FROM THE EDITOR

Rodd Whelpley and Bill Bodine clown around at conference.

The people you work with are people you were just thrown together with. You don't know them. It wasn't your choice, and yet you spend more time with them than you do with your friends and your family. But probably all you've got in common is the fact that you share the same bit of carpet for eight hours a day. And so, obviously, when someone comes in who you have a connection with ... yeah. But, if I'm really being honest, I never thought it would have a happy ending. I don't know what a happy ending is. Life isn't about endings, is it? It's a series of moments. Tim Canterbury, played by Martin Freeman, The Office (BBC 2003)

In some way, shape or form, Bill Bodine has come into contact with nearly every park, recreation, conservation and special recreation agency in this state for the past 36 years. He has billed them membership dues. He has filled their orders for Commissioners' Handbooks and Park District Codes. He has mailed them their IP&R magazines; has gathered and presented their information in the annual directory; has registered their commissioners and park professionals for the IAPD/IPRA conference and has been the registrar for that event. If you have called IAPD with a problem or question about the association, chances are Bill is the one who got things squared away. If you or your agency was a member of this association, Bill helped you.

I think I can safely speak for my coworkers when I say that Bill helped us, too. When our business manager calls it a career on July 31, you, the members, and we, the staff, lose a lot more than a debits and credits man. We lose a team member who was direct, but kind; who was supportive, but had the wisdom (and often the gumption) to tell us what was Shinola and what was the other stuff.

Personally, July 31 shouldn't be a happy day for me. For five years, Bill has been a sharp counselor. He'd never claim to be an editor, but he knows more about how to operate this magazine and put together the membership directory than probably even he cares to admit. He broke me in, as he did the many editors before me, and never once made me feel ignorant or helpless, even when I was. And he made it fun. I'm going to miss that and so many other things about working with Bill. But July 31 is a good day, because, after 36 years of service Bill gets what we all hope for: Time.

Time to recreate. Time to just be Bill.

This was never a foregone conclusion. My coworkers have packed Bill into ambulances three times in the last five years (something about the heart he tries to convince us that he hasn't really got).

But Bill will have his retirement. Maybe you'll see him, or else guys just like him, sunning in your parks; playing second base in your 55-plus softball leagues; teeing off with the regular foursome every Tuesday at 10:00. These are folks who have put in their good service, made it through and have now come to your agencies to spend their time. When you see them, think of your own agency's Bill (or think of ours) and take heart.

And, Bill Bodine, thank you. It's been an honor and a pleasure to share a bit of carpet and an unforgettable series of moments with you. Happy ending.

