Results Of The IPRS Membership Opinion Questionnaire

The following data are the final results of the Task Force membership survey. The percentage of total return (54.21%) is more than adequate to present an accurate record of the views of the membership of the Illinois Park and Recreation Society. Please note that if students were deleted from the results of the survey the percentage of returns from the IPRS professionals is even higher (69.8%).

The results are listed per question. In cross tabulating several questions with regard to location, membership category, branch, etc., we found a variance from the norm. These cross tabulations are then listed by the prospective question.

RETURNS OF TASK FORCE SURVEY
Category	#Sent	# Returned	% of Return
Executive ...............................................	90	76	80.85%
Administrative ..............................................	160	114	71.25%
Supervisor ..................................................	193	133	68.91%
Leader .......................................................	146	85	58.22%
Student .........................................................	405	133	32.84%
TOTAL......................................................	998	541	54.21%

SURVEY RESULTS

1a. The IPRS has a voluntary registration plan for member certification, based on education, experience, or an examination. Do you feel this plan is ...
Desirable ..............................64.2%
Undesirable, or ....................16.3%
Are you not aware of this plan? ........................19.5%

Executives:
Desirable ..............................74.0%
Undesirable ..........................20.5%
Not Aware ............................ 5.5%

Administrators:
Desirable ..............................65.5%
Undesirable ..........................23.0%
Not Aware ............................11.5%

Supervisors:
Desirable ..............................59.2%
Undesirable ..........................24.0%
Not Aware ............................16.8%

Leaders:
Desirable ..............................68.7%
Undesirable .......................... 8.4%
Not Aware ............................22.9%

Students:
Desirable ..............................59.4%
Undesirable .......................... 5.5%
Not Aware ............................35.2%

b. How would you improve this plan?
Mandatory registration (9 responses); No test (4 responses); Evaluate experience higher than degrees (3 responses); Abolish plan (3 responses).

2a. Do you feel a MANDATORY State of Illinois licensing program would be desirable or undesirable for full-time park and/or recreation employees?

	Desirable	Undesirable
Total Survey	49.5%	50.5%
Southern Illinois	58.8%	41.2%
Central Illinois	40.0%	60.0%
Northern Illinois	51.3%	48.7%
Chicago	44.5%	55.5%
Students	65.2%	34.8%
Therapeutic	60.2%	39.8%
Executives	38.4%	61.6%
Administrators	44.1%	55.9%
Supervisors	38.5%	61.5%
Leaders	62.0%	38.0%

b. Would a mandatory State of Illinois licensing program be desirable at some time in the future? This answer is based only on those who answered undesirable now to question #2a.
Desirable ..............................39.5%
Undesirable ..........................60.5%

3. Please indicate below whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with each of the following requirements for voting membership in IPRS.

Percentage
	Strongly agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
a. Must be employed in the field ......................	52.9	27.3	13.9	5.0
b. Must pass an examination to join ................	5.7	13.9	51.7	28.6
c. Must have a college/university degree..........	12.0	19.7	43.5	24.9
d. Must have either experience, and/or meet formal education requirements ..........	36.8	50.4	8.0	4.9

4a. The IPRS annually presents awards and recognition for professional, lay and community service. In your opinion, how desirable is this program?
Very desirable .................. 51.8%
Somewhat desirable .......... 40.7%
Not very desirable ............ 5.8%
Not at all desirable .......... 1.7%

b. What changes would you like to see made in this award/recognition program? (These represent the most frequent answers)
1) More advertizing and public awareness of awards
2) More emphasis placed on the professional
3) More effort in finding deserving recipients

5a. Do you read the Illinois Park and Recreation magazine?
Yes, regularly ........................74.2%
Yes, sometimes ....................24.7%
No .......................................... 1.1%
(Note: In cross tabulation we found that leaders and students read the magazine less than the norm)

b. When you read the Illinois Park and Recreation magazine, do you...
Scan it only .......................... 8.7%
Read primarily articles of interest ..................70.7%
Read the entire magazine ....20.5%

c. How do you evaluate the Illinois Park & Recreation magazine?
Excellent ................................10 %
Good ....................................64.1%
Fair ........................................23.1%
Poor ...................................... 2.8%

d. Which three of the following types of articles should be emphasized in the magazine? (Listed in order of the largest number of responses)
% of relative frequency
1) Articles describing specific programs or facilities....73.7%
2) Controversial articles ....60.5%
3) Articles on research for the practitioner ..............57.3%
4) Articles with technical information ......................51.0%
5) Articles on philosophy of leisure ..............................22.6%
6) Other—Articles on legislation and finance, Articles on Therapeutic Recreation

