By Rebecca Reeves
From May 11–13, incoming NIRSA Board of Directors members spent time at NIRSA Headquarters in Corvallis, Oregon to meet with Headquarters staff and see the entities and operations of NIRSA in action. They also learned more about their new roles as Board members, and how to best fulfill their fiduciary duties to the Association. Visiting Board members included President Stacey Hall of the University of New Hampshire, President Elect Ken Morton of Stephen F. Austin State University, At-Large Director Bill Healey of the University of West Florida, and Annual Director Janice DeMonsi of Santa Clara University.
Most Board members arrived in Eugene, Oregon on May 11. Several Headquarters staff, including NIRSA Executive Director Pam Watts, live in Eugene and commute to NIRSA Headquarters in Corvallis. Visiting Eugene, even for a short time, gave Board members a sense of the everyday lives of Headquarters staff. In Eugene, Board members had the chance to tour the Student Recreation Center at the University of Oregon where they connected with campus rec students and professionals, including NIRSA Past President and current co-chair of the NIRSA Commission for Global Perspectives Dr. Kevin Marbury. They then met up with some HQ staff members for dinner at a local pub.
From May 12–13, Board members met individually with departments at Headquarters to learn more about the goals and duties of HQ staff members; every department had the chance to explain their particular function within the Association. Board members also did work around Board operations, strategies, and mechanics. In the more governance-oriented meetings, Board members discussed NIRSA’s Strategic Plan, and the importance of maintaining responsibility for and loyalty to the Association. On the afternoon of May 12, NIRSA Headquarters staff members and the visiting Board members toured Dixon Recreation Center at Oregon State University. This visit allowed Board members to make connections between their governance work and the more tangible recreation experiences of local students and NIRSA members.
On the evening of May 13, Board and staff members attended a salmon barbeque hosted by Tom Kirch—NIRSA Foundation President, NIRSA Past President, and Honor Award Recipient—at his home in Corvallis. The barbeque, which has become tradition over the years, offered attendees a fun night of community and comradery.
Being face-to-face at NIRSA Headquarters allowed Board members to communicate in-depth as well as get a taste of NIRSA Headquarters culture. NIRSA President Stacey Hall noted, “Spending time at HQ and the surrounding area provides a Board member with insights on how the HQ staff works together, provides insightful glimpses at the Association’s history, and allows us to build relationships with HQ staff. It also allows the new Board members to get to know each other as their term begins.”
Bringing incoming Board members to NIRSA Headquarters has been positive not only for the NIRSA Board, but also for NIRSA HQ staff—and, ultimately, for the overall Association. Face-to-face communication creates collaborative relationships between volunteer leaders and Headquarters staff. Building these relationships helps new Board members gain an understanding of their roles within the Association. It also helps them work toward promoting NIRSA’s Strategic Values.
The NIRSA Board of Directors is currently in Washington D.C. with members of the NIRSA Headquarters staff, the 2016-2017 NIRSA Member Network, and other leadership groups for the 2016 iteration of the annual summer leadership meetings. Keep your eyes on the NIRSA news over the coming weeks for updates about outcomes from those conversations.
For more information about the NIRSA Board of Directors or Board orientation, please contact NIRSA Administrative Assistant to the Executive Office Rebecca Reeves.
