|  | ICSSPE News | No.54 September 2008 |
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Farewell for Gudrun Doll-Tepper Darlene Kluka |
Professor Dr. Gudrun Doll-Tepper has raised the bar for international scholarship, advocacy and service in the physical education and sport science professions in the last decade as President of ICCSPE. She is simply one of the most remarkable professionals and human beings I have had the pleasure to be associated with. In her tenure as President, she has led the organization to new heights, positioning ICSSPE as THE organization of choice of organizations like the IOC, WHO, IPC, FIMS, and UNESCO for consultation and direction in the areas of physical education and sport science. Under her leadership, a full time Secretariat was established in Berlin including several full time and part time staff. Additionally, the umbrella organization has grown exponentially in membership organizations to over 300. This is phenomenal growth, particularly during a decade where many international and national non-profit organizations have seen declining membership. Doll-Tepper's ability to lead board members through transition and transformation is stunning. She utilized a consultant group in the early part of her presidency to transform the organization into what it is today. Using the latest technology and incorporating ideas from all those attending the strategic planning meeting, she facilitated significant and contemporary change at both personal and organizational levels. Through her participative and authentic leadership style, she has been able to make stakeholders feel special and significant in their contributions globally. This is particular significance, as none of those who hold leadership positions in the organization are financially remunerated for their efforts. I had the personal pleasure of meeting Gudrun in 1996 at a conference. I asked her if she would like to go for a cup of coffee with several of us who attended. She agreed, and the rest is history. Her sense of humour, her personal charisma, and her ability to survey a situation in a short period of time is absolutely remarkable. I have personally learned much from her about authentic leadership and about translating professional and personal integrity from thoughts to actions. She has been a role model for me since 1996. She has also become a friend who I value beyond words. I am grateful to her for believing in my abilities and for appointing me as the first woman to ever serve on the ICSSPE Editorial Board. Serving on the editorial board and then as its chair (thereby serving on the President's Committee) have been the most wonderful experiences of my professional life. She has believed in many colleagues and provided them with phenomenal opportunities to lead and be a part of the global community. Professor Dr. Gudrun Doll-Tepper is a leader with personal charisma and personal integrity, logical decision making, and phenomenal vision for the global community in physical education and sport science. Her decade as President of ICSSPE has brought her personal and professional accolades and has also positioned ICSSPE as the strongest international umbrella organization of its kind in the world. She has touched the lives of all of us who know her and countless thousands of those who have heard of her. A role model, a leader, a mentor, a scholar, an advocate...Professor Dr. Gudrun Doll-Tepper, you are simply die Beste! Contact Darlene A. Kluka, Ph. D., D Phil ICSSPE Editorial Board Chair and member of the President's Committee Barry University, USA e-mail: dkluka@barry.edu http://www.icsspe.org/portal/index.php?w=1&z=5 Darlene A. Kluka