Power of a Meeting
Tommy Boone, PhD, MPH, FASEP
Professor and Chair
Department of Exercise Physiology
Director of Exercise Physiology
Laboratories
The College of St. Scholastica
1200 Kenwood Office
Duluth, MN 55811
A student asked my hopes
for ASEP. I answered, "The best effect of any organization is that it encourages
others to get involved." What more can a person hope for? I believe it
was John W. Teets, Chairman of Greyhound, Inc. who said,
"A strategist's
job is to see the company not as it is...but as it can become."
As I write this, I still believe
the psychological effect of people coming together to become a unified
voice is hard to resist. After all, we suspect that something is going
on when people come together for a purpose and we sense the power. The
uniqueness and unity are important because both startle us and align our
thinking.
The truth is we don't want
to be left out. Inclusion is important. But even then, the unexpected is
freeing when getting involved means understanding. It may also be obvious
that belonging is contagious and transforming.
In this spirit of looking
inside an organization, as a member, a person begins to feel an inexplicable
sense of rightness and naturalness, as if he/she is finally experiencing
what it means to be an exercise physiologist. In fact, just recently, I
experienced the act of "coming out" during the Duluth ASEP national meeting.
I was among other exercise physiologists who understand what ought to be
done. I recall feeling if not living the hopes and dreams of exercise physiologists.
For the first time during my professional career, a meeting was taking
place that made a difference.
It wasn't the meeting itself
that hooked me. Rather, it was the feeling that it was an experiment in
truth. Everyone who attended couldn't have been more impressed with the
presenters. I don't know how they could have been better. They abandoned
their egos and talked honestly without fear of ridicule.
It is true that it's never
too late for a happy result. This conviction of being involved, regardless
the different backgrounds and academic preparation, is the beginning in
personal responsibility and pride in exercise physiology. It is about giving
to others what we didn't have, thanks to the well-meaning participants.
We must remember that the
meeting was a tremendous success. It was in fact incredible, especially
as the women in exercise physiology spoke out about their professional
concerns. Somewhere within each of us, we knew that the reflections were
right on target. I remember wanting to extend the discussion and allow
the listeners more freedom in analyzing the issues.
The interesting thing is
that the meeting itself initiated change in power. No longer is sports
medicine the power it was. Power has been diverted and now the Society
grows stronger "one day at a time." With increased commitment, the promises
and hopes will become shared accomplishments.
I'll never forget Dr. Robert
Robergs summary remarks. In effect, he said, "You're not alone anymore."
The answer to our problems is the American Sociey of Exercise Physiologist
and, most importantly, that ASEP gets it power from the members. Each member
is therefore important to every other member and, collectively, they control
their future. There is no other way of creating the future, and the secret
is that we have the key to open up the doors of opportunity.
I find comfort and pleasure
in knowing that exercise physiologists have begun the journey of professionalization.
This amazing turn of events is characteristic of the importance of un-learning
decades of narrow thinking. Now, for the first time ever, we are on the
path toward visibility.
I think there are two other
factors that need mentioning, and that need some examination. The first
is that we are recognized by the public sector and others as competent
professionals. Competence is in part based on a sound core exercise physiology
curriculum. Second, in a world heavily dependent upon tests, it is extremely
important to begin a national certification for college graduated exercise
physiologists.
It makes sense, when setting
out to empower exercise physiologists, that more emphasis will be placed
on a quality education and the development of an outcome-based certification
test. The amazing thing is the difference that both will make in discriminating
between fitness and rehabilitation instructors. For certain, a huge burden
will be lifted from everyone who is interested in hiring the credible professional.
All we have to do is continue
to believe in our inner compass, and we will accomplish great things. In
short, I found the following quotation on target.
"If you bring
forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do
not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy
you."The Gnostic Gospel
