Regional Conference in Ask a CSFM Knoxville, …sturf.lib.msu.edu/page/2011apr51-55.pdfKnoxville,...
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How did you prepare for the CSFM Exam? DiDonato: I took the University of Georgia course exam a cou- ple of years ago and reviewed that book to prepare myself for the exam. I found it to be a very useful tool in preparing myself for the test. I also talked to a few people who have taken care of sand based athletic fields to learn more about what goes into preparing a field from the construction of the field to main- taining the field throughout the growing season. I also took the practice tests on the STMA website and tried to base some of my studying off the questions asked in the practice exams. How did you approach your employer to support your certification, both financially and in the time needed to prepare for the exam? DiDonato: I was fortunate that my employer is very supportive continuing education courses. The time needed to prepare for the exam was during the winter months. I had a lot more time to study when the fields were not in use and snow covered. Why did you decide to pursue certification? DiDonato: I decided to pursue certification as a new challenge for myself. Not only was the certification exam a new challenge, but it was also a way to possibly further my career in the future. How has certification helped your career? DiDonato: Right now, certification has not yet helped my ca- reer, but I am hoping it will in the future when I have the oppor- tunity to move onto a higher level of sports. I will say that having this certification has shown to others and me that I am willing to do what it takes to keep on educating myself in this field to in turn provide the safest, most playable and esthetically pleasing athletic fields I can. ■ Benefits of certification verified Editor’s note: This is another installments on how becoming a Certi- fied Sports Field Manager (CSFM) can benefit turf managers profession- ally as well as improve their facilities Michael DiDonato, CSFM, grounds coordinator, Windham High School, Gorham, ME www.stma.org Ask a CSFM SportsTurf 51 Regional Conference in Knoxville, TN—details THE 2011 REGIONAL CONFERENCE, June 15-16 in Knoxville, TN hosted by STMA with the support of several chapters, including the Tennessee Valley (host), Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia Chapters, is a must attend educational event for anyone who deals with athletic turf regularly. While focusing on Sports Turf Managers, STMA encourages attendance by mem- bers, crew, coaches, parks and recreation professionals, athletic di- rectors, school business officials, and others, and will be providing education for all levels of sports turf experience. The more than 10 hours of education is highlighted by nation- ally recognized sports turf authorities. Dr.’s John Sorochan, Jim Brosnan, Tom Samples, Grady Miller and Mike Goatley will be lending their expertise to presentations and/or panel discussions on natural turfgrass, pest control, turf covers, field painting, and managing bermudagrass. There will also be behind the scenes tours of the University of Tennessee’s football, baseball, softball and soccer facilities, as well as a tour of the University’s new Cen- ter for Athletic Field Safety. There will be an exhibition held at the Center for Athletic Field Safety as well. Other education will be pro- vided by local professional sports turf managers, builders, and ar- chitects with significant sports field experience. Registration will include all education, entrance to the exhibi- tion, most meals, and as a special treat, attendees will get a night at the ballpark, watching the Tennessee Smokies take on the Chat- tanooga Lookouts in exciting minor league baseball action. Regis- tration costs for the event are $95 for a member of STMA National or one of the participating chapters and $125 for a non-member. Online registration will be available for STMA National mem- bers, and STMA will also be negotiating reduced rates at Knoxville area hotels, so keep checking www.STMA.org and your email inbox for the most up to date information regarding the event. Put June 15-16 on your schedule and start talking to your em- ployer about making sure that you are able to attend this incredi- ble educational opportunity. If you have any questions, please contact STMA at 800.323.3875 or [email protected]. Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at this event? Please contact Patrick Allen, STMA Manager of Sales and Marketing at 800.323.3875 or [email protected]. >> SCOTT MACVICAR of the University of Washington demonstrated how to paint a logo at last year’s STMA Regional Conference in Seattle.
Transcript of Regional Conference in Ask a CSFM Knoxville, …sturf.lib.msu.edu/page/2011apr51-55.pdfKnoxville,...
