Commissioner's Viewpoint...

The Value is Being There

by Don Bresnan

An unexpected telephone call from the editor asking me to write an article for this magazine on why people should attend the Illinois Park and Recreation Conference was not what I expected at the end of a busy business day.

How could I tell other commissioners why they should attend? There are about 1800 elected park commissioners in Illinois. Experience has shown me that as a group we are inclined to do what we want and definitely are not inclined to accept instructions as to what that is. The only approach I could think of is to explain why I attend—and the benefits received from the many years of participation.

Like many other Commissioners of Illinois Park Districts, I attended my first state convention reluctantly, more to please our General Manager, than for any positive reason. It was back in the fall of 1963 at the old Hilton Inn in Aurora. I was to stay only one night and take off as soon as possible the next morning; I was sure that there would be nothing there to interest me.

I soon met many other commissioners from districts I had never heard of who seemed to be concerned about the same problems that I was. That first year I was teased; I wanted to stay longer but was trapped by my previously made plans to escape.

The next year I stayed longer. Soon I discovered that we were all working under that ubiquitous Park Code regardless of budget, population, assessed valuation, staff, or location. I discovered others were doing more than we were as we did not understand everything that could be done under the Park Code. Soon I realized that I was obtaining information that would benefit the residents of Champaign. Since most commissioners are extroverts and love to talk about their local district's activities, I learned to listen and absorb information.

In the realm of presentations, I found that many sessions are tailored for commissioners. Some put me on the edge of my chair, others put me to sleep. I could never tell in advance which type the session would be. It was exactly like the trade association meetings I attend in my own field. You meet others with shared concerns in the halls, the coffee shop, the exhibit halls, at meals, in the bar—everywhere you look.

During my first two terms as a commissioner I had the honor and responsibility of being president of the local board in Champaign. I was frequently going to the state conference with problems I could not solve. Very quickly it dawned upon me that I was bringing back not only information but solutions that would work in Champaign. I was getting an education about park districts by giving up a couple of days of my time.

I remember a speaker some years ago pointing out that if you stole an idea from another person it was impolite but if you stole a thousand, it was called research. I can tell you I have researched IAPD every year. Annually I have been amazed at the broad scope of occupations among commissioners. Programs are presented many times in their occupational specialties as they relate to the local district affairs. To see these unpaid commissioners sharing their talents with others produces a warm glow besides filling notepads with valuable information.

What have I brought back home from these meetings? To start, I discovered that we were not levying all of the smaller funds that are available to supplement the general fund. We also learned that there was state and federal funding for which we were eligible, that we could issue bonds without voter approval and that the law allowed us to merge our city playground and recreation commission into our park district. We have done all of these. We learned (yes, the other commissioners from our district also attend) how to stimulate gifts, acquire land in many ways, set up a foundation, work with other local governments in our community, and how to assist IAPD in the state governmental process by explaining the benefits of bills to our local legislators. There is literally no end to what could be listed here under new information gained.

When we built a second swimming pool and two community centers, we had a long list of what other commissioners about the state wished they had done differently. When we were offered an airport we took advice from the districts that had them. The rapid growth of the Champaign Park District in the last 18 years has been aided substantially by what we learned at the annual state conference. It's as simple as that.

The second year it dawned on me that IAPD was "us not them." I dropped the typical remark about the "power structure" that ran IAPD. Little did I know I was talking to the chairman of the nominating committee who was desperately trying to fill in his slate and was looking for warm bodies.

That's how I got started in IAPD. Yes, it took time, but that's all I had to give. I felt I had to repay the organization for all I took from IAPD which benefited Champaign.

I have never attended a year when I did not bring back practical ideas to the benefit of our local district. 1980 will be my 18th in a row. It has worked for me. Why not you?

Donald F. Bresnan is a commissioner of the Champaign Park District, a past president of IAPD, past president of the Citizen-Board Member Branch, and is currently serving as Secretary of the Board of Trustees of NRPA.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 12 September/October 1980