CHAPTER NEWS
Sports turf industry partners with Z + C ahead of 2022 legislative session
The Mid-Atlantic Sports Turf Managers Association ( MAS- TMA ) announced that it will engage Annapolis government relations firm Z + C , LLC to serve as its lobbyist ahead of the Maryland General Assembly ’ s 2022 session . The partnership will advance MASTMA ’ s mission to educate legislators about its work and protect the sports field management industry from unnecessary legislative barriers .
In recent years , misinformation about the sports field management industry has resulted in restrictions and bans preventing the implementation of known best practices without accomplishing their intended outcome of environmental protection .
“ There are numerous bills introduced each legislative session to prevent the use of pesticides and artificial turf because of often inaccurate allegations about environmental safety ,” said Z + C President Barbara Zektick . “ The industry experts at MASTMA have always operated in a clean and transparent manner , backed by science and industry expertise . We look forward to working on their behalf this session to advance and protect their broad membership in Maryland .”
Day held October 13 , 2021 , at DeFazio Sports Complex in Needham , Mass . More than 100 sports turf professionals took advantage of a beautiful day to demo trend-setting equipment , check out new service offerings , and learn more about the latest turf technology .
The program focused on the design , installation and maintenance of synthetic turf fields with expert presentations from Ed Olsen , Town of Needham , Mass .; Adam Yanulis , Tighe & Bond ; and Rob Delmonico , R . A . D . Sports .
Well-attended information stations featured hands-on demonstrations led by premier sponsors Scott Vose of Tom Irwin , Joe Kacevich and Crystal Grim of Shaw Sports Turf , and Scott Lagana of Turf Products Corporation .
NESTMA also announced that its Biergarten-styled annual meeting will be held at the German Club ( Route 109 in Walpole , Mass .) on December 7 . The annual meeting will be a casual evening featuring delicious food and great company , along with a wide variety of imported German brews .
At the meeting , Tom Barry , CSFM , will present “ Fraise Mowing for Weed Control in Pesticide Free Fields ” including insight on what worked and what didn ’ t at Greens Farms Academy in Westport , Conn . SFM
“ Public and governmental perception is critical to our ability to continue to operate in the most efficient and effective manner possible .” - Melissa Dornan .
MASTMA completed a Mid-Atlantic “ Best Practices Manual ” ( BMP ) highlighting industry-specific practices that prioritize safe playability and the environment . It also reinforces the professionalism of its educated and highly trained membership whose practices are grounded in science and experience . The BMP will serve as a roadmap for conduct in accordance with state and local regulations and environmental stewardship .
“ Public and governmental perception is critical to our ability to continue to operate in the most efficient and effective manner possible ,” said MASTMA Executive Director , Melissa Dornan . “ We remain committed to transparency in our work and are thrilled to partner with Z + C on our journey toward greater protections for the Mid-Atlantic region ’ s sports turf industry .”
NESTMA Fall Turf Day
New England Sports Turf Managers Association ( NESTMA ) members got back together at the association ’ s Fall Turf
sportsfieldmanagementonline . com December 2021 | SportsField Management
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