How did you prepare for the CSFM Exam?DiDonato: I took the University of Georgia course exam a cou-ple of years ago and reviewed that book to prepare myself forthe exam. I found it to be a very useful tool in preparing myselffor the test. I also talked to a few people who have taken careof sand based athletic fields to learn more about what goesinto preparing a field from the construction of the field to main-taining the field throughout the growing season. I also took thepractice tests on the STMA website and tried to base some ofmy studying off the questions asked in the practice exams.
How did you approach your employer to supportyour certification, both financially and in the timeneeded to prepare for the exam? DiDonato: I was fortunate that my employer is very supportivecontinuing education courses. The time needed to prepare forthe exam was during the winter months. I had a lot more timeto study when the fields were not in use and snow covered.
Why did you decide to pursue certification?DiDonato: I decided to pursue certification as a new challengefor myself. Not only was the certification exam a new challenge,but it was also a way to possibly further my career in the future.
How has certification helped your career?DiDonato: Right now, certification has not yet helped my ca-reer, but I am hoping it will in the future when I have the oppor-tunity to move onto a higher level of sports. I will say thathaving this certification has shown to others and me that I amwilling to do what it takes to keep on educating myself in thisfield to in turn provide the safest, most playable and estheticallypleasing athletic fields I can. ■
Benefits of certification verifiedEditor’s note: This is another installments on how becoming a Certi-fied Sports Field Manager (CSFM) can benefit turf managers profession-ally as well as improve their facilities
Michael DiDonato, CSFM,grounds coordinator, WindhamHigh School, Gorham, ME
www.stma.org
Ask a CSFM
SportsTurf 51
Regional Conference inKnoxville, TN—detailsTHE 2011 REGIONAL CONFERENCE, June 15-16 in Knoxville, TNhosted by STMA with the support of several chapters, including theTennessee Valley (host), Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, SouthCarolina, and Virginia Chapters, is a must attend educational eventfor anyone who deals with athletic turf regularly. While focusingon Sports Turf Managers, STMA encourages attendance by mem-bers, crew, coaches, parks and recreation professionals, athletic di-rectors, school business officials, and others, and will be providingeducation for all levels of sports turf experience.
The more than 10 hours of education is highlighted by nation-ally recognized sports turf authorities. Dr.’s John Sorochan, JimBrosnan, Tom Samples, Grady Miller and Mike Goatley will belending their expertise to presentations and/or panel discussionson natural turfgrass, pest control, turf covers, field painting, andmanaging bermudagrass. There will also be behind the scenestours of the University of Tennessee’s football, baseball, softballand soccer facilities, as well as a tour of the University’s new Cen-ter for Athletic Field Safety. There will be an exhibition held at theCenter for Athletic Field Safety as well. Other education will be pro-vided by local professional sports turf managers, builders, and ar-chitects with significant sports field experience.
Registration will include all education, entrance to the exhibi-tion, most meals, and as a special treat, attendees will get a nightat the ballpark, watching the Tennessee Smokies take on the Chat-tanooga Lookouts in exciting minor league baseball action. Regis-tration costs for the event are $95 for a member of STMA Nationalor one of the participating chapters and $125 for a non-member.
Online registration will be available for STMA National mem-bers, and STMA will also be negotiating reduced rates at Knoxvillearea hotels, so keep checking www.STMA.org and your email inboxfor the most up to date information regarding the event.
Put June 15-16 on your schedule and start talking to your em-ployer about making sure that you are able to attend this incredi-ble educational opportunity. If you have any questions, pleasecontact STMA at 800.323.3875 or [email protected].
Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at thisevent? Please contact Patrick Allen, STMA Manager of Sales andMarketing at 800.323.3875 or [email protected].
>> SCOTT MACVICAR of the University of Washington demonstrated howto paint a logo at last year’s STMA Regional Conference in Seattle.
