News

Acceptance of 2006 Honor Award

John T. Meyer

John "Lucky" Meyer

Greetings my NIRSA brothers and sisters, NIRSA past presidents and Honor Award winners, Board of Directors, guests, friends and family.

Before I make a few brief comments, I’d like to share a few photos that Barry Brown put together for me on this occasion. [slide show of personal photos]

We tried to get all the hair colors in the show and I’m glad to see that I didn’t have a drink in my hand for every picture; just the ones from social occasions when I wasn’t on the university payroll.

Several years ago, when I agreed to stand for president of this great association, I did so partially because I wanted to give the talk. I started that pre-election speech with:

“We are the NIRSA. We are not defined by the millions of students that we serve, or by the million-dollar facilities that we manage, or by the millions of dollars that we administer in our operation budgets.

We are the NIRSA that is made powerful by its people. We are a group that has been willing to serve and to share, to adjust to change, to accept differences, to appreciate new ideas, to value our history."

John Kennedy said, “Our privileges can be no greater than our obligations. The protection of our rights can endure no longer than the performance of our responsibilities.” I am so proud to be a member of this association, which continually strives to perform to higher levels of excellence in fulfilling its responsibilities to serve people through recreational sports and activities.

I am not embarrassed by the fact that I have been fortunate enough to enjoy going to work “almost” every day of my life. (The exceptions were early on when my parents had me pulling weeds in the garden.) You all know that working in Recreation Services is not about our own recreation and play. It is about hard work and doing it right. And by doing it right, we get to spend every day doing something that we love. Not many people can say that. 

I have been fortunate to be able to work with many dedicated people, at quality universities, in the service of terrific students. I am thankful that an important part of my life has been the affiliation with NIRSA and I understand that the connection is defined by you, the members. You are the most dedicated, generous, imaginative, versatile and fun-loving professionals in any association.

Thanks to everyone who has anything to do with this association and this profession. Thank you to the Honor award committee and those who wrote letters of support. Thank you to all the people that I work with. Thank you to my family, especially my wife Jan. I thank you all so very much.

I know there are others as deserving of this award as I, but saying that, I am happy to accept the award.

Cole Trickle said in Days of Thunder, “You’ve got to be good at your job before you can enjoy the rest of your life.” I love my job.

I’m optimistic about the future of NIRSA and I wish each of you continuing successes in the upcoming years as you are out there organizing rec sports, promoting student development, working on a mystery, laying low, loving life, and living large.