By Bob Lowe, Berry College Director of Sports Information and Promotions
A dozen strategic communicators met in Dahlonega, Georgia at the first meeting of Georgia college sports information directors on January 18, 2015. The individuals committed a Sunday to professional development, fellowship and a sharing of ideas on the campus of the University of North Georgia.
Lee Glenn, UNG’s assistant athletic director for communications and branding, organized the gathering.
“The meeting’s mission was to provide an opportunity to not only build personal relationships within our profession, but to share the resourcefulness that athletic communications professionals exhibit every day,” said Glenn.
The rest of the sports information directors were:
Chad Haynie, North Georgia Assistant Director of Athletic Communications;
Tim Hix, Georgia Associate Sports Communications Director;
Nick Irwin, Oglethorpe, Sports Information Director;
Danielle Jenkins, Piedmont Assistant Director of Athletic Communications;
Bob Lowe, Berry Director of Sports Information and Promotions;
Michael MacEachern, Young Harris Assistant Athletic Director, Sports Communications;
Andrew Mindeman, Covenant Sports Information Director and
Clay Trainum, Georgia Gwinnett Sports Information Director. Additionally, two student assistants (Grant Hix of UNG and Mitchell Miegel of Berry) - and one statistician/wife (Robin Hix) - shared in the day’s events.
In an informal setting, Glenn welcomed the group. He then introduced Tim Hix, a 30-year veteran of the profession at UGA. Hix shared his experiences and the idea sharing - which punctuated the day’s events - began. Not surprisingly, Hix was enlightened with conversations about the varied skills and the current job description of today’s college division SID. Likewise, Hix noted that much of the job as a men’s basketball SID at a major university involves serving media, specifically television crews covering his Bulldogs.
Following lunch at a nearby burger joint, the group reconvened in a conference room setting. With a computer and a large screen projector, the attendees shared knowledge and asked questions. Topics of discussion included: streaming video, Photoshop, InDesign, media relations, branding, web hosting applications, AP style, social media and YouTube channels.
A consensus was formed within the group as the activities wound down: Meeting as a group was long overdue. Putting names with faces will go a long way in developing a positive bond of Peach State SIDs.
Additionally, the group identified a need: being a resource for event staffing during crossover season, special events and/or NCAA or NAIA championships. The day closed with a brief tour of UNG’s recently field-turfed soccer, baseball and softball fields. The unique venue’s only dirt can be found on the pitching mound--and the bullpen mounds—of the baseball facility.
Our meeting gained a great deal of traction and will be the foundation for expanding the communication group for the future. The Georgia SIDs have committed to the following:
• Plan an informal gathering at the CoSIDA Convention in Orlando June 14-17, 2015.
• Convene as a collective group again in August at location TBA and will invite associates from all levels. There is great interest from other SIDs who could not travel to North Georgia on January 18.
• Tabled discussion about formalizing an association, but want to keep professional development and idea exchange as the primary focus.
• Use the SLACK app as a way to exchange information and communicate as a group. • Continue to spread the word about our mission.
Any Georgia sports information professionals who would like to be added to the informal membership list should email
lee.glenn@ung.edu.