From the desk of:

GENE BERGHOFF

Executive Vice President

By Eugene Berghoff

ANNUAL REPORT

Your Association has concluded one of its finest years in the history of the organization.

The Illinois Association of Park Districts was formed in 1928 to bring together all districts, commissioners, trustees, and employees into a united group to present, discuss, and resolve mutual problems which would be of benefit to all and provide better park and recreation programs throughout Illinois.

One of the main functions of the organization was to promote legislation that would provide the districts with the necessary laws to carry out their basic responsibilities and over the years the Association has carried out this assignment. But we cannot look backwards as our problems today require a greater effort in this field to produce additional revenues. In 1974, we enrolled 225 member districts which established a new record.

More members utilized the services of the Association by telephone, letters and through active participation and attendance at seminars, meetings and the Annual Joint Conference.

Over 105 member districts and agencies were personally visited by members of the Association staff and hundreds of letters and telephone communications were answered promptly.

Meetings were held at Schiller Park, Decatur, Carbondale and the Police Seminar was presented at Peoria. The 1974 Golf Outing was hosted by the Joliet Park District.

Presently, there are 28 districts participating in our group health and life insurance program providing coverage for over 230 employees.

Your Association published a Revised Commissioners' Manual, the Park District Code, the Directory and a new Association membership pamphlet describing the various services that are available to our members.

We have just concluded a very successful Joint Annual Conference and from the preliminary attendance figures and overall comments received in the office—it was a huge success.

Our retiring president, Allan A. Weissburg, Skokie, did a terrific job in providing leadership through very active committees that worked many hours which resulted in a united and cooperative effort that achieved a successful year. The Board of Directors of the Association also spent many days throughout the past year to provide better programs, more seminars and meetings, and the improvement of the entire operation of the Association to guarantee better services to member districts.

Thanks to Michael Cassidy, Freeport, IAPD Conference Chairman, Jack Claes, Elk Grove Village, IPRS (Continued on Page 12)

Illinois Parks and Recreation 3 January/February, 1975

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

(Continued from Page 3)

Chairman and their committees for arranging and promoting a great conference program. Special thanks to Kay, IPRS Executive Secretary, for her cooperation in 1974. The work load in your Association office has grown tremendously over the last several years and I want to recognize our office staff—Marilyn Walters; Bill Bodine; Pat Turner, our part-time student employee; and Bev Hill, our part-time secretary, for devoting many hours, beyond the call of duty, to insure that we have provided you with the best possible services available. The accomplishments of 1974 could never have been attained without the specialized help of these employees.

Following the end of our fiscal year, a complete audit and financial report will be conducted by certified public accountants and will be published in the magazine.

Our incoming president for 1975, Webster D. Wiley, Kewanee, has discussed a number of recommendations that he intends to include in the overall program of this Association for 1975. A schedule of events for 1975 will be published very shortly and will include the dates, times and places of meetings and seminars and other functions that the Association will sponsor during the coming year.

With the increased cost of operating the Association office, we have not been able to employ additional full or part-time personnel to accomplish some of our projected goals. As an example, with the 1975 dues schedule that was approved at the Conference, it should generate additional revenues that would permit hiring a full or part-time field representative for the Chicago metropolitan area so that better communications can be established.

I feel we have one of the greatest opportunities in 1975 for introducing and promoting legislation that will provide additional revenue sources for all districts, but in order for this to become a reality it is necessary that all park, conservation, and forest preserve districts know their State Representatives and State Senators and make them aware of the needs for revenue so that when legislation is introduced, we can all unite and work together to insure these bills become law.

Won't you let us serve you in 1975? Retain your membership and be a part of the largest state park association in the nation.

If we are to survive, be alive in 1975!

Illinois Parks and Recreation 12 January/February, 1975