ACROSS THE BOARD

The Board Member's Creed by Dr. Ted Flickinger, CLP IAPD Executive Director

As an individual member of the board, I will:

• recognize the integrity of my fellow board members and the merit of their work.

• be motivated only by a desire to serve the people of my community.

• recognize that it is my responsibility, together with that of my fellow board members, to see that the park district and forest preserve services are properly run — not to run them myself.

• work with the executive of the agency — not over or around him/her.

• conduct board business only in board meetings legally called.

• remain politically non-partisan on park and recreation issues.

• attend continuing education programs to inform myself on the proper duties and functions of a board member.

In performing my proper functions as a board member, I will:

• deal in terms of general agency policies.

• function, in meeting the legal responsibility that is mine, as a part of a legislative, policy forming body, not as an administrative officer.

In maintaining desirable relations with other members of the board, I will:

• respect the opinions and decisions of fellow board members.

• recognize that authority rests with the board as a whole, not as an individual.

• make no disparaging remarks in or out of meetings about fellow board members.

• recognize that to promise in advance of a meeting how I will vote on any proposition under consideration is to close my mind and agree not to think through other facts and points of view that may be presented in the meeting.

• make decisions in board meetings only after all sides of the question have been presented.

• consider unethical and will thus avoid "secret" sessions of board members held without presence of the executive.

In meeting my responsibility to my community, I will:

• attempt to appraise fairly both the present and the future park and recreation needs of the community.

• attempt to procure adequate financing and support for our parks and recreation programs, facilities, and services.

• interpret to fellow board members and the chief executive, as best I can, the needs and attitudes of the community.

• insist that business transactions of the agency be on an ethical, open, and above-board basis.

In working with the executive, I will:

• hold the executive responsible for the administration of the agency and give him the authority commensurate with his responsibility.

• expect the agency to be administered by the best trained professional people it is possible to procure.

• participate in board decisions only after considering the recommendations of the executive.

• expect to spend more time in board meetings on policies, programs, and procedures than on business details.

• give the executive friendly counsel and advice.

• refer all complaints to the chief executive and insist that they be presented in writing to the board as a whole.

• present any personal criticisms of employees to the chief executive and not to the employee.

• provide adequate safeguards around the executive and other personnel so they may perform the proper functions of parks and recreation services on a professional basis.

6 • Illinois Parks & Recreation • July/August 1994