By Pam Watts

For the second consecutive year, new members of the NIRSA Board of Directors were able to start off the 2015-2016 leadership year with an orientation and visit to NIRSA Headquarters in Corvallis, Oregon.  NIRSA President Stan Shingles of Central Michigan University, and NIRSA Executive Director Pam Watts hosted  NIRSA President Elect Bill Crockett of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, NIRSA At-Large Director David Davenport of Austin Peay State University, and NIRSA Annual Directors Eric Nickel of James Madison University and Pam Su of San Francisco State University in early June.  Orientation focused on the roles and responsibilities of Board members in the ‘Future First’ model of governance and a thorough review of strategic topics that may be on the Board agenda in the upcoming year.  It was also a time to get better acquainted with the NIRSA HQ staff .

Although official meetings didn’t get underway until June 1, Board members who arrived earlier  on May 31 had an opportunity to  visit  the newly opened Student Recreation Center expansion at the University of Oregon; Board members were able to tour 110,000 square feet of new space and 40,000 square feet of renovated space.

All attending Board members kicked off their orientation at NIRSA HQ with a high-level overview of NIRSA’s membership demographics, positioning them to better understand the full constituency they are representing.  Next, Board members broke out into a variety of focused meetings. Directors, staff, and volunteer leaders were able to advance the work of the Association on a number of topics: meetings were held regarding the Core Competencies for the profession,  opportunities to partner at the upcoming Special Olympics World Games, NIRSA’s professional development offerings, the Association’s leadership pipeline, opportunities to engage members at the 2016 Annual Conference & Recreational Sports Exposition, and promoting the profession within higher education.  Additionally, board members received training from NIRSA’s legal counsel on their fiduciary responsibility as board members and reviewed the Association’s finances.

While the meeting schedule was jam-packed, the Board found time to connect with colleagues. NIRSA Past President, 2013 Honor Award Recipient, and recently retired Director of Recreational Sports at Oregon State University, Tom Kirch hosted a Salmon BBQ dinner for the visiting Board members and members of the NIRSA HQ staff.

In spite of the Oregon summer rain, Board members joined team walks with members of the NIRSA HQ staff. And before leaving, Board members were also able to find time to tour Oregon State University’s Dixon Recreation Center and to engage with professional staff there.

These face-to-face meetings have been valuable not only for incoming NIRSA Board members, but also for NIRSA HQ staff, and ultimately the Association overall. They have helped to foster good communication and collaboration between NIRSA staff and the volunteer leaders of the Association, key ingredients as we work together to advance the mission and vision of NIRSA.

We invite all members to engage in the continually evolving conversation by following and tweeting to @NIRSAPresident Stan Shingles.

 

For more information about the NIRSA Board of Directors or NIRSA Headquarters, please contact the Assistant to the Executive Office, Breeana Myatt.