First Annual Agency Showcase --
An Arena For Agencies
To "Show And Tell"

By Lydia Lombardo*

As Diaper Derbys and Fourth of July Celebrations vied for the judges' attention in the Special Events Category, Talking Turtles and Changing Seasons shared the spotlight in the Brochure Series Category. This is the "stuff" that made up the recent 1st Annual Agency Showcase and which prompted several judges to agree that park and recreation people are "very imaginative, creative, and original."

Debuting at the Illinois Park and Recreation Conference November 18-21 at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare, the Showcase was established by this year's Joint Conference Committee as an arena for agencies' premier programs and publications. Five first year categories were selected: Best Single Brochure, Best Brochure Series, Special Events, Referenda, and Logo. All agencies were invited in mid-August to enter one of the first four categories plus the Logo category, and detailed rules and specifications were sent out from the IPRA office.

In a spirit of fairness, each category was divided into two sections to accommodate those with an assessed valuation of under $150 million (section A) and those with an assessed valuation over $150 million (section B).

Because the Showcase represents a place to display and share publications and programs, competitiveness was not an important factor and was downplayed. First, second and third prizes were not given. Instead, BEST OF SHOW ribbons were awarded so others could learn from what was judged outstanding.

In addition to the originality of displayed work, the judges were pleasantly surprised to discover that many smaller agencies produced publications which matched the excellence of some larger districts. Because all the judges have worked within limited budgets sometime during their careers, they appreciated the amount of innovative thinking and planning represented by the agencies' work.

Judging occurred at the Hyatt on the first day of the conference during a six-hour evaluation process. The judges carefully scrutinized each entry based on the overall good use of the following criteria established for each category:

SINGLE BROCHURE: Cover design; graphics; readability including language, type, page layout, etc.; theme presentation throughout, agency image portrayal.

BROCHURE SERIES: Unified, cohesive appearance; continuity of theme; cover design; readability including language, type, page layout, etc.; use of graphics.

SPECIAL EVENTS: Planning; methods for target audience attraction; use of media; community response; purpose accomplishment; portrayal of agency image; publicity pieces; flyers, posters, letters, etc.

REFERENDA: Message imparted to taxpayers by diverse methods; good use of community resources; publicity pieces used: flyers, posters, letters, speeches; persuasiveness of language; media relations and support engendered.

LOGO: Graphic design; incorporation of image for either (I) agency, (2) facility, or (3) program; identification of agency, facility or special event; creativity.

Following considerable discussion, the judges reached a compendium point evaluation (based on a scale of 1 to 5) for the final BEST OF SHOW ribbon awards.

* Membership Services Director, Illinois Park and Recreation Association

A conference delegate examines the brochure display in the Agency Showcase.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 23 January/February 1983

Winners in each category are:

SINGLE BROCHURES

"A" — under $150 million assessed valuation: Prospect Heights Park District, Belvidere Park District, SEASPAR.

"B"— over $150 million assessed valuation: Waukegan Park District, Schaumburg Park District, Elk Grove Park District.

BROCHURE SERIES

"A" — under $150 million assessed valuation: Palatine Park District, Lincolnwood Park District, Urbana Park District.

"B"—over $150 million assessed valuation: Wilmette Park District, Park District of Highland Park, Bolingbrook Park District.

SPECIAL EVENTS "A" & "B" categories eliminated because only two agencies entered. Ribbons awarded to:

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, Wheaton Park District, Morton Grove Park District, Glenview Park District.

REFERENDA

Only two agencies entered; both were considered eligible for ribbons: Flagg-Rochelle Park District and Dundee Township Park District.

LOGOS

"A" — under $150 million as sessed valuation: South Suburban Park and Recreation Association, Easter Seals, North Suburban Special Recreation Association.

"B"— over $150 million assessed valuation: Park District of Highland Park, Northbrook Park District, Peoria Park District.

Delegate response to the Showcase and its purpose was extremely favorable. Many conference participants reported that inviting agencies to submit best work in specific areas proved more educational than the space-consuming educational exhibits which were eliminated this year. A few delegates expressed concern about limiting the number of category submissions. However, limiting each category to 20 entries (10 per section) for this first attempt assured that the material submitted would be manageable and attractive for display in the space provided. Next year's Conference Committee may opt to extend the number of submissions in each category, especially since the Single Brochure and Logo Categories filled rapidly and some entries had to be turned away.

Other recommendations received thus far for next year's Showcase include:

— Adding more categories such as special facility brochures, newsletters, posters, gift catalogs, photographs, posters.

— Eliminating the Referenda Category.

— Including Special Recreation Agencies specifically. This year they were accepted and placed in the lower assessed valuation. This may prove the best option in the long run.

— Providing a place for educational institutions' recruitment brochures and/or other materials.

A few delegates also requested that individual publications feedback be offered to agency entrants. This may not be possible since it could mean extending the already long judging time. However, the new IPRA Communications and Marketing Committee is planning a Brochure Evaluation Workshop which will offer critiques to agencies participating.

Any other Agency Showcase suggestions from IAPD and IPRA members are more than welcome. If the suggestions are as innovative as the baby derby, talking turtles, educational puppets in a forest preserve, and disabled kids sharing tents with main-streamed kids, then the Showcase has a long, full life ahead.

Judges for the 1st Annual Agency Showcase: Dee Atkinson Community and Consumer Relations Manager Kemper Insurance Company Alan Blitz Manager, Public Relations Department Holy Family Hospital Robert Paddock, Jr. Paddock Publications Betty Prevender Communications Department Faculty Mundelein College Barbara Harms Assistant Vice President & Director of Corporate Communications, Chicago Title and Trust Co., had also accepted, but was ill and could not attend.

Four of the judges of the first Annual Agency Showcase are shown at the Annual Conference (from left): Alan Blitz: Dee Atkinson; Lydia Lomhardo of the IPRA staff and coordinator of the project; Betty Prevender; and Robert Paddock Jr.

LIFE. BE IN IT.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 24 January/February 1983