Seasons Greetings NYSTA Members,

As 2024 comes to a close, I want to take a moment to wish everyone a joyful and peaceful holiday season. This time of year is particularly meaningful to me as I reflect on the past season, consider ways to improve in the future, and, most importantly, express my gratitude for the turf industry and the incredible people I work alongside.

A heartfelt thank you to all our members and sponsors for your active participation in NYSTA events this year. It is your involvement that drives the association forward and helps us continue to advance the turf industry in New York State.

One of NYSTA's top priorities post-COVID has been to return to in-person education. While our annual webinar series remains a valuable resource and will continue, I was reminded of the importance of face-to-face interaction at our in-person conference in Long Island in 2023. These live events provide immeasurable value and are a great opportunity for networking and learning. We are excited to announce our upcoming in-person Education Day at Turning Stone, scheduled for January 8th, 2024. With a fantastic lineup of speakers, we hope to see you there.

Looking ahead to 2025, we are committed to expanding the success of NYSTA's Registered Apprenticeship Program. Currently, eight turf industry employees are enrolled and completing their first semester of coursework remotely through the SUNY Delhi program, while working full-time. In January, they will travel to SUNY Delhi for one week of on-site instruction.

Since its inception, the goal of the NYSTA Apprenticeship Program has been to help employers retain and formally develop their staff. SUNY Delhi has done a fantastic job of streamlining online education, giving apprentices the flexibility to complete coursework around their work schedule.

In the coming months, NYSTA will be bringing on an Apprenticeship Director to oversee the program. This new role will ensure apprentices are progressing in their coursework and on-the-job training, providing valuable support to both the apprentices and their employers. The Director will also engage directly with employers to ensure everything is moving forward smoothly.

At our January 8th conference at Turning Stone, we are excited to welcome Angelina Blank, a SUNY-employed Apprentice Business Developer, who will speak on funding programs for apprentices in NYS, the economic benefits to employers, and other relevant topics related to SUNY and the various apprenticeship programs across the state.

To our allied associations: If you are hosting an educational event and would like a NYSTA representative to speak about the Apprentice Program, please don’t hesitate to contact us. If you have any questions about the program, feel free to reach out to Sue VanAmburgh in the NYSTA office at sue@nysta.mobi or visit www.nystaapprenticeship.com to learn more and fill out our online inquiry form.

Additionally we encourage you to join us at Turning Stone on January 8th for NYSTA's Education Day - register here. Sponsorships are also available here.

Wishing you all a very happy holiday season, and thank you once again for your continued involvement with NYSTA!

Warm Regards,

Tom Kaplun 

President