In this issue, there are several items you should find interesting:

Matt Wattles has been appointed the Chair of the Board of Licensure committee by the ASEP President, Dr. Richard Kreider. Mr Wattles has been a very active member of ASEP.  Please take the time to read about his work Idaho.  We appreciate his understanding of the ASEP perspective and his passion for the professional development of exercise physiology.

Note that the ASEPNewsletter along with the ASEP electronic journals have a "search" capability.  As usual, type in the key word(s) to find ASEP web documents of the same or similar topic.

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New quote for this month's newsletter.

Guest Editorial by Tommy Boone

Update: The ASEP Membership Directory is no longer available to anyone (including ASEP members) at the present time.  A log in and password are needed to open the Directory.  As a member you can email the National Office and get the information.  Otherwise, all members will be provided the information with the upcoming 2003 year.

 

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Matt Wattles received his Bachelor of Science degree in Corporate and Community Fitness from North Dakota State University. He then earned a Master of Science degree from Boise State University in Exercise Science and Sports Studies. Matt’s education and professional expertise focus on strength and power training, nutrition and supplementation, health specific training and the development and implementation of worksite fitness programs.  Personally, Matt trains and competes as a powerlifter and strength athlete. 

Matt is currently the Wellness Coordinator for Northern Rocky Mountain Easter Seals / Goodwill. He has been employed as the Health Promotion Director for the state of Minnesota’s Department of Transportation and has served as a fitness consultant to Micron Technologies, Boise Cascade and Boise City.

In 2000, Matt founded the ASEP affiliate Idaho Association of Exercise Physiology and currently serves as President. Matt presented a paper at the 4th ASEP National Meeting in Memphis about "how to develop state organizations". Since his presentation last year, Matt co-authored the State Organization Implementation Manual with Steve Jungbauer and has served on ASEP’s State Organization Committee where he continues to provide assistance and support to states developing state ASEP affiliates. In a little over one year’s time, he has been instrumental (along with other ASEP members) in expanding the number of ASEP affiliated state organizations from 3 states to the current total of 7 states. There are also other exercise physiology "potential" organizations in various developmental stages including, but not limited to, Georgia, New Mexico, Tennessee, Florida, and Washington. 

Matt has authored numerous publications (e.g., The Dissection of Exercise Certifications and How to Start an ASEP Affiliated State Organization)  that have appeared in a variety of professional journals addressing exercise physiology and the professionalization of exercise physiology. Note: Other articles Matt has written can be found by clicking here! He has also been an invited presenter at several national conferences to share his expertise and passion for the field. 

Matt believes that licensure of exercise physiologists is necessary, but will come at a price to the profession. As a result of licensure, the profession will be faced with numerous restrictions and regulations that we must anticipate and be prepared for.  However, without licensure, Matt believes exercise physiologists will never be recognized in the health care field as true professionals and the true role of exercise physiologists will continue to be devoured by physical therapists, nurses and respiratory therapists. 

In Idaho, the role of exercise physiologist is non-existent. This lack of presence and representation not only endangers exercise physiologists but also the individuals receiving services from professionals who do not have the educational, professional knowledge, and expertise to provide such specialized services. Matt sees the current state of affairs in Idaho as representational of national trends. Unless exercise physiologists work cooperatively and demand professionalization, upgrade existing undergraduate programs through accreditation, and support ASEP Board Certification, the future of exercise physiology will be bleak.  Quality employment opportunities demand professional credentials and ASEP is doing just that.

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"A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault."  -- Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

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The Lesson of Persistence
Tommy Boone, PhD, MPH, MA, FASEP, EPC
Professor and Chair
Director, Exercise Physiology Laboratories
The College of St. Scholastica
Duluth, MN 55811

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“Press on: Nothing in the world can take the place of perseverance.  Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.  Genius will not: unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.  Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.  Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” – Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933)

“Press on, don’t stop, keep going.” is a common motivational statement used to keep joggers or runners going during weekend races.  From the sideline, we catch ourselves saying:  “Keep going, you can do it”.  We all have heard the statements, and we can learn from them.  “Keep on, don’t stop” is what I think about almost daily.  Each of us has our own motivational statements.  Our lessons in life involve sports, school, and family.  It seems that we are here to learn the lesson of persistence and determination.  When I talk about “persistence” as a life lesson, I’m sure the reader has come to understand how lessons are learned and the issues and concerns we face with unfinished business.  Obviously, much of what we do is about finishing what we started but avoided for different reasons. 

During the past several months, I’ve come to think that my work to put the spotlight on the professional development of exercise physiology may be a bit “too much”.  It seems that my passion may have failed to teach me the important lesson that “being on the edge is a dangerous place to be”.  This is of course more of a problem for me than for others.  Here again, there are so many lessons to learn.  Point blank: It is next to impossible for me to stop writing on behalf of exercise physiology.  Many times I have tried, but the pressure is too great to stop now.  My feelings result from an enormous amount of energy to spread the good news about the American Society of Exercise Physiologists.  You could say that I have gone over the edge.  But, to Calvin Coolidge, persistence and determination are the secrets to success.  Perhaps, this is my backbone.  For certain, my colleagues would be fast to point out that I am not talented or a genius.  Some may even suggest that I am not educated.  So be it because I understand that the most precious gift is the lesson of persistence. 

