SPORTS TURF Managers Association MANAGER January/February 2001 ¥ OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION ¥ Volume XIX, Number 1 SUPER Conference! f you were in Tampa for the 12th Annual STMA the hotel from an out Conference & Exhibition, you KNOW what a huge party of town recruiting Iit was! But just in case you were not among the crowd - trip, all of the staff | here's a little taste, of what you missed. members were on The weather on Wednesday was great, perfect for golf the lookout for him. and for the tours. With 225 people going on the Super Bowl We asked the hotel game and practice fields tour, the hotel lobby "staging area" for personnel to keep loading the buses was filled with STMA people. The sound an eye out for him, level kept growing with all the conversations as people connect- too. The giant spy ed with old friends and made connections with new friends. operation was so Steve Trusty need- effective, he was literally ushered from the hotel front door to ed the portable the speakers platform. mic to broadcast Special thanks to Lee Roy and to Bucky Dent for their directions and get great presentations and for proving once again that nice guys everyone out to can be successful in professional sports. the buses. From Our Trade Show was a HUGE Success this year! We our registration had a record 217 booths representing 131 companies - AND - area on the second next year promises to be even bigger! floor, it looked and Thanks go to Awards Chair, Tim Moore, CSFM, on sounded like a big the great double screen presentation he put together to intro- family reunion! duce the Award Winners. As one of the Field of the Year award The Wednesday night first time attendees reception recipients told us, to see your field on the screens, hear the was a half hour casual get together that included a welcome announcement about your program and go to the front of a and the introduction of the officers and board members. Then packed room to receive the award to the applause of your all of this group walked to the other side of the hotel to open peers, is one truly awesome experience. the welcome reception. This was a really fun time. The bars There were so many other "great moments" the hum of and food stations were strategically placed around the ball- sharing in the round-table discussions, the super feedback from the room so you could sip and munch your way around the room, Sunday tours, all the parting comments of "See you next year!" visiting all the way. Magician Joe Cole mingled with the So make your plans now for the 2002 Conference & crowd and worked his magic up close and personal throughout Exhibition in Las Vegas. Just call for details! the evening. It was after 10 pm before the crowd thinned out. I'm not sure if the conversations kept going all night or not, but starting bright and early Thursday morning, there was plen- ty of networking going on over coffee and the continental breakfast and as the group moved into the general session. A fire alarm sounded to move the group to lunch. The false alarm prompted some great remarks about the "hot" topic and speakers that were "really smoking." With Lee Roy Selmon scheduled to come directly to SPORTS TURF MANAGER President's Message Official Newsletter of the Sports Turf Managers Association Are You Energized? Rich Moffitt 1375 Rolling Hills Loop by Rich Moffitt, President Council Bluffs, IA 51503-8552 712/366-2669, 800/323-3875 'ow! What a Conference. The (FAX) 712/366-9119 Tampa meeting drew record num- (e-mail) [email protected] bers of attendees, presenters, educa- (world wide web) W www.sportsturfmanager.com tors, exhibitors, and scholarship and award Volume XIX Number 1 recipients. It was networking at its best, with January/February 2001 conversations flowing on the tour buses, on the trade show floor, during breakfast, lunch, breaks OFFICERS President and the receptions, and before and after sessions taking one more step and getting more actively Rich Moffitt in the hallways, in the elevators, on the escala- involved in STMA at the Chapter or National level? Moffitt and Associates tors, by the pool, on the decks and balconies, in With 23 currently affiliated Chapters and President-Elect the lobby and in the sports bar. more Chapters in various stages of development, L. Murray Cook Global Stadium Services As the Super Bowl drew closer, ath- lots of help is needed on the local and regional Immediate Past President letes, sportscasters and celebrities from across level. You might want to serve on Boards and Stephen Guise the world gathered in the Tampa Marriott Committees, to host or make presentations at Marina Landscape, Inc. Waterside, adding to the atmosphere. workshops, meetings and other events or to help Commercial Vice President Many Conference