December 1, 2009
To: CoSIDA Membership
Fr: Justin Doherty, 2009-10 CoSIDA President, and John Humenik, Executive Director
Re: Recap of Board of Director and leadership group initiatives and activities for month of November
We hope this newsletter finds each of you well as you move full speed ahead into the always challenging winter sports months. We hope you will take a few moments to review this report on issues that have taken place at the leadership levels with CoSIDA over the past month. On behalf of the entire CoSIDA Board of Directors we wish you a wonderful and joyous holiday season.
Marketing Based
• First VP Larry Dougherty (Temple), Chair of the Strategic Branding Committee, presented a recommendation from that leadership group to the Board regarding a strategic logo and branding concept for the organization/profession to better position/reposition itself within the overall intercollegiate athletics community. That committee’s recommendation in this regard was unanimously approved on a Nov. 5th Board conference call.
This committee included Presidents of various organizations:
Rich Herman [Clarion] of DII-SIDA, Bill Wagner [DePauw] of DIII-SIDA, Sam Ghrist [Eastern Oregon] of NAIA-SIDA, Rob Knox [Kutztown] of BC-SIDA, Ann King [Sage College] of FAME as well as
Eric McDowell [Union College], Chair of CoSIDA’s College Division Management Advisory Committee, Charles Bloom [SEC], Chair of CoSIDA’s University Division Management Advisory Committee and Rod Williamson [Vanderbilt], Chair of Senior Athletic Communications Committee, along with
Nick Joos (Baylor) and John Paquette (Big East Conference) of the CoSIDA Board.
• CoSIDA’s new strategic branding identity logo – “CoSIDA- Strategic Communicators for College Athletics” – was presented and released to the membership and collegiate community on Nov. 19th
(click here to see it and read the announcement release). It included coverage in the NACDA and NCAA Daily E-mail blasts that combined reach over 10,000 administrators throughout the collegiate community.
• CoSIDA President Justin Doherty (Wisconsin) contributed a "CoSIDA Corner” column to the November issue of NACDA's
Athletics Administration Magazine. This was Doherty's second column since September. Each issue is sent to over 10,000 university and athletics administrators, with CoSIDA's voice, thoughts and expertise being shared with these key constituents. NACDA’s
Athletics Administration Magazine is published each October, November, December, February, March, April, June and August. To read Justin’s recent column, as he talks about media guide trends and CoSIDA's outreach to leadership groups in college athletics and how CoSIDA is being viewed as a resource and partner to these groups, click
HERE.
• Over the month of November, 18 CoSIDA-based stories appeared on NACDA’s Daily Review e-mail blast and 11 were included on the NCAA News Direct daily e-mail blast. Due to this effort, several thousands of university and athletics administrators are being exposed to professional and organizational news that primarily only appeared on the CoSIDA website in the past and was thus only viewed by our membership.
• CoSIDA Director of External Affairs Barb Kowal continued to work with ICS on plans for a redesign of CoSIDA.com that is expected to be launched early in 2010.
• Athletic Management Magazine and athleticmanagement.com published an extensive article in its November issue dealing with the national discussion associated with printed guides.
In the feature entitled “Print It?”, three SID's (Shelly Poe of Ohio State, April Emory of Elizabeth State and Eric McDowell of Union College ) give their opinions on printed and digital media guides. In addition, the article provided a link to a “Pro-Con” document in this regard that
Executive Director John Humenik has presented to several groups with regard to this discussion, including the D1 Recruiting Cabinet and the Div 1A Athletic Directors Association.
Read "Print It?" HERE.
• For the first time, CoSIDA partnered with The V Foundation for Cancer Research, the AT&T Cotton Bowl and numerous organizations (list follows) to promote the annual National College Football Day (Nov. 7) in conjunction with cancer research community outreach. CoSIDA joined with The V Foundation along with the following national organizations to support and publicize this day and raise awareness about the cancer research work of The V Foundation: AT&T Cotton Bowl, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the National Association of Collegiate Football Officials (NACFO), the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and the Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA). The AT&T provided electronic media kits for all NCAA DI, II and III schools who wished to participate in the initiative.
