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Pulling no punches in his comments on leadership in high places, John H. Davis, Executive Director of the National Recreation and Park Association, urges professionals in the park, recreation and leisure fields to unite to achieve more clout in Congress and in the administration. He strongly advocates the formation of a reciprocal membership system among all state and national park and recreation organizations as a means of increasing "our national presence" in Washington. A Plea For Unity By John H. Davis It's IRONIC! The park and recreation discipline has succeeded over the last three decades in surmounting a myriad of obstacles and making significant headway on a broad front. But, in my view, we have still fallen short of laying the base for a truly viable national movement. The key ingredient is still missing and until we find a way to correct that situation, public recreation and parks will suffer. Think about our advances. During the years immediately following World War II, the number of recreation and park systems and special park districts in America's political sub-divisions accelerated at an unbelievable rate. The rate of this growth in most states during that period more than tripled, and today approximately 4,300 such systems exist in the U.S., creating thousands of jobs. This growth can be traced directly to state recreation and park societies associations and to the national organization. In other words, the profession proffered these expanding systems. Likewise, recreation and park curricula in the nation's colleges and universities, an almost unheard of phenomenon in 1950, have mushroomed to include more than 300 bona fide institutions where one can pursue a degree in recreation and parks. Again, the recreation and park profession served to urge the establishment of these educational systems to insure quality leadership. Yes, we have come a long way. But the irony of the situation lies in the fact that the recreation and park profession today is marred by fractionalization and above all ... a LACK OF PROFESSIONAL COMMITMENT! That's the critical missing ingredient. This does not belie the seriousness of effort of many professionals who dedicate themselves to a national movement. Professional Commitment — A Must. Thousands of professionals work diligently to advance our cause, on a state and national level. We should all be concerned with professional membership numbers in NRPA and the state organizations as well. A recent NRPA study revealed that there are approximately 80,000 professionals working in recreation and parks in state and local governments alone. While that figure is not inclusive of the additional thousands who work in the federal, private and commercial sector, it is sufficient to use as a basis for this comparison. The various state organizations now include a composite professional membership of some 36-38,000. In NRPA, the professional membership is less than the total membership of the state associations. I've heard all the reasons why persons don't join the national and state organizations. What's in it for me? I don't go to their meetings anyway! My city won't pay my membership fee! I didn't get my magazine on time! I don't agree with certain things they're doing! I believe that the most common reason for not joining the state and national organizations is a "blind spot, "an inability to recognize the urgency of a "national presence" for our field. Most people who work in the public leisure market have no problem recognizing the importance of what they do within their own jurisdiction. They're usually heavily committed to that, a fact which waxes well for recreation and park enterprise in most communities. But if the provision of quality recreation and parks is as imperative as we say, then it warrants a state and national place of prominence. Obviously, the provision of recreation services in Peoria ... in Oak Park ... in Decatur and in Rockford is paramount. I've heard no one in our field question its value in terms of physical and mental well-being, and in regard to its value to community spirit. If, in fact, it meets these crucial standards certainly no one could deny that parks and recreation is important enough to rank a national priority. But there are those in high places who don't subscribe to that. Adversity in Washington. Prior to his election, Mr. Reagan made no rash promises about his commitment to recreation. About all he promised was a very conservative approach to anything requiring federal financial aid. Candidate Reagan stated our worst enemy to be inflation. If that's true, Secretary of the Interior James Watt runs a close second. This belief is not founded based on partisan politics. Undoubtedly, Mr. Watt is the park and recreation field's most noteworthy adversary. He has taken a "meat ax" approach to everything within Illinois Parks and Recreation 14 September/October 1982 the Interior Department which resembles support for the state and local level. This is what he stands for: 1. Mr. Watt has dismantled the HCRS (formally BOR) as a separate bureau and has further diminished its importance. 