FROM THE EDITOR

Due to popular demand, we bring back the personnel issue again this year. Sounds like a snoozer by its title, but the subject is complex and significant.

The struggling economy, budget cuts, layoffs, early retirements: all have affected the workplace. Last year's issue (which can be viewed at Illinois Parks & Recreation Online, www.lib.niu.edu/ipo/) focused on recruiting and retaining good employees. This year the stories look at improving the workplace environment and customer satisfaction.

Nancy Aldrich is back with an in-depth piece on "Taming the Difficult Employee" (see page 22). Aldrich, superintendent of human resources for the Arlington Heights Park District, gives supervisors and coworkers great strategies for sharing office space with a difficult employee. You know, the office gossip, the whiner, Mr. Negativity, Ms. Know-It-All.

Seems, too, that a simple "thank you" or "nice work" can make the work world a better place. The authors of "Managing Positive Work Environments" (page 34) share simple ways to recognize staff and scenarios for practicing praises and (positive) reprimands.

Just plain being nice works well, too, when you look at the customer service side of the workplace. According to author and lauded park and recreation professional Joseph J. Bannon, Ph.D.: "Being nice to people is just about 20 percent of providing good service." Bannon calls customer service the key to success of the leisure service organization. His article begins on page 27.

Lately I've heard from some nice folks in our field who have sent complimentary e-mails about the "new look" of the magazine. Thank you, and keep your comments coming (good, bad or constructive).

For the first time, we do justice to the winners of the annual "Give Us Your Best Shot" photo contest by publishing them in the new four-color format. Take in these remarkable shots, then go out and take your own. Contest guidelines for 2002 are online at www.ILparks.org or www.il-ipra.org. Simply click on publications. The deadline is October 1, 2002.

Keep up the good work, everyone!

ANN M. LONDRIGAN
Editor

Illinois Parks and Recreation

(SSN 0019-2155) is published bimonthly at 211 E.Monroe Street, Springfield, Illinois, by the Illinois Associotion of Park Districts and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association. Annual subscription rates: $6 for IAPO/IPRA members; $25 for non-members; $30 foreign; $20 educational institutions. Single copies: $2 members; $5 nonmembers. Periodicals postage paid at Springfield, Illinois. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Illinois Parks & Recreation, 211 E. Monroe Street, Springfield, IL62701-1186. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily express the official views of the IAPD/IPRA, Likewise, the publication of any advertisement is not to be construed as an endorsement of the product or services offered. Members of the IAPD and the IPRA and other interested persons are encouraged to submit articles and illustrative photos for possible publication in the magazine. Send for manuscript guidelines and deadline dates: Editor, Illinois Parks & Recreation, 211 E. Monroe Street, Springfield, IL 62701 -1186,217.523.4554, alondrigan@ILparks,org, www.lLparks.org

Copyright by the Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Illinois Pork and Recreation Association. All rights reserved. Reprints of articles in whole or in part without prior written permission are prohibited.

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