52 SportsTurf | April 2011 www.sportsturfonline.com
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2 Which of the following best describes your title? (check ONLY ONE) A ❑ EXECUTIVE/ADMINISTRATOR — President, Owner, Partner, Director, General Man-
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B ❑ MANAGER/SUPERINTENDENT — Superintendent, Landscape/Ground Maintenance Manager, Foreman, Supervisor
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SportsTurf 53www.stma.org
Sports Turf Managers Association of Arizona: Chris Walsh [email protected]
Colorado Sports Turf Managers Association:www.cstma.org
Florida #1 Chapter (South): 305-235-5101 (Bruce Bates)or Tom Curran [email protected]
Florida #2 Chapter (North): 850/580-4026, John Mascaro, [email protected]
Florida #3 Chapter (Central): 407-518-2347, Randy Fisher, [email protected]
Gateway Chapter Sports Turf Managers Association:www.gatewaystma.org
Georgia Sports Turf Managers Association:www.gstma.org
Greater L.A. Basin Chapter of the Sports Turf Managers Association: www.stmalabasin.com
Illinois Chapter STMA: www.ILSTMA.org.
Intermountain Chapter of the Sports Turf Managers Association: www.imstma.org
Iowa Sports Turf Managers Association: www.iowaturfgrass.org
Kentucky Sports Turf Managers Association:www.kystma.org
Keystone Athletic Field Managers Org. (KAFMO/STMA):www.kafmo.org
Michigan Sports Turf Managers Association (MiSTMA):www.mistma.org
Mid Atlantic Sports Turf Managers Association(MASTMA) (formerly the Chesapeake Chapter STMA)Ph. 410-704-2197 www.mastma.org
Minnesota Park and Sports Turf Managers AssociationChapter STMA: www.mpstma.org
MO-KAN Sports Turf Managers Association:www.mokanstma.com
Nebraska Sports Turf Managers Association:402/441-4425
New England STMA (NESTMA): www.nestma.org
Sports Field Managers Association of New Jersey:www.sfmanj.org
Sports Turf Managers of New York: www.stmony.org
North Carolina Chapter of STMA: www.ncsportsturf.org
Northern California STMA: www.norcalstma.org
Ohio Sports Turf Managers Association (OSTMA):www.ostma.org
Oregon STMA Chapter: www.oregonsportsturfman agers.org [email protected]
Ozarks STMA: www.ozarksstma.org
Pacific Northwest Sports Turf Managers Association:www.pnwstma.org
Southern California Chapter: www.socalstma.com
South Carolina Chapter of STMA: www.scstma.org
Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association(TVSTMA): www.tvstma.com
Texas Sports Turf Managers Association:www.txstma.org
Virginia Sports Turf Managers Association:www.vstma.org.
Wisconsin Sports Turf Managers Association:www.wstma.org
STMA Affiliated Chapters Contact Information Chapter Sponsors
AerWay 23 www.aerway.comAgrium Advanced Technologies 3 www.aatdirectsolutions.comAquatrols 15 www.aquatrols.comBarenbrug USA 56 www.barusa.comBeacon Athletics 52 www.beaconathletics.comBeam Clay 52 www.beamclay.comBuffalo Turbine 45 www.buffaloturbine.comCovermaster 17 www.covermaster.comCoverSports USA 23 www.coversports.comCub Cadet Commercial 55 www.cubcadetcommercial.com/sportsturfEcolawn 52 www.ecolawnapplicator.comEwing Irrigation 25 www.ewing1.comFMC Professional Solutions 29 www.fmcprosolutions.comGreensGroomer 9 www.greensgroomer.com/GreenZaprHunter Industries 11 www.hunterindustries.comHydraway Drainage 12 www.hydraway.netJohnston Seed Company 26-27 www.johnstonseed.comKochek Co., Inc. 16 www.kochek.comKubota Tractor Corp. 13 www.kubota.comLT Rich Products 21 www.zspray.comNatural Sand 43 www.duraedge.usNewstripe 31 www.newstripe.comPioneer Athletics 19 www.pioneerathletics.comSod Solutions 39 www.sodsolutions.comSports Turf Managers Association 47 www.stma.orgStabilizer Solutions 33 www.stabilizersolutions.comSTEC Equipment 5 www.stecequipment.comTifSport Growers Association 35 www.tifsport.comTiger Turf 37 www.mytigerturf.comThe Toro Company 2 www.toro.comThe Toro Company 52 www.toro.comTurf Diagnostics & Design 52 www.turfdiagnostics.comTurf Time Equipment 52 www.TurfTimeEq.comWorld Class Athletic Surfaces 41 www.worldclasspaints.com
54 SportsTurf | April 2011 www.sportsturfonline.com
IHAVE ALWAYS BEENAMAZED at the lure thatgrass has on one’s soul. Idon’t know if you will re-ally learn anything from
this story but it is worth telling be-fore we lose our soul in a genera-tion without grass stains.
