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
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. Reader Service Numbers Are Given To Facilitate Further Inquiry. Mention Of A Commercial Product Does Not Imply Endorsement By Sportsturf Or EPG Media & Specialty Information, Or Preference Over Similar Products Not Mentioned. SportsTurf (ISSN 1061-687X) (USPS 000-292) (Reg. U.S. Pat. & T.M. Off.) is published monthly by EPG Media & Specialty Information at 75 Pike Street, Port Jervis, NY 12271. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Sportsturf, PO Box 2123, Skokie, IL 60076-7823. For subscription information and requests, call Subscription Services at (845) 856-2229. Subscription rates: 1 year, $40 US & Poss.; 2 years, $65 US & Poss.; 1 year, $65 Canada/Foreign Surface, 1 year, $130 Airmail. All subscriptions are payable in advance in US funds. Send payments to Sportsturf, PO Box 2123, Skokie, IL 60076-7823. Phone: (847) 763-9565. Fax: (847) 763- 9569. Single copies or back issues, $8 each US/Canada; $12 Foreign. Periodicals postage paid at Port Jervis, NY and additional mailing offices. COPYRIGHT 2016, SportsTurf. Material may not be reproduced or pho- tocopied in any form without the written permission of the publisher. www.stma.org January 2017 | SportsTurf 7 the most rigorous traffic and weather conditions, and at times with minimal rest. We are trusted to prolong the field's life well past its prime, yet it is sticker shock when replacement is discussed. Our fields should be considered like any other piece of athletic equipment. Administration does not bat an eye at the costs to replace athlete's apparel and other equipment throughout that time period. Why does that same philosophy not apply to field replacement? In a time when the political climate is on edge; government regulations and restrictions on the rise; funding limited and revenues stretched; fewer students in agronomic/turfgrass programs; and fewer athletes playing sports or becoming sports specialized, the sports turf industry as a whole needs to continue to do a better job of marketing itself and planning for the future. There is not a magic crystal ball, but we need to be more aware of the signs and signals around us to better prepare our industry for what lies ahead. Sure, there will always be a need for athletes to play on athletic fields, but the scope is becoming narrower. Our younger generation of field managers needs to strive to make sure that they continue to have a seat at the table. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve you this year. It has been very rewarding and fulfilling. I pray that you and your families and organizations had a Merry Christmas and a Blessed, Safe and Happy New Year. I have been given the platform with these messages to talk about many subjects throughout my Presidential year. Some I felt were important to highlight and through others I was compelled to pay it forward to our association and industry. STMA has come a long way in 36 years, and I hope that what STMA has accomplished has made our Founders proud of what they started. With the strategic plan and new initiatives this past year, STMA continues to uphold our mission of advancing professionalism in sport field management and safety through education, awareness programs and industry development. President Tim Van Loo and the Board will be tasked with progressing the organization into the future. Areas as an industry that we need to continue to impact are our students, our current members domestically and internationally, and our technology and communications. STMA helps provide an avenue for success, but as members we are in control of our own destiny with the tools that we possess. We need to continue to use these tools to be a voice and advocate for our vocation in all levels of sports, the industry, and within our own organizations. We can't stop learning, and we must be teachers to others who will one day take our jobs. Sports turf managers need to continue to be elevated to the highest degree of professionalism in providing safe surfaces for athletes and held in the best regards by our employers. We are tasked to subject our fields—living and growing organisms—to Jeff Salmond, CSFM jsalmond@ou.edu WHAT'S NEXT