President’s Message                                        

Presidents Message Summer 2010

I hope you all had a chance to participate in one of our turf days this year. The Board will be turning over in August with new elections and I will be moving into the Past Presidents role after being lucky enough to fill the Presidents role for the past four years. I have been able to meet and make friends with so many people during that time. I am still in awe of the spirit that exists in our organization and our industry. Any time a call went out for help it was answered, we truly have an organization of great people and companies. It is good to see the organization continue to grow even through uncertain economic times. It tells me that there is a value in what we do. It also tells me that we need to listen to what the membership needs and continue to deliver. I was able to work with a wonderful Board and I would like to thank them all for their commitment and dedication to NESTMA.

Over the past four years the Board has grown membership to an all time high, launched a website, and redesigned the newsletter and directory. The creation of the NEPA / NESTMA turf day has become a premier event in Northern New England . Our Summer Field Day and Fall Workshop programs have continued to develop, and our annual meeting in Providence has blossomed into a premier event. The extreme field makeover program has helped communities and organizations have quality playing fields for their residents. We have given out over $14,000 in scholarships and aid as well as over $10,000 towards research. We also have been able to strengthen our relationships with STMA, NEPA, and the Universities through out New England .

Please join me in welcoming the newly elected President Mike Buras and the other elected members to the Board. Please get involved. The benefits of a membership in NESTMA offer a lot. I hope to continue seeing you all at events through out the years. Please stop in and say hi with our Board members and venders at these programs and thank them for their support of NESTMA.

It has been an honor to serve as your President the past four years.

Thanks,
Nick

Nick Caggiano,
President
NESTMA

Benefits of Membership

• The ability to attend the organizations free Spring and Fall Workshops, as well as the annual Summer Field Day.
• Scholarship opportunities.
• All members receive a current year's Membership Directory, which lists contact information for all members and contains advertisements from commercial members.
• All members recieve a copy of our newsletter, The Blade, which is published twice per year. The Blade contains technical information, product updates, calendar of events and a spotlight on members and maintenance practices.
• The ability to network with vendors, educators, and other members to discuss current solutions to problems facing today’s Sports Turf Managers.
• Eligibility for an Extreme Field Makeover.
• Eligibility for Scholarship program.
• Eligibility for Awards program.

Categories of Membership

1. General Membership ($55)- Persons engaged in maintenance, research or teaching pertaining to sports turf surfaces at parks, educational institutions, municipalities or professional and private facilities. Active voting members, who are eligible to hold elective office.
2. Associate Membership ($55)- Persons engaged in commercial enterprises providing services or products to the sports turf profession. Active voting members, who are eligible to hold elective office.
3. Affiliate Membership ($35)- A person who joins this group as an additional member with an existing General or Associate member. Entitled to the newsletters and other mailings, but not the membership directory. Non-voting member, who is unable to hold elective office.
4. Students no charge.

Become a Member

Fill out the application and mail it to:

New England Sports Turf Managers Association
940 High Street
Westwood, MA 02090