From the Director

03

On Friday morning, Aug. 6, the MHSAA office posted its first videos on YouTube (MHSAASPORTS).  I received notice of this while checking my email as I was leaving from a hotel in Colorado where I was attending a family wedding; and it caused me to say to my 30-something son:  “Pretty cool; while I’m here, we’re posting videos there.”

To which my son responded, “There is no there.”  In that simple sentence I was reminded of two things.

First, I still don’t (and never will) view the digital world instinctively in the manner of younger people, including the students we serve.  For me, electronic media are tools to be used.  For digital natives, these media just are, like the air they breathe.

Second, this digital world has broken down traditional barriers of place.  Connected through “smart” pocket-sized devices, anybody anywhere can not only “check in” with but also interact meaningfully with any group that is important to them, so long as that business or organization has made that interaction a priority and invested in information systems that remove the distinctions between here and there, between the organization and its constituents or customers.

I hope you are able to see in the MHSAA family of websites – and in mobile applications that will be coming – that the MHSAA is making the investment that demonstrates interaction is a high priority.

Posted in: Technology

Comments

Peggy Roberts
Friday, September 03, 2010 10:45 AM
Well said! You "get it", which will keep the MHSAA on the cutting edge.

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About the Author

Jack Roberts

Jack Roberts has been at the helm of the MHSAA as its Executive Director since 1986, implementing programs and overseeing tournament administration and regulations for the Association which boasts 1,600 member schools, 13,000 registered officials and 13,000 head coaches.

During the last 38 years, Roberts has spoken to educator and athletic groups, business leaders and civic groups in more that 40 states and five Canadian provinces as one of the nation's most articulate advocates for school sports.

Roberts has served on several national association boards and is board president for the Refugee Development Center, chair elect for the board of directors of the Michigan Society of Association Executives, and head of the East Lansing Arts Festival  50th Anniversary Celebration.

He is a 1970 graduate of Dartmouth College, where he was a three-year starter for the Ivy League's winningest football team during that span.

His wife, Peggy is coordinator of the Power of We Consortium. They are passionate world travelers and have two grown sons: John, who is pursuing a doctoral degree in education policy at Harvard; and Luke, who - with his wife, Alison - are teaching in China.