"Vision is the art of seeing the invisible." -- Jonathan Swift
What is ASEP?
As a national non-profit professional organization, the American Society of Exercise Physiologists (ASEP) is committed to the advancement of exercise physiologists as healthcare professionals. Founded in 1997 in the state of Minnesota, the Society provides a forum for leadership and exchange of information to stimulate discussion and collaboration among exercise physiologists active in all aspects of the profession. The Society works to set standards for exercise physiologists through ASEP-approved curricula in universities and colleges in the United States.
The ASEP Vision
The ASEP Vision generates hope and motivation for the discouraged. The ASEP Vision answers three questions:
- What the organization wants to be? To be recognized as the leading professional organization of American scholars and practitioners in the study and application of exercise physiology to fitness, health promotion, rehabilitation, and sports training.
- What it wants to accomplish? The Society of Exercise Physiologists is dedicated to unifying all exercise physiologists in the United States and worldwide to promote and support the study, practice, teaching, research, and development of the exercise physiology profession.
- Whom it wants to serve? Through proactive and creative leadership, the Society empowers its members to serve the public good by making an academically sound difference in the application of exercise physiology concepts and insights.
Vision is the Key to the Future!
"Vision is more than what you see. Vision is opening your eyes -- and your mind's eye, as well -- to that inner place where you see and foresee, where you dream and imagine and create....You could be satisfied with the status quo. You could be content to leave things as they are. You could choose not to "rock the boat,''upset the apple cart,' or 'make waves.' You could repeat the sad and dangerous words, so often heard: 'But we've always done it this way.' But then you and your business would probably not improve, not progress, not prosper." -- Dosick, R.W.
Who Belongs To ASEP?
Any exercise physiologist can belong to the Society. ASEP members are educated professionals who have the minimum of a bachelor's degree in exercise physiology. Members with a related degree program can earn the professional title, Exercise Physiologist Certified (EPC), by passing the board certification exam. They are recognized as leading scholars and practitioners in the study and application of exercise medicine to fitness, health promotion, rehabilitation, and sports training. ASEP seeks to improve the health and quality of life of individuals in society by advancing the exercise physiologists' standards of professional practice, education, and research, and by increasing the awareness and understanding of exercise medicine in the nation's healthcare system.
What Are Some Objectives Of ASEP?
1. Unify exercise physiologists to promote and support the professionalization of exercise physiology.
2. Promote exchange of ideas and information regarding all phases of exercise physiology.
3. Encourage the implementation of academic programs to meet the diverse interests and career opportunities in exercise physiology.
4. Promote the exchange of scientific information between ASEP and organizations interested in health promotion, disease prevention, rehabilitation, sports fitness, and athletic training.
5. Set the agenda, enhance, and increase visibility of the exercise physiology profession.
6. Commit to quality and integrity in exercise physiology through adherence to a formalized code of professional responsibility.
ASEP members have created an organization that by virtue of its values and commitment to other exercise physiologists has had (even at this point in its infancy) a tremendous impact as to how exercise physiologists are beginning to think about who they are and what they do. They have stepped forward in faith that they can and will make a change in the ongoing image and practice of exercise physiologists not only in the United States but worldwide. Their commitment is the continued growth of ASEP so that it will not only last through the ages but will indeed become the premier institution for exercise physiologists. As A Visionary Organization......
What Is It About ASEP That Is Important To Know?
1. That, like the parable of the tortoise and the hare, ASEP got a slow start but it will win over the long run.
2. That the primary reason for the existence of ASEP is the well-being of the exercise physiologists. Its core ideology goes beyond making ASEP special but rather to make exercise physiologists special.
3. That members of ASEP believe in the Society's ideology. In fact, when ask, What do we actually value; the bottom line? The answer is an exercise physiology-driven view of unification and support for exercise physiologists.
4. That, although many ideas and plans will drive and change ASEP, its reason for being will never change. Just like an enduring start on the horizon, its core values and sense of purpose is tightly fixed.
5. That the Society is composed of members who aren't afraid of taking risks and challenging the untried, and they appreciate the members' strengths, insights, and experiences.
6. That ASEP members are driven to elevate the exercise physiology profession to higher standards. They aren't oppose to trying whatever and keeping what works.
7. That ASEP members are concerned with improving themselves so that the Society is further empowered to continually ask the question, What can we do better next year than we did this year?
8. That the Society is expected to grow and the members are expected to benefit from the growth. You can have your cake and eat it too.
9. That even though ASEP has its own Charter with a vision, goals, objectives and so forth,the never-ending value of ASEP is its members, their thoughts and commitment, and their night and day wrestling with the legitimate and essential concern before exercise physiologists, The Professionalization of Exercise Physiology.
The Importance Of Change!
To succeed, members of ASEP must not only be willing to take risks and change but be out in front of the change. That is, while we value our core ideology of uplifting the value and professionalism of exercise physiologists, things that should be changed to adapt and move forward are important and critical to the evolution of ASEP with the public's view and expectation of exercise physiologists.
In other words, although the members' respect and responsibility to each other as well as respect for individual initiative and service to society doesn't change, strategies, goals, and policies must change to stimulate progress and to continually optimize the professionalization of exercise physiology. We must never stop renewing ASEP!
Forget about the notion, It can't be done. Simply stated, it has been done. ASEP does exist, and the members will keep going and doing in search of new possibilities. The inner urge for something better needs no justification, regardless of the assumption by some that ASEP members are flying in the face of conventional wisdom or strategic prudence. As such, what else can exercise physiologists do except to embrace their destiny and to realize their dreams by acting on the drive from within. With all due respect to exercise physiologists worldwide, they are figuring out how they can do what they do better today and in the future.
Final Thoughts...
ASEP members understand the importance of working in concert with each other to preserve the core values and stimulate progress. In the end, they know that it is far better to dare a new organization,winning some battles and losing others, than to take rank with those who neither understand nor care because they exist in the mind set that knows not victory nor defeat.
You Can Help!
Join and support ASEP. Talk to others about the importance of supporting ASEP. Begin to get involved in the profession at the national level by supporting and helping ASEP. Become active at the state level by supporting or starting ASEP affiliated associations. If you should need help or clarification, please use the following email to contact the ASEP National Office: info@asep.org