Eugene F. Berghoff, of Bethalto, who served as executive vice-president of the Illinois Association of Park Districts from June 1971 through December 1979, died recently in Springfield at age 65.

His background included a long history of public service, dating back to 1956 when he served as chief deputy circuit clerk for Madison County, and later as Circuit Clerk. In 1960, he was appointed supervisor of the property tax division of the Illinois Department of Revenue, and in 1968, he was named supervisor of the budget and finance section of the Illinois Department of Revenue.

He was transferred to the new Illinois Department of Local Government Affairs in 1970. In fact, he was instrumental—as their local budget finance supervisor—in drafting legislation creating that department.

Berghoff retired as supervisor of mailing and receiving for the Secretary of State in 1989. He was a 1953 graduate of Shurtleff College (now a part of Southern Illinois University) with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education.

Berghoff, a Navy veteran of World War II and an Air Force veteran of the Korean War, served on the staff of the Alton Community Unit School District at Milton Grade School for three years before entering public service work.

Berghoff was a member of various civic and charitable organizations.

Gary K. Major

Elk Grove Parks Name Major to Key Position Gary R. Major has been selected as the new assistant director of leisure services for the Elk Grove Park District, in Elk Grove Village. Major's former position was as parks and recreation director in Weatherford, Oklahoma. He holds a Master's in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from the University of Nebraska, and a Bachelor's in Marketing from Creighton Univesity.

Anne Carroll, veteran program specialist for the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association (WDSRA) was recently promoted to the teen and adult supervisor position. She has worked at the agency, which serves people with disabilities, for more than six years.

Peter M. Murphy

Murphy Named s President of ISAE Peter M. Murphy was elected to serve as the 1993 President of the Illinois Society of Association Executives (ISAE). ISAE represents more than 200 State Associations throughout Illinois and is the professional society for association executives and staff members. The members represent Illinois-based profession, trade and business associations as well as the affiliate businesses serving the association sector.

Murphy's election represents the first time an ISAE President has been chosen from an association representing Illinois local government.

Murphy serves as the Illinois Association of Park Districts' General Counsel and is a member of numerous community and civic associations.

The Homewood-Flossmoor (H-F) Racquet and Fitness Club, of the H-F Park District, has been awarded the honor of hosting the United States Tennis Association National Women's Indoor 25, 35 and 45 Singles and Doubles Championships.

The H-F Racquet and Fitness Club bid against five other clubs to be the host site for the tournament. Site selection was based upon the facilities, tournament personnel, services available and the ability of the host club to provide accommodations, food and transportation to players. "We are honored to host this prestigious tournament for the second year in a row. It's a real tribute to the club, the park district and the state," said club manager Mark McKinnon.

Tournament director Sylvia Gothard, a USPTA Master Professional and the racquet sports supervisor at the H-F Racquet and Fitness Club, has been busy obtaining sponsors for the tournament in addition to the USTA, the presenting sponsor. "American Airlines is the title sponsor again, and we feel the Star newspaper will be a co-sponsor too. We are thrilled," said Gothard.

National championships are held on grass, hard surfaces, clay and indoor court surfaces for men's, women's and junior boy's and girl's divisions. This tournament, previously held in Minneapolis, will attract top players in the 25, 35 and 45 age divisions from across the country. Last year, former Wimbledon semi-finalist Yvonne Vermak and top-ranked Ceci Martinez were among the competitors.

The tournament will take place May 17-23, 1993 at the H-F Racquet and Fitness Club, 2920 W. 183rd Street in Homewood. Admission is free. For more information, contact Tournament Director Sylvia Gothard at 708/799-1323.

The law firm of Ancel, Glink, Diamond, Cope & Bush, P.C., recently announced the appointment of Nancy L. Kaszak to the firm.

Kaszak announced she would leave her position as general attorney with the Chicago Park District to join the law firm. Since 1987, she has served as the chief legal officer responsible for supervising all legal matters affecting the Chicago Park District. During her years with the district she revised and modernized the practices of the general attorney's office. She also carried out the updating of the Park District Codes and employee procedures.

She was recently elected State Representative for the 34th District in Illinois. She will provide services to local governmental bodies and will work to expand the existing practice of the firm among suburban park districts, not-for-profit corporations and other local governmental bodies.

During the winter months, naturalists traditionally have taken solace in the sureness of the coming spring. Anticipation of the annual wildflower display and the songs of returning warblers, thrushes and other migrant birds helps us through the dreary season.

But in recent years, fewer and fewer birds have returned from their winter home in the tropics to Illinois. As with the bird die-off due to pesticides in the 1960s, we are now experiencing a second "silent spring" and quiet summer as well.

While some of the problem is tied to what is happening on the wintering grounds of these birds, Scott Robinson and Jeffrey Brawn of the Illinois Natural History Survey have found that much of the trouble is right here in Illinois.

The birds showing the greatest decline are not the common over-wintering birds and short-distance migrants such as the cardinal and robin. These birds either are always here or arrive early and stay later in the summer. If their first brood of young fails to survive, they generally re-nest.

The birds that have declined or disappeared from many of our woods are longdistance migrants that winter in the tropics and have only a short time to nest before they have to head south again.

These include the thrushes, warblers, vireos, flycatchers and tanagers-some of our most beautiful and colorful birds. They are also some of our best songsters.

Robinson and others believe the main culprit is the way we have fragmented our forests. Most Illinois forests are mere scraps of what they once were.

Parks and Grounds Management magazine, a management publication serving administrators of parks, campuses, golf courses and other large outdoor areas, has selected the Morton Grove Park District Harrer Community Park Shelter to receive the Award of Merit in the shelter category. The shelter was featured on the magazine's January 1993 cover.