Articles to be submitted to Newsline should address topics that are of interest to the general membership. (Certainly, we realize that not all topics are relevant to everyone, so perhaps this might be of interest just to those who make post-tensioned concrete courts, or asphalt tennis courts in park and rec facilities, or latex tracks, or multi-purpose artificial turf fields, etc.)

They might concern, for example, ideas for solutions to common problems, new trends in construction or repair, problems being reported by consumers and how contractors are addressing them (or things they're trying in general in order to fix those problems). Sometimes, a contractor has developed a checklist for customers to use when examining their courts, tracks or fields on a periodic or seasonal basis; sometimes, a contractor wants to discuss an issue that seems to be troubling facilities in a specific geographical area, and to suggest some possible fixes, but to invite other builders to chime into the discussion, and so on. Sometimes, the writer wants to discuss the proper technique for installing equipment or supplies, and certainly, that is an important topic as well.

We ask members to try to steer clear of recommending brand-name products, and to use generic terms whenever possible. Length isn't always an issue because our Newsline is an online publication -- but we do ask that the writer try to be as concise as possible, since it keeps the reader interested. It is not required that you submit illustrations (photos, diagrams, etc.) with your article, but certainly, if you want to, ASBA's readers find them very helpful. (When submitting photos, please make sure they are as high a resolution as possible, since they show up much more clearly that way).

Whenever possible, articles should be submitted electronically, in a Word format. Please include your phone number and an email address (and let us know how to get in touch with you) in case we have any questions or need clarification on any points.

Certified Builders can obtain points by submitting articles for publication. Please review the recertification handbook for detailed information on recertification points.