Your Illinois Association of Park Districts most vital function is to represent and serve the interests and concerns of the 345 park districts, 12 forest preserve districts, and 5 conservation districts throughout the state of Illinois.

As President Gerald E. Wernick has stated, "We can only be effective with our legislative and financial support programs if we work together through our statewide Association. We must be ever watchful in the months ahead of the tax limitation issues which will seriously reduce our district tax fund support. This is a very critical time for all districts. Our very survival is at stake. Your membership support and personal involvement in support of Association activities has never been more vital."

These last comments by President Wernick are especially important—your active participation and membership involvement in Association programs and activities and your regular communications with our office in Springfield on a continuous basis so we can better serve your needs.

We have embarked on a very ambitious work and service program this year with image building, visibility, communications, and member involvement being primary to all our 1979 programs and activities.

Commissioner Orientation — Training — and Continuing Education Programs are another high priority this year and again your help and support are absolutely vital to the success of these programs. The most important element to the successful operation of your board of park commissioners — and the one that is often most neglected — is that of board member orientation and training. Good staffs and good programs do not just happen — neither do good boards. All commissioners whether you are new to your duties and responsibilities or whether you have had experience with them need planned programs of education and training if you are to carry out your many important responsibilities effectively.

Your Association has developed a special training program for all new and experienced commissioners and your chief professional executives for Saturday, May 19 — a drive-in all-day training seminar from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare. You and your fellow commissioners as well as your professional director cannot afford to miss this excellent training program

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designed especially for you. A "get acquainted" reception will be held Friday evening. May 18th with the Association's Board of Directors for those commissioners who are able to drive in Friday evening. Full details about this program have been sent out to all district, commissioners, and chief professional executives.

As you know our legislative advocacy program is of the highest priority for all of us. Again, it cannot be truly successful and effective for park, forest preserve, and conservation districts, unless you commissioners are willing to participate actively in our legislative programs and when personally called upon. Though we know you all have very busy schedules of your own, we need your personal involvement and participation especially here in Springfield at the many legislative committee hearings which affect us. May and June will be especially busy this session and we will need your help and support more than ever before with the many bills already presented which can seriously affect park, forest preserve, and conservation district operations. This means that we may have to call on you on very short notice, but when we need you, you must respond, for our special district system is at stake! Even though your participation may be needed on a "work day" in the middle of a week we sincerely hope you will understand and be responsive. We must be available here in Springfield when the legislature is considering our legislation and other legislation which seriously affect us. You commissioners as elected citizen leaders, volunteers, unpaid, represent our unique strength and influence with the legislature. Your active participation is vital to our success.

In order to fully capitalize on your "kinship" with the legislators as elected officials directly responsible to the public taxpayer, we have arranged for two other association activities which require your personal involvement: Our 2nd Annual Legislative Golf Outing at the Wheeling Park Districts Chevy Chase Country Club, Friday, August 3, 1979; and State Fair Local Officials Day Program here in Springfield, Saturday, August 11, 1979. Please reserve these dates on your calendar and plan to be with us.

By now you have received a "Commissioners Information Form" which if you have not completed and returned to us in Springfield please do so immediately. This completed form will help us to know you, your areas of interest and expertise, and then to involve you in as many Association programs and activities as possible. Our committee programs this year include the following:

legislative advocacy program; communications program; membership involvement; commissioner training -education; membership services - development; honors -awards - recognitions; liaison services with other organizations; financial support; IAPD-IPRA relationship. Won't you participate and help us with one or more of these? Your Illinois Association of Park Districts can only be as effective state-wide, and as responsive service-wise for all commissioners and districts as you individually and collectively are involved and help us make it. Please communicate your ideas, suggestions, and constructive criticism with me regularly and often. We can assist you, your board or district in any way including a personal visit to your district, please call me at (217) 523-4554 — we are here for only one reason — to serve your district's needs.

Hope to hear from you soon and often!

Illinois Parks and Recreation 25 May/June, 1979