AMERICAN SOCIETY
OF EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGISTS
Founded, 1997

President's Report
October 1998

After my return to Albuquerque from the annual meeting of October 2-3, 1998 as the new President of ASEP, I immediately started work on three projects: 1) a written revision of the meeting, 2) a written report providing some immediate direction for select committees, and all members, and 3) arrangements for the 1999 annual meeting. My Summary and first President's Report were posted to the website within the first week after the meeting, and arrangements are still in progress for the 1999 national meeting.

During the first meeting of ASEP's Board of Directors on November 6-8, Tommy and I developed a "President's Page" on the website. This site functions to improve interaction between the President and all members. One segment of this interaction is for the President to post descriptions of progress being made at the level of the President and the Board of Directors of ASEP. Another segment is for you to have more immediate access to my email via a link (Robert Robergs).

This monthly report, as with all future reports, will be structured according to the main duties of my office for the 1998-'99 year.

1999 Annual Meeting

Considerable progress has been made on the dates and location of the meeting. For the last four weeks I have worked with my secretary on narrowing the location and date options for the meeting. Although still not final, it seems that the dates of October 8-9 will work. We are currently talking with representatives from a hotel adjacent to the airport that has plenty of rooms, a free airport shuttle, extremely good rates ($65/room), conference facilities and catering, and is only 2 miles from campus. This hotel is located on a hill with good views of the city and the usual routes traveled by the balloons involved in the Albuququerque International Balloon Fiesta. We have arranged for an inspection of the hotel and rooms for the week prior to Thanksgiving.

As expressed in my earlier President's Report, the date of the deadline for abstracts for the next annual meeting is August 1, 1999. This is a relatively late deadline, but functions to allow potential submitters adequate time to collect and analyze data during the spring and summer sessions of 1999. I have given considerable thought to the structure of the meeting, and have considered the following items:

1. Student Research Presentation session(s): for undergraduate, masters and Ph.D. students only. The presentations made in this session(s) will be those that were rated the highest of all the submitted student research abstracts. The audience is open to all members.

2. Procedures in Exercise Physiology: for recognized exercise physiologists to present the details and rationale of important methods used in data collection for research and/or client testing. The presenters that have already committed to this, with presentation titles are:

3. Clinical Exercise Physiology: A segment for clinicians to present their perception of the professionalization of exercise physiology, and how exercise physiologists are and could be used in their practice. The presenters that have already committed to this, with presentation titles are: 4. Research Presentations: For the presentation of research abstracts from student and professional exercise physiologists.

5. Key Note Address: I am still awaiting confirmation of this presentation and honor from my first choice.

6. Professional Issues: This session will provide the information of the progress made since the last meeting on the professionalization of exercise physiology. The following is a list of potential presenters that still need to be confirmed:

For those of you who intend to coincide the meeting with some travel in the southwest region of the United States, or simply want to know more about the Albuquerque - Sante Fe region, the following excellent tourist information is provided on the internet:

Albuquerque Directory Links
Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau
Albuquerque City Map
Albuquerque City Photos
Sandia Peak (north-eastern perimeter of Albuquerque)
New Mexico Department of Tourism
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

I anticipate the development of a webpage that can be posted to our website by January 1.

Journal of Exercise Physiologyonline

The journal continues to receive a consistent flow of submissions. It is a positive sign to us all that we can have a successful quarterly journal within the first year that ASEP was founded, and to have this journal grow. However, to assist in the growth process, all members need to promote the journal as much as possible to peers and students.

I have been working with a Ph.D. student to further develop the presentation of the journal. We currently have a double column format finalized, and are presently working on importing figures and tables into this format. This new presentation format should be ready for the April 1999 issue. The next issue of the journal is January 1999.

Work is in progress for a special issue of the journal on the topics of research methods and statistics. If you have suggestions for individuals to contact to request submissions on these topics, or would like to contribute to this issue, please contact me via email. Work is also in progress for a special issue to present manuscripts from the 1999 annual meeting that will be presented in the Procedures in Exercise Physiology session.

Letters to Other Organizations

A letter has already been completed and mailed to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). This letter, as with all letters that will follow to other organizations, was worded to stress the need for cooperation and support between organizations. By the end of November, additional letters will have been mailed to organizations such as the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), the American Association for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR), the American Physical Therapy Association (APA), the American Dietetics Association (ADA), and the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA). Let me know of other organizations that should also receive a formal letter from ASEP.

I have also started communication with representatives of state specific clinical exercise physiology organizations. This communication is very important so that all exercise physiologists can consolidate efforts through ASEP, thereby becoming more effective in achieving our goals.

Committee Functions

I have yet to complete letters to the current chairs of committees. The contents of my earlier President's Report were presented to provide immediate direction based on the consensus on issues discussed at the 1998 national meeting. I have conducted phone conversations or email communication with several committee chairs (accreditation, research, certification), and I need to provide some continued direction to these committees as soon as possible.

A topic that requires attention for committee functions is the confirmation of committee membership. All chairs of committees need to communicate with their members as to whether each member wants to remain on the committee, or would like to change committees. Any changes need to be revealed to me, so that I can update the committee structure.

Chuck Cortes has agreed to chair a new committee - Governmental and Regulatory Affairs. This committee is responsible for developing a strategy for politicking state senators, so that they are aware of ASEP and the need to protect the current and future employment of exercise physiologists in clinical settings. In addition, this committee needs to plant the seed for the development of state licensure of exercise physiologists. I am sure you are aware that the functions of this committee are extremely important. Chuck will be calling several members to request their participation on this committee. Given the completion of the November state senatorial and governatorial elections, this committee needs to start developing their functions immediately. If you would like to participate on this committee, inform Chuck or myself as soon as possible.

ASEP Student Representative Organizations

I have been working closely with the students in exercise science at the University of New Mexico (UNM) in the development of an official student organization. As of November 7 this organization was official within UNM and ASEP, and has a first official meeting scheduled for November 20. The Constitution and By-Laws of this organization will be posted to the website by Tommy Boone. Tommy is also working with students to form a similar organization at the College of St. Scholastica. Any interested students can print the UNM Constitution and By-Laws, modify as needed for their own institution regulations, and develop their own organization.

That just about covers the month of October. In my November Report you will be informed of the events of the first official meeting of the Board of Directors, held over November 6-8, 1998. In addition, the dates and location of the 2nd annual meeting will be final, and a keynote speaker will have been selected.

Robert Robergs, Ph.D.
President - ASEP