Illinois Parks and Recreation 20 November/December, 1975

6a. A newsletter is sent to members periodically. Do you read the newsletter?
Yes ........................................84.0%
No .......................................... 6.9%
Do not receive ......................10.1%

b. How do you rate the newsletter?
Excellent ................................ 5.0%
Good ......................................58.6%
Fair ........................................34.0%
Poor ...................................... 2.4%

c. Which three of the following items would most improve the newsletter? (In order of priority)
% of relative frequency
1) More information on current state events ........51.4%
2) More information on Workshops, Meetings ......51.2%
3) More Legislative information ......................45.5%
4) More educational information ......................42.1%
5) More branch information (therapeutic, student) ......24.5%
6) More frequent publication ......................23.0%
7) Other such as: job listings, program ideas

7a. Have you ever contacted the IPRS office in Des Plaines, either by mail, telephone, or in person?

	Yes	No
Total population ...	62.9%	37.1%
Southern Illinois ...	47.1%	52.9%
Central Illinois .....	63.4%	36.6%
Northern Illinois ...	60.5%	39.5%
Chicago .................	78.4%	21.6%
	Yes	No
Executive ...............	94.6%	5.4%
Administrator .......	92.9%	7.1%
Supervisor .............	64.9%	35.1%
Leader ...................	45.8%	54.2%
Students ..................	39.7%	60.3%

b. What was your opinion of the services provided?
Excellent ................................33.7%
Good ......................................50.9%
Fair ........................................12.0%
Poor ...................................... 3.3%

c. Please describe the circumstances of the poor service(s). (11 responses)
When executive is not there, office staff does not know information; mailing address is incorrect; no information received after request.

8a. The IPRS in cooperation with the Office of Recreation and Park Resources of the University of Illinois provides information on a monthly basis on positions open and personnel available. How valuable is this service to ...

	Very valuable	Somewhat valuable	Not at all valuable	Do not use/ receive
You? .............................................	33. %	32.4%	8.6%	25.9%
Your Agency? .................................	27.8%	38.0%	10.9%	23.4%
(Note: 30-35% of Supervisors, leaders and students do not receive the job bulletin, as compared with 12% administrators who do not.)

b. This job placement information is provided at no charge to agencies and at a nominal cost to individuals. If increasing expenses would make it necessary to charge a $5.00 annual fee for this service, would you or your agency subscribe?
                              Yes   No
You ......................51.3% 48.7%
Your agency ..........51.8% 48.2%

9. Should IPRS continue to publish a "Membership Directory"?
Yes, every year ......................60.9%
Yes, every 2 years ................34.0%
No .......................................... 5.1%

10. The IPRS employs a limited administrative staff consisting of a full-time Executive Secretary and part-time clerical help. The Executive Secretary implements policy, edits the Magazine, and is responsible for the administrative direction of the Society.

a. Do you feel there is a need for an administrative staff for IPRS?
Yes ........................................77.6%
No ..........................................22.4%

b. How effective are the present services of the position of Executive Secretary?
Excellent ..............................22.3%
Good ....................................58.6%
Fair ......................................16.3%
Poor ...................................... 2.8%

11a. Have you attended the annual state conference during the past two years?

