Back from ACPA

I've only been back at work for two days and I feel like I need another vacation already. It's hard coming back from ACPA with all these new ideas and thoughts and not being able to share them or start working on new initiatives.

Our department is going through a lot of changes; new staff being hired; positions changing. So I get that our leadership wants to wait to make any changes until these new staff members are in place. But what I don't understand is why we can't get some conversations started. We've got talent here, right now...talent that knows our current system, knows what's been working and what hasn't. So why not use that talent to come up with some recommendations and ideas for the new staff when they come in?

I guess part of me just wants to feel that this year wasn't a complete waste. Yes, there's a few little things I've accomplished. One of my colleagues and I introduced the idea of intentional one-on-one conversations to the RA program; we started a new tradition with our area-wide program this Fall; and my RHA is definitely in better shape than last year. But there's just so much more that I think I could do - if they'd just let me. I have so many ideas and thoughts.

*Sigh. I guess I just have to accept that there's only so much I can do.

On a completely different note - what are everyone's thoughts on NASPA and ACPA consolidating? That was definitely THE topic of ACPA this year. We talked about it with the Commission for Student Involvement (that I just joined); we talked about it at the Commission for Housing (I'm an outgoing directorate body member); there were consolidation meetings (I attended one of them); it came up during other sessions and speakers.

For those of you who haven't heard much about consolidation yet, here's a great Web site to get you started: http://www2.myacpa.org/au/governance/unification.php

And here's what I think...
I think consolidation is a great idea. There's so many advantages: we'd have a stronger voice in Washington if we've got only one professional association; we could cut down on some of the redundancies in administration and services; as a profession we'd be more unified; and let's be honest...it just makes sense. I get that there's a lot of history in both organizations, that there's some significant differences between the two (based on different philosophies and beliefs)...but come on, we are Student Affairs - shouldn't we be able to collaborate, to compromise.
I liked that, at all these consolidation meetings, they talked about not wanting to combine the two organizations or pick things from each but to think about what the perfect Student Affairs Association would be like and to create that. It's a chance to use all that we've learned in these two organizations, put our best minds together, and create something new and exciting.
I understand that people have a lot of questions: What will conventions look like? What will regional/state association look like? What about our commissions/standing committees/knowledge communities?
And to be honest, I don't think we'll have all those answers. Yes, there are subcommittees assigned to developing plans and to brainstorm ideas. But not all questions will be answered when the membership will get to vote on this. And even if they were...don't we all know that sometimes you just have to come up with your best idea, try it out, and then reflect, revise and go from there. We may not come up with the perfect solution for national convention the first time around; but after a few years, we'll know what works.
Change is never easy. But I also think nothing is as exciting as change, as the opportunity to create something new, to figure out how we can best serve our professionals and through that our students. We are one profession; we should have one professional association.