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This story is part of our November 2021 CoSIDA 360 package, to view more stories,
click here.
From the Desk of CoSIDA President Cindy Potter
by Cindy Potter – 2021-22 CoSIDA President
Columbia College (Mo.), Senior Deputy Director of Athletics @CougarCanuck
It’s November…already! If you’re like me then your days have been very long, but the weeks have been short. Crossover season is in full effect and, although far from the normal of 2019, things are in a much different state than this time last year.
If you’ve read my last few columns, you can tell by now I’m willing to speak up when I feel necessary. I’m certainly not someone who enjoys confrontation, sharing my opinion publicly or putting myself out there, but in this role it’s part of the position. I’ve learned over the years that I cannot please everyone and most of the time I can’t even please half! What you probably couldn’t tell is that I don’t enjoy writing, no matter the topic, and that I am driving Beau White crazy with my last-minute submissions. And although this is yet again a last-minute submission, this is a piece that has been at the forefront of my mind for months now.
Doug Vance. Although his retirement announcement was just
shared publicly last week, I’ve been expecting this since he signed his last contract. I remember planning out in my head the time when his contract would expire and if it would mean I would have a new executive director for my presidential year or not. It was a relief to know I would have Doug to help me through the year and that if he retired following that contract, at least it was after convention. Selfish? Absolutely! But let me explain myself.
Doug and I on our recent site visit to Las Vegas planning for the #CoSIDA22 convention.
By next summer, Doug will have worked with 10 CoSIDA presidents in his executive director role when Jessica Poole receives the gavel at convention. Each president has different, sometimes drastically different, agendas, opinions, work schedules and personal commitments, yet he accommodates everyone seamlessly. He rallies the staff around the new president every year and together they all make it happen. Things don’t just slip through the cracks or get left out, they all pick each other up and do it for the benefit of CoSIDA. That is all Doug! He’s the glue that holds everything together and keeps everyone fixated on the membership’s needs.
I had the amazing pleasure of taking my family to Arizona for a few days at the end of June to spend time with Doug, his wife Sue, and several family members. Although I learned a lot from Doug and the staff about being president, it was the personal conversations with Doug for which I am most grateful for. This is a job for him, but it’s also his life.
Visiting with Doug and Sue in Arizona last summer.
Shelly Poe said it best that CoSIDA has remained strong and relevant with Doug at the helm. He has fostered new ideas to grow membership, increase participation and engagement, and overall has been a shoulder to lean on through tough times. He’s an advocate, ambassador, and most importantly a believer in everything for which CoSIDA stands.
For me, the immense sense of pride I have from being CoSIDA president is second only to the honor of working with Doug these last eight years.
Congratulations Doug and thank you! CoSIDA is better because of you.
Cindy
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