Day two of the
CoSIDA Convention, taking place in downtown San Francisco at the Marriott Marquis, was themed "Best Practices and Solutions Day." The next two days of workshop programming, discussion and breakout sessions involving key leaders in the communications and athletic leadership ranks will be "Strategic Communications Day" (July 6) and "Digital Summit Day" (July 7).
Over 600 convention goers, exhibitors and sponsors were fully engaged in a day-long slate of panels, discussion groups, meetings and breakout mini-panel/table topics which ranged from:
- An overflow audience of over 400 for popular presenter Dr. Don Ranly's presentation on
"Writing for the Web". The presentation featured Dr. Ranly's numerous power point examples of good/bad writing, sense of humor and his passion for writing and for the athletic communications profession.
- Panels and post-discussion on topics such as credentialing issues in the new media environment, personal balance and family; dealing with major city media; getting involved in CoSIDA leadership positions; and defining today's sportswriter (with members of the FWAA and USBWA media organizations).
- The always popular "Table Topics" presentation took place in an overall two-hour session, with presenters and CoSIDA convention goers discussing 14 topics ranging from FlipCams for Web video; website solutions; online media guides/Z-Mags; NCAA Statistics issues and future ideas; what media need to broadcast your Olympic sports; I am your SID; NCAA Broadcast Policies/Selection Shows policies and ideas; credentialing the first Tweeter; and parents & fans.
The day concluded with an early evening reception, sponsored by corporate partner ESPN.
CoSIDA Awards Luncheon
Among those honored at Monday's luncheon were the following:
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ESPN broadcaster Pam Ward with the Jake Wade Award, given to a member of the media for outstanding contributions to intercollegiate athletics.
- Two "Rising Star" recipients from the CoSIDA ranks, given to two CoSIDA professionals with 10 years or less service to the profession for outstanding achievements, dedication, professionalism and enthusiasm. The 2010 recipients were
Sarah Meier (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) from the College Division and
Dan Drutz (St. Peter's) from the University Division.
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Dennis O'Donnell (University of Rochester) was the 2010 recipient of the Warren Berg Award, given to a College Division member for outstanding contributions to the profession.
- Seven members of CoSIDA who announced their retirement from the profession were recipients of a
2010 Lifetime Achievement Award: Wayne Block of Christopher Newport; former CoSIDA president Rod Commons of Washington State University; Rick Covington, most recently of the Blue-Gray Football Classic; Paul Carson of the University of Toronto; former CoSIDA president Lan
gston Rogers of Ole Miss; Bill Steinman from Columbia University; and Woody Wilk of Fresno City College.
Photo, left: Dan Drutz, University Division Rising Star; ESPN's Pam Ward, Jake Wade Award winner; Dennis O'Donnell, Warren Berg Award recipient; Sarah Meier, College Division Rising Star.
Suprising Langston Rogers: CoSIDA Postgraduate Scholarship to be named in his honor
As
Langston Rogers strode to the front of the room Monday to receive his Lifetime Achievement Award, CoSIDA 3rd Vice President Tom DiCamillo, chair of the Special Awards Committee surprised Rogers that the CoSIDA Postgraduate Scholarship will be renamed in Rogers' honor. That decision was made by the CoSIDA Board of Directors to honor Rogers for his outstanding service to athletic communications, his dedication to student-athletes and his mentoring of young professionals.
The former CoSIDA President and Hall of Famer, Rogers was honored several years ago with the organization's Trailblazer Award for mentoring and assisting young professionals, particularly minority and female athletic PR professionals. The Langston Rogers Postgraduate Scholarship honor will be given to a rising minority or female athletic PR professional. More details will follow.