Bridging the gap by empowering peers, parents, and partners to reach the youth: the 3 P's.

Gaines, Rodney P.

This past summer I had the opportunity to attend the President-Elect Leadership Training in Green Bay, Wisconsin. While I was there numerous times I saw written the great speech written by Vince Lombardi "How to be Number One". As I met with the various other future leaders from other states, it was natural to think about how I could help the Virginia Chapter of AAHPERD be the best state chapter in the country. One thing that sticks out in my mind is that Vince Lombardi stated that you "can't just win some of the time, but you have to be a winner all the time." Over this past year as the President-Elect I have already learned some valuable lessons, and I am more eager to serve the VAHPERD membership. My theme still remains the same, and that is bridging the gap through improved communications with peers, parents, and partnerships.

In the upcoming year I would like to see a closer link between the membership and leadership. The Board of Directors needs to know how all teachers are doing out there, and as peers we want to know how we can service you. This year's leadership conference in January will be different than in the past. With the board's approval we would like to offer leadership development training to anyone in the membership who would like to attend. We will of course have our normal board meetings, but we will have several constituents to give leadership and training that is not only pertinent to the board, but I feel will help in the communications between the board and membership. In meetings to come I would like to invite anyone from membership to attend our budget meetings, conference planning, and I would like to have a social at next year's convention in VA Beach where the membership can openly engage the Board members and share their thoughts and concerns.

In order to reach the parents we all as VAHPERD members must engage our neighboring communities. I envision us offering some small grants to our membership to setup community service projects that are in alliance with our mission statement. In order to service our youth, we also have to get the parents to buy into programs, such as mypyramid.gov, and we have to get the parents exercising with their children. I envision us starting a program where parents will participate in community walks and fitness challenges with the children. I am calling it the BIG O campaign, which is short for Optimism of Educations toward fighting childhood and community obesity. It is time to leave the classroom, and it is time for VAHPERD membership to come face to face to parents, and help them develop strategies that will help the parents and their children. Everyone wins with this approach: teacher, parent, and student.

Last, I will challenge the board to partner with other organizations that share similar missions with VAHPERD. In order to reach many of our goals we will have to develop partnerships with organizations, such as the YMCA, Big Brother Big Sisters programs, local recreation centers, local gyms, personal training studios, gymnastic studios, food stores, etc. We have to engage our communities in 2013 and forever more after that. I will challenge our board to develop a recognition system that will reward VAHPERD members and leaders who engage the community and increase the number of parents and students exercising. I also will challenge us to partner with other affiliates, such NATA, NSCA, ACSM, and continue to support AAHPERD's mission and direction. In order to do this we will have to rise up new leaders, and leaders in place will have to continue to grow. That is why we will have a strategic planning session and leadership development training at our meeting on January 26th

I amjust as enthusiastic to serve VAHPERD, and I am optimistic about the direction that we are heading in. Our board has worked hard over the last year, and I feel that we are putting in place the necessary changes that will continue to drive VAHPERD into a great organization. I look forward to seeing you all this year at the convention in Roanoke, and please feel free to share your ideas with me. Thank you for listening.

Dr. Rodney P. Gaines, President-Elect of VAHPERD