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1980 CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS The 1980 Annual Conference was the largest in the history of IPRA and IAPD. There were over 2590 registered delegates, exhibitors, students and guests in attendance, and for the first time the commercial and educational exhibits were sold out. The preliminary tally of the educational session evaluations shows the conference to be one of the best in quality we have ever had. Several years ago with the approval of the Joint Agreement, the coordination of the conference became the complete responsibility of a Joint Conference Committee composed of six (6) members from IAPD and six (6) from IPRA. This Committee, under the chairmanship of Waldon "Wally" Degner, Commissioner, Palatine Park District and Keith Frankland, Director, Woodridge Park District, deserves the congratulations of both associations for the excellent educational opportunity they provided to the membership. Next year the 1981 Illinois Park and Recreation Conference will be held at the same location—The Hyatt Regency O'Hare, November 12-15, 1981.
THE CHALLENGE
The following is the platform address given at the 1980 state conference by incoming president Cole. The coming year deserves a note of optimism for the Illinois Association of Park Districts. We have fresh, dynamic staff leadership in Ted Flickinger and Peter Murphy, and we have a group of talented, dedicated and energetic Board of Directors and committee members. Our alliance with park and recreation professionals of IPRA has never been stronger. Not only have we joined forces for the conference, the legislative program and the magazine publication, but now we are taking aim at the whole concept of improving our public image—telling the world how capable we are of satisfying the need for leisure-time activities and facilities. In short, it seems to me, the proposition 13 syndrome and all of its attendant fall-out have jelled all of us in the leisure movement into the realization that (as one of our great American patriots said) "We must all hang together or most assuredly we shall all hang separately." Is our work finished? Can we afford the luxury of feeling smug about our successes? Of course not. Did you know there are nearly 100 park, conservation and forest preserve districts in Illinois that do not belong to IAPD? Did you know there are over 2,000 commissioners and trustees in Illinois? Did you know that probably 90% of those commissioners and trustees are seldom, if ever, active in the leisure movement, outside of their own districts? Did you know that Illinois ranks 47th of the 50 States in the amount of State monies spent for parks, recreation, conservation and open space? If you answered yes to the last four questions, you not only perceive the work that lies ahead, but you are also entitled to treat yourself to a lollipop. But hurry back and listen up— there's another load coming. It is said that there are three stages in a person's life— "youth", "middle age", and "gee, you're looking good". The "youth" of an association might be characterized by enthusiasm, rapid expansion, groping for goals and direction. "Middle age" quite likely would show steady growth, maturity, confidence, a firm sense of accomplishment. "G.Y.L.G.", on the other hand, conjurs up visions of stagnation, smugness, coasting downhill and sometimes a little mold around the edges. Where does IAPD fall in this spectrum? How comforting it is to think we have both the enthusiasm of youth and the maturity of middle age— but alas, smugness peeks out and the mold begins to appear. I prefer to think that 52 years of service entitles us to a middle age status, but not without effort or challenge. We can revive our enthusiasm of youth by a simple formula. (If you're still awake, here comes the biggie.) It's impossible to clap, to shake hands, to pat someone on the back or to lend a helping hand unless you first stick out your hand. Make no mistake about it—if all of us stick out our hands for the leisure movement, we can accomplish anything we set about. For example, can you imagine the impact on the legislative process in this State if all of the 2,000-odd commissioners and trustees would stick out a hand on behalf of our cause! That's 8 1/2 lobbyists for each legislator in the State! There, you have it—Uncle Bobby's secret formula. Go and stick out your hand right now, and take the oath that this will be the year of the stuck out hand for us. Isn't it easy? If you've taken the oath, have another lollipop. By the way, I'm building the Eiffel Tower out of lollipop sticks, so I'd appreciate your sending me any you have—just to show your belief in Uncle Bobby's formula. Also it saves me the cost of glue, and it will prove that Parkies stick together—with the stuck out hand. Illinois Parks and Recreation 7 January/February 1981
Department of Conservation Land Water Conservation Fund Awards for 1981 November 15, 1980
Illinois Parks and Recreation 9 January/February 1981
Illinois Parks and Recreation 10 January/February 1981 |
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