Greetings From Your CRA CHAIR!

Hello ACPA Colleagues. I'd like to welcome you the first edition of the Commission for Recreation and Athletics newsletter for the 2013-14 academic year. I like to think of the CRA as sophmores as far as ACPA entity groups are concerned. As we enter our 4th year as an ACPA entity we are not quite the new kids on campus. We have gradually navigated our way through the association . We published a white paper, held a pre-convention institute, and have grown our membership. We are not quite as established as other commissions but we are on our way!

In our early years, the focus was on establishing ourselves within the association. Now that the objective has been achieved due to the great leadership of our first two commission chairs, Scott Hirko and Mike Fulford, the next logical step for our commission is to focus our efforts on the membership. My goal during my term as chair is to develop programs and services for you! I would like our commission to be viewed as an invaluable resource for members who work in campus recreation, intercollegiate athletics, and/or with athletic populations or are producing scholarship in those areas. We will be unveiling a host of professional development opportunities this fall and other tools and resources designed to help our members network with each other. 

It was great to see many new faces at the convention who attended CRA sessions for the first time. I was invited to join the CRA directorate at my first ACPA convention in 2010. Three years later I serve as chair. It is important to know that serving on the directorate only requires good ideas and a desire to serve. We have several vacancies so both emerging and seasoned leaders are welcome to be a part of the next chapter of the Commission for Recreation and Athletics. Please send me an email at acpacra@gmail.com if you are interested in discussing leadership opportunities. We will have elections in Novermber to fill five vacancies on our directorate. 

We are excited to also welcome over 400 members of NIRSA joined ACPA as a part of the "Getting to Know You" campaign. We hope they will find a home with the Commission for Recreation and Athletics and look forward to the perspective they bring to the field.

I hope this school year is filled with excitement and accomplishments. Stay tuned for more information on how the ACPA Commission for Recreation and Athletics plans to support you in your achievements! 

Markesha M. Henderson, Ed.D.

Chair, ACPA Commission for Recreation and Athletics

Assistant Professor of Sport Management

University of West Georgia

acpacra@gmail.com