Everyone is familiar with the phrase "new blood" and "old blood", but how many of you have really thought about what category you fit into today? New and old blood people are fairly easy to identify, but what about those people in the middle? These individuals refuse to admit they're old blood and definitely know enough not to think that they're new blood, so how about a brand new category for those "middle blood" people.

Each of these categories, new, middle and old, plays a valuable role in the development and maintenance of your Association. Yet each type of person has opinions, viewpoints, questions and statements unique to his or her own category.

New blood people are enthusiastic and ready to go. They're anxious to become involved but not quite sure how to go about it. New blood people can sometimes appear very critical because their questions are challenging and may cause middle and old blood to become defensive. New blood people are also very involved in their job. They're anxious to do a good job and get started on the right foot. This doesn't leave them a lot of time to contribute as a volunteer to our Association. And when they do volunteer they may sometimes feel intimidated and unsure when put into a meeting that includes both old and middle blood people. New blood does demand more, they definitely are not supportive of the status quo. How about the old blood person? Old blood knows they're important because they know the IPRA history. What may sound like a great new idea could very well have been tried 10 or 15 years ago. Old blood people may sometimes feel tired and unwilling to help, when in reality they may simply need a rest and could very well have contributed lots in the past. Old blood people can help assure the job will get done, they've made the long-term commitment over the years and you know you can count on their determination. The old blood person certainly is opinionated, they've seen and heard the same types of topics over the years. How about the middle blood people? The middle blood person is challenging and willing to try to cause change. Middle blood people need to be careful so they don't become burned out. Middle blood feels comfortable with both new and old blood and can usually relate well to both.

Why even make comments about new, middle and old blood? I continue to have numerous opportunities to hear from and talk with members of each of these groups. Their opinions, viewpoints, questions and statements are definitely distinct and unique. This wide gamut of input is crucial and must be listened to as we review and determine our future direction.

In my opinion, both last year's and this year's Board could be described as primarily new and middle blood people. This group has and will continue to deal with some major and significant directional issues for our Association. This Board must continue to secure input from all — new, middle and old blood people. This year's IPRA budget was approved with only a $1600 deficit, as opposed to a deficit much larger than last year. Additionally, there will be approximately $14,000 of soft monies available for special projects and a $50,000 reserve will remain untouched. These changes are significantly different from the past. I stress the word different, not necessarily more right or more wrong. All decisions made will hopefully keep our Association on the right course. But during all the discussing, questioning, challenging and debating and the continuing challenging and debating, it has been hard not to continually ask myself why now? Why so many questions and concerns now?

The old blood people know the answer here. They're well aware of the cycles of change that IPRA can expect and has wrestled with in the past. Let me stop here and go back just a few years. IPRS (Illinois Park and Recreation Society) hired its first full-time association secretary in 1968. Four years later, in 1972, the major decision was made to move the IPRS office from Springfield to the Chicago area. Four years after that, 1976, a special Task Force Study recommended the change of IPRS to IPRA and the implementation of Sections. In 1980, the Delphi Process was used to help us identify and prioritize the measurable objectives of the Association. And again four years later, as we start 1984, it appears we're already part way through another major change.

Four year cycles are certainly evident benchmarks of major significant change in our Association. In retrospect, perhaps a preamble of this history may have provided all involved with the reassurance that change is a normal process. Things really aren't in a terrible state of affairs, but instead this is just the start of the next phase of development for our Association.

Currently IPRA has about 1,600 members. There are 19 elected Board members and Sections total 65 elected Board members. There are 26 IPRA committee chairs and about 40 Section committee chairs. Committee members here total nearly 600 people. There are 9 affiliate organizations with about 50 individuals assuming Board offices and at least 250 more people working on committees. All of these total nearly 1,000 people involved in some aspect or another. Even if 20% of these people are duplicates, those working in more than one area, that still leaves at least 800 people contributing. This shows that at least 50% of our membership is involved in giving as well as getting. This is

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really outstanding when you stop to think about it. If all of these individuals were put onto the appropriate new, middle and old blood list, I would speculate that there is a pretty good distribution.

As I approached the presidency, as a confirmed middle blood person, I have to admit I wondered how in the world I was going to be able to do it. With the people we have it's all much easier than one would think. Yes, there's been change and perhaps you could even say we've had some problems. But all of you have developed and maintained a fine professional association. The desire and commitment of our volunteers, all who have a full-time job in their real life and contribute to IPRA in their spare time, rank high in comparison to any other type of professional association.

I can, however, feel very comfortable and confident in challenging you all. I challenge the new blood to get involved and continue questioning. You have the chance to contribute what you have that middle and old blood people don't have and probably won't have again, fresh enthusiasm and energies. I challenge the middle blood to continue doing what you do best, relating to both new and old blood and assuring that all are involved. You need to continue bridging the gap. I challenge the old blood to stay involved. Contribute what you have that no one else yet has, that permanent commitment and dedication.

New, middle and old blood people alike have to share the challenges of what is ahead. New, middle and old blood have to work together to assure the most efficient and best possible use of our limited volunteer and staff time and Association dollars.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 32 January/February