Posts by Joe Gasparini

The Advent Health & Training Center hosted CFSTMA’s summer Chapter Meeting at the  home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers training facility June 23, 2022.  Over sixty attendees enjoyed a CEU presentation by Jim Stamps, Vice President of JSM Services, an athletic field construction and maintenance company.  He spoke on the Who, What, When, Where and Why of Field Renovation and the timelines, equipment, people and materials requuired for this process.

A free 1.0 CEU’s was provided to CFSTMA Members in the area of:

• Private Applicator-Ag,
• Ornamental & Turf
• Limited Lawn & Ornamental,
• Commercial Lawn and Ornamental

Attendees partipated in Tampa Bay Buccaneers paraphernalia drawing, commercial vendor prize drawings, a 50/50 cash give-a-way, a free member lunch and an informative site tour by Rob Julian Director of Fields and Grounds for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he shared his grounds mainteance program with the grou[ and a tour of the equipment he uses for the grounds maintenance program he manages for this site.

CFSTMA’s Board of Directors is busy palnning our next Chapter Meeting for September, date and times to be announced….

The City of Plant City Parks and Recreation Department  graciously hosted CFSTMA spring in-person Chapter meeting at Plant City Stadium & Randy L. Larson Softball Four-Plex  March 16, 2022.  Over sixty attendees enjoyed a CEU presentation by AJ Lindsey, Ph.D., the Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Horticulture at the University of Florida discssing soil sample interpretation.

A free 1.0 CEU’s was offered to CFSTMA Members in the area of:

• Private Applicator-Ag,
• Ornamental & Turf
• Limited Lawn & Ornamental,
• Commercial Lawn and Ornamental

Attendees partipated in commercial vendor prize drawings, a 50/50 cash drawing, free member lunch and site tour by Wayne Mayer, Plant City’s Parks and Recreation Director.

To review the slides Dr. Lindsey’s presentation Click… “Interpreting Soil Samples”

The CFSTMA Board of Directors will be planning a June “in-person” meeting in June.  We will be looking forward to your participation.  Like will all of our quarterly Chapter meetings, FREE member CEUs will be available….Date and location TBD.

CFSTMA conducted its June Chapter Meeting via a Zoom Webinar June 24, 2021 having 25 attendees with 14 of them receiving 1.0 CEUs in the areas of….

• Private Applicator-Ag,
• Ornamental & Turf
• Limited Lawn & Ornamental,
• Commercial Lawn and Ornamental

Thomas Serensits, M.S.  the coordinator of the NFL independent gameday playing surface testing program conducted the training session.  Tom is currently the Manager of Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research.

The field inspection items that he discussed was field hardness and he identified hazards on and around the field to help us minimizing safety exposures and improvepl ayability.  He reviewed techniques that helps remediate field hardness that focused on agronomic practices that helps produce a consistent playing surface.  The presentation also focused on the use of the current field testing devices utilized in the industry.

To see the presentation click on the link below…

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/yk-xGHxBsB-qC3KB16RC8UVtHSpRJkb1ytGYUjy0Ip-nMDSmJzjePLJyo8KoM5Jc.ybBXfoUTmL-u5DDd?startTime=1624554191000

The Central Florida Sports Managers Association conducted a Zoom webinar March 18, 2021 with 32 attendees participating in this online live event that offered FREE CEUs in the areas of Private Applicator – Ag, Ornamental & Turf and Limited Lawn & Ornamental. Fifteen of the attendees received FDACS CEUs from this presentation by Lynn Griffith.  He has presented to our association in the past and happy to have him present to us again on a topic that all sports field managers deal with daily.

Lynn P. Griffith, Jr., our presentor is the author of Tropical Foliage Disorders as well as numerous technical articles for trade journals and president of A&L Southern Agricultural Laboratories described the foliar absorption of nutrients in plants and the mechanism they use.  He spoke about which nutrients are absorbed more quickly and efficiently, as well as what the types of plants absorb nutrients more efficiently. He also described the ways to maximize foliar absorption in our sports turf grasses.

Click on the link below to see Lynn’s Foliar Uptake of Sports Field Grasses presentation:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/j-GumeLDEIoVTvZM2cr7yxWDqzSkR1NfPnuXtEi1l0tgRwoytLFiQGLdjO00amyZ.VZvobF3MGG5WjJL1?startTime=1616086441000

Karen Stauderman, UF IFAS Commercial Horticulture Agent III in Volusia County conducted a Weed Identification webinar where 20 of the 31 registered attendees received 1.0 CEUs.  Karen reviewed the various methods and industry tools turf managers can employ to help them identify grasses, sedges and broadleaf weeds in their sports fields.

