The past 14 years have been a phenomenal time of growth in terms of athletic administrators becoming members of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. Comparing the year that the NIAAA became an independent entity beginning in 2005, to this year's count, membership has moved from 5594 members in 2004-05 to 12,023 on the official count date of June 30, 2019. That is a gain of 6429 members and an increase of 108%. More specifically, the six most recent years have seen movement from 8322 to this year's new record, or a gain of 3,701, up 44% during that period. The initial year of NIAAA existence, 1977-78 brought members totaling 952, and broke the 1000 member barrier the next year in 1978-79, and remained in the one-thousands until moving past 2000 in 1982. 1985 saw the 3000 barrier broken where it remained for two years until surpassing 4,000 in 1988. Three years later in 1991 the NIAAA reached 5,000. It is during the next 15 year period from 1990-91 to 2004-05 that membership lingered in the 5000's, fluctuating up and down from a low of 5,101 in 1991 to a high of 5863 in 1998-99. Six of those 15 years saw decreases from the year previous, the first declines from gains seen from 1977 to 1993. Some thought the NIAAA had reached the range into which it would settle for annual membership. But that was not so, when in 2005 came a new emphasis and life with NIAAA membership as a priority. The effort was and continues to be reaching those who need the courses, best practices, certifications, networking, support, benefits, products, a voice and opportunities to serve and lead...what make the NIAAA what it is, and what it has to offer those who lead school sponsored athletic programs. We have not looked back. The Board of Director impetus in 2005 toward Dual Membership, and the state athletic administrator associations' buy-in and support of bringing to their state membership those qualities that would benefit student-athletes, coaches, educational leaders, schools, and communities. As well, the preparation of directors of athletics depended on by state athletic/activity associations for the professional conduction of state qualifying levels of tournament play and regular season contests. Hats off to those who have seen the need, been passionate about, and led the charge to reach their colleagues with what best benefits them, even when the beneficiary might not have been able to visualize their own need, or realize what they were missing. We are blessed to see such growth, such outreach, such impact by volunteers, such change in professional cause, such benefit in attention to decisions that reduce exposure to risk, as well as experiencing what a privilege it is to serve. To these leaders in our states that promote the profession the NIAAA family says 'thank you.' Currently there are 29 dual member states. Five additional state athletic administrator associations have begun to discuss the move from modified dual to pure dual, one association would actually move from promoting only state membership to requiring state and national membership. Which association will be dual member state number 30? Those state athletic administrator associations that have become dual have only seen increase within their own state membership. What association will be the 35th, 40th and beyond. The NIAAA welcomes the next to step forward to become a unified voice. |
NIAAA Membership Surpasses 12,000
