From the President’s Desk – December 2015
see previous Willson column
LINK
CoSIDA Colleagues,
Thankfulness and Reflection … These were the first two words that came to mind as December started this week. I started to write this on Monday, November 30 and realized I need to take a step back or you were going to get a ‘sermon’ that would have made my preacher grandfathers proud. So after a few days here goes...
Most of us had the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with family and friends while the rest of us were spending the time with our athletics families at a holiday tournament or wrapping up another regular season of events. During that time I thought of several things I am thankful for when it comes to CoSIDA and the people in our profession:
• We get to work in what someone on a recent Facebook post call 'the toy box of the athletics department'. Never take for granted that we work in one of the coolest jobs on the planet.
• CoSIDA has a great staff that continues to amaze me with the initiatives that they bring before the Board of Directors on a regular basis to keep us moving forward and not becoming complacent.
• We have a great network of volunteers who serve the organization on the Board of Directors, on a variety of CoSIDA Committees and in other behind-the-scenes roles.
• We have a fantastic group of corporate partners that share our journey of telling the stories of our membership and our athletics departments.
• And, we have each other to lean on in times of need.
This past week was also a time for reflection as we lost two members and the world got a bit scarier in some of our backyards.
Patrick Moore (Madonna University SID) was only 36 years old and Rick Riehl (former SID at Concordia, Wisc.) lost his battle with Cruetzfeldt-Jakob disease at age 67, both men passing on Sunday, November 29. Getting the call about Patrick in the middle of the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Selection Show made my least favorite words in the English language right now – First Four Out – a bit easier to swallow.
Monday also brought a conversation with an SID friend that is dealing with a sick parent and feeling torn about where she needs to spend her time. I reminded her that we can help her during this tough time. It has also been a tough week for our friends at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs as they mourn the loss of one of their campus police officers in the line of duty, as he ran in to protect others.
It has been a week of remembering where our priorities lie as we get ready to turn the calendar. My hope and prayer for all of us as we move into the holiday season is that we live our lives as such that the tributes I have seen written about Patrick, Rick, and others that have left us this year can be said of us when our time comes.
Now, here are a couple of housekeeping notes for the next few weeks ... (I know, I know, announcements usually go before the ‘sermon’):
• 2016 Convention Grant Applications: There will be 20 $800 grants awarded to attend the 2016 CoSIDA Convention in Dallas. Applications are being taken from now until Tuesday, February 9.
• The nomination period for our
CoSIDA Special Awards program is now open! What a great way to honor our colleagues! The deadline for nominations is Sunday, January 31. Nomination information and award descriptions can be seen
HERE.
• Haier Achievement Award: The Haier Achievement Award was introduced in 2014 to recognize student-athletes from colleges and universities for achievements beyond sport. The scholarship and awards program will honor 8 student-athletes throughout the year for their off-field accomplishments such as community service, academic excellence, overcoming adversity or any of a myriad of qualities. Nominations close on January 29, however selections begin in November 2015 and run through February 2016. For more information:
hairachievement.com
• CoSIDA Salary & Compensation Survey: We appreciate the HUNDREDS of members who have taken a few minutes to fill out this survey as we collect important data on salaries and compensation/benefits. Please take a few minutes to fill out the survey if you have yet to do so. The deadline is Dec. 21:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CoSIDAsalarysurvey
• Check our
continuing education schedule, with the next session taking place
Thursday, Dec. 17 on "Balancing work and personal responsibilities during the holiday season."
As always please reach out to me (
jwillson@themw.com) or any member of the CoSIDA Board of Directors or staff if you have any thoughts or questions about CoSIDA.
Judy Willson
2015-16 CoSIDA President
Associate Director of Communications, Mountain West Conference