tour. Speakers included Baltimore Ravens' head groundskeeper Don Follett, who spoke about the conversion of the M & T Bank Stadium from a synthetic surface to 419 bermudagrass; Jerrad Minnick from Growing Innovations, who spoke about the latest technology in stadium lighting; Dr. Tom Turner who detailed the turfgrass research program at the University of Maryland; and a panel discussion including lead groundskeepers from many of the regional professional stadiums. The field tour provided an opportunity for attendees to take a look at the overseeded 419 bermudagrass field and the SGL lighting system used to improve the light quality The MASTMA Steering Committee, L to R front row: Don Follett, Nicole Andrews, Patrick Coakley, CSFM, and Nicole McFayden; L to R back row: Jason Kopp, Dr. Tom Turner, and Ryan Bjorn. FACILITY & OPERATIONS