Below is the link to Karen Stauderman’s presentation:

Topic: Weed ID in Sports Fields
Start Time : Dec 9, 2020 11:54 AM

Meeting Recording:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/bcyJlZFcKrPwEMWxemwcsNWKXB-DNHrrC8o_uCnfGcaFOLUlXBasx4AD866HttXM.EkCv6XGM5fuItjaS

Sports Turf Managers and  Commercial Vendors were treated to Safety: Common Sense is not Common Knowledge training September 30, 2020 via Zoom meeting. We were proud to have one of our CFSTMA Commercial members as our presenter.  Matthew Carroll, Marketing Specialist for Western Florida with FMC, spent an hour with us sharing his experience and anecdotes that enhanced our safety activities ranging from texting while driving to pesticide handling. This was a FREE 1.0 CEU Pesticide Applicator Certification training!

To view Matt’s presentation follow this a link:

Topic: Safety Training
Start Time : Sep 30, 2020 03:09 PM

Meeting Recording:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/1SV3VveQ6PDXSU–5FsHNoSWug4LfV5mPtgkI945064rxGW-wemLRCC2P648XC5q.9MP54f9_V9AGpOOm

Access Passcode: SafetyTraining1!

CFSTMA hosted it’s inaugrual Zoom webinar with Dr. Jason Ferrell, Associate Professor University of Florida’s Agronomy Department. Dr. Ferrell’s presentation discussed The world’s most controversial herbicide – Glyphosate. 

As you may know there is significant media coverage surrounding glyphosate and its impact on human health and the environment. However, many international institutions of science regard glyphosate as having low risk. The purpose of Dr. Ferrell’s webinar presentation was to review the cercumstances surrounding Glyphosate and help us better understand what these agencies are claiming and how we may respond to these concerns.

The webinar was conducted Monday morning July 20, 2020 from 11:00 am to 12:00 Noon and had 44 registered of which 10 attendees submitted for and received 1 FREE CEU ranging in the areas of Private Applicator-Ag, Ornamental & Turf, Limited Lawn & Ornamental, and Commercial Lawn & Ornamental.  

To view Dr. Ferrell’s  prresentation follow this link….

Topic: Glyphosate discussion with Dr. Jason Ferrell
Start Time : Jul 20, 2020 11:00 AM End Time 12:00 Noon

Meeting Recording:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/4ukuKK_d1DlJRZHt5EjSQq8rJrXleaa80CUW_fZZmhvTX2NiEm0aUOXDW1f1bqw9

Access Password: Glyphosate#1

Fifty registered attendees participated in CFSTMA’s winter Chapter Meeting at BOOMBAH Soldiers Creek Park in Seminole County.  The CFSTMA Board want to first and foremost thank our gracious host Jeff Caldwell, Seminole County Division Manager, Mike Baker, Site Supervisor, and William Washington, assistant Site Supervisor for providing a wonderful setting for our meeting.  They were supportive in everyway helping the event to be well received by all who attended.

Mike Baker provided an overview to the group to start the day and how Seminole County and specifically BOOMBAH Soldiers Creek work to host out of town visitors while at the same time providing residence with quality programming such as adult kickball above and beyond the softball play from youth to collegiate. Will Washington lead the site tour explaining the maintenance program that supports the sporting activities for the facility.

Sixteen attendees registered for CEU’s which was conducted by Dr. Mary Lusk who is a faculty member in the Soil and Water Sciences Department at the University of Florida-Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Sarasota County.  Her talk focused on sources of excess nutrients in water bodies and how they can lead to water quality deterioration.  She discussed the various nutrient sources, the science of how the different sources are tracked, identified and managed.

The group was treated to an overview of the synthetic turf construction considerations and how the industry has changed over the years to provide improved sports playing surfaces.  This session was presented by Todd Penley.

After a Sonny’s BBQ lunch, a drawing was conducted for a chance for a professional member of the CFSTMA to win a FREE STMA National Conference and Exhibit Show registration with hotel stay valued at $1,400. Professional members where asked to submit an essay describing how their CFSTMA membership has benefited them professionally.  We also had drawings for 3rd place for a FREE STMA annual membership valued at $130.00 and 2nd place for a FREE Conference registration valued at $ 375.00.

The STMA National Conference and Exhibit Show is being held in West Palm Beach, Florida January 13 – 16, 2020.  To learn more about this conference click HERE.

