By Alyssa Whitney
The 2015-2016 NIRSA Championship Series Committee convened from June 22–25 at the Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, Florida for the Series’ first full summit since 2012. In recent years, members of the NIRSA Championship Series have been invited to join other key leadership groups at NIRSA’s summer leadership meetings. There, the Championship Series has been able to collaborate with groups like the Member Network and promote its mission to others in the Association.
The NIRSA Championship Series Committee, which consists of three executive team members and nine work team chairs, is off to a running start! Because of the large number of incoming work team chairs— who will each serve a two-year term—this summit was especially important. “With several new members, the Summit was an excellent opportunity to discuss the progress we are making toward established goals so that everyone can get a sense of the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead,” explains Stephanie McAlpine, Assistant Director at The University of Texas at Arlington and Tennis Work Team Chair. “Additionally, we were able to address teamwork and communication, and set common performance standards and expectations. The group left with lengthy plans for each of their respective work teams and strategies for growth in current and new partnerships to strengthen the Series.”
Aware of the large amount of work to be done in their short time together, Summit attendees were intentional about aggressively tackling the agenda. They spent time reviewing a NIRSA Championship Series overview and gained some necessary historical perspective. Members were oriented with the NIRSA Championship Series’ structure as well as with the overall Association—including NIRSA Headquarters, the NIRSA Services Corporation, and tournament staff. They also developed a communication plan with the Member Network and other key Association groups.
They then moved into general work team procedures and logistics before finally diving into the specific charges tasked to each group. Members reviewed and finalized committee and work team charges as well as a committee action plan and timeline for 2015-2016. They discussed and gave direction on proposed club basketball leagues, and reevaluated member and participant feedback from operation and sport work teams as well as guiding principles and value alignment. They also brainstormed improvements and tackled critical needs for all work teams and tournaments.
Coming out of the Summit, there is no doubt that the many NIRSA Championship Series work teams will have their work cut out for them. Kurt Klier, Facility Manager at the University of Maryland and Chair of the NIRSA Championship Series Committee, says that “We are truly appreciative of the support we get from our volunteers and their directors. We couldn’t do it without their dedication, their generous donation of time, and their hard work.”
These meetings facilitated some great discussions that brought forth new charges for many of the chairs. Another crucial aspect of the summit was that it facilitated team building. A lot of the work put out by the NIRSA Championship Series throughout the year requires collaboration between multiple work teams. In these four days, the new group learned to trust and lean on one another.
The following individuals were present at the 2015 NIRSA Championship Series Summit:
- Kurt Klier, University of Maryland, Chair
- Brooke Turner, University of Alabama, Vice Chair
- Oscee Wheatfall, Texas A&M University, 2nd Vice Chair
- April Flint, Emory University, Assessment Work Team Chair
- Aaron Hobson, University of Wisconsin, Basketball Work Team Chair
- Scott Flickinger, Cornell University, Brand Management Work Team Chair
- Ashley Lax, University of Wisconsin, Club Basketball Work Team Chair
- Brian Mills, University of Houston, Flag Football Work Team Chair
- Laura Thomas, Texas Tech University, Soccer Work Team Chair
- Tom St. John, Stony Brook University – Long Island, Standards of Competition Work Team Chair
- Mary Yemma, North Carolina State University, Student/Professional Development Work Team Chair
- Stephanie McAlpine, The University of Texas at Arlington, Tennis Work Team Chair
- John Meyer, Retired, University of Colorado, NIRSA Services Corporation Board of Directors
- Valerie McCutchan, NIRSA Director of National Sports Programs
For more information about the NIRSA Championship Series Committee or the 2015 Summit, please contact NIRSA Director of National Sport Programs Valerie McCutchan.