	Yes	No
Total population ...	76.9%	23.1%
Executive ...............	94.6%	5.4%
Administrator .......	92.9%	7.1%
Supervisor .............	87.3%	12,7%
Leader ...................	48.8%	51.2%
Student .................	60.9%	39.1%

b. If yes, how do you rate the educational value of the conference?
Excellent ................................24.6%
Good ......................................50.1%
Fair ........................................21.4%
Poor ...................................... 3.9%

c. If no, why did you not attend?
1) Dates of conference (47 responses) .................. 8.7%
2) Too expensive (44 responses) ........................ 8.2%
3) Too far from home (29 responses) ........................ 5.4%
4) Employer did not approve attendance (22 responses) 4.1%
5) Was not interested (14 responses) ........................ 2.6%
6) Other (24 responses which included did not have time, out of state, or not a member last year)

12a. The IPRS provides additional educational experiences for its members, (workshops, seminars, etc.). Have you attended any of these in the past two years?
Yes ........................................56.4%
No ..........................................43.6%

b. How do you rate the value of those workshops, seminars, etc., that you attended?
Excellent ................................26.8%
Good ......................................58.6%
Fair ........................................13.2%
Poor ...................................... 1.4%

13. How would you rate the IPRS objective of providing continuing education and training to members:
Highest Priority ....................30.7%
High Priority ........................53.9%
Medium Priority ..................14.2%
Low Priority ........................ 1.1%

14. The IPRS presently shares responsibility with the Illinois Association of Park Districts for the publication of the magazine "Illinois Parks & Recreation" and jointly sponsors the annual state conference. What is your reaction to the following statements about the relationships of these two organizations?

                                    Strongly agree or agree        Strongly disagree or disagree

a. IPRS and IAPD should continue to jointly publish the magazine ........92.1% 7.9%
b. IPRS and IAPD should continue to jointly sponsor the state conference ............94.5% 5.5%
c. In the future, the two organizations should develop stronger relationships,
but remain separate ...................67.6% 32.4%
d. The IPRS should provide totally separate services ................19.0% 81.0%
e. The IPRS and IAPD should merge as one organization ..........38.7% 61.3%

Illinois Parks and Recreation 21 November/December, 1975

15. Please indicate whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with each of the following statements. IPRS should develop closer working relationships with ...

	Strongly agree or agree	Strongly disagree or disagree
a. National Recreation & Park Assoc. .......................	95.1%	4.9%
b. Sports organizations such as AAU .........................	62.4%	37.6%
c. Allied professional groups such as Assoc. for Health, Physical Ed. and Recreation, Social Works Society etc. ....	86.9%	13.1%
d. Conservation organizations, such as the Wild Life Federation .................................................	88.0%	12.0%
e. Organizations serving special populations such as activity directors and correctional recreation workers ....................	93.7%	6.3%
f. Regional, or local park and recreation organizations such as Midwest Institute of Park Executives, or Suburban Park & Recreation Assoc.	92.7%	7.3%

16a. There are two branches within IPRS. Are you in one of these branches?
	Student	Therapeutic	Basic Member
Total Population ...............................................	22.9%	17.5%	59.6%
Southern Illinois ................................................	11.8%	50.0%	38.2%
Central Illinois ..................................................	18.9%	22.2%	58.9%
Northern Illinois ..............................................	4.5%	23.4%	72.1%
Chicago ............................................................	7.9%	11.0%	81.2%

b. Is there a need for the . . .
                                          Yes
Therapeutic Branch ..............86.6%
Student Branch ....................89.9%

c. Should branch organizations be established within IPRS for ...
                                      Yes
1) Park Maintenance? ........61.6%
2) Facility Management? ....53.3%
3) Lay Board Members?......38.3%
4) Educators? ......................56.0%
5) Nursing Homes, Day Care Center? ....................41.7%
6) Military Recreators? ........39.6%
7) Private, or Commercial Recreation? ......................56.4%

17a. Each year a nominating committee selects two candidates for each office and the members are mailed ballots for voting on officers and board members. Do you feel this method for nominating candidates for office is ...
Excellent .............................. 8.6%
Good ....................................51.8%
Fair ........................................29.4%
Poor ......................................10.1%

b. What suggestions do you have for changing this method?
(22 responses) Members should suggest candidates, more input from total society, nominations from the floor.

