As we move into this next quarter and celebrate National Volunteer Week and Global Volunteer Month, I want to begin by sharing a few words of thanks. First, thank you—our volunteer leaders—for the energy, expertise, and leadership you continue to bring to ACSM. Your commitment is not only appreciated; it is essential to advancing our mission and strengthening our community. The time, knowledge, commitment and passion you give truly drives our organization forward.
Second, this is the last issue of The DASH which will feature President Jaworski’s message alongside mine as ACSM prepares for the traditional gavel pass during the 2026 Annual Meeting. I want to thank Dr. Jaworski her wisdom, steadiness, leadership, positivity, push to innovate, and partnership this last year through both the fun moments as well as the challenging ones. ACSM thrives on the service of all our leaders and ACSM’s presidents give so much to the organization. On a personal note, I could not do what I do without the collaboration that exists between the president and CEO. Join me in saying to Dr. Jaworski danke, gracias, merci, grazie miele, toda, bedankt, obrigada – THANK YOU!
Updates to The DASH
Over the past few years, we’ve shared updates through The DASH. In the spirit of continuous improvement, you’ll begin to see intentional changes aimed at making it more valuable: more focused, engaging, and easier to navigate. Expect a streamlined, “quick read” format with options to explore topics more deeply through links.
The DASH is also evolving to better serve you by not only continuing to recap what’s happened, but also providing clearer visibility into what’s ahead—what’s in motion, where we’re headed, and how you can engage. This includes a more “backstage pass” approach with content tailored specifically for volunteer leaders.
Finally, one of the most important functions that ensures ACSM delivers what our stakeholders need and that we are achieving the vision set forth in the strategic plan is the role of the ACSM staff team. The ACSM Board of Trustees sets the strategic vision and the ACSM staff team brings that vision to life. By introducing more staff-focused content to The DASH, I hope to help you better understand the people and expertise working alongside you to move ACSM forward. In this issue, I am excited to highlight our outstanding publications team – you can read more about this wonderful team later in this issue.
As these updates roll out, please share your feedback with me. This newsletter is for you.
On the move
I want to close my message with an update on the Physical Activity Alliance CEO Pledge for Physical Activity CEO Pledge Team which I mentioned in the last issue of The DASH. Since January 2026, the team has been developing a multiyear plan to enhance employee health and productivity. Early efforts include a staff survey, participation in ACSM sponsor Technogym’s Let’s Move program, a new Active ACSM Teams channel, and flexible scheduling to support physical activity during the workday. Next steps include bringing ACSM member expertise directly to staff—stay tuned for how you can be involved in supporting this work.
In closing, thank you again—not just this month, but all year long—for your leadership, your partnership, and your commitment to ACSM. I’m excited about what’s ahead and grateful to be doing this work together.
Katie
