Trying to find the words to express what ten years of serving the NIRSA Championship Series—especially over the course of this past year—means to me is a formidable task.

April was filled with excitement over tournaments and the naming of new volunteers. But April was also a month of profound sorrow with the loss of one of our own: Sarah Fain.

Leaders Made Here. That’s the title of the latest leadership book from Mark Miller. I’d also like to believe that it’s a great statement about what the Championship Series does day in and day out.

The 2017 NIRSA Annual Conference was a bit of a whirlwind with presentations, meetings, and sessions, but the interconnectedness of our members always amazes me.

Having served on officials committees and all-tournament committees at events, I know sometimes the groups simply coexist and could do better at intermingling. How do we create environments that facilitate crossover from various volunteer groups?

As I look back on 2016, it was filled with turmoil, but I am filled with only hope as I look ahead to 2017. While there is much to be pessimistic about, I choose hope.

Maybe I’ve only been to four states in thirty days for the NIRSA Championship Series, but sometimes it sure felt like I’d traveled every road in this here land.

"It requires wisdom to influence a person who controls a situation we would like to see changed. And it takes humility to accept when things don’t go our way."

Fall is upon us and that means it’s finally time for NIRSA Championship Series events! I don’t know about you, but I just can’t wait to get on the road again with officials to expose them to a whole new world.

I always look forward to fall staff training because it is our greatest opportunity to build skills, cultivate leaders, and strengthen culture.