Another New Benefit for Take
Time For Fun!® Members—
Mike Singletary

by Tracy A. Taylor, CLP

Mike Singletary

Mike Singletary of the Chicago Bears has signed a three-year contract with the Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association to be the Take Time For Fun! ® celebrity spokesperson. Singletary is the first NFL athlete to endorse a non-profit organization in uniform, and all Take Time For Fun!® members will benefit from the engagement of this new celebrity spokesperson. IAPD and IPRA will utilize Singletary to produce print media, tape public service announcements for radio, cable, and television, and conduct fund-raising events that will further promote the Take Time For Fun!® program.

The first phase of this campaign will be introduced at the Illinois Park and Recreation Conference in January. Each Take Time For Fun!® member will receive ad slicks of Singletary in uniform and posters to promote their agency's activities, a "50 Ways to Take Time For Fun!®" brochure and guidelines for the program.

The campaign will continue next year with the production of a television commerical to be aired throughout the state and a fund-raising event including a personal appearance from Singletary.

The final phase of the campaign will include new print material, public service announcements for radio, and an appearance by Singletary at the state conference.

Take Time For Fun! ® was introduced in 1988 as a focused, comprehensive, results-oriented marketing program designed to create and sustain awareness with the general public. The program has united park, recreation and conservation agencies throughout Illinois. It is the goal of this new campaign featuring Mike Singletary to further enhance statewide recognition of the Take Time For Fun!® program.

If your agency is not currently a Take Time For Fun!® member, it is not too late to register. The membership fee is only $200. Simply complete the application on the following page and mail it, along with your check, to IPRA headquarters. Don't miss out on the graphics manual, feature programs, and new artwork... so join now!

Note: It is a violation of the copyright laws for any agency which is not an official member of this marketing campaign to use the Take Time For Fun!® slogan and logo.

About the Author

Tracy A. Taylor, CLP, serves on the IAPD/IPRA Joint Public Awareness Committee as the Take Time For Fun!® membership chair and is the Administrative Coordinator of the Niles Park District.

Take Time For Fun!® Materials Available at 1993 State Conference Take Time For Fun!® members can pick up their Mike Singletary materials at the Joint Public Awareness Committee's booth during the Illinois Park and Recreation Conference, January 7-9, 1993, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

Illinois Parks and Recreation

22

November/December 1992