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By Dr Richard Gibbs in {CATEGORY} on 19 Oct 2009
The first day of September is always a welcome date because it means that spring is well on the way and the equinox is only just round the corner. It also heralds a frantic change-over of codes, with goal posts coming down and thoughts turning to construction, renovation and summer sports. It looks as though it is going to be a very busy construction season around the country.
Already several construction projects have been successfully tendered or are out to tender and several more I know are close to being put out to tender. Contractor availability may well be at a premium this year so don't expect to be able to book some drainage work at short notice!
In other news, the last two months has seen the winding up of the 2009 NZ Turf Conference and Trade Show with the Governance Board having had its final debrief on 24th August. It is very pleasing to report that registrations for the conference were only down by four compared with the 2007 conference in Wellington (597 vs. 601).
The sports field sector achieved its minimum target of 80 delegates, with the final number registered being 82. The good attendance overall meant that the conference made a slight surplus, the proceeds of which will be re-invested for future conferences. With the conference stakeholders (of which the Sports Field Forum is one) about to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that deals with what happens in the event of a loss (stakeholders are jointly and severally liable), I would not be alone in breathing a sigh of relief. So thanks again to the conference organisers and also to Robert Findlay who has represented the Sports Field Forum on the Governance Board for the last two years. It looks as though the next conference in 2011 will move to the South Island, with Christchurch being the preferred venue at this stage.
Finally, do you know someone who might be interested in being a member of the Sports Field Forum? For some time our membership has remained reasonably static and it's time we did something about it! Well, today I signed up 14 new members at a technical breakfast - this wasn't hard as I had a captive audience. But it would be great if each of you reading this newsletter could find another person to sign up.
Dr Richard Gibbs, Chairman
Background to the NZ Sports Field Forum
The NZ Sports Field Forum is dedicated to the sharing of information about all aspects of sports field maintenance and administration. The Forum began in Auckland in 1993, when Bruce Paton, a Sports Parks Officer with Auckland City Council called the first gathering of sports field officers from several of the councils in the Auckland Region. The Forum became an Incorporated Society in October 2002, and now has a membership of almost 200 people from throughout NZ, located from Kaitaia to Invercargill. Membership is drawn from contractors, schools, stadiums, consultants, sporting organisations and councils. Membership is free.
Members receive the Forum's bi-monthly newsletters, news flashes, job vacancies, and invitations to Forum field days, seminars, as well as the New Zealand Turf Conference & Trade Show held every two years.
If you have any questions regarding the Forum, or are interested in becoming a member, please email the newsletter editor, Bobbie-Jo Harvey, on sportsfieldforumnz@gmail.com
Read more articles in {CATEGORY},
by Dr Richard Gibbs
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The NZ Sports Field Forum is dedicated to the sharing of information about all aspects of sports field maintenance and administration. The Forum began in Auckland in 1993, when Bruce Paton, a Sports Parks Officer with Auckland City Council called the first gathering of sports field officers from several of the councils in the Auckland Region. The Forum became an Incorporated Society in October 2002, and now has a membership of almost 200 people from throughout NZ, located from Kaitaia to Invercargill. Membership is drawn from contractors, schools, stadiums, consultants, sporting organisations and councils. Membership is free.