In thinking back, I have had the privilege of spending time with some very important men and women during my tenure as a college teacher.  Most of them have never been on the edge.  Disaster (or the possibility of such) has never entered their minds much less their professional work.  Like most TV programs, everyone is quick with advice.  I know that I have been told many times in numerous ways how to make it.  You know what I mean.  “If you will just follow my advice, you will get tenure or you will be asked to be part of the in-crowd.”  Deep inside all of us, we tend to bend and do as we are told.  Frankly, though, it is hard to be true to yourself when clenched by the beliefs of others.  Some of us just can’t catch the eye or the heart of those who may actually want the very best for us.  It is a difficult lesson to learn and no one escapes it. 

Life is interesting for sure and the road is full of stops and starts.  Not only do most of our friends know (or think they know) what is best for us, seldom are we encouraged to speak of our personal views.  This occurs because most individuals are more interested in what they are saying and less interested in what we have to say.  This is a problem, particularly if life isn’t nurtured by a person’s inner thoughts with the wish to help others.  Hence, to avoid what others may think because we believe something different is a challenge.  Perhaps it is nothing more than a false trail without meaning when we live according to the views of life defined by the mistakes of others.

Learning tiny bits of information like this often times take decades of living.  I know that I haven’t been blessed with all the right answers.  The lessons of life nonetheless have paved the way to a stubborn persistence that I value greatly.  Perhaps this is why I believe so strongly in “persistence”.  I now delight in the power that is part of my understanding about never giving up.  It is profound and, yet many friends and colleagues wrestle with the fear and insecurity of failure.  Instead of believing they can accomplish whatever they set their minds to doing, they live within the non-productive walls of an unhappy mind.  What if, instead, they learned the value of constructive discontent that defined their thinking pattern?  Then their future would not be yesterday’s dreams.  Rather, it would be the beginning of possibilities not just to lobby but create significant professional work for exercise physiologists in the public sector.

Without the persistence and determination to realize our professional dreams, personal happiness, and financial security, our power as exercise physiologists is just a foot-away unrealized.  The true meaning of what is possible must always be tried and tested even when suggestions from others indicate otherwise.  Thus, the true challenge is to find the purpose in whatever it is we wish to do.  Purpose brings forth an authenticity in emotions that is the key to focused thinking.  You may already know exactly this lesson whereby a purpose is so understood that nothing can stop you from reaching your goal.  Such as purpose is a rare moment, but one that deserves mentioning, living, and embracing.  It is an honest expression of your authentic self.

So it is that when I think of exercise physiology, almost everything else ceases to be interesting.  Moments in writing, such as this brief piece, is a form of relaxation driven by my subconscious mind in accordance with my need to discover, interact, and respond to the needs of others (including my past disappointments).  It is therapy in one sense, and it  is not so popular in another.  At times I am alone in my passion.  But I feel in my heart that friends will soon find the unfamiliar road to where I am.  Therefore holding back my passion for change is not going to happen and yet, admittedly, it is a reward somehow in knowing I may have had some influence.  This is the understanding that comes from within when driven by something bigger than our daily tasks.

If you discover the same, embrace it with an extraordinary grip.  There is hardly a more acknowledged and desired reward in life than when we give of ourselves to others.  The phony-baloney disappears when we search our hearts and soul to benefit others.  What we must learn is that we should not run from our ideas or from those who disagree with us.  We must embrace our abilities and our hope in helping others.  We are ultimately the permanent correction to the commonly understood, shortsighted vision of exercise physiology.  Therefore, it is reasonable that we might also realize that we are smart with a passion for moving exercise physiology into the 21st century.  We might realize that we have a special gift for fixing the problems that we face.  For certain, we will learn that our future lies in our hands and not in hands of others.  These are uncommon statements of fact that should put a spark in our eyes, a warm smile on our face, and a “good-bye” to yesterday’s views of exercise physiology.

But first, a statement of fact -- persistence is next to the same as power!  The person who never stops trying is always a winner.  The ultimate source of power is the power inside of us.  We are strong because we believe in what we are doing.  We have integrity because we are doing the right thing for the right reasons.  Our power lies deep within us.  Collectively, we can (and we are) changing old patterns of behavior with reasonable expectations.  Perhaps, from time to time, we need to re-think how unique we are and reassert our boundaries as exercise physiologists.  In short, forget about being bogged down in minor details.  Instead, zero in on the most important priority – professionalism. It is not only a reasonable expectation but an achievable dream as well.  All we need to do is follow our dream with persistence and determination.  This is how change takes place.

Persistence in one’s work is a lesson that needs learning.  It is on the same order as change is a constant companion to critical reflection (that we also come to learn).  An understanding of persistence is a function of what is inside of us, not outside of us.  Thus, another door opens and a new beginning is embraced when we do what has to be done even if it is less than perfect.  There is a wonderful freedom in this thinking.  The freedom transcends old lessons that have caused us to be afraid of what may happen in the future to help us to live in the present.  Also, it washes off yesterday’s feelings of fear, if not anger, with hope of a new tomorrow.  There is a plan.  It is a matter of surrendering to the knowledge and faith that the plan is working; a plan with the blueprint of a new exercise physiology that is unfolding with considerable care.  Visualize it, visualize the benefits, and use your imagination to set yourself in the direction of total commitment to realize your goals.

In conclusion, much of what we need to continue doing is found in the day-to-day moments of life, not necessarily during the national meetings.  It is the sacrifices we make on behalf of others who wrestle with the dark side of exercise physiology.  It is training our minds to find ways to care and feel compassion for exercise physiologists who are fighting solo battles to advance the healing powers of exercise.  It is a matter of persistence, and it is just that simple. 

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