Divisional Specific Initiatives
• On Nov. 3rd,
Justin Doherty, John Humenik and Charles Bloom (SEC), Chair of the University Division Management Advisory Committee, sent a joint letter to
Petrina Long (UCLA), Chair of the Division I Recruiting Cabinet, requesting that CoSIDA be represented and used as a resource with regard to the Cabinet’s recent announcement that it will be closely reviewing the Division I Recruiting Model over the next year, including an examination of “communications” as it relates to that process. This letter emphasized that due to the significant demands by coaches on communications/information directors in this process, that it was important to CoSIDA that we help the Cabinet discuss this issue and provide our thoughts.
• On Nov. 5th,
Justin Doherty, John Humenik and Charles Bloom (SEC), Chair of the University Division Management Advisory Committee, sent a joint letter to
Mike Rogers, Faculty Athletics Representative at Baylor University who serves as Chair of the Division I Amateurism Cabinet. They requested that CoSIDA be represented and used as a resource with regard to that Cabinet’s recent announcement that this group would draft legislation proposals for the 2010-11 cycle that would specifically seek to delineate what institutions can and cannot do with student-athlete names and likenesses in regard to commercial activity.
The letter indicated, due to how communications directors are/should be involved with this topic within their respective programs, that this is something CoSIDA should participate in as part of the Cabinet's discussions and review. It was indicated that CoSIDA's perspective on this topic would be helpful to the group in their deliberations and drafting of legislation in this regard. On Nov. 19, CoSIDA was informed by
Rachel Newman Baker (the NCAA office’s liaison with DI Amateurism Cabinet) that our request has been granted and that a conference call will be scheduled for this purpose (likely in January).
Justin Doherty and
officers/Board will appoint a few D1 Communications Directors to an advisory group that will discuss this topic with the Cabinet.
• On Nov. 10
, Bill Wagner (DePauw), President of DIII-SIDA, Dave Wrath (Augustana) and
Larry Happel (Central College), VP’s for Division III-SIDA, Eric McDowell [Union College] who is Chair of CoSIDA’s College Division Management Advisory Committee, along with
John Humenik - held a conference call with
Dan Dutcher (VP for Division III at the NCAA) and
Leah Kareti (Director for Division III at the NCAA), as well as other
NCAA staff members from the communications, branding, graphics and governance divisions regarding the DIII branding identity process. Specifically, time was spent trying to assist the NCAA group with ideas as to how to “tactically” help them now communicate this new branding identity program - in the short term and long-term- among communications directors, campus associates and the community at-large.
A decision was made at the end to have the Board of Directors of DIII-SIDA serve as a strategic advisory committee to the NCAA DIII staff on this matter going forward, both short and long-term. In addition,
Bill Wagner was asked to come to the NCAA Convention in Atlanta and assist the NCAA staff with regard to this discussion that will take place with the DIII NCAA membership on January 15.
• Rich Herman (Clarion), President of DII-SIDA, had a conference call on Nov. 19 with
Eric Schob, 3rd VP for DII Athletics Directors Association, as part of regular communications that have now been put into place between those two DII organizations to discuss mutual issues and challenges.
• CoSIDA 3rd VP Tom DiCamillo (Central Arizona College) addressed a meeting of the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference and discussed CoSIDA's desire to work with them and other two-year institutions around the nation to build a better understanding of CoSIDA and its ability to assist that group with communications-based challenges and training
.
General Organizational
• CoSIDA Secretary/E-Digest editor Jeff Hodges (North Alabama) continued to work with the officers on needed revisions relative to the constitution. When that process is completed the constitution, with proposed revisions, will be provided to the full Board for review and then input and that will be followed by Jeff posting proposed amendment revisions/amendments on the organizational website in the spring for membership review prior to those revisions being voted on at the San Francisco Convention on July 7.
• Treasurer Dave Wohlhueter worked with our accounting and legal firms to prepare and submit appropriate financial report forms to the IRS.
• Justin Doherty and
John Humenik began work on organizational plans as it relates to having committee chairs provide, both in writing and participation on a Board conference call, an update on progress/status as it relates to the specific goals and objectives that they provided for their respective committees this past August.
• Barb Kowal and
John Humenik continued to have conference calls with TRZ to finalize arrangements for expanded teleconferencing opportunities for various needs now associated with our expanded divisional leadership and membership groups.