Here are excerpts from their essays:

CFSTMA has instilled in me that I am not in this alone! But there are others in our industry who

have been there and can offer advice and have experienced the same problems and concerns.

A network of experts who I (we) can lean upon, build relationships and offer solutions to add to

our tool box. There are industry vendors which can supply relief through services and or

equipment they offer.

__________

Overall, the CFSTMA has helped me with my best management practices, safety

awareness and networking. This local chapter is involved and cares about it’s

community. I will continue to be involved and hope to one day to give the

knowledge to others in our field as the CFSTMA has shared with me.

__________

I have been able to build a network of resources who simply know the answers, share their

expertise and best practices in every situation I have presented or asked about. Friends and colleagues

who have been taking care of turf help us to see an annual calendar through conversations. By sharing

knowledge we all benefit in so many different ways.

__________

I know as I go forward and keep going as a registered CFSTMA, I will

be able to add to my resume and keep my quality as a worker at a high level. I will keep

on the cutting edge of technology to stay more efficient.

__________

When I moved to Florida, I immediately connected with CFSTMA and began to make connections here in

Florida and eventually becoming a CFSTMA Board member.  As you know, it takes time and a

commitment to make connections in this industry.  I have put myself out there to do just that for both

my own professional career and also for the betterment of the sports turf industry.

Winners where:

3rd Pace – Free STMA Membership valued @ $130.00 – Clay Paulk of Orange County

2nd Place – Free Conference Registration valued @ $375.00 – Chris Lessig of Volusia County

Grand Prize Winner – Free Conference Registration and Hotel Stay valued @ $1,400.00 – Richard Stephan of Orange County

CoolToday Park spring training home of the Atlanta Braves, hosted 40+ Central Florida Sports Turf Managers.  The attendees where treated to an informative tour by Matt Taylor, Heads Grouds Keeper. Our CEU Session was conducted by Dr. Jason Kruse, the Assistant Professor of Environmental Horticulture at the University of Florida who introduced us to shade and wear tolerant Bermuda Grass cultivars. Fifteen attendees received 1.0 CEUs, in the areas of Ornamental & Turf Pest Control, Commercial Lawn & Ornamental, Private Applicator Ag Pest Control, Limited Certification Lawn & Ornamental,and Limited Certification Commercial Landscape Maintenance.

Attendees took advantage of this opportunity to share approaches to common turf management challenges, learn and ask questions of a research professional and meet commercial vendors who market their services and products directly to the sports turf industry.

The Central Florida Chapter of the Sports Turf Manager’s Association (CFSTMA) held its summer chapter meeting at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University June 21, 2019.  Leslie Whitmer, Director of intramural and Recreational sports and Susan Rannie, the Sports Turf and Grounds Manager at ERAU were wonderful hosts to 50+ attendees representing turf professional from the Cities of Debary, St. Cloud, Ocala, as well as the Counties of Orange and Volusia, along with Orange County Public Schools, and representatives from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Commercial members and sponsors of CFSTMA from Beard Equipment Company, NuFarm, Harrells, Rain Bird, Wesco Turf and Yara where in attendance and given the opportunity to introduce themselves and their companies to the group.

Paul Mitola, Environmental Specialist with the Florida’s Environmental Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) conducted a Continuing Education Unit (CEU) discussing “Pesticide Safety and Spill Control”.  He emphasized the “Golden Rule” for pesticide spills – Never Leave a Spill Unattended and the three “C’s” – Control, Contain, and Clean-up in an entertaining and example filled presentation.

Being at Embry-Riddle, it was appropriate to have a presentation regarding unmanned aircraft – drones.  Dr. John Robertson provided an interesting presentation on the various types of drones and their applications, from mapping, to delivery, to recreational and the various other creative uses with this new technology.  Drones are creating a new industry, especially when combined with GPS and photographic capabilities.  The “rules” for the use of drones are changing everyday as new capabilities of this technology expands.

Joseph Petersen, Director of Horticulture and Water Resources with Florida Gateway College dropped in to let the group know of the opportunities for internships, scholarships and online learning for high school students in turf management as a Certified Horticulture Professional.  Their degrees have an emphasis in business and personnel management in their curriculum.  Florida Gateway College is one of two education institutions in the State of Florida offering turf management degrees.  The other is the University of Florida.

Immediately after a ziti and lasagna lunch, attendees where treated to a tour of the baseball, softball and soccer fields with Susan Rannie, the Sports Turf and Grounds Manager at ERAU.

Meeting concluded at 1:30 p.m.  What a great way to bring in the first day of Summer!