Service and Commitment Can Create Change
by Irene
Cucina, Plymouth State University
 For
the past three years, I've had the honor and privilege of
serving as a member of the Executive Committee for The
Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America),
formerly the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education,
Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). I traveled extensively
on behalf of our national organization and attended many state
AHPERD and district conventions. These visits were both exhilarating
and enlightening, and I had the opportunity to meet and spend
time with thousands of outstanding professionals and future
professionals in our field. It has been an experience that
has changed my world view of our profession.
I discovered that people who attend state and district AHPERD
conventions are dedicated professionals who are willing to
serve the profession in a variety of ways. I learned that
our state associations are strong and host top quality annual
conventions. Successful lessons and innovative teaching ideas
are shared openly and willingly. I was astounded at the willingness
of members to serve as convention planners, officers, presenters,
and on committees and task forces.
Our state associations are truly member driven and
mission focused. Member driven in that the success
of everything done at the state level is due to member efforts
usually supported by a part-time Executive Director. These
volunteers plan and develop all professional activities occurring
at the state level. Without them, the professional development
and networking taking place throughout the year would not
exist.
Social activist Robert Alan Silverstein wrote, "Some people
are fortunate enough to earn their livelihoods in jobs that
directly help to create a more peaceful, just and sustainable
world. But much of the efforts to make life better for our
communities and our world are done by volunteers - people
who work for a better world without pay. Volunteers ARE creating
a better world, one person and one act of kindness at a time."
It is exactly this that I saw happening at our state conventions
and on behalf of all of us who have benefitted from the work
of these volunteers, "Thank you."
I am convinced that our professional associations (state,
district, and national) grow stronger when we engage our members
as volunteers. When members volunteer they gain a sense of
ownership and commitment to the success of programs, products,
and services. And people who are committed to serving in organizations
become walking advocates for the mission and vision of the
profession. Marian Wright Edelson, who founded the Children's
Defense Fund said it best when she stated that, "Service is
the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life
and not something you do in your spare time." As a physical
and health educator, I believe that the dedication to serve
our profession and improve the lives of others is one of the
strengths of who we are as professionals.
When we volunteer to serve at the state, district, or national
level it shows a commitment to excellence and taking responsibility
for the direction the organization is headed. When we engage
professionally and learn to network and connect with our peers
we become more knowledgeable and skillful. Volunteering gives
us insight into how professional associations work and the
value of membership. As you can tell, I'm a big fan of service
and volunteering to enhance professional growth. I think President
John Kennedy said it best in his famous inauguration speech
when he urged citizens to "ask not what your country can do
for you but what you can do for your country." He clearly
recognized the personal rewards we get when we give.
So, as I complete my term on the board of our national professional
association, if you are not already professionally involved
with your state, district, or the new unified SHAPE America,
I encourage you to get involved. The lessons you will learn
will help improve your teaching and greatly enrich your job
enjoyment. You will feel more excitement and motivation to
improve your instructional practice. As we all know, in both
our personal and professional lives it is easy to fall into
routines, into comfort zones and become resistant to change.
Engaging as volunteers and contributors to our professional
associations helps keep us energized and focused.
Following my countrywide travels as AAHPERD President, I
have come to the conclusion that we are at a crossroads in
our profession and can not afford to be set in our ways. We
can't continue teaching the same lessons to our students repeatedly
year after year. We mustn't ignore what is happening around
us both nationally and globally without pausing to take a
hard look at how we as health and physical educators need
to be educating today's youth. Each day we need to ask ourselves
how we can better prepare our students for the world of the
future and not the past and providing them the skills, abilities,
and knowledge to be active and productive citizens.
Today, our students are facing one of the greatest crises
a generation of their age has ever faced. Today's students
could be the first generation to die younger than their parents
due to the health consequences of worsening obesity. How did
a thriving nation, a leader in the world economy, allow such
a thing to threaten our kids? It is time to stop and take
pause, and to re-assess our role as educators. And clearly,
health and physical educators can play an important role.
President John Kennedy looked at change this way; "Change
is the law of life and those who look only to the past or
present are certain to miss the future." As an educator it
is clear to me that children are our future and if we continue
on the same road we have been on in our teaching we will continue
to face the same issues with the same results. All of us must
be the change we want to see within our schools and work environments.
Getting involved with our state, district, or national professional
associations is the way for us personally and professionally
to move forward.
Change is difficult but essential for the sake of our kids.
As John Kenneth Galbraith wrily observed, "Faced with the
choice between changing one's mind and proving that there
is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the proof."
But I can tell you that as an involved HPERD volunteer from
my earliest days as a student, I know that my professional
journey has been immeasurably enhanced through service. I'll
conclude with the following thought attributed to St. Francis
of Assisi, "Remember that when you leave this earth, you can
take with you nothing that you have received - only what you
have given: a full heart, enriched by honest service, love,
sacrifice and courage." I wish you the very best in your teaching
career, look forward to seeing you future professional events,
and thank you for all that you are doing for the health and
well-being of America's youth.
Biography: Irene is a professor in the Health and Human Performance
Department at Plymouth State University where she also serves
as the Director for Educator Preparation and NCATE/CAEP Unit
Head. Prior to arriving at PSU, Irene taught health and physical
education as well as directed the aquatics program at Newton
North High School for 16 years. During her tenure at Newton
North, she coached both the girls’ basketball and lacrosse
teams. Irene’s commitment to service includes Habitat
for Humanity, the Girl Scouts of America, and the Circle Program
(a nonprofit organization that serves girls in need in the
Lakes Region of NH).
icucina@plymouth.edu
Plymouth State University
Professor, Health and Human Performance Department
Plymouth, NH 03264
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