November 2011

To AAHPERD members:

The NASPE Board of Directors believes we are at a critical juncture in the history of AAHPERD and we need you to provide your feedback, comments, and concerns to the AAHPERD leadership. At this time, AAHPERD is planning to unify into one association. Under normal circumstances, the Alliance Assembly would have to approve this at the Boston Alliance Assembly, but recent legal counsel has determined that the Board of Governors is the sole decision-making body of AAHPERD and it cannot be overruled by the Alliance Assembly. Thus, the Alliance Assembly in Boston will be asked to give a vote of support for this proposal, but the vote will not be binding.

Of note, the mission statement in the reorganization proposal that was presented to the Board of Governors focused solely on physical activity. However, the Board of Governors removed the suggested mission statement before voting in support of the proposal. It is our belief that agreeing to restructure the organization without a specified mission is of serious concern. Effective organizations are mission-driven. Focusing on what we do that no other organization does is critical to building a strong, efficient structure. The structure should be designed to ensure that the mission gets accomplished. In recognition of this important omission, AAHPERD President Brad Strand has appointed Jackie Lund to chair an ad-hoc committee to develop a mission statement.

It is our belief that the mission and future name should reflect the majority of the membership, that is, physical educators who frequently also serve as health educators and sport coaches. We are the only professional organization that serves the discipline of physical education and this is an opportunity to develop a highly effective and focused structure that serves the membership to the fullest. We understand that physical activity is a very inclusive term, but there are numerous existing organizations whose mission is to increase physical activity. This is not an area where we can compete, nor does it represent how most of our members think of themselves professionally. Physical activity is a result of effective physical education programs.

A potential mission statement could be:

The mission of “the organization” is to promote comprehensive physical education and sport through the enhancement of knowledge, research, and best practices.

We hope you will discuss these important issues at your professional meetings and conventions so that the information reaches the greatest number of members. If you have comments or concerns, we hope you will let our leadership know (as follows):

• If you have comments or concerns about the diminished decision making role of the Alliance Assembly at this important time in our organization, we ask that you contact the AAHPERD Presidents and the CEO and urge them to find a way to make the Alliance Assembly vote meaningful and binding.
  • Brad Strand, President, Bradford. strand@ndsu.edu
  • Vicki Worrell, Past President, vworrell@emporia.edu
  • Irene Cucina, President-Elect, icucina@plymouth.edu
  • Paul Roetert, CEO, proetert@aahperd.org
• If you have comments about the future mission statement, please contact Jackie Lund, who will be chairing the ad-hoc committee to develop a mission statement. - jllund@bellsouth.net
• You can also contact the NASPE Board of Directors with your comments and concerns by emailing Lynn Couturier, Past-President, lynn.couturier@cortland.edu