The following article is excerpted from a forthcoming book
authored by IAPD Executive Director Dr. Ted Flickinger, CAE.

BOARDMANSHIP... A few ideas for improving internal relations By Dr. Ted Flickinger, CAE IAPD Executive Director and Managing Editor

Board members have a special and far-reaching role in the development of a board/executive partnership. A well-structured park and recreation agency that lacks a spirit of cooperation, dedication to purpose, and citizen involvement will eventually bog down and lose financial support.

The elements of spirit, morale and esprit-de-corps don't occur accidentally; the CEO and the board must develop them. Loyalty, reliability, responsibility, support, and performance of board members are dependent upon the spirit developed within.

Some of the most important conditions for developing a cooperative spirit among board members are:

A unifying purpose—For the board to work harmoniously and effectively, there must be a clear and accepted purpose. The chief executive officer and the board must agree on the agency's purpose. Then they must continually call attention to, and show evidence for, how that purpose is achieved and the worth of the effort. An investment in parks and recreation is an investment in life and in the environment. The board, CEO and agency staff working together, must make a continuous case for parks and recreation in the ever-competing battle for public funds.

A willingness to support parks and recreation—A positive attitude must be engendered in the community. The board itself—by the quality of its own cooperative attitudes, its image in the community and its behavior—sets the tone. The board must make every effort to develop generous, appreciative attitudes toward individuals, organizations and community groups. The spirit of cooperation should prevail. Vindictiveness, pettiness and prejudice toward other groups, or indifference in others, should never be tolerated on a park or recreation board.

Camaraderie—For a park and recreation board to develop a spirit of cooperation, all board members must respect the worth of their colleagues and trust them. Board members must feel that they are doing a worthwhile job. They must obtain rewards of personal growth, prestige, pride, and patriotic feelings. Failing to recognize and commend efforts and talents can decrease the satisfaction and diminish board members' spirit.

Camaraderie can be enhanced by...

1. taking a fellow board member to lunch occasionally.

2. telling board members, via a note, that they are doing an outstanding job.

3. sending news releases to the media when a board member has been reelected or reappointed, receives community recognition for other services, or receives an award from a State or national professional association.

4. honoring past board members. This shows current members that they are appreciated.

5. giving a special recognition when members go off the board.

6. featuring board members in various agency newsletters, and,

7. dedicating a portion of the annual report to board members and their accomplishments.

*This subject is elaborated on in greater detail in the forthcoming book.