AMERICAN SOCIETY
OF EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGISTS
Founded, 1997

President’s Report
February 1998

Sorry for the slight delay in getting this report posted.  As you will see, I have had a busy month with increasing submissions to JEPonline, and organizational work for the 2nd Annual Meeting in October, 1999.  Additional items that I need to share with you concern interactions with ACSM, change from a regional to a state structure within ASEP, and feedback from committee members concerning the letters I mailed during the last week of January.

1999 Annual Meeting

It is now official that the Wyndham Hotel is the site for the 1999 Annual Meeting.  The delay in making the location final was based on contract negotiations that were drawn out over December 1998 and January 1999.  However, I am pleased to say that we have a great deal, and as you will see from the webpages I have developed, the potential for a great meeting.  Remember, the Wyndham Hotel has a web site (http://www.wynatabq.com) from which you can do the following:

1. complete reservations
2. see photographs of the amenities
3. see a map of the conference facilities
4. see a map of Albuquerque
5. obtain tips for travel and recreation within and surrounding Albuquerque

I have finally completed the webpages for the conference.  They were posted on March 8 1999 through the webpage of the ASEP Student Chapter of the University of New Mexico (http://www.unm.edu/~asep/unmasep.html).  Tommy Boone is currently checking the contents of these pages, and any other feedback will be appreciated.

I have my secretary currently working on how the Wyndham Hotel registration webpage can be changed to recognize conference attendants, as the room rate is less for individuals who attend the conference ($65-75, depending on the room).  Once this information is clarified, I will add more information to the webpages that explains the correct procedure for room reservations.

The Key Note speaker for the conference is Brian Sharkey, Ph.D.  He is excited about what we are doing within ASEP, and will talk on the development of exercise physiology, and his reflections on this field now that he is preparing to retire from academia.  I have also organized numerous invited speakers such as Richard Kreider (creatine supplementation), Scott Roberts (clinical exercise physiology), Brent Ruby (energy expenditure and fluid balance), and Roberto Quintana (altitude physiology).

There will be three presentations of ASEP Procedures Recommendations:

1. Body Composition (Vivian Heyward);
2. VO2max (Robert Robergs); and
3. Muscular Strength and Power (Lee Brown).

As with last year, sessions will also be devoted to issues of:

1. Professionalism;
2. Accreditation;
3. Certification;
4. Licensure; and
5. Job market issues.

Journal of Exercise Physiologyonline

It appears that the two-fold style (html and Adobe Acrobat) for JEPonline was liked by many of the members.  I have continued to work on the Adobe Acrobat version, and all manuscripts accepted for the April issue will be presented in both formats.  Mark White From Sacramento State University has further developed the Acrobat version, and I will try to include his recommendations for inclusion of hyperlinks within the document to allow for immediate direction to references, tables and figures.  Remember that the Acrobat files require Adobe Acrobat Reader.  Adobe Acrobat Reader is free software that can be downloaded from the Adobe website (http://www.adobe.com), or will be downloaded automatically when you try to view the Adobe Acrobat file. If you have the latest version of Netscape Navigator you will be able to retrieve the document as a multiple page file.  Those with an older version of Navigator will need to update to a more recent version to better access this format.

I have had an increasing rate of manuscript submissions to JEPonline.  This requires that I use more of the topics editors, do less editorial and review work myself, and slightly prolong the duration for manuscript review.  I request that all submitters have slightly more patience until we at ASEP can better organize how we can handle the increasing volume of submissions.  In addition, I request all topics editors to be diligent in supervising the manuscript review process, and be very aware of the duration of the review process.  Based on the comments I receive in cover letters accompanying manuscript submissions, exercise physiologists (ASEP members and non-members) are pleased to have a choice of an internet-based peer reviewed journal that has unrestricted international access, no page charges, and can use color in the publication process.

The first Special Issue is still taking shape.  However, I need to formally organize this project by writing to all participants and clarifying manuscript topics.  Due to the need to publish accepted abstracts in the October 1999 issue of JEPonline, followed by the publication of the ASEP Procedures Recommendations in the January 2000 issue, the JEPonline issue date for this Special Issue may have to be April 2000.  Based on my delays in formally organizing this issue, this is looking to be a more realistic schedule.

Letters to Other Organizations

I have had further discussions with Paul Thompson, President of ACSM.  During early February Paul and I had agreed to a meeting between several ACSM officials and the Board of Directors of ASEP.  This meeting was to occur on March 25 in Indianapolis. Unfortunately, Paul emailed me three weeks ago with the news that we can not have this meeting, and did not provide any explanation.  I have not been in contact with Paul since.  However, I will do so and request that a meeting is needed, even if it is to be delayed until the ACSM National Meeting when all required individuals will be in one location.

It is logical to perceive that ACSM has some concern over the existence and functions of  ASEP.  However, based on my reading and awareness of the reasons that ACSM was founded in 1954, part of the mission of ACSM is to support all professions associated with how exercise and physical activity influence the human body.  ASEP has requested a positive interaction with ACSM for two years, and I have discussed the professionalization of exercise physiology with ACSM Presidents dating back to Steve Blair (1996).  However, ACSM still refuses to acknowledge the need to recognize and support ASEP.  ASEP will continue to request formal interaction between the two organizations, and function with the utmost concern for professionalism and integrity. Nevertheless, the longer it takes for a meeting between ACSM and ASEP, the more clear it is that the obstacle to this meeting is not ASEP but ACSM.

