| A Look Back (November 2004) |
By Joe Cummings
Last year at this time, I was two months away from becoming the 56th president of the NSCAA. Knowing that experience was in my future, I read with great attention then-president Janet Rayfield’s final column. She said “My goal for the year was to help guide this ship (the NSCAA) along the course mapped out by our strategic plan and also to bring into sight new destinations for the future.”
Following my predecessor’s lead, I too set out to guide this ship during my year as president of the world’s preeminent coaches organization. In January of 2004, I introduced to our board of directors my goals for this year. They were:
1. Offer diversity training for our national staff, national office and board of directors.
In June of 2004, we completed our first sessions of diversity training for each of these groups. Our Board of Directors has approved a budget for diversity training on an ongoing basis. Thank you to Steve Veal and Mike Curry for their involvement in this process.
2. Membership drive
As our Board has heard me say repeatedly, Membership = Education and Education = Membership. I challenged the Board and our members to dream about a number two or three times our present membership of 17,000+. If we continue to make membership a top priority, we will present our educational programs to larger numbers than ever and each attendee will become an NSCAA disciple. To do so, we must aggressively market our association and develop strategic partnerships with every state youth organization in the U.S.
3. New governance structure
The past year has been one of streamlining and vision. Our national office, under the direction of Executive Director Jim Sheldon, explored different non-profit structures and presented those to the Board. We now function within a structure that challenges our Board to set a course for the NSCAA that will place it at the forefront of coaching education and the growth of soccer in this country.
4. Mission and vision statements
In my opening remarks at the 2004 Convention, I introduced the membership to our mission and vision statements. During our initial Board meeting I passed out wallet-size copies of these two statements. The challenge of providing leadership for the NSCAA is in clear focus when you live by these words:
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) educates coaches, encourages excellence and serves the soccer community. The NSCAA will be a globally-recognized coaches organization dedicated to member services, education, awards programs and the pursuit of excellence at all levels.
I was guided by those who came before me and by these words.
5. Convention strategic planning
A goal yet undone. As I advanced through the Board of Directors, I served three years as Vice-President for Conventions. In our new governance structure, each vice-president now serves one year in each of the three areas of Convention, Education and Marketing and Awards. Having worked so closely with the Convention committee members that I highlighted in my last column, I know how near and dear the Convention is to each and every member. It is my task to complete the strategic planning we began more than a year ago. In my year as past president, I pledge to do so.
6. Long-range marketing plan
A simple question posed: What is the NSCAA now and what will it be in the future? How recognizable is our name? How recognizable is our logo? At different times during the past few years there have been discussions about those five letters “NSCAA” and that “so easy on your eyes” logo with the letters, the stars and the ball. Should we change it, should some marketing firm or ad agency re-do this logo? Is there a need to modernize it?
After a year of serving this association, after a year of reflection, it took one brief moment for me to reach my conclusion. As I stood one morning selecting which shirt to wear, I reached for one of the many NSCAA-logoed adidas collared golf shirts that sit in my closet. As I eyed that logo, I realized the pride I feel when I say “I am a member of the NSCAA.”
Change the logo – NEVER. It has stood the test of time.
Winding down
As my year as president comes to an end, I look forward to a glorious future for this association. I do so because of the caring and thoughtful coaches and administrators that are part of our membership. I gaze into the future with wonderful anticipation for what shall follow. I welcome Schellas Hyndman as the next president of the NSCAA. I invite a new generation of coaches to join us.
I look back on a year of leadership with deep appreciation for those who came before me. I remember all that we accomplished together, the Board of Directors, the Academy staff, the national office and the membership.
In closing, allow me a moment of personal reflection. I know that in the years to come, I shall return to a time of a simpler convention when there were clinic sessions to attend, no meetings to chair and meal functions where I wasn’t expected to say a single word. I shall return to my friends of old, coaches from central Massachusetts who have been my friends for more than 25 years. I shall return to my roots. I will sit and share stories of games and players, calls made and missed, with Andy Burnett, Russ Davis, Doug Freeman, John Frederick, Bill Leaver and Ken Morin.
I cherished each and every moment. Thank you for allowing me to be part of this great organization. Long live the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
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