18. Have you served on an appointed committee of IPRS during the past two years?
Yes ........................................27.7%
No ..........................................72.3%

19. We are interested in your feelings on what the IPRS position should be in regard to State Legislative activities. Please indicate whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree for each of the following statements. IPRS should

Strongly agree or agree        Strongly disagree or disagree

a. Stay out of this political involvement ................................16.9% 83.1%
b. Cooperate in securing legislation through other organizations such as IAPD, Municipal League, etc. ........................92.9% 7.1%
c. Become actively involved in the state legislative program.........84.6% 15.4%

20a. The annual IPRS dues amount is based on your membership category (such as executive, leader, etc.) Is this type of dues structure appropriate?
Yes ........................................82.3%
No ..........................................17.7%

b. Are present membership dues........
Too high ................................18.6%
About right, or ....................78.7%
Too low? ................................ 2.6%

21. Do you feel there is enough opportunity for member involvement in IPRS?
Yes ........................................59.2%
No ..........................................40.8%

22. We are interested in your feelings on what the IPRS position should be in regard to research or special evaluation projects. Please indicate whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree for each of the following statements. IPRS should ...

	Strongly agree or agree	Strongly disagree or disagree
a. Engage in research projects ..................	76.1%	23.9%
b. Engage in evaluation projects..............	88.8%	11.2%
c. Cooperate with any worthwhile research activity.....	86.6%	13.4%
d. Distribute to the membership the results of research....	94.9%	5.1%
e. Identify needed research projects ...............	95.6%	4.4%
f. Solicit other agencies to do research or evaluation projects....	73.2%	26.8%

23a. If IPRS would develop a means of providing technical consulting services to you (or your agency) would you rate this service as ...
Very important ....................30.3%
Important, or ........................54.1%
Not important? ....................15.6%

b. Would you be willing to pay the direct cost of this consulting service?
Yes ........................................79.6%
No ..........................................20.4%

24. We are interested in your feelings on what the IPRS position should be in regard to its relations with various State colleges and universities. Please indicate whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree for each of the following statements. IPRS should

	Strongly agree or agree	Strongly disagree or disagree
a. Become more involved in curriculum evaluation ...........	88.3%	11.7%
b. Assist in student training when requested by colleges ...............	95.4%	4.6%
c. Provide assistance in job placement for students, or graduates .............	93.6%	6.4%
d. Recruit potential recreation students	....65.1%	34.9%

25. In considering the two important needs in IPRS now, eight general categories have been established. The categories are listed with an explanation of the types of responses in each.

1. Professionalism, i.e., encourage top notch professionalism, serve the needs of the profession and the professional, institute quality research, especially on salaries and fringe benefits, give all members a chance for participation, upgrade the qualifications of membership, continue with the plan for certification. Number of Responses ........146

2. Communications, i.e., use IPRS as a vehicle for more communication between professionals, promote more dialogue between professionals, promote more dialogue between the branches and different diciplines in the recreation and park field, promote more communication between park districts, publish a quality magazine. Number of Responses ..........95

3. Education, i.e., educate members on current trends in recreation, improve the conference, educational sessions, counseling and financial advice. Number of Responses ..........70

4. Expansion, i.e., expand services, expand to other areas besides park districts, strengthen IPRS financially. Number of Responses ..........69

Illinois Parks and Recreation 22 November/December, 1975

5. Legislative, i.e., IPRS should provide more legislative information to agencies, act as a lobby organization, upgrade the involvement of state legislative process, get more revenue for parks, etc. Number of Responses ..........65

6. Organizations, i.e., unify IPRS and IAPD to work closer together without overlap and competition, utilize affiliate organizations, and better coordinate the activities of splinter groups, cooperate with outside agencies to avoid overlap. Number of Responses ..........40

7. Public Awareness, i.e., .become involved with communities, promote leisure services in general, educate the public to the value of leisure. Number of Responses ..........21

8. Job Opportunities & Curriculum Involvement Number of Responses ..........11

9. Other, i.e., more therapeutic and student involvement; define more specific goals and strengthen leadership, etc. Number of Responses ..........87

Not Answering
160 did not respond with a 1st choice
314 did not respond with a 2nd choice

26. Five years in the future I feel the two most important roles of the Society should be..............................

1. Public Relations role, i.e., Educating the public on the value of leisure, encouraging cooperative agreements between communities on facilities and projects; becoming more involved on the local level, help communities to meet the recreation needs of the community. Number of Responses ..........81

2. Education role, i.e., providing more and better professional education through workshops/seminars and technical assistance. Number of Responses ..........81

3. Communicative role, i.e., Acting as a clearing house for all current information, and an advisory organization. Number of Responses ..........70