2. Mr. Watt has tried, and is still trying, to eliminate funding for the LWCF for states and local sub-divisions. He was successful in zeroing those programs a year ago. I have tried unsuccessfully to convince Mr. Watt that the federal role in technical assistance and in planning are worthy of continuance. He has responded that he is not interested in any such programs relative to state-local support. This stance squares with what seems to constitute his position for federal involvement. That is, the federal government will concern itself only with matters pertaining to areas under lease or direct federal ownership. The implication here is this ... as long as he persists in this belief, we can expect recreation and parks to experience an eroding federal focal point. We can ill afford to let this happen. First of all, his reasoning is without foundation. Secondly, people like him are here today . . . and gone tomorrow . . . and we are left picking up the pieces. LWCF Questioned. As to the LWCF, Mr. Watt insists that federal monies aren't really needed. He has charged that the continuance of the state-local LWCF program only compounds a situation where local and state officials stand with open hands, feeding off the federal trough only because the monies are available and it's popular to get one's share. It's absolutely ridiculous to make such a statement about a program which embodies the very essence of Reaganomics: a minimum of federal money and outstanding leveraging ability surfacing literally thousands of dollars from state and local sources which otherwise would likely never be injected into leisure services. It's interesting to compare Secretary Watt's positions with what Candidate Reagan said for the October Parks & Recreation magazine during the presidential campaign. A quote from that issue went like this . . . "Governor Reagan feels that we should return to the states the primary responsibility for environmental regulations and recreation development in order to increase responsiveness to local conditions" — sounds good ...but it went on to say . . . "the best means of increasing recreation opportunities and protecting the environment is to encourage private groups to get involved. Such groups can buy land, help fund parks, and increase public awareness of environmental and recreational issues." What a naive position! Since when has private money served us so dramatically? To be sure, private money is an excellent supplement... but has never been the catalytic force described by Mr. Reagan. "I have tried unsuccessfully to convince Mr. Watt that the federal role in technical assistance and in planning are worthy of continuance. He has responded that he is not interested in any such programs relative to state-local support." Good Ol' Days Gone. This is not the 50's and 60's. Those were the heydays for our field. We fared extremely well and it was difficult to find people at any level taking "potshots."The economy was eroding ... but overall things were going well financially. Thus, no one paid attention to increasing inflation because money presented no problem. Today, that picture has changed. Unemployment is at an all time high. Inflation is rampant. Public systems are being cut. A conservative attitude prevails. The general public suspects it doesn't get a fair shake from government. We are in a time of testing. And on top of that, we're being told that recreation and parks are not important enough to deserve a national focal point. Watt's That Tune? It's not just Jim Watt. He's the choreographer and other federal leaders who normally espouse a strong recreation and park thrust, are dancing to his tune. You take a look . .. examine it for yourself . . . and see if you can find a federal leader in our field who stands against Mr. Watt's position. Your response is likely . . . "Well, you couldn't expect the people in high places in his employ to go against his philosophy." Perhaps not! But someone must speak for recreation and park interests at the national level. If they don't, then who does? Obviously, this is a rhetorical question, but it underscores the need for professionals to move in concert to insure that the national advocate is one of strength; and one which can wield influence for recreation and park interests. During times of con-
Illinois Parks and Recreation 15 September/October 1982 straint it's even more important to have a strong, unified voice speaking for our interests. I cannot over-emphasize the urgency to have NRPA evolve into an incredibly strong organization. The Sting of Death! Three things can happen to NRPA. It can stand still. It can make progress and grow. Or, it can die. Some professionals wouldn't resist the latter. Think about the result. If for some reason NRPA "went down the drain" it wouldn't take long for concerned professionals and citizens to convene a meeting in some central location. The purpose of the meeting would be to organize a national advocate. The point is clear. A national advocate is a "must." Why not "make hey" out of what we have? Public Opinion Important. Public awareness is likely the most paramount function of a state and/or national organization. To advance programs that get "into the heads" of people the notion that recreation and parks are of undeniable value to them is essential. The extent to which we are able to mount such campaign, i.e. "Life. Be In It.", will dictate the receptivity we will find for our interests at all levels. This will be true on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and it will be true in Springfield, Illinois. Both of those political entities respond to public opinion . . . and public opinion, likewise, will affect the amount of support we garner for recreation and parks in its continuing fight for its proper recognition in communities all over America. To speak with a concerted voice is a valuable commodity. Thus, members are needed. Their voices, their influence, their