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Taking Member Participation to an Extreme Level

Ben Polimer- Longwood Cricket Club

New England Sports Turf Manager New England Sports Turf Manager Association Extreme Field Makeover Association Extreme Field Makeover Program: 2006Program: 2006--PresentPresent

--What is EFM?What is EFM?--How does it happen?How does it happen?--Advertising Advertising --What are the relationships between vendors and volunteers?What are the relationships between vendors and volunteers?--How can you do an Extreme Field Makeover?How can you do an Extreme Field Makeover?

What is Extreme Field Makeover?

•NESTMA project, inception in 2006, Board of Directors and Bill Butts, Waverly Landscaping Associates, Belmont, MA

•Board of Directors wanting to give back to communities and promote professionalism

•Construction/Renovation of playing field in 1 week time

•All donated materials, labor, equipment

•3 Projects to date: Tewksbury, MA-Lacrosse, Norwood, MA-Little League Baseball/Softball, City of Boston, MA- Little League Baseball

What do we start with?•Application process- March 1st- June 1st

•Application review- Committee Members•Site Visits•Recommendation of committee to Board of Directors•Start Date of approx. Late September

NESTMA EFM Application Info:-Site Info

soil type, grass species, age of field, crown? drainage issues, irrigation, truck access

-LogisticsHow many events per/yr, Can the field be shut down Sept 1,and reopen late spring?What is your financial status after EFM?What is the level of maintenance the field gets now and willWhat is the level of maintenance the field gets now and will

receive?

-Tell us your story; please attach not more than 3 paragraphs why NESTMA should award theExtreme Field Makeover to your city, town or organizations field.Also included should be (6) 4x6 photos detailing the need for renovation of this particular field.Remember to include: budget constraints, staffing issues, use or overuse of this field.

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Who do we meet with?Turf Manager DPW DirectorRecreation Department DirectorTown ManagerUsers of PropertySports AssociationsEngineersCity CouncilmenCity Project ManagersSchool Department Officials

Meeting with Prospective Recipients:-Selling NESTMA-Quality ProjectQuality Project-Commitment from Recipient

EFM 2008 Boston, MA OverviewOct. 6-10, 2008

2 wks. B f

6 wks. Before:Soil TestDonated:UMASS

Before: Engineering3 wks.

Before:Round Up

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5 Days BeforeBuild: Blecovate

Monday: Day 1

Day 1Tuesday: Day 2

Day 2Wednesday: Day 3

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Thursday: Day 4 Day 4: 8AM

D 4Day 4

Day 4

Day 4

Day 4: 1PM

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Friday: Day 5 Day 5

How do we get members to help?How do we get members to help?•Phone•Email Blast•Face to Face •Vendor•Email to other Associations•Newsletter

Email Blast:•NESTMA Email System•300 emails•Both Members and Non Members

Thanks for your participation in the past two makeovers. This year is another year and another great project. This year's recipient for the EFM is Hardiman Little League Field in Brighton, MA. A great small little league baseball field set in the Oak Square neighborhood in Boston. We are looking for your help again! The project will begin on October 6, and run until that Friday the 10th.

What we need from our members:1. Spray the field with round up 3 weeks before the start date.2. Small grading equipment to set the finish grade(the grading on the

existing field is pretty good!)3. Fertilizer and amendments to the soil before laying the sod.4. Irrigation crews to install a full field irrigation system.5. Labor to create a new infield, roll out sod.6. Anything you would like to donate to the project!!We need your support to make the project a success!!! Thanks again for your

support in the past and we look forward to seeing you on Oct. 6th!!Ben Polimer and the Entire 2008 EFM Committee

Face to Face/Phone Donations:Vendor Meeting

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Partner Association: NESTMA Newsletter:

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NESTMA’s Relationships between Volunteers and Vendors Vendor Participation:

Sports Turf CoLandscape CoIrrigation SupplyIrrigation InstallGradingSod ProducersEquipment SuppliersLaborMaterial Suppliers

Longwood Cricket ClubCity of Boston Parks & Recreation DepartmentTurf Links Inc.UMass TurfOn -Course Golf ConstructionHeimlich LandscapingF3 DesignRosencrantz John DeereTown of Lexington DPWTPC/The Sprinkler HouseBISCO IrrigationGary Fialkasky IrrigationRF Morse John DeereWaverly Landscaping Associates Inc.Town of Westwood DPWNew England Specialty SoilsBoston BarkNardone Sand and Gravel

2008 Participants

Nardone Sand and GravelRead Custom Soils Tuckahoe TurfSodcoTom Irwin Inc.John Deere LandscapesCity of Nashua, NHGold Star Sod FarmsAA Will Materials New England TurfPure BarnyardField WorksNorfolk Power EquipmentWinding Brook TurfTown of Norwood Engineering DepartmentEvergreen AssociatesOak Square YMCAJaypro

How do we work with competing vendors?

Example 1: Irrigation System1. Competing Vendors, install/supplies2. Hunter/Rain Bird supplier vs. Toro supplier3. Installer relationship with supplier4. Sections of project: mainline, heads, valves, controller

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Example 2: Sports Turf Grading1. Competing Vendors2. Small equipment vs. Large Equipment3. Accuracy4. Sports Turf Understanding

Competing Vendors:

When to say Yes or No

Example: Calcined Clay‘07 vs. ‘08

Super Sack vs. BagsSoil Vendor vs. Cranberry Vendor?

When to cut back? Or ask for more?

Example 2: Large Landscape Co.-Irrigation Div, Sports Turf Div-Taking over project?-Other vendors intimidated

Measuring and Field Layout:-Tape Measure + Wheel, Lacrosse Field-2006-Grade Stakes and Ball Field Layout-2007-Engineers Determining Sod Amount-2008

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Issues During Build:

Soil- Too Little/Too MuchFertilizer- Too MuchAmendments- Too MuchSod- Too Little/Too Much

New England Sod:

1. Great availability and choice of sod in NE, Maine-CT2. Many great producers willing to donate3. Organizing producers: material, trucking, roll out4. Buying sod for project…..2008, cut, trucked 100 mi=4 hrs.

NESTMA Project Costs:

$75,000-$125,000 Est. Field Value

-Signage-Food-Sod-Appreciation Materials

$500-$2,400/yr.

Media Exposure:

-Mayor of Boston Visit-Press Releases-Newspapers-Trade Magazines-Newsletters-Local Cable Access

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Where do we go from here?3 Projects last 3 yearsEconomy Slow DownOverextending our VendorsEvery year the project gets bigger??

What can you do?-Full Scale EFM-Take parts and incorporate them to the needs of the community?-Do what your vendors are willing to donate?-Do what your members are willing to donate?

-Roundup, slice seed football field-Mound/Plate Rebuild-Infield Skin Rehab-Install permanent bases-Construct a fertilizer plan-Aerate/seed worn field-Teach proper watering techniques/irrigation scheduling to HS Baseball coach-Deep tine aeration/fall fertilization HS football field

ll d i l d i i fi ld-Install drainage to poorly draining field-Install irrigation system-Install field lights, fencing, retaining walls, benches, bleachers, scoreboards, retractable hose reel, running track……

-Donate your sports turf knowledge

Use your resources to the best of their ability!

Pictures and Thanks:Mary Owen-UMASSMichele Folts- City of BostonBill Butts- Waverly Landscaping AssociatesMike Buras- Longwood Cricket ClubNESTMA

Questions?