2010 San Francisco Convention Matters
• Doug Walker (Alabama), 2nd VP for CoSIDA, presented the Board on Nov. 5th two final convention logo concepts. After reviewing, the Board chose a logo for this year’s San Francisco Convention. This logo will now be used in various ways as the organization continues to move forward with preparations for that event. It is expected that this logo will be presented to the membership at some point in December.
• Dave Wohlhueter, Barb Kowal and
John Humenik began work with
Brian Binette of Sports Systems, Inc. to evaluate and update the convention online registration system for the San Francisco Convention. The group hopes to have that system fully functional by Feb. 1, 2010.
• Paul Allan, Chair of the Exhibitors Committee, worked with
John Humenik and
Barb Kowal to coordinate appropriate information and contract posted on website for those companies interested in exhibiting at the San Francisco Convention.
• Barb Kowal coordinated the first meeting of the organizational committee for the inaugural Hall of Fame Gala in San Francisco that will jointly honor CoSIDA’s Hall of Fame inductees as well as the inductees for the 2010 Academic All-America Hall of Fame class.
Bernie Cafarelli (Notre Dame) and
Jim Seavey (Massachusetts Maritme) from the Academic All-America Committee, Jeff Hodges (North Alabama), Rob Knox (Kutztown State) and
Joe Browning (UNC-Wilmington) of the CoSIDA Board as well as
Kowal and
John Humenik compose that group.
Fund Raising and Sponsorships
• John Humenik sent Thanksgiving holiday best wishes cards to all of our corporate partners.
• John Humenik finalized upcoming personal visits in New York City (early December) with the following organizations and corporate partners. He will visit with them while in New York to represent CoSIDA at the annual National Football Foundation Banquet on Dec. 7-8th.
Humenik will meet with ESPN, CBS, NFL, FOX, Sports Illustrated and ASAP Sports.
Academic All-America Matters
• John Humenik worked with
Collegiate Images, LLC to successfully handle an infringement matter with a high school basketball camp as it related to the registered “Academic All-America” mark.
• Barb Kowal finalized all contractual aspects for carrying out various elements of the awards fulfillment aspects for the certificates and All-America plaques and awards for the program.
• John Humenik set up a meeting with
ESPN executives in New York (Rosa Gatti, Senior VP for Communications; Sean Hanrahan, VP for Sales; and Pete McDevitt, Director of College Sports Sales) to discuss various aspects of the contract renewal process for ESPN’s support of the Academic All-America programs. The current contract expires in June of 2010 and we are seeking an extension/renewal.
• ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District and Academic All-America teams were announced for men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball and football over the course of the month.
• John Humenik sent a letter to
Amy Perko (Executive Director of the Knight Commission and a 2008 inductee into the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame) seeking a future opportunity to meet and discuss ways/role that the Knight Commission and Foundation might be able to support the missions of the Academic All-America programs.
Education and Professional Development Based
• On Nov. 3,
the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) announced dates/locations for workshops that would specifically address how schools should advance plan and deal with significant incidents in this regard that might take place at collegiate events. The NC4S’s efforts in this regard have been backed and supported by the Department of Homeland Security and N
C4S Executive Director Lou Marciani addressed the CoSIDA Convetion in San Antonia last June on this subject. This story on training dates/locations was sent out to the entire CoSIDA membership on Nov. 9
(click here to view story). All CoSIDA members were asked to visit with appropriate personnel in their Athletic Department/campus to make them aware of these training sessions and the need for them and for the communications directors to be one of several university/athletic department reps who should attend.
Miscellaneous
• On Nov. 29, the December CoSIDA Digest edition was posted online. Among the many elements in the e-Digest, you will find submission information and deadlines for the 2009-10 Publications Contests and features on professional development issues for the membership.
If you have any article or feature ideas, submissions or suggestions for the CoSIDA e-Digest or for CoSIDA.com, please contact Jeff Hodges, Digest editor (sportsInformation@una.edu) and/or Barb Kowal, CoSIDA Director of External Affairs (barbkowal@cosida.com).
Again, best wishes as we enter the holiday season. Thank you for taking the time to read our montly newsletter, and please do not hesitate to contact any member of the Board of Directors or CoSIDA staff members if you have any questions, concerns or suggestions as we move into the second half of our academic year.
Justin Doherty, University of Wisconsin2010 CoSIDA Presidentjmd@athletics.wisc.eduJohn HumenikExecutive Directorjhumenik@bellsouth.net