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Back 20 years ago, when I first started editing for a living, Lori sat in the cubical next to me. She was a whiz bang on the computer. Any question we had, we asked Lori. The problem was that Lori didn't answer our questions or show us how to solve our problems. Instead, she came by, took over our desks and fixed up our files just how we wanted them. Early on, that seemed like a good deal. But then I realized that Lori wasn't simply being helpful. Probably on some unconscious level, Lori figured that as long as she kept her knowledge secret, she held some status over the rest of us editorial associates.
Eventually, enough of us members of the bull pen stopped asking Lori questions and started learning for ourselves (probably making a lot of the mistakes Lori had already made and could have warned us against). Whenever we came up with something, we made notes and passed them to one another. We learned a lot (of now useless information) about Lotus and Ventura and XyWrite that way. But we also learned more long lasting lessons about sharing and efficiency.
One of the great rewards of editing Illinois Parks & Recreation is that I get to work with so many professionals who understand the value of sharing and are willing to do so by writing for the magazine. If you're one of those people (and if you've read this deep into this story, I'm willing to be that you are), then perhaps this is the year that you'll choose to make a contribution to your association magazine.
Our readers want suggestions for emulating your success. (And if you are truly generous, our readers also want suggestions for avoiding your missteps.)
IP&R is your forum for sharing compelling, timely and relevant insights and ideas with board members and professionals in the field. A case study of a process, event or solution at your agency can become valuable to readers when you communicate the lessons you learned by offering how-to insights and you:
- Suggest how other agencies can adapt what you've done.
- Warn other agencies of pitfalls they might encounter.
- Detail the costs and benefits.
- Let people know where they can find more information.
I'll consider stories on any topic at any time, but those of you who wish to have your work considered for a specific issue will want to submit materials well in advance of that issue's deadline. Manuscripts for feature or focus stories should be 1,000 to 1,750 words (4 to 6 pages double-spaced) and may include a half- or one-page double-spaced "sidebar" of ancillary information. In addition to a great story, you'll also want to supply high-quality color images and other artwork.
The table on page 19 shows the focus of each issue through the beginning of 2010.
For complete submission guidelines or to submit stories or proposals, contact me at rwhelpley@ILparks.org.
Remember, space fills quickly.
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