New Life Springs Forth
Larry Birnbaum, PhD, EPC
Associate Professor
Department of Exercise Physiology
The College of St. Scholastica
Duluth, MN 55811
For
those of us who
live in a northern climate, spring is a time of regeneration. Winter snows melt, grass turns green, flowers
blossom, and the trees leaf out. The air
is filled with songs of birds that have returned from their winter
migration,
and frogs that peep or “cluck” or sing in other fascinating ways, and,
of
course, numerous insects make their presence known.
It is an uplifting process to observe.
When so much life springs forth from a
prolonged state of dormancy, one cannot help but feel invigorated.
Coincidentally,
the
ASEP National Meeting is held in the spring.
Typically, all professions hold annual meetings to
provide continuing
education for the members, formulate strategies to overcome challenges,
work
for progress within the profession, and provide a means for networking. As such, these meetings invigorate and
transform the members who participate. While
not all members can attend every national meeting, they should make a
sincere
effort to attend national meetings periodically and regional or more
local
meetings regularly. Participation is
essential to enable the profession to achieve its best.
Ideally all members should contribute to
their respective professions. It’s not a
matter of “the more, the merrier”, but rather a bringing together of multiple resources (i.e., people) to optimize
the future of the profession. More
participants
means more ideas and perspectives to be considered when formulating
policies
and strategies, which generally produces better outcomes.
It also means spreading out the work load;
thus, avoiding burnout by the most committed members of the profession. Professional meetings provide a means of
self-renewal, growth within the field, and opportunities to make
lasting
friendships. Both the individual and the
profession are served.
Spring
has been
called a rebirth, a transformation, a new beginning.
Professional meetings, at the national level
at least, serve a similar purpose. Both
the individual and the profession can be transformed, renewed,
regenerated. If you did not attend ASEP’s
spring meeting
this year, seriously consider attending next year. Make
a positive difference in your life and in
your chosen profession. Get out of that
state of dormancy.
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