Rhodell E. Owens has served the Peoria Park District professionally for almost thirty-five years. He earned a B.S. degree in Forest Management from Utah State University and M.S. degree in Landscape and Recreation Management from the State University of New York, Syracuse. Before coming to Peoria in 1945 he was employed as a landscape engineer with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. He was made Director-Secretary of the Peoria Park District in 1952 and since 1964 has been Director of Parks and Recreation. Mr. Owens has received many state and national awards including the Illinois Park and Recreation Society Fellow Award in 1975 and the Cornelius Amory Pugsley Bronze Medal for outstanding accomplishment in the field of parks, scenic and historic preservation presented by the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society. An avid tennis player and trout fisherman, he also enjoys photography, gardening, travel, and playing bridge.

Professional Perspective...

Inevitably, in these days of tightening economic pressures, the park administrator is called upon to defend every expenditure. Caution is the rule. We must justify each request and carefully assess the value to be derived. Conference and workshop expenses are often questioned first.

Attendance at professional conferences and workshops, such as those offered by IPRA and NRPA is in a very real sense an integral part of a staff's work function. There is no better way for staff people to keep informed on new programs and developments and maintain a viable perspective of their responsibilities. Professionals these days seek to be employed where opportunities to keep abreast of the times are afforded through conference and workshop attendance.

A statewide survey of salaries, wages and benefits, conducted by a leading Illinois university, shows that most park districts in Illinois send their chief administrator and staff members to national and state conferences and local workshops each year as a specific employment incentive. Indeed, a stated policy providing for conference attendance is often a decisive factor in attracting and holding competent staff members.

We should encourage staff and board members to take leadership roles in the affairs of our state and national organizations. Through the efforts of board and staff working together on committees, much beneficial state enabling legislation has been enacted, such as merging of park and recreation bodies, increased bonding powers and tax income, along with a host of other imperative measures. Such achievements keep our park department alive financially and functioning properly, and are accomplished only by active participation at conferences where much of our committee work is finalized and approved by the general membership.

We should also encourage staff members to participate in conference programs and discussions. While the preparation of papers may involve a great amount of time, the process of organizing material invariably leads to a clearer understanding of the subject and the problems involved.

Staff members should thoughtfully consider conference programs and select sessions from which they will receive the greatest benefit. And if they know they must report back to the entire staff, they will no doubt be more critical listeners.

Conference attendance is a real learning experience for any board and staff member. However trite it may be, we cannot escape the truth of the old axiom: "When we cease to learn, we die." As professionals we must pursue every opportunity available to us for this learning process. The inspiration and idea exchange, both formal and informal, resulting from conferences not only contributes to the growth of our staff and board, but increases their efficiency in conducting the day-to-day work of our park and recreation agencies.

And, we might add, the opportunity for some real "fun" recreation and relaxation at these conferences should not be discounted. After all, recreation is our business.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 25 September/October, 1979