The anticipation of walkingonto the playing surface in a fa-mous stadium simply raises thehair on the back of my neck everytime. The first step causes a slightgasp pulling in that unforgettablesense of something real and alive inmy soul; a distinctly undeniablesmell of earth and dew and grass.It’s just grass, but also just impossi-ble to replicate; Febreze has tried ashave many combinations of rubberand plastic.
I’ve walked into the same sta-dium after it was converted to asynthetic field; it’s shiny and newbut the feeling has gone. It makesme sad that a generation may growup playing on fields that make youthink you are at the drag races, andthat has nothing to do with thespeed of the surface.
Now don’t get me wrong; Iknow the advantages of syntheticfields and I have recommendedtheir use for many sports facilities,but it still makes me sad that wemay be turning out a generation ofathletes that never play on grasssurfaces. In another column I’lltake you back to my dreams thatinvolve my yesteryear sandlot possewhere I should have realized thatgrass mowing was in my future.But this story is about lawn tennis.Perhaps tennis is the last sport,outside of golf, that will be playedonly on grass for the most impor-tant event of the year.
I want to introduce you to a fewgroundsmen that certainly share apassion for grass. Eddie Seaward isthe Head Groundsman at the AllEngland Lawn Tennis Club. You
will find him at centre court Wim-bledon during the most prestigioustennis event in the world. I metMr. Seaward at a STMA confer-ence in the 1990’s where he spoketo us on managing this hallowedground and it has been exciting tofollow all the changes that havetranspired during his 20-year careerat Wimbledon.
He will retire in a couple ofyears, but not before he and hissuccessor, Neil Stubley, host heOlympic Games in 2012 that fol-low only 20 days after the July 8Wimbledon Championship. It willbe exciting to see how they pullthat off and once again I’m sure thepress will bring grass into the lime-light. It is comforting to know thatthat little patch of grass will alwaysremain real. I had the good fortuneto briefly visit Mr. Seaward atWimbledon in 2001 and while weobviously talked a bit about grass,it was this observation that stayedwith me about a famous man in afamous place on a famous patch ofgrass. It has nothing to do withgrass but everything to do withleading. As we walked around themaintenance area, under thestands, and on the grounds, he ac-knowledged every person wewalked past. A hello or nod orslight gesture, but Mr. Seaward didnot miss a single person regardlessof their station in life. It may have
been a simple thing but it is oftenoverlooked in our “hurry up andgive me this” business of today. Ithas served me well as I interactwith my colleges and employeesdaily over the years. Thanks for thelesson, Eddie.
Jump back across the pond andyou will see how grass weaves to-gether a dream for Mark Kuhn,club founder, chairman, andgroundskeeper of the All IowaLawn Tennis Club (www.alliowa-tennisclub.com). The only grasscourt in Iowa is centered among770 acres of rolling corn fields out-side of Charles City on the familyfarmstead, just 2 hours from thatmythical baseball diamond fromthe movie “Field of Dreams.”Growing up a world away he lis-tened to matches on his father’sham radio and began to dream ofcreating his own little Wimbledon.And that he did. Visit the website;it’s charming with all the details ofmanicured grass, picket fences, andstrawberries and cream. Kudos goesout to the United States Tennis As-sociation for recognizing it as aTennis Welcome Center. Not tothink that these two facilities andtwo groundsmen are even in thesame league, but it has been apleasure to learn from them bothand to see a shared dream woventogether by a real grass surface. ■
The All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club
Q&A
BY DR. DAVID MINNER
Professor, Iowa State University
Questions?Send them to
David Minner at Iowa State University, 106 Horti-
culture Hall, Ames, IA 50011
or email [email protected].
Or, send your question to
Grady Miller at North Carolina State University,
Box 7620, Raleigh, NC 27695-7620, or email