Committee Functions

I mailed letters to all committee chairs and members during the last week in January.  I have discussed (verbally or email) these letters with the accreditation, certification, and research committees, but still need to talk with chairs of the Public Education and Job Market, Women in Exercise Physiology, and Licensure committees.  Due to the need to replace the chairs for the Standards and Regional Societies committees, I am currently supervising these committees.  As I mentioned last month, if any members want to chair one of these committees, please let me know.

I want to stress to all committee chairs and members that the most important of ASEP functions are connected to the committees, and that the progress of ASEP is dependent on the accomplishments of these committees.  These functions are more important than what I do as President, and what the Board of Directors decide for specific ASEP functions and administrative structures.  I encourage you to pursue the directives I have given you with the enthusiasm and professionalism that I know you all are capable of.

ASEP Student Representative
Organizations and ASEP Membership Statistics

I want to comment on student representative organizations and membership in ASEP in the same section.  As I have mentioned in previous reports, ASEP membership must continue to increase to provide the membership power needed to optimize efforts at certification, licensure, accreditation, and leverage with other exercise physiology related organizations.  A logical place to start this membership drive is with the undergraduate and graduate students of your own academic institution, or with individuals in the private sector who have any degree in an exercise science based program of study.

Tommy Boone has had tremendous success in recruiting membership in the students from St. Scholastica, as well as from other university programs in Minnesota. I have followed Tommy’s lead with efforts to recruit members from the University of New Mexico.  For example, the number of members from Duluth total 28 (24 students, 4 professional), and the members from Albuquerque total 17 (13 students, 4 professionals).  I still expect more members from Albuquerque!  This means that just under one fifth of all ASEP members come from two cities.  It is clear that all members who have access to a professional or student body of exercise physiologists should try to devote some time to member recruitment.  Can you imagine how ASEP will grow if the same membership statistics were acquired by all the institutions and businesses affiliated with ASEP through professional members?

I know at first hand how hard and frustrating it is to recruit members at all levels.  However, we must continue to recruit members.  There are so many businesses and academic institutions represented by our professional members.  It is imperative that all professional members attempt to increase the visibility of ASEP to fellow professionals or students.  For example, at the University of New Mexico the students have developed posters and information displays of ASEP that have been posted in numerous buildings on campus.  Individuals are contacting all health and fitness centers to explain what ASEP is and why suitably qualified individuals need to join.  In addition, administrators of the health and fitness centers have been invited to become professional members of the ASEP Student Chapter of the University of New Mexico (which requires national membership).  Remember, guidelines for developing student chapters exist on the ASEP website, and all that might be needed is to have one motivated student accept the responsibility to be student president and recruit other student members, who recruit other student members, etc.  The process at St. Scholastica and New Mexico has been one of a snowballing effect.  You will be amazed what your students can accomplish.

It is still my expectation that by October 1999 ASEP membership should exceed 1,000.  We are behind in the estimated growth of 80 members/month from January to October 1999 to reach this total.  Keep apprised of the membership totals each month and do your share of work in making this figure grow.

Committee For the 2000 Annual Meeting

Last month I introduced the potential need for a committee that just concerns itself with the annual meeting.  I also raised several questions that need to be answered prior to the 1999 annual meeting.  Once again, the questions were:

1. Should we change the meeting location every year?
2. Should the meeting location be in the same city as the President?
3. Do the benefits of the same location out-weigh the potential benefits of the added exposure and promotion of ASEP by moving the conference around the country?
4. Is there added exposure and promotion of ASEP by moving the conference around the country?
5. Do we need a full committee to organize the meeting, or just one individual supported by an ASEP student chapter organization?
6. Should the President select this committee or committee chair?

The above questions will be discussed by the ASEP Board of Directors, but the more feedback we get from members the better.  As always, I encourage you to provide feedback to me.

Regional vs. State Structure of ASEP

I have had considerable communication with state level exercise physiologists working towards state specific licensure.  My main contact has been Steve Jungbauer from Indiana, who is now a member.  One recommendation from Steve was that a regional structure was not congruent with the licensure objectives of ASEP.  For example, when ASEP eventually is able to tackle licensure with full force, state specific politics and regulations may make a regional structure extremely difficult to operate. Every other professional organization that has been successful in attaining state licensure (eg. Dietetics), has a state by state structure.  Such a state-based structure does not mean that there cannot be regional meetings within ASEP in the future.  However, it does provide ASEP with the ability to support state specific needs in the process of licensing exercise physiologists.

The ASEP Board of Directors discussed the issue of state vs. regional structure, and decided that there the many advantages of a state based approach required that ASEP adopt such a structure.  As of February, 1999, ASEP has changed to a state structure, and these changes will be evident in the webpages in the near future.  Based on my conversations with state specific clinical exercise physiologists (Indiana, Louisiana, Kentucky, Florida, California, Ohio, Utah, New Jersey, Maryland) it appears that these state level organizations may be willing to accept ASEP as their national organization, thereby immediately providing ASEP with many states that already are organized and making progress towards state specific licensure of exercise physiology.  Our job at ASEP, and within these state specific organizations, is to develop a suitable scope of practice that supports all exercise physiologists, and not just those who practice clinical exercise physiology.

I have schedule Steve Jungbauer to talk about his experience in the efforts for state specific licensure of clinical exercise physiologists at the 1999 2nd annual national meeting of ASEP in October.

That is it for the month of February.

Robert Robergs, Ph.D., FASEP
President - ASEP