AMERICAN SAMOA – After approval of FISU funding, Martin Doulton (secretary of OUSA) invited OUSA members to outline their interest in undertaking a workshop based on the ‘My Unisport Event and Team Management Program’ developed by Donna Spethman of Australian University Sport. A number of regional centres expressed interest with the first of these workshops delivered in American Samoa in April 2013.
Upon request from Ed Imo (of American Samoa Community College) Donna Spethman visited the community college to deliver an event management workshop from April 22nd to 24th, 2013.
The ‘My Unisport Event and Team Management Program’ was adapted upon request to focus on event management and as such was developed into three, two hour workshops to be delivered across three nights. The key aim of the workshop was to expose students and sporting association/club personnel to event management practices.
Invitations were sent to numerous sporting associations/clubs and students were also encouraged to attend. The workshop sessions were well attended with 40 people each session in attendance with the content divided into two one hour lectures.
All attendees were provided with workshop outline, presentation handouts, unigames.com.au lanyard and pen as well as a workshop survey.
Delivery time adjusted for Tuesday and Wednesday with content also adjusted to two one hour lectures focusing on the key parts of event management. In essence this new format provided a very basic introduction on how to run an event.
Many of the participants for the first session were students from Ed Imo’s class and the five phases of event management were discussed. A local event (village concert) and a boomerang throwing tournament were the two events used as examples throughout the presentation.
F.l.t.r.: Donna Spethman, Australian University Sport; Angela Jowlett, University of South Pacific & Fila Fuamatu, National University of Samoa
For the final session a similar number of additional students attended and once the presentation was over FISU flags and gifts were presented to Ed Imo for display at the college. Gifts from Australian University Sport were also provided to particular students who had contributed in the presentation.
Whilst the expected delivery of the workshop was amended considerably due to some in country communication issues, it still provided an opportunity to outline to University students from the region the steps towards creating a successful event and managing a team to be able to attend one. All students showed enthusiasm and engaged well with the presenter.
(Source: Donna Spethman, AUS/OUSA)