NASSM Executive Council Member Diary (Part 2)

By: Michael L. Naraine, Brock University

This week is Thanksgiving in the United States. While the Canadian harvest is earlier (Canadian Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October), American Thanksgiving is also a good time to reflect on that for which we’re thankful. There is also no better time to reflect and acknowledge the land from which I’m penning this diary post, which is the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples. Acknowledging reminds us that our great standard of living is directly related to the resources and sacrifices of Indigenous people. I’m also thankful that American tradition dictates that we get to watch football starting at 12:30 PM Eastern, and it’s socially acceptable to stuff ourselves with our family’s favorite recipes (read: I’m all over those pumpkin cheesecake muffins) as we prepare to hibernate over the impending end-of-year break.

I’m also thankful to be a member-at-large (MAL) for NASSM, specifically for the opportunity to represent our society as we make impactful decisions that will affect the field for many years to come. Like many other organizations in society, this turbulent period has demanded introspection and reflective change. The way we used to do things does not necessarily gel with the ‘new normal’. As I mentioned in my first post, the executive council moving away from two heavy time points for business (i.e., fall and pre-conference) in favor of business continuity vis-à-vis monthly Zoom meetings is just one example. Then, of course, there’s the work behind-the-scenes to move away from CAMS, our current NASSM conference abstract system, to a modern platform that is prominently used by other academic associations. There are going to be more changes on the way, and being able to represent the membership as these critical issues manifest is a privilege I won’t soon forget. Then, of course, there’s the impact I, as a MAL can have on individual members within our society. Recently, I wrapped up my chairship of two major NASSM awards slated for 2022: the Garth Paton Distinguished Service Award and the Joy DeSensi Diversity Award for Inclusive Excellence. In my role, I oversaw two separate committees, each comprised of past winners of the award (more on that in a bit), and my vice-chair, Matt Katz, a fellow NASSM MAL. Being charged with these two portfolios, I had a front-row seat to the amazing things our members have done over the years and the support these members have received from their peers. After whittling down the nominations to a group of finalists, the EC was presented with the finalists, and votes were tabulated for the winners. There are two major takeaways from my chairship role that I wanted to highlight for you: (1) impacting the lives of other members and (2) increasing networking and collaboration.

First, while awards might be perceived by some as simply an opportunity to pump some pomp into our annual conference, they are an important recognition of excellence and dedication to our field. There’s no telling what profound effect those recognitions (and the not-so-long speeches that follow) can have on the awardees directly, and other members of our society, concurrently. As a master’s student back in 2011, I attended my first NASSM which was hosted by Western University in London, Canada. I can vividly remember that NASSM award banquet in the Great Hall, where David Shilbury’s delivered his Earle F. Zeigler Award message of competition as the “heart and soul of sport management”. For some members, that night was probably no different than others, and the travel planning back to the Toronto or Detroit airports was top-of-mind. For others, myself included, David’s award and message resonated deeply. During my doctoral studies in sport management, I strove to obtain research grants, to develop international relationships, and to publish in the top journals in our field. Were these objectives purely developed on account of my own hubris? Perhaps. But, upon further reflection, I can draw directly back to David’s message in 2011 as an impressionable graduate student. That’s just one example, but I’m confident there are many, many more. How many members were inspired by Janet Fink’s message of calling out sexism in sport? Orland Hoeber’s dedication to NASSM service? John Singer’s work on diversity and social justice, particularly in the context of Black athletes? Awards matter, and not simply for recognizing the amazing achievement of individual members (which, of course, is a huge deal!). Thus, I am thrilled that I was able to play a part (albeit a very small one) in recognizing the contributions of two exceptional members in our field for their service and inclusive excellence.

Second, there’s a networking component to being on the EC that the general membership might overlook. One of the common sentiments in the sport industry is that the field is incredibly small, and the same goes for sport management education. While there’s an element of truth in that as a society with less than 1,000 members per annum, NASSM can also feel quite large, especially if you don’t attend the NASSM conference on a regular basis. Being surrounded by leaders in the field, exceptional educators and researchers, can feel daunting especially for those looking to advance their career trajectory and build relationships at the conference; there can exist an intimidation factor not knowing how to approach these larger-than-life names. Consequently, one of the benefits I associate from being more involved with NASSM has been the ability to network and get my name out there. I’ve gotten to develop new relationships and strengthen old ones, and I’ve accrued more “sport management capital” over these last few years. Would I have struck up a conversation with Tim Kellison, a former NASSM MAL, on a whim without our mutual service? Probably not. But, now, having gotten to know Tim over the past year, I’d happily engage and talk all things hockey (and maybe get some tips on amazing places to visit while in Atlanta!). Networking and society service cuts across R1, R2, and teaching-focused institutions – we encourage it for our students, and we should definitely think about our own networking capacity as scholars. Naturally, not everyone is going to be privy to the amazing work that members do at a local, institutional level, but picking up an ad hoc or standing service piece within NASSM can definitely get your name out there!   

So, this year, I am especially thankful for NASSM. It’s a society that continues to evolve and embrace new and old members alike, and it has given me an opportunity to grow, personally and professionally. As an EC member, that growth has accelerated, no doubt, but even looking back at my membership on the NASSM Marketing and Communications standing committee, I can confidently attest to the level of confidence and belonging those service pieces can manifest. Engagement with our society in this way is certainly important to “keep the wheels turning”, but there are overlooked elements of serving on NASSM, namely the impact you can have on the field, and the personal networking you can exercise. When we’re all gathered together next year in Atlanta, I will be a little extra excited to hear the Paton and DeSensi Award winners’ speeches on Founders Night; I can’t help but wonder who else will be thankful for those members having received those awards at that place, at that time. I’ll also likely murmur something about social networks to Matt Katz during the banquet, too…#networking