Bear Necessities Volume 30

This past weekend I had the privilege of attending the 58th Annual California State Athletic Directors (CSADA) Conference in Riverside, California. This year's theme, "Teaching Leadership and Character Through Athletic Participation," made for an inspiring and memorable few days.

I always value attending this conference because of the opportunity to learn from the sessions, connect with fellow athletic directors, and share ideas about how we can continue to strengthen our programs. This year was especially meaningful for me because I had the opportunity to present.

In fact, last year while attending the conference, I texted Dr. CB and told her that I was going to present someday. I thought it might take a few years, but it is amazing what can happen when you put a goal out into the world.

I had opportunity to present with my good friend and colleague from the North Coast Section. We were thrilled with the turnout for our session on Sunday morning. Our presentation, titled "Culture Doesn't Graduate: Building Programs That Last," focused on how schools can intentionally develop sustainable, values-driven athletic programs. We designed the session as a workshop rather than a traditional presentation, encouraging participation and conversation among attendees.

To add a little fun, we created T-shirts for the session and printed handouts to encourage participation. It was incredibly rewarding to see so many engaged in the discussion, sharing ideas, and reflecting on the role athletics plays in shaping leadership and character in young people. I left the conference feeling proud and grateful.