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Note: This story appeared in the Fall 2020 November edition of CoSIDA 360 Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.
From the President's Desk
Life's a marathon, not a sprint
by Sam Atkinson – CoSIDA president 2020-21 / Gallaudet University, Associate Athletic Director for Communications
It’s a good practice to pause from the hustle and bustle of our day-to-day lives to remember that adage.
Too many times working in the athletics communications field it seems like we are in a sprint. The end doesn’t seem to be in sight, deadlines and requests mount and the games go on whether we’re ready or not.
While this has not been a typical fall or typical times, our focus remains the same. We’ve always been trained to promote our institutions, conferences, divisions, athletic departments, staffs and most importantly our student-athletes.
While the core focus hasn’t shifted, the way we execute our jobs has.
Many of us have had to switch gears and perform our duties remotely and juggle other personal responsibilities while at home. For some, we’ve been asked to take a furlough to help save the bottom line at an institution or conference office. Unfortunately, some of our members have been laid off or had their position cut during this COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a tough reality that’s impacting many different people in all types of professions across the country. Working through a pandemic is new to all of us. The pitfalls we’re navigating and dealing with are overwhelming at times, but we continue to plug away through our own life marathon.
The same can be applied to CoSIDA as an organization. We stand with each and every one of you during these trying times.
Our focus remains Advocate, Connect, Educate, Honor and Support our members. This year, more than ever, the “advocate” part has been leading the charge as we continue to champion the athletic communications profession, educate leaders about the value we bring to athletic departments and be there for our members.
Here are some things CoSIDA, its executive board, staff and committees has been actively doing on your behalf: Executive Director Doug Vance penned a letter to every athletic director and conference commissioner who is a member of NACDA; there have been phone calls, emails and virtual conversations to allies and collegiate leaders to advocate and educate for the profession and dialogue with colleagues and members who are going through difficult times. That, along with the countless hours of servant leadership being done by our committees that directly impact our members and profession continues to be our focus, and will be our focus through these trying times.
In this issue of CoSIDA 360, we learn the tricks and tips of several veteran CoSIDA members who have lasted a long time in the profession. CoSIDA Director of Creative Services Beau White dives into our cover story “Staying Power” as we learn how these members continue their life marathon in the athletic communications field and how to avoid being stuck in the sprint and getting burned out.
One way some of our members have continued to thrive in the athletic communications field has been getting promoted and taking on more responsibilities. A select few CoSIDA members they have taken on senior athletic leadership roles and been tasked with sport supervision. CoSIDA Director of Membership Engagement Laurie Bollig highlights several of our members with that added role as it demonstrates the versatility and value sports information directors bring to an athletic department and how these responsibilities prepare them for future leadership roles in collegiate athletics like becoming an athletic director.
As I mentioned, the pandemic has forced us all to do things differently and CoSIDA’s New Media Committee members Alex Falk (Manhattanville) and Dan Colleran (Notre Dame) compare their experience doing similar jobs during the pandemic at a Division III and a Division I institution.
November is National Adoption Month and CoSIDA Past President Rob Carolla profiles four CoSIDA members who have adopted children and how that fits in with their life and career.
As we head into the holiday season, let’s all pause a moment from the hustle and bustle and be thankful for the things we have and the people that are a part of our lives. Rest assured that CoSIDA is thankful for you, our members, and we will continue to work relentlessly on your behalf. I wish you all a happy, healthy and safe holiday season this year.
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