The 2011 Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) Regional Conference will be hosted by The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, June 15-16, 2011. Hosted by STMA, with the support of several chapters including the Tennessee Valley (host chapter), Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia Chapters, the event will focus on Sports Turf Managers and anyone who deals with turf regularly. STMA encourages attendance by STMA members, crew, coaches, parks and recreation professionals, athletic directors, school business officials, golf course superintendents and others, and will be providing education for all levels of turf experience. According to Pam Sherratt, STMA Director- Academic, “You will not find a better sports turf specific educational experience outside of the STMA Conference and Exposition held every January.” Click here to see the conference brochure.
The National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA), Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association (TNLA), and American Society ASLA continuing education units are being awarded and the states of Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia will be awarding re-certification credits for their respective pesticide licensing program.
More than ten hours of education is highlighted by nationally recognized sports turf authorities and all-around turf experts Dr.’s John Sorochan, Jim Brosnan, Tom Samples, Grady Miller and Mike Goatley. Each 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 Center for Athletic Field Safety. There will be a sold-out exhibition with more than 30 companies held at the Center for Athletic Field Safety as well. Other education will be provided by local professional sports turf managers, builders, and architects with significant sports field experience. As a special treat, after touring Smokies Park on Wednesday evening, attendees will get a ticket to watch the Tennessee Smokies, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, take on the Chattanooga Lookouts.
In addition to all of the education, exhibition, and baseball game, lunch on both days, dinner at the ballpark on Wednesday and breakfast on Thursday are all included with the $95 registration fee ($125 for those who aren’t members of STMA national or the Tennessee Valley, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia Chapters). Members of STMA national may register online by logging in to their STMA.org member account. Non-members may download the registration brochure from www.STMA.org.
STMA has also negotiated reduced rates at two Knoxville area hotels. The Holiday Inn (1-865-522-2800) has a rate of $84 per night plus tax, and is in downtown Knoxville. The Marriott Knoxville (1-865-637-1234) has a rate of $109 per night plus tax and is also downtown. Tell either hotel you are with the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA).