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GET ON BOARD  Keep the Art of the Thank You Alive at Your Agency About a dozen years ago, I met with an Italian dignitary, a visitor to Springfield. I was asked to tell him about our state's park, recreation and conservation system. During our discussion, he talked about the differences between volunteering here and volunteering in his own country. He said that while we have a lot of government in this country, we also have widespread volunteerism that is closely linked with our form of government. People in other countries, who don't have faith and trust in the institutions of their country, simply don't volunteer. That's hard to imagine. In our country and in our state, we are -and should be - ever thankful that volunteers play key roles in the history and the future of our agencies. Volunteerism - A Cornerstone of the Parks Movement Joseph Lee, the "Father of the Playground Movement," provides a timeless example of direct citizen involvement and volunteerism for the betterment of parks, recreation and conservation. During the late 1800s, Lee, a Harvard graduate and attorney, helped create the first model playground in a desolate Boston neighborhood. Convinced that all children needed opportunities to play under leadership, he became the chief promoter of a bill in the Massachusetts state legislature requiring towns, cities and populations of more than 10,000 citizens to establish playgrounds. Passage of the bill resulted in favorable action in many of the state's municipalities. Lee subsequently became involved in the national recreation movement as chairman of the National Playground Association's Committee on State Laws. He is known for posing the question: "What will be left one hundred years hence as the result of what we are doing now? Are we planting the kinds of things that will go on forever...permanent things in the American community?" Lee's work was not done in isolation, of course. Citizen volunteers formed the basis of the public's central role in the very existence of public parks, recreation and conservation areas. Enduring legacies such as Central Park in New York, the Boston Commons, Cleveland's Emerald Necklace, Philadelphia's Fairmont Park and Chicago's Grant Park exist today because early citizens were mobilized and active in their communities. History proves we owe a debt to citizen volunteers. Willoughby Rodman, the "Mother of Los Angeles Playgrounds," and Otto Mallery, the "Father of Recreation in Philadelphia," are among the field's pioneers from the early 1900s. Mallery, an economist and active member of the Playground Association of America, was a great believer in the role of the citizen in the recreation movement. He once said, "The ultimate strength of the National Recreation Association lies in the devotion and civic spirit of thousands of laymen and women on boards, committees, and foundations that steadily hold the line and keep advancing it." It's not a stretch to say that public parks are the legacy of citizen volunteerism in this country. Recognizing Volunteers Your agency benefits from the grandsons and granddaughters of those early volunteers. Citizens are there to serve on your policy making boards; there to spruce up the playgrounds as part of your adopt a park program; there to coach your pee wee sports; there-in number - to mobilize their neighbors to pass your bond referendum. I
One way - perhaps the best way - to keep volunteers coming back is to let them know how much you appreciate the vital services they provide to your agency. Many agencies have an annual dinner for volunteers, and that's a great component of a volunteer recognition effort. But perhaps your agency can weave "thank you" even more deeply into its culture, like the National Park Service does. Each of its parks has a designated volunteer budget to spend on supplies, training, uniforms and recognition. Volunteer coordinators use the money for small, but meaningful ways to show their gratitude, including field trips, special presentations with guest speakers or such gifts as commemorative T-
shirts, mugs or bags. Other programs are more formal and recognize an individual's growing achievements and commitment to the agency with such items as golden nametags, distinctive lapel pins, belt buckles or plaques to designate their ascendancy within the ranks of the cadre of volunteers. Thanks and Thanks Again You can never say thank you too many times. And, as long as you are saying thank you, you might as well have some fun in the process. I invite you to share the evening of September 14 with your colleagues and friends from IAPD at the first ever IAPD Best of the Best Awards Gala at Wheaton Park District's Arrowhead Golf Club and Banquet Facility. The event is our way of recognizing outstanding local volunteer efforts on a statewide scale. Nomination booklets for the awards were sent to agency directors and commissioners in June and further details of the event will be forthcoming. (You may also access information on the Web at www.ILparks.org). Your participation will help make this a rewarding evening for volunteers. I promise that, by the end of the ceremony, you - and they - will better understand how seemingly isolated volunteer efforts contribute to the larger and greater story of the outstanding parks, recreation and conservation services in the state of Illinois.  Illinois Association of Park Districts Presents "The Best of the Best" Awards Gala Friday, September 14 Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk the red carpet? Now, representatives and supporters of Illinois park districts, forest preserves, conservation, recreation and special recreation agencies can find out at lAPD's first "Best of the Best" Awards Gala Friday, September 14 at the Wheaton Park District's Arrowhead Golf Club and Banquet Facility. . Citizens throughout Illinois rely on volunteer board members and professionals to provide the vision and direction that make our park districts, forest preserves, conservation, recreation and special recreation agencies the envy of the nation. We know that we are not alone in these endeavors. Businesses, citizen volunteers, other units of local government, legislators and the media have significant roles in many of our accomplishments. The awards gala will be an opportunity to thank those who have committed their time, resources and talents to help strengthen and further the park, recreation and conservation mission. This black tie optional program and dinner will motivate and inspire each and every one of us to go above and beyond the call of duty to make Illinois a better place to live, work and play. The gala will celebrate accomplishments made during 2007, and, while we will continue to present awards at the Awards Luncheon and the IAPD Annual Business Meeting during the annual IAPD/IPRA Soaring to New Heights Conference in January, we have selected several current and new awards that we believe are worthy of special attention. The awards gala will recognize winners of the following awards: Board Member Service Anniversaries Award nominations are being accepted through July 27. Criteria and ballots are available at www.ILparks.org or by calling IAPD at (217) 523-4554. 7 Illinois Parks & Recreation www. I Lipra.org |
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