SportsTurf Managers Association (STMA) has launched an initiative this month to strengthen the turf managers profession. It is a membership recruitment campaign that members may have read about in STMA News Online or seen in SportsTurf Magazine. STMA members are being ask to contact their peers and companies that they do business with who are not members of STMA. Prospects are to go on-line and join, with no obligation.

Are there others at your sports facility who could benefit from a free membership until the end of the year? How about your boss? What better way to expose him or her to all the benefits of membership that help you do your job better, especially the educational opportunities. Your boss will gain a greater appreciation and understanding of what you do, the science and technical expertise needed, and the sheer complexity of your work. There is a ‘Try it Before You Buy It’ button at www.STMA.org. It’s easy and new members will start receiving value immediately.

As a member since 2002 I've gained much from this growing professional organization. The conferences, especially the educational sessions at the chapter, regional, and national level are very beneficial. The opportunity to network with others in the profession is also extremely important. There is nothing like learning from others and avoiding the two steps forward and one back, especially in our resource constrained environments.