attendees back in spread the word to others in the area. Interested? Lynda Wightman Hunter Industries their home towns watching Super Bowl XXXV Chapter contact information is listed in the Secretary could say of Raymond James Stadium, "Yea, I Chapter News section of this newsletter and on the Tim Moore was there and talked with Geoige Toma about lots STMA Web page. Or call Headquarters and M-NCPPC, Wheaton Maint. Facility of the behind the scenes details." they'll help you make connections. Treasurer I was energized by the friendly, wel- On the National level, the STMA Bob Campbell University of Tennessee coming atmosphere, by the free and easy shar- Committee Chairs have been appointed and are in BOARD MEMBERS ing of information, by the friendships made the process of forming their committees. With the Mark Razum and friendships renewed. This is a great Strategic Plan Initiatives slotted for roll out, there Colorado Rockies industry, a great group of highly dedicated is lots of interesting and exciting "stuff' going on, Mike Andresen people who truly want to provide THE BEST and more need than ever for YOUR help! Iowa State University sports surfaces for all levels of play. Committees include: Category Committees with Dave Rulli a focus on the unique concerns of those involved Jefferson County Stadium Thanks to all of you who attended. with sports fields used by professional teams, Mike Trigg Your participation made the Conference even Waukegan Park District better. And, while things are still fresh in your sports fields used at Colleges and Universities, Monty Montague mind, please share any suggestions or comments sports fields used at other schools, sports fields Turfco/National you have that will make next year's Conference used in parks and recreation systems, and the Dr. Tony Koski (January 16-20, 2002, in Las Vegas, Nevada) unique concerns of commercial affiliates, of stu- Colorado State University even bigger and better. Just call, fax or e-mail dents, and of those involved in teaching, research NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS your input to Headquarters, to me, or to any of or extension. There also are these committees: Executive Director the STMA Board Members. It will be welcome Marketing/Public Relations/Communications, Steve Trusty and much appreciated. Membership, Education with sub-committees for Communications Director And, talking about input, by now you conference education, other education, research, Suz Trusty should have received the survey sent to all STMA university relations, public affairs, and member NEWSLETTER EDITOR members. Please, please, please, do take the time services; Chapter Relations; Certification; and Stephanie Watts Trusty & Associates to fill it out and return it. Your input is essential in Technical Standards. And there may well be TECHNICAL EDITOR developing the path our association will follow as many more sub-committees evolving from these Dr. Gil Landry, Jr. we move into the new millennium. We need to committees as the Strategic Plan moves forward. The University of Georgia know what services you value most and how we Interested? Want to know more? Sports Turf Manager is a publication of Sports Turf Managers can best deliver them to help you grow in your Association (STMA). It is published bi-monthly and is free to STMA Please contact Headquarters and they'll con- members. Sports Turf Managers'goal is to promote the mission of profession and your professionalism. Your associ- the association by providing a channel for communication nect you with the other movers and shakers between the representatives of the board and its constituency. STMA is not responsible for the opinions expressed in this publi- ation is stepping up to the big leagues and wants to ready to get involved. ____ cation. Address changes, advertising, photographs, and editorial inquiries should be directed to the executive offices. © 2001 Sports earn most valuable player status. Turf Managers Association. All Rights Reserved. Then, if you're energized, how about "A Sense of Belonging" by George C. Trivett, Granite Falls (NC) Middle School e all belong to a lot of different clubs and welcome and a part of our wonderful organization. Steve organizations. As a teacher, I belong to a Guise was very helpful, as were many other members. But, Wnational teachers group. As a coach, I this being my first conference, I was maybe too shy or belong to my state coaching association. As a sport turf unwilling to meet other people. But I was to be surprised to manager, I belong to the STMA, PGMS, and the N.C. learn that in the Sports Turf Managers Association we are Turfgrass Council. But, like myself, many of us are all family. It was amazing to see the number of people who able to say that we just belong.