BOARDMANSHIP. . . Hiring a Professional By Dr. Ted Flickinger, CAE IAPD Executive Director and Managing Editor

What is a professional?

In 1964, I had the great fortune to meet Dr. Harold D. Meyer, Professor Emeritus at the University of North Carolina. The late Dr. Meyer epitomized a true professional. He served as mentor to hundreds of park and recreation professionals and inspired us to be the best we could be. At the conclusion of many of his speeches he had a message for the park and recreation professional. He stated,".. .The challenge here is to earnestly plead with each of you who is devoted to this profession to become a crusader of its potentials, a creative master of this art, the inventor for the road ahead, the interpreter of its objectives and values, the analyst of its procedures, the scientist of human relations, the researcher for its proof, the explorer of its hidden possibilities, and the ambassador of its worth."

The parks, recreation and conservation field has something substantial to offer anyone willing to accept the challenge to work in it: from the critical issues of the inner cities to the challenges of environmental quality; from the social issues of gangs and drugs to management and interpretation of the great outdoors.

The trademark of a real professional is the spirit of service above self. The professional will heed the words of Woodrow Wilson when he said, "You are not here merely to make a living, you are here in order to enable the world to live more amply with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget your errand."

The true professional:

• Gives more thought to his work than is merely required to earn compensation.
• Constantly acquires new knowledge and develops new skills in the performance of his duties.
• Believes that his is a high calling, has pride in his profession and his performance, as well as in himself. He exemplifies quality in thought, actions and appearance.
• Seeks self-improvement. He takes advantage of every opportunity to further his knowledge and inspire his profession. The professional develops new ideas and shares them with his colleagues to better serve the public.
• Avoids rumors and hearsay: he does not spread gossip about his board members or colleagues. He does not credit information received through the "grapevine."
• Does not advance himself at the expense of others.
• Remember that becoming a Certified Leisure Professional is the first step in being a true professional in the field of parks and recreation.

Many years ago, Jerry Harris wrote an interesting item in his Detroit Free Press column. An individual had written to him and asked, "How do you write a spirited column each day in this hot weather?" This is part of his answer as it relates to professionalism. "Anyone can write when inspiration strikes them. Any composer can be jolly when conditions are favorable. Any actor can be self-possessed if he is well, and well paid. The test of professionalism lies in scaling the mountains when the head throbs and the feet hurt; when, in short, the amateurs are resting in their tents with aspirin and hot water bottles. The true test, and its curious paradox, of professionalism is that the professional often does his best when goaded by difficulties and threatened by disaster... The word professional has taken on a purely mercenary meaning in our times. It should not just mean someone who earns a living at a particular craft, but someone who professes his devotion to a calling, beyond the needs for pleasure or for profit."

Being a professional implies the possession of an ideal, a sense of values and of service to others, and a philosophy of what parks and recreation can do to help people find the good life.

Editor's Note: Dr. Ted Flickinger's book, Are You On Board?, has been released (see ad on p. 19). You may order your copy by contacting the IAPD office at (217) 523-4554. The book is highly recommended reading, and should be on every board member's and director's bookshelf.