The Division II Membership Committee's summit meeting December 8-9 in Orlando, Florida, served on one level as a forum for discussing a variety of multidivisional issues -- such as reasons why institutions reclassify from one division to another and the Association-wide impact of a unilateral membership moratorium -- that have cropped up during the past year.

But for Division II itself, the meeting served as a brainstorming session that might ultimately provide some guidance in dealing with concerns about retaining and attracting valued members and bolstering the division's public stature.

"Most importantly, we're here to get some feedback that will frame where the Membership Committee will go during the next couple of years," said Herb Reinhard, director of athletics at Valdosta State University and Membership Committee chair.

The meeting generated a long list of ideas for the Membership Committee to consider during its next meeting in February, offered by representatives of membership committees in all three divisions and members of Division II task forces studying retention of current members and ways to attract new members.

Many of those ideas focused on bolstering retention of current Division II members by building on the division's balance of athletics and academics.

Mike Marcil, commissioner of the Sunshine State Conference and a member of the Retention Task Force, suggested that Division II can "work on substance and work on style" in addressing retention issues.

Ideas generated during the meeting for addressing "substance" included raising institutional accountability for academic performance, ensuring that student-athlete well-being is a hallmark of the division, preserving and possibly expanding the broad opportunities that already exist for championships access, improving compliance and enforcement efforts, and carving out a distinctive divisional approach to sportsmanship.

As for "style," the group discussed opportunities to promote recent research on the costs of reclassifying programs to Division I, emphasize Division II programs' community-based focus, and overcome image issues tied to the "II" classification.

National office staff members suggested that a mix of initiatives, tools, resources and key messages can be created to aid the cause.

"This is about pride, helping schools feel that affiliation with Division II is the right decision, and maybe helping institutions in other divisions figure out that Division II is the place to be," said Mike Racy, Division II vice president.

-- Jack Copeland