Mission Statement

[lawrence stone]

I would appreciate that the group please critique my new mission statment before it becomes part of the landscape.


Mission Statement

Our goal at Lawrence Stone Inc. is to provide sports field services that enhance the playability of athletic fields, in order to secure the safety of the athletes and visual enjoyment of the spectators,
by providing the needed cultural practices,
in the most environmentally friendly fashion.

[HOMER]

Should it not read Our "MISSION" instead of our goal?

It is a mission statement.

[SLSNursery]

Stone:

Good idea with the mission statement. Here on the forum, we know what Lawrence Stone Inc does (or at least I assume you take care of athletic fields as a specialty - mowing, fertilizing, and regular maintenance). The mission statement as shown sort of leads me to believe that your company does everything from maintaining the running track to lettering the field, setting up soccer goals, etc. In addition, we take care of some athletic fields next to an astro turf field at my old high school. We don't do anything related to the synthetic surface, do you? The mission statement leads me to believe that you might. (Maybe you want to add this to your list of services?)

Is this true, or do you mostly operate on the 'turf' side of things (which is what I suspect). Maybe get the term 'turf' in there somewhere to strike some emphasism on the direction or focus of your efforts.

[HOMER]

Our Mission at Lawrence Stone Inc. is to provide services for athletic playing fields that will ensure safety, enhance the playability, and improve the asthetics so that players and spectators alike will have an opportunity to enjoy their leisure time.

I kinda lost it on the last statement but see if that fits!

[lawrence stone]

Let's put two and two togeather

Our Mission at Lawrence Stone Inc. is to provide services for athletic playing fields that will ensure safety, enhance the playability, and improve the asthetics for players and spectators alike, by providing the needed turfgrass cultural practices, in the most environmentally friendly fashion.


Any more suggestions?

[Old Guy]

Just my $.02 worth - could "cultural practices" be "horticultural practices"?

[lawrence stone]

Horticulture refers the " the cultivation of a garden".

Cultural means "of or pertaining to culture or cultivation".

Let's try slipping the word agronomic the adj. for agronomy that means "the applied phases of both soil science and the several plant sciences, often limited to the applied plant sciences dealing with crops.

Since turfgrass is a crop that word fits.

Our Mission at Lawrence Stone Inc. is to provide agronomical services for athletic playing fields that will ensure safety, enhance the playability, and improve the asthetics for players and spectators alike, by providing the needed turfgrass cultural practices, in the most environmentally friendly fashion.

[HOMER]

I think it's too "wordy" with agronomical in there. Go back one and work it from there

[Toroguy]

"asthetics" should be spelled "aesthetics".

I think it sounds nice.

[bondlawn]

I tend to agree with Homer. Go back to the one without the agronomical in it. I think you have a winner Mr. Stone!!

[Chip]

Larry your mission is o.k. if all you maintain are athletic fields. From your previous posts I suspect you do more than that. If that is the case then I would change it to more accurately reflect what is that you do. Keep it simple don't try to dazzle customers with your wit. Here is what my mission says.
Our mission at CJS is to provide services for your property to enhance the beauty of the landscape and provide a safe environment to be enjoyed by all.

[geogunn]

mister stone--IMHO you are setting yourself up for a law suit the first time one of the "children" gets hurt on a field where you are the care taker.

it is as clear as black and white, it's in your own words and will be impossible for you to disapprove when you get sued.

yes, I know you are insured but who needs the hassle.

good luck.

GEO

[cos]

I like the responce by homer. I think it is more informative in lamen's terms. Ohter than that, it looks like a good statement to send to the average property manager at any high school or college. I guess that would be a fine first paragraph in a cover letter.

[lawrence stone]

Thanks for all the help.

This statement is for people who have a masters and PHD level education not your average Joe six pack.

Starting in 2002 I will only be doing athletic fields and large industirial sites. I will sell off my home lawns and small commercial sites with some of my smaller mowers.

I am in the ground floor of a new community sports field complex purchased by state grants ready spring 2002 that is five miles from home and will be 8 scoccer 3 softball and 1 baseball field. I have groundskeeper that is retiring from one of my schools that will handle everything at this complex including lining, raking, mowing, etc except the fert. and pest. apps which I will perform personally.
Since I will be able to store some my equipment at that site another truck is not needed.

I am developing a program where I provide a monthly service of cutlutral improvements to public schools throughout NE and North Central PA. Many rural school districts do not have the means and knowledge to provide these services in house.

My goal is to work in March, April and May then take June and July off to go fishing then provide services for fall sports in August, Sept. And October then go to FLA for the winter.

As far as fear of lawsuits is concerned I have pretty much made my self judgement proof. I don't have any real estate to put a lein against.

