I am sure many younger NIRSA members hear about the NIRSA Foundation’s Legacy Society and tune out as they think this only pertains to those who have been members of NIRSA longer than they have been alive. That might be true, but the Legacy Society is also important to all of us, no matter how old, as sadly we all know of tragic stories of young people who pass away too soon. I think of joining the Legacy Society as a way of taking care of whom and what I love when I am no longer able to. This is my story of why I chose to join the Legacy Society.
Becoming a NIRSA member
I joined NIRSA in 1996 as an undergraduate student at Florida State University. I was drawn to this Association by a mentor who taught me about the impact we could have on college students. He challenged me to focus on growing the students we work with and interact with on a daily basis. You never know how one small interaction can make a big impact.
In 1998, I accepted a position at James Madison University in Virginia, and I began my career trying to impact students as my mentor had impacted me. Today, I am still at James Madison University and proud of the career I have had making an impact on a daily basis. But the fact is I am the one that has been enriched the most by all the students and by my NIRSA Family! What better way to give back to those that enrich our lives in this profession than to leave a legacy?
Taking care of the ones you love
Leaving a legacy is something that hit home for me in 2009, when my mother passed away from cancer at the age of 61. The sheer volume of people that reached out to my family following her passing provided me with comfort in the fact that she had a tremendous impact on people. My hope is that I have learned from her and have had the same type of impact on those I have interacted with during my lifetime.
I started considering how I could provide for the people who are important to me when the inevitable happens to me. How would I take care of my spouse? How could I pay it forward to the profession that enriched my life so much? I decided to do something about it and start planning to take care of my wife and also to show the NIRSA family how much they meant to me by planning to give back once I am gone.
Impacting the future
Planning to give back can be done at a young age or by a seasoned professional like me. While it may seem morbid to think of wills and life insurance, the reality is that we do not know how long we will live. Planning can be simple or can be complex, yet the task of planning is important. Each of us has had to complete hiring paperwork at the places we work; this may well include a question about who the beneficiary of your retirement money will be should something happen to you.
You do not have to have millions of dollars to make an impact on the future of NIRSA. Legacy Society membership starts at $5,000, and you can designate the outcome of the contributions how you would like. You can leave a percentage to multiple funds or leave your legacy to the NIRSA Foundation’s area of greatest need, helping ensure the success of future leaders of our profession no matter what unforeseen needs arise.
If you feel the NIRSA family has enriched your life as much as it has mine, please consider joining the Legacy Society. By planning for your own future, you can help ensure the future of our beloved profession.
Learn more
For those who would like to learn more about the Legacy Society or want to download a simple bequest form, please visit the NIRSA Foundation website.
- For more information, please contact NIRSA Director of Philanthropy Kim Holmes.
Bob Golson is currently the Associate Director, Facilities and Operations at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Bob is a member of the NIRSA Foundation Legacy Society and serves on the NIRSA Foundation Legacy Society work team. He can be reached at golsonrm@jmu.edu.
