On March 10th, 2021 at the 54th Annual Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association Business Meeting, members voted to pass the guidelines for the recently formed district 4 and district 11. The vote moves the project into the final stages of forming two new districts in the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association.
As the current District 4 Director talked to the membership about the timeline that would follow the vote that took place on March 10th, I thought to myself “This is what I have been waiting to hear.”
He talked about nominations, elections, and on-boarding the new district 11 director.
He also talked about the committee openings that would be selected when district 11 goes live in January of 2022.
The committee openings are what I have been waiting to hear about since the proposal began.
In 2018 I joined informational webinars offered by the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association’s Leadership. I learned about the plan to split the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association into two districts.
Even at that time, I hoped splitting the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association into two districts was going to be a huge chance for Athletic Trainers to get more involved with volunteering.
Through no one’s fault, I have not been able to advance onto a committee in my state or district.
In 2019, I volunteered on a short, six-month, Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association task force. After six months, the task force achieved its purpose and then it was done.
After two failed tries to volunteer for longer openings in my state in 2020, I have been excited about the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association’s plan to change from one district into two.
I am excited about the opportunities ahead for all Athletic Trainers to volunteer on a committee in the new district.
There are so many outstanding Athletic Training leaders in the two new districts.
I have had two failed tries in volunteering. I have voted for Athletic Trainers who have been unsuccessful in volunteering.
It is heartbreaking to think about what the Athletic Trainers of the states and district missed out on. The district was so big that there simply was not enough room for all of us to earn a volunteer spot.
The vote to pass the guidelines for the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association and each of the two new districts was a historic moment. It marked the beginning of the new Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association. The two new districts of the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association mean we all have a better chance of making a positive impact in Athletic Training.
To learn more about making a postive impact in athletic training through volunteering visit the nata.org.
Copyright 2021 Lindsey Rozinski
Lindsey Rozinski, LAT, ATC 