New Mexico Activities Association

The New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates interscholastic programs for junior and senior high schools in New Mexico. It hosts the statewide sports championship games each year.

History

NMAA was organized in 1921 by John Milne, James Bickley, F. H. Lynn, and J. D. Shinkle as the New Mexico High School Athletic Association. In 1953 it began adding non-athletic activities and changed its name to New Mexico High School Activities Association. It continued to broaden its coverage and in 1961 changed its name to the present New Mexico Activities Association. The Hall of Pride and Honor was opened in 1992.

Scope, membership, and governance

NMAA was incorporated as a New Mexico nonprofit corporation in 1964. In 1997 there was a major restructuring, with the Board of Directors replacing the Executive Committee as the governing body. The present Executive Director, Sally Marquez, took office in 2012.

Even though NMAA is a private organization, it is regulated to some extent by the State of New Mexico. New Mexico law (NMSA 1978 22-2-2L) gives the Public Education Department authority over "an association or organization attempting to regulate a public school activity", giving it authority to approve or disapprove rules and to require performance and financial audits, and requiring the organizations to comply with New Mexico's Open Meetings Act and its Public Records Act.