By Earl Cabellon and Will Moore

As campus recreation professionals, NIRSA members are keenly aware that innovation, inspiration, and integration are essential to continually inspiring life-long habits of health and wellbeing in the students and communities they serve.

And, more than ever, those three I’s are evolving in real-time.

The opportunities presented by social media, particularly Twitter, have not been overlooked as mediums for conversations with peers, whether our peers are across the campus or across the country. And it is in an effort to make the most of opportunities like this that led to #RecChat.

Now in its third year, #RecChat–a monthly, open-forum platform directed towards influencing and establishing friendly conversations between recreation professionals–continues to grow at an impressive pace. After kicking off its return from summer break with a review and refocusing session in August, it’s seen strong and invested participation during the September and October sessions, with interest and conversation continuing to grow.


The November #RecChat will be a live Google Hangout with David Bowles, winner of the 2013 Region II Regional Award of Merit.

Participation in #RecChat is simple and user-friendly. You begin by creating (or using a preexisting) Twitter account. By creating an account, you have all the tools needed to participate in the conversation. You can then search for both the @RecChat username as well as the hashtag (#RecChat) to see what others are discussing.

Then, once a month, follow #RecChat for our hour-long conversation with collegiate recreation students and professionals, centered around a particular timely topic. Conversation is moderated by the #RecChat team using the @RecChat handle and utilizing a Q and A format for organization, coherence, and fluidity.

Joining the conversation simply requires keeping your text to Twitter’s 140-character limit, inserting the hashtag (#RecChat), and maintaining the Q and A format. In this format, #RecChat will usually start with a Q1 (Question 1) to which you can tweet back your answer by marking it as A1. For example: @RecChat will tweet Q1. Who are you? #RecChat to which you could answer A1. I’m Johnny Recreation, 5 year NIRSA Vet from NIRSA University! #RecChat.

#RecChat is sometimes also broadcasted on Google Hangouts. You can find the link to the session posted through all #RecChat avenues (such as the @RecChat and @NIRSAlive Twitter accounts and NIRSA’s #RecChat webpage). These Google Hangouts are open to the public, enabling you to watch a broadcasted conversation, participate in the chat room discussion, and also tweet into the discussion.

#RecChat on November 13 at 3PM EST

On Wednesday, November 13 the #RecChat team will be hosting a live Google Hangout with David Bowles, Director of Recreational Sports at the University of Florida. His department has been behind many innovative initiatives, including July’s “Live in Motion” challenge, which encouraged students to post exercise-themed photos on social media. The team will be discussing the topic of innovation and how it factors into technology and leadership in collegiate recreation. To be a part of this exciting and front line conversation, just follow these steps:

  1. Visit the #RecChat YouTube Page and click on the video broadcast on November 13 at 3:00Ppm EST. You can also click on the broadcast link via the @RecChat Twitter handle.
  2. Log on to Twitter and comment or ask a question using the #RecChat hashtag. Your question might be asked on the live show!

Can’t make it on November 13 at 3:00pm EST? No problem! The #RecChat Youtube Page will have the video posted shortly after the live broadcast so you can still review and contribute to the conversation. You can also catch up with previous #RecChats, by pursuing the transcripts in  NIRSA’s online community library.

If you are looking to participate in a #RecChat such as our live Google Hangout with David Bowles, be sure to keep an eye out for announcements from the @NIRSAlive username and also the #RecChat search. Also, look for the Twitter handle @RecChat to keep up-to-date on when conversations occur; we typically aim to hold large conversations once per month while also continuing the conversation throughout 24/7! We hope to tweet with you soon!