Like many involved with USA Track & Field’s Pacific Association, Irene Herman leads an extremely busy life. The commitments she makes as the association’s President are more than enough to fill the hours of a full-time job.
JOHN MANSOOR
and 70 volunteers. For many associations it would be difficult to field that many people to help, but they continue to do so.
But for the volunteers of the Pacific Association and many USATF associations around the country, it is all in addition to a full-time job. It’s a way of life. It’s a commitment and goal to make their association as good as it can be.
Herman says that commitment is the biggest credit to those involved with the Pacific Association.
“Volunteers are the backbone of the association,” Herman said. “We have been fortunate with the volunteers we have. When you are watching all the coaches come in and different people working the finish line. They are all good at what they do. We are spoiled here.”
The numbers tell the story of the success of the association.
Herman stressed the need for a large number of volunteers for the different Pacific Association events. For a youth track and field meet consisting of 800 kids, they will require between 60
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The commitment from those involved is also important to note in maintaining daily responsibilities ranging from membership services to hosting an up-to-date website. While most of the individuals serve in multiple roles, a quick search through the
directory on the association’s website reveals enough names to fill a total of 67 positions.
Considering the wide range of areas and involvement through the Pacific Association, it only seems fitting that its goal is to contour to as many different areas as possible. The association hosts meets and events for everything from sub-bantom for youth athletes to masters competitors up to age 90 and includes disabled athletes and elite athletes.
“It’s important to be consistent,” Herman said. “You have to be really persistent to keep programs going and to continuously include marketing. It really begins with having good programs and having athletes whether they are young or older and giving them a goal to shoot at. If an association doesn’t have these they won’t bring in as many people.”