4. Legislative role, i.e., Involvement in the legislative process as related to park district survival, provide legal counsel, etc. Number of Responses ..........53

5. Professional role, i.e., Encouraging upgraded standards helping the profession become recognized as a viable entity by other disciplines; acting as an agency for selecting recreation professionals, pursuing the certification program, becoming more research oriented. Number of Responses ..........49

6. Organization role, i.e., Working with IAPD, NRPA and other agencies. Number of Responses ..........31

7. Employment role, i.e., providing a job referral and becoming more involved in the training of future employees through curriculum evaluation, act as an agency for selecting professionals. Number of Responses ..........21

8. Other, Provide a wide scope of goals and maintain a service orientation. Number of Responses ..........68

Not Answering
254 did not respond with a 1st choice
379 did not respond with a 2nd choice

27. What is your current membership category in IPRS?
Executive ..............................13.7%
Administrator ......................21.2%
Supervisor ..............................24.9%
Leader ..................................15.6%
Student ..................................24.7%

28a. Which ONE of the following best describes the TYPE of agency for which you work?
1) Local public parks and recreation ........................55.3%
2) Hospitals or rehabilitative institutions ........................ 8.5%
3) Educational institution .... 7.5%
4) Long term care facilities.. 4.2%
5) Regional or state parks and recreation .................. 3.0%
6) Voluntary youth serving agency .............................. 1.9%
7) Private or commercial recreation ........................ 1.7%
8) Correctional institution .. .9%
9) Not currently employed ..15.1%
10) Other ................................ 1.9%

b. Which ONE of the following best describes the AREA of your primary employment responsibilities?
1) Parks/facilities and recreation programming ..42.9%
2) Recreation programming only ..................................32.2%
3) Parks/facilities only ........ 6.3%
4) Program administration .. 4.5%
5) Special populations .......... 3.2%
6) Social rehabilitation ........ 2.0%

c. Which ONE of the following best describes the LEVEL of your primary employment responsibilities?
Executive ..............................17.1%
Administrator ......................31.3%
Supervisor ............................31.3%
Leader .................................. 9.9%
Teacher ................................ 5.0%
Other .................................... 5.4%

29. In what geographic location are you currently employed?
Southern Illinois .................. 7.7%
Central Illinois ....................20.5%
Northern Illinois ..................26.4%
Chicago Metro (includes Cook, DuPage Counties) ......43.8%
Outside Illinois ...................... 1.5%

30. What is your current annual salary?
Less than $5,000....................21.4%
$5,000 to $7,499 .................. 5.6%
$7,500 to $9,999 ..................14.2%
$10,000 to $14.999 ..............29.8%
$15,000 to $19,999 ..............17.3%
$20,000 to $24,999 .............. 9.4%
$25,000 or over .................... 2.7%

31. What is the length of your full-time paid experience in the field?
No full-time paid experience 14.4%
Less than 2 years....................24.0%
2-5 years ................................28.3%
6-10 years ..............................15.8%
11-15 years ............................ 7.3%
16 years or more ..................10.1%

32. Median age for members returning survey was 28 years old.

33. What is your sex?

	Male	Female
Total Population ....	62.9%	37.1%
Executive ..............	95.9%	4.1%
Administrator ........	85.8%	14.2%
Supervisor ..............	61.2%	38.8%
Leader ....................	33.3%	66.7%
Student ..................	45.0%	55.0%

34a. What is the highest level of formal education you have completed?
High School Diploma ........11.6%
Community College (2 yr. degree) .............................. 8.6%
Baccalaureate Degree ..........51.7%
Master's Degree ....................20.7%
Doctorate .............................. 3.2%
Other (some college) ............ 4.3%

b. Are you currently pursuing a degree?
Yes ........................................34.9%
No ..........................................65.1%

If yes, what type?
Masters unspecified (53 responses)
B.S. unspecified (43 responses)
B.S. Parks & Recreation (37 responses)
Doctorate (9 responses)
Masters in Recreation (8 responses)
Recreation Administration (3 responses)
Other (21 responses)

(Editors Note: These results will be included in the final Task Force report which will be presented at the conference on Friday morning.)

Illinois Parks and Recreation 23 November/December, 1975