Just remember you can't get blood from a Stone.

[geogunn]

lawrence--where I am from we say "blood from a turnip", but STONE...turnip...what's the difference!

GEO

[Greenkeepers]

Larry -

You have me confused now! 2 Months ago weren't you looking for an over the cab truck to purchase for your "new" residential side of the business? I was just wondering because you now say that you're going to sell off all of your residentials when you weren't supposed to have any.

If you're not planning on doing any residentials then that is a good statement. Educated individuals like things that are wordy, it makes them feel like they are getting their moneys worth. Sounds good though :)

[HOMER]

Okaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy,

What happened to the "MISSION STATEMENT"?

I think we took a hard left and ran slap off the cliff!

Whatever,
Don't mess with me too much, I think I do have that SAD thing.

[lawrence stone]

Mike I have some long term homesites I have been servicing for many years.

Please excuse my gelusions of granduer. After chatting one night with Lanelle on this subject I realized I did what want to return to that snake pit.

My life is so much easier have larger contracts with people who actually appreaciate your service.

Wacky housewifes wacked out on all kinds of scripts are not needed in my life.

Here is a link for cool season athletic field care. This will give you guys an idea of what is done and when.

http://www.agry.purdue.edu/turf/pubs/ay42.htm


[Edited by lawrence stone on 01-10-2001 at 09:12 AM]

[lawrence stone]

Ok GEO and others what about this version?

My goal is to provide agronomic services for athletic playing fields that will enhance the safety,
create excellent playability, and improve the aesthetics for players and spectators alike, by providing the needed turfgrass cultural practices, in the most environmentally friendly fashion.

[JimK]

Mr. Stone -- Jim K. from TURF Magazine here. For what little it may be worth, I have a couple of thoughts for you on your mission statement: As much as possible, you might consider present tense instead of any form of future ... ie: "will enhance" becomes either "enhance", "enhances" or "enhancing: -- depending on the rest of the sentence. A little thing: you have a few commas which are not necessary. Commas do a funny thing to a reader -- they tend to stop them in thier tracks -- and maybe causing a moment of confusion.

[lawrence stone]

My goal is to provide agronomic services for athletic fields enhancing safety by creating excellent playability plus improving the aesthetics for players and spectators alike by providing the needed turfgrass cultural practices in the most environmentally friendly fashion.

[tpirobert]

We provide premier agronomic services for athletic fields, improving safety, playability and aesthetics following environmentally sound cultural turfgrass practices.


That be my edit job...still stumbles a little, but lernin aint my forte.

[Edited by tpirobert on 01-11-2001 at 10:39 PM]

[geogunn]

Originally posted by lawrence stone
Ok GEO and others what about this version?

mister stone--I just don't get the connection between the grass cutter's motto and "safety" on the playing field.

I know we all want "the children" to be safe but the darned little turf rats are gonna get banged up regardless how hard we try to grow and mow soft cushy playing grass.

in this litigation crazy society, that's why I say in an injury situation that the parent of a little soccer player will be looking for some deep pockets to reach into because obviously the playing field turf was not safe (or else there would be no injury, right?) ...and there you are, sir lawrence stone, esq. LCO, with your deep pockets, mission statement in hand, with a pledge to safety on every field you groom.

IDUNNO! I guess am just not up to speed on municipal/public/private ventures into athletic field turf management. therefore, I have to admit that I do not understand the needs of todays modern LCO when it comes to servicing these clients.

heck mister stone, when I think about you and the athletic fields, I conjure up a vision of you as FORREST GUMP cruising his snapper high-vac around center field! I am about ready to recuse myself from the current discussion as I am just not qualified to be of assistance!

IN any event, thanks for the opportunity to comment!;)

GEO

[lawrence stone]

GEO I will be no longer providing the lawn mowing for the athletic fields unless the job is within 10 miles.

There are just to many games going on all week to have it done my a outside conractor. Included in my package is infromation on how, when, why, and how to mow and water.

Monthly aeration when the fields are in use enhances safety.

My program has all the broadcast applications of pesticides
being applied when the fields are not in usage.

If ones has fears of litigation all the time they should just go off in live in bubble.

[tcsturf1]

Im out in California and i was just wondering for the guys who maintain athletic fields on a monthly contract like my company, (myself) what do u charge per field such as mowings and fertilizing, aeration and so forth ? I have my set charges but i was just wondering in different parts of the country. I have both rotary mowers and fairway (reel) mowers to get the groomed look every week and was just wondering do others have this equipment like me and prices for maintaining. I have mainly warm season bermudas (tifway) and some BlueRye grass fields. Soccer and Softball. Some of u guys might do monthly or yearly contracts. I do year round contracts !
Thanks Tony