involvement, and their money. State and national organizations alike are financially strapped to promote vast media campaigns aimed at changing or reinforcing public opinion. Greater numbers enable an organization to finance media campaigns for the good of all. Larger numbers provide more leverage to wield greater influence in political arenas. It's against this backdrop . . . and the unnerving pains of inflation and the economic stresses which continue to fester, that I stress the urgency of increased professional commitment. We Lack Clout?? I've heard the charge that "we lack clout." One NRPA member stated that we were not strong enough to save the LWCF. There is no question that the LWCF — the state and local aspect — would have met its demise several years ago but for the advances of NRPA and its affiliates. However, I am concerned that our clout is impaired because of our corporate inability to put together a cadre of professional leadership in sufficient number to impress policymakers . . . in state organizations and in the national organization. We're fighting for $100 million for the LWCF. How utterly ridiculous. Certainly our potential clout can do better than that. Why A "National Presence?" One direction for greater strength, increased visibility, and political effectiveness is to effect a chapter arrangement within NRPA. A chapter Illinois Parks and Recreation 16 September/October 1982 arrangement literally means a reciprocity of memberships between state organizations and the national. When one joins one, they join the other. I fully admit that staff people within NRPA have been reticent to talk of such. After all, you don't want to make anyone mad. That has changed because of a firm belief that states and national must be one organization if, in fact, a sound base is to be built ... to support a genuine national movement. The Board of Trustees of NRPA has adopted a resolution in support of this concept. It calls on the NRPA Long Range Planning Committee to develop methodologies to accomplish this unity of purpose. Perhaps its goal of accomplishing a totally unified discipline by 1990 is a bit ambitious. However, nothing ventured, nothing gained. A lofty goal to shoot for! Yes. But the recreation and park field is blessed with highly skilled, gifted people whose imaginations, when sparked and challenged, can accomplish anything. I believe if we pursue this goal with an adventuresome attitude, and with a positive outlook that the future will be better because of the effort. If we, in the final analysis, achieve unity ... we could very easily embrace 40,000 to 50,000 professional members within the next ten years. Positive sounds now come from all corners of the country about the concept. NRPA and Pennsylvania have had serious discussions. We've talked with Maryland. Illinois has inquired about it. It's exciting to think about what might emerge in terms of expanded capacities for our field. Think about it... increased publications and technical material, expanded research, but above all, an attentive public turned on because of a media campaign, and a greatly improved legislative capability, both in state houses and on Capitol Hill in D.C. Recreation and park enterprises at all levels would reap dividends. I have come to believe that without a united arrangement binding national and states into a more homogeneous organization, we will continue to be plagued with the same problems; too few members and an uninformed public. As long as the current situation exists, those who choose not to cast their lot with NRPA and state organizations will get a free ride. They are ripping off the park and recreation movement in America. The non-member may think he or she is getting a free lunch, but that is far from the truth. As the TV commercial goes, "we can pay now, or pay later."The reality is that if we pay later, the price will be too great! The price? Lack of public acceptance, frustration, anxiety and, ultimately, poor salaries, staff reductions, loss of areas and facilities, budget reductions and even your job. How Fast Can We Paddle? Our condition today is likened to that of someone on a surf board. Looking behind him he sees a menacing wave building up torrents of water. "Can I paddle fast enough to catch up with that thing? Gosh, if I can't then it'll overturn me. If I can I'll ride it clearly to the shore." One common thing connects us with the surfer. To overcome the political and economic woes of the day will require much work . . . and commitment. ABOUT THE AUTHOR John H. Davis is Executive Director of the National Recreation and Park Association, the nation's largest, non-profit public interest organization serving the park, recreation and leisure field. Prior to assuming his present position in July 1976, he was Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. A veteran of 25 years service in the park and recreation field, Mr. Davis earned his bachelor of science degree from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, and a masters degree from Columbia University in New York City. Beginning his professional career in Darlington, South Carolina, he served as its Director of Parks and Recreation for over two years. In 1957 he became Director of Parks and Recreation in Dalton, Georgia. In 1963 Mr. Davis was selected to head the Georgia State Recreation Commission as its Executive Director. Mr. Davis and his wife, Joyce Coggins Davis, have three children. Illinois Parks and Recreation 17 September/October 1982 |
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