| Joining
organizations, like all other commitments in life require forethought,
introspection, and review. So why would someone want to commit to dedicating
time, energy, and resources to a fledgling organization. In other words,
why STMONY!
As I travel across New York
and meet sports turf managers at all levels, from rural townships and parks
departments, to urban colleges and universities, I note many commonalities
within the profession, most notably a willingness and eagerness to provide
the end user with the highest quality, safest, most aesthetically pleasing
fields given the resources available. I also note the day to day frustrations
encountered by the turf professionals, from recruiting and keeping qualified
personal, to dealing with management with “enthusiastic” expectations.
As well as these observations, I’ve also been witness to a large number
of turf professionals actually express interest in an organization specifically
oriented towards sports turf managers.
Fortunately and thankfully
to a handful of dedicated individuals willing to pay more than lip service
to these causes, the 26th chapter of the Sports Turf Managers Association
has been formed here in New York, the Sports Turf Managers of New York;
STMONY.
The benefits to belonging
to such an organization are numerous and far reaching, but most importantly
for turf care professionals, it presents a forum to network with fellow
“groundskeepers”. The ability to share “war stories” presents an opportunity
to not only learn from the successes of your fellow contemporaries, but
also avoid mistakes based on experience. Whether it’s learning cost efficient
cultural practices or buying the right piece of equipment for the task
at hand, you’re inevitably going to encounter a fellow grounds person in
a similar situation.
Other benefits include:
· Educational opportunities
· Vendor interaction
· Social interaction
· Publications
· Industry updates
· Cost effective
cultural practices
· Pesticide alternatives
· Community friendly
practices
· Public relations
· Labor management
As you can see, there are
many benefits to interacting with fellow professionals that will not only
bring up the level of professionalism within our industry, but eventually
increase the end users perception of what it really takes to provide a
safe, well maintained, and good looking sports complex. My heartfelt thanks
to those with the forethought to initiate STMONY, and I trust this
effort will help in the efforts to provide the “Field of Dreams” that are
strived for . |
