THE ULTIMATE-TO SERVE

'Through Interagency Communication, Coordination and Cooperation Between Parks and Recreation—Community Education—"

by Diana R. Dunn, Ph.D.

Just as too many cooks can produce discord in the kitchen, too many recreation "cooks" can create disharmony in state and localities. This short article will simply draw to your attention the fact that a very promising process to reduce tensions has been initiated at the national level, and that many believe it has great merit for use at the state and local level. Indeed, your national professional association has been a vital contributor to the idea and the process, and is among several additional organizations encouraging the extension of the process back to the "grass roots," where the problem was first identified. Basically, the intent is to replace competition, duplication and conflict of recreation services with communication, coordination and cooperation.

To maximize human services in communities through recreation is not a new concept; indeed a panoply of public, private and voluntary agencies have long recognized and utilized the many positive dimensions inherent in recreation. This is a source of much pride and satisfaction to recreation professionals.

Perhaps by its nature, but certainly because of tradition, recreation is not relegated to the exclusive province of any group of professionals by statute of law as is true, for example, of the medical and legal professions. No license requirement inhibits anyone who would "practice recreation" either as an end in itself or as a means to some other end. In short, anyone may dispense recreation services, and many have long done so under the aegis of a wide variety of organizations and agencies. Over the decades, a degree of coexistence (largely based upon a clear definition of boundaries or "turf") has been achieved between public recreation and other agencies in the commercial, private and voluntary sectors. In each case, bruises attended the resolution of conflicts, and even today, occasional brush fires erupt to remind us that care and nurturing are required to maintain friendly relations. In the 1970's, a new set of interagency turf battles has developed, largely because of the growth of the new professions of community education, junior and community colleges, and adult education.

Clearly, the "interagency recreation coordination council" in cities across the nation must include representatives from these fields as they have always included representatives of the scouts, red cross, Y's, etc. Indeed, where such coordination councils exist, it may be appropriate to review their membership and simply expand it in light of the growing importance of community education and other educational units which focus heavily upon leisure time pursuits in addition (or in place of) to traditional career/degree focused programs.

At the national level, through the support of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, four associations have been meeting in an effort to enhance creative cooperation. Recognizing the decline in available dollars for agencies and inflationary increases in operating costs, plus the problem of effectively delivering community services in light of these trends, The National Joint Continuing Steering Committee has made impressive strides toward cooperating, communicating and coordinating their efforts. The Committee represents the National Community Education Association, American Association for Leisure and Recreation, National Recreation and Park Association, and American Association of Community and Junior Colleges.

These groups represent separate and distinct constituencies, all sharing a common concern for improving the quality of life. Although their accomplishments are many and diverse, it is timely to bring to your attention a publication developed by the Committee for use at all levels:

"The Ultimate—To Serve . . . through interagency communication, coordination and cooperation between parks and recreation—community education." The 25 page document is a "cookbook" for adapting the national model to the state and local level, and includes:

*National Joint Position Statement— principles and definitions to include in a joint cooperative written agreement

*State Guidelines-specific procedures for bringing about interagency cooperation at the state level

*Community Guidelines—proven steps community agencies should take to insure interagency communication-cooperation-coordination

*Training Guidelines— requirements to help develop a cooperative leadership training program between community education, and parks and recreation

*Curriculum Guidelines—basic components to assist educators in developing a joint curriculum

Illinois Parks and Recreation 22 May/June, 1977

*Legislative Guidelines—suggestions for the legislative process

*Future Directions-the charge for the future

Some 26,000 copies of the publication were distributed to the members of all of the national organizations comprising the Joint Committee. Additional copies of "The Ultimate-To Serve" may be obtained by writing Robert M. Artz, NRPA, 1601 North Kent Street, Arlington, Virginia 22209. Also, a supplementary publication, "Glossary of Common Terms" was compiled by the Joint Committee, and copies may be obtained by writing Mr. Artz.

The National Joint Continuing Steering Committee, in its conviction that the process it has developed is both viable and necessary at the state and community level, has assigned state level contact representatives for most states. Individual committee members are primary contact people, and will make every effort to establish or work with functional joint committees in each state as soon as possible. When the state committees are operational, the contact representatives will assit to improve and expand them through state meetings, conferences and similar efforts.

State and regional association leaders should form and support an interorganizational committee. All can rally around its theme: "The Ultimate—To Serve!"

The following are the contact representatives for Illinois:

Dr. Richard Kirchner, Chairman, Department of Recreation and Park Administration, Central Michigan University, Mt. Peasant, MI 48859 (517/774-3858) and Mr. Pat Doyle, Assistant to the Dean, School of Continuing Education, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859 (517/774-3715).

For more information write:

National Joint Continuing Steering Committee on Community Schools—Community Education Project Headquarters, National Recreation and Park Assn., 1601 North Kent Street, Arlington, Virginia 22209 (703/525-0606), Robert M. Artz, Project Coordinator

References:
*National Joint Committee on Community Schools—Our Common Cause," AALR Reporter, June 1976, p. 2
*"Community Schools: Our Common Cause, "Parks & Recreation, June 1976, pp. 37,45-46
*"Community Schools: Our Common Cause," NCEA News, June 1966, pp. 1-2.

(Editor's Note: Dr. Dunn is an Associate Professor, Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at the Temple University and a member of The National Joint Continuing Steering Committee on Community Schools-Community Education.)

Illinois Parks and Recreation 23 May/June, 1977