By Christine Haluzak
Having the desire to make a difference in collegiate recreation is the first step in inspiring change—acting on that desire is the next.
NIRSA members’ commitment and leadership within the profession propels the advancement of our Association goals.
Whether you’re a student or an experienced professional, there’s a place for you!
Serving on one of the many NIRSA committees and work teams is a great way to give back to the Association, gain fluency in a particular topic, and network with colleagues beyond your campus.
For example, you could apply to be the convener of the discussion in a NIRSA Community of Practice.
New for 2015-2016
When the Communities of Practice platform was introduced to NIRSA members as part of the new nirsa.org website that launched in February of 2013, it was envisioned that these elevated discussion groups and resource libraries would be “owned” by all NIRSA members—all members are empowered to initiate and respond to discussion threads and to upload materials to the resource library. Over the past two years, work teams have been busy building resources and driving discussions in the Communities of Practice. To help get these Communities off the ground the NIRSA Board appointed Work Teams, with a view to evolve the formal structure of these groups over time to a more streamlined format. The NIRSA Board has endorsed for 2015-2016 to transition the Communities of Practice volunteer leadership structure from a work team model to a single convener.
NIRSA’s dedicated volunteers are at the heart of the Association’s success.A Community of Practice Convener will be charged with facilitating discussion in their Community, organizing the resources in the library, surfacing any issues that are raised that may require action or review, and assisting with recruiting members to provide input on the topic area when needed. A Community of Practice Convener should be a member with a high degree of knowledge in their designated topic area. To apply to serve in this role, please complete the Committee Application and specifically select the Community of Practice in which you’d like to serve; please specify ‘chair’ as the role you are interested in. Consider applying for this position and helping your fellow NIRSA members find the resources they need!
Applying is easy
Interested in more than one area? No problem—when applying, up to three areas of interest can be selected. The Committee and Work Team form— located on the NIRSA Committee Preference Form webpage—lists a broad array of NIRSA committee and work team opportunities, so no matter your specialty area, topic of interest, or experience level, you’ll be able share and develop your talents and expertise.
Members currently serving on a committee or work team who wish to continue their service need to reapply to be considered for the upcoming year. Applications are due by December 15. Please visit our website to for full details about the NIRSA Committee Application process. These committee and work team appointments will be made in the beginning of 2015 and announced in advance of the 2015 NIRSA Annual Conference & Recreational Sports Expo.
You can find the comprehensive list of volunteer opportunities on the NIRSA website, and read more information on available volunteer leadership positions in this article. Anyone applying to serve on a NIRSA, NIRSA Foundation, or NIRSA Championship Series committee or work team for 2015-2016 will also need to complete a Committee and Work Team application.
Shorter term commitment opportunities are available too
And if you’re interested in volunteering, but can’t make a year-long commitment, the NIRSA Championship Series has a number of staff positions available for our basketball tournaments. Take advantage of this opportunity for professional development while also having fun engaging with teams, coaches, and officials from around your region!
There are a number of opportunities available with the NIRSA Regional and National Tournaments, including involvement in recruiting officials, tournament management, technology, communication, and various other committees. Check out the NIRSA website to learn more about position descriptions and qualifications.
