Hello, My name is Tommy Boone.  I was the first President of the American Society of Exercise Physiologists (ASEP). As an exercise physiologist, I am the Chair of the Department of Exercise Physiology at The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN. The department is located in the Science Center just in front of the Tower Hall. For an overview of the campus, click on campus. The department has around 45 to 50 undergraduate students and 25 graduate students. The undergraduate academic program is a Bachelor of Arts degree in Exercise Physiology with an emphasis in either athletic training, sports psychology, clinical exercise physiology, sport management, or research. The graduate program is a Master of Art degree in Exercise Physiology with an emphasis in either cardiopulmonary rehab or exercise physiology research. The department has three exercise physiologists, four laboratories (kinesiology, anatomy [cadavers] lab, undergraduate exercise physiology lab, and a graduate exercise physiology lab). The EP labs are well-equipped to study cardiovascular physiology; each has its own CardiO2 Medical Graphics metabolic analyzers, treadmills, bikes, online computers, and the other typical EP equipment. I have been a college teacher for many years. If you want to see my Resume, perhaps, to get an idea of my professional and/or research interests. No problem, you may also refer to one of the ASEPNewsletter pages. If you want to know why I'm involved in the American Society of Exercise Physiologists (ASEP), the reason is simple. I believe exercise physiologists need their own professional organization to address the professionalization of exercise physiology. I am convinced that it cannot (and will not) be done by individuals interested in sports medicine. Instead, exercise physiologists must come together and work through what is meant by a profession, professionalism, and professionalization (intellectual concerns, the EPs' body of knowledge and their education, and peer accountability to mention just a few). Is exercise physiology a semiprofession, if so, what are we doing about the quest for professionalism? What is the process of professionalization, and does anyone understand the challenge of professionalization (and the concerns for specialized knowledge, autonomy in exercise physiology, monoploy over services, and buying into the various types of exercise physiology research)? What does the public think about exercise physiologists? Why don't we have a standardized education for exercise physiologists? Who are we accountable to, and what are our credentials? What is our credibility. Why do we need a new image, common values, and visionary thinking to move us collectively into the next century? These are but a few of the very important questions that exercise physiologists must face as well as all of the very important research, clinical, and athletic questions yet to be addressed. So, I wrote the ASEP Charter, put it on the Internet along with the other ASEP Internet pages. I am the WebMaster (if you can believe it). I edit the Internet pages on a daily basis, and work closely with the ASEP co-founder, Dr. Robert Robergs of the University of New Mexico. I started the ASEPNewsletter, the Journal of Exercise Physiologyonline, and theProfessionalization of Exercise Physiologyonline for no other reason except to help our students with the transition towards professional growth and stability and to produce electronic journals for exercise physiologists. Our students need our support, planning, and understanding, and it is important to me that, after all these years of working as an exercise physiologist, that I stop working for me so much and work for my students. By this, I mean that ASEP exists for the student and professional exercise physiologists. It goes beyond the effort all of us have made for years as a college teacher. Now, we must walk the walk and be there to support our students and to help them access jobs. We need to help our students learn leadership skills because employers look for candidates who can listen, communicate, and work well with people. Our students need problem-solving skills, too. They must be able to demonstrate the ability to think critically and quickly on their feet and not just while running or lifting heavy weights. We need to help them build their confidence, avoid career pitfalls, and access relevant hands-on experiences that convey to employers their worth, dependability, and professional demeanor. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to do these things. Our academic programs are not as flexible as we would like, and there is no magic formula to land the college graduate a job as an exercise physiologist. Finding the right thinking in building our academic programs will not happen overnight and it would be a huge mistake thinking so. The real benefits of ASEP will not be fully realized for years to come, but the demand is now and thus the process is underway. Although ASEP is significantly short-staffed (and I was the President, by default), it is constantly defying the odds of never getting off the "what if " way of thinking. It does exist. It is a legal non-profit organization, and there are members who are focused to setting into place strategic plans for change. Sure, it won't be easy, but jogging isn't either for me or the 1000s of others who work at it but do it anyway. ASEP is a start, and good one at that, especially if you are searching for others to talk to when the job market isn't hot and options seem very few indeed. Networking is vital, and exercise physiologists need to get out there and make contact with as many people as possible. Well, that is a little bit about me and my concerns. I believe in ASEP because it is my hope (and maybe yours) of a new image for exercise physiologists. I think it will elevate all of us to a better position as each one of us puts his/her part in the Society. Thanks for your interest in ASEP. I can be reached at my office (218)723-6297 or FAX (218)723-6472. Founded, 1997 ASEP Table of Contents