New Name Approved! 

Building on an overwhelmingly positive vote for unification earlier this year, I am pleased to announce that the AAHPERD membership has voted to approve the new name, Society of Health and Physical Educators, doing business as SHAPE America. We are now poised to move forward in creating a new chapter in our 128-year old history with our new name, vision and mission. A new logo, tagline and brand for the organization, as well as a new website, will be introduced early in 2014.  

The use of the new name will be communicated strategically to our many audiences over the next six to eight months. Members may see both AAHPERD and SHAPE America – Society of Health and Physical Educators used interchangeably. For instance, 2014 Gateway to Success, our national convention, will remain the AAHPERD National Convention & Expo.   

As you all know, these are very exciting times. We are making history together as we “relaunch” our organization to a new generation of professionals. Through our new name we are working to:

     Shape a future where healthy is the norm.

     Shape a standard of excellence in physical education and health education.

     Shape the lifelong habits of young people.

     Shape and influence policy related to physical education and school health education. 

Having an acronym that actually says and means something helps to make our new name more memorable. In addition, the verb “shape” means influence and communicates leadership and power. We want SHAPE America – Society of Health and Physical Educators to have increased visibility and recognition among our primary audiences of physical and health educators as well as our secondary audiences ─ parents, principals, school administrators, policy makers and the media. I am confident that our strong, memorable and simple new name will help us do just that.

This vote by the entire membership is unprecedented. Thank you all for your support by voting on the new name for your professional association!

Gale Wiedow
President