STMA has always had a small, but dedicated group of international members. These members have been seeking ways to organize their peers in their countries to better share information and advance the profession of sports turf management.
A Subcommittee of the STMA Chapter Relations Committee has been working this spring on a model that will allow STMA to recognize international groups. They developed an adaptation of an STMA chapter that allows these groups to operate in the spirit of an STMA chapter, but without the legal complexities of affiliating with STMA. Their recommendation to create International Affiliate Organizations was presented to the Board at its summer meeting and it was approved for implementation. International is defined as any country outside of the U.S. and its territories. To be recognized as an STMA International Affiliate Organization, the group:
• must be recognized as a business entity in their country and provide proof to STMA annually;
• develop bylaws or other governing documents; and
• elect a Board of Directors.
STMA will not charge fees for this recognition, will share information and resources, list the organizations on the website, provide one membership to the President of each group, and will offer to these groups conference registration and education and training resources at STMA member rates.
STMA believes that reaching out to sports turf managers in other countries will strengthen the profession and provide a shared channel for learning that will benefit sports turf managers worldwide.
As part of the implementation process, the Board has asked the Membership Committee to explore developing an International Membership Category.
Members of the Chapter Relations Subcommittee include Chair Amy Fouty, CSFM, Chris Brindley, Dick Buelter, Mike Estlinbaum, Gerald Landby, Mark Lucas, Kevin Meredith, CSFM and Ben Polimer.
A Subcommittee of the STMA Chapter Relations Committee has been working on a model that will allow STMA to recognize international groups.