— RODD WHELPLEY      

OFFICES 217.523.4554 FAX 217.523.4273 E-MAIL rwhelpley@ILparks.org WORLD WIDE WEB www.ILparks.org www.ILipra.org MAIL 211 East Monroe Street Springfield, Illinois 62701-1186 Managing Editor TED FLICKINGER, President and Chief Executive Officer, IAPD Editor RODD WHELPLEY, Publications Director, IAPD Graphic Design GOSS GRAPHIC DESIGN 217.423.4739 www.gossgrfx.com Advertising Sales Representative BETH SALTZ Arlington Publishers Representatives P.O. Box 1555 Arlington Heights, Illinois 60006 847.509.9810 FAX: 847.509.9816 bsaltz@arlpub.com JOINT EDITORIAL COMMITTEE       IAPD Representatives ANN AUSTIN Rock Island Park and Recreation District RHONDA BROWNE Hazel Crest Park District MARY ANN CHAMBERS Northbrook Park District WALLY FRASIER Mundelein Park and Recreation District ROBERT GELWICKS Downers Grove Park District MIKE KROST Chillicothe Park District	IPRA Representatives LAURA BARRON, CPRP Oakbrook Terrace Park District ARNIE BIONDO Carol Stream Park District CHERYL CRISMAN, CPRP Plainfield Park District MIKE DOTY, CPRP Sun City, Huntley ELSA FISCHER, CPRP Northbrook Park District JAMES ROGERS, CPRP Elmhurst Park District ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF PARK DISTRICTS MIKE KROST Chairman Chillicothe Park District COLETTE M. KUBIESA Chairman Elect Elmhurst Park District SCOTT TRIPHAHN Immediate Past Chairman Hoffman Estates Park District WALLY FRASIER Vice Chairman Mundelein Park and Recreation District LINDA JOHNSON Vice Chairman Crete Park District GEORGE LONGMEYER Vice Chairman Schaumburg Park District WILLIS "BILL" LOGAN Treasurer Springfield Park District	CHRIS RILEY Sergeant at Arms Decatur Park District DONALD V. ANDERSEN Oak Lawn Park District MARY ANN CHAMBERS Northbrook Park District CARL FLOWERS Carbondale Park District DAVID HANSON Itasca Park District JERRI-LYNN KEINA Alsip Park District MICKEY MACHOLL Hanover Park District NATE MARTIN Rockford Park District LOIS NICKSON Macomb Park District JOSEPH PETRY Champaign Park District D. DEWEY PIEROTTI JR. Forest Preserve District of Dupage County ROBERT SMITH Arlington Heights Park District IAPD HEADQUARTERS 211 East Monroe Street Springfield, IL 62701-1186 217.523.4554 www.ILparks.org TED FLICKINGER, Ph.D., CPRP, CAE President and Chief Executive Officer BILL G. BODINE Business Manager CINDY DEITERS Marketing Specialist	BOBBIE JO HILL Public Relations Manager SHERRI KHILE Executive Secretary PETER M. MURPHY, CAE General Counsel SHANNON SARTAIN Legal Secretary SUE TRIPHAHN, CMP Educational Services Director RODD WHELPLEY Publications Director ILLINOIS PARK AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION TRACEY M. CRAWFORD, CPRP, CTRS Chairman NSSRA AMY CHARLESWORTH, CPRP Immediate Past Chairman Rolling Meadows Park District CHERYL CRISMAN, CPRP Plainfield Park District CARRIE HAUPERT, CPRP Village of Hinsdale JOHN McGOVERN NSSRA CAROLYN NAGLE, CTRS, CPRP Fox Valley SRA RON OESTREICH, CPRP Bollingbrook Park District ROBERT ORSI, CPRP Geneseo Community Park District LORIKAY PADEN, CPRP University of Illinois	RON SALSKI, CPRP Wheeling Park District MIKE TOOHEY, CPRP Wheaton Park District IPRA HEADQUARTERS 1815 S. Meyers Rd., Suite 400 Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181 630.376.1911 www.ILipra.org WILLIAM J. M. WALD, CAE, CPRP Chief Executive Officer NANCY BOYK Office Assistant DOROTHY BRINK Executive Assistant DEAN COMBER Information Technology/ Project Management Director DIANE FRANDSEN Education & Conference Assistant YVONNE ILLENBERG Finance/Human Resources Director DINA KARTCH Education & Conference Director NICK LAU IT Specialist POLLY McKEE, APRP Membership/Certification Assistant MIKE SELEP, CPRP Professional Services Director HEATHER WEISHAAR Development & Project Director MATTHEW WHITE Marketing & Communictions Director

Illinois Park and Recreation
(ISSN 0019-2155) is published bimonthly at 211 E. Monroe Street, Springfield, Illinois, by the Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association. Annual subscription rates: $6 for IAPD/IPRA members; $25 for non-mernbers; $30 foreign; $20 educational institutions. Single copies: $2 members; $5 nonmembers. Periodicals postage paid at Springfield, Illinois and additional post offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Illinois Parks & Recreation, 211 E. Monroe Street, Springfield, 1L 62701-1186. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily express the official views of the IAPD/IPRA. Likewise, the publication of any advertisement is not to be construed as an endorsement of the product or services offered. Members of the IAPD and the IPRA and other interested persons are encouraged to submit articles and illustrative photos for possible publication in the magazine. Send for manuscript guidelines and deadline dates: Editor, Illinois Parks & Recreation, 211 E. Monroe Street, Springfield, IL 62701-1186, 217.523.4554, rwhelpley@ILparks.org, www.ILparks.org. By submitting articles for publication, authors are assigning the copyright to the Illinois Association of Park Districts.

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