Communicating better with our members.

Recently, a member visiting with me at the Ahrens NRPA Institute asked, "What does NRPA do for me as an individual member?" A very good question. The answer that we eventually agreed upon boiled down to perhaps a different question, "How can NRPA headquarters and its regional service centers communicate more effectively with all members?"

Parks & Recreation magazine continues to serve as our primary flagship vehicle in communicating the activities of NRPA and the field. However, this is not the only source for such information. Every NRPA member is provided with a copy of Dateline inside P&R, which provides a full update of our public policy endeavors.

In addition, last year we inserted a copy of the Vision 2000 Strategic Plan within an issue of Parks & Recreation, which provided a comprehensive overview of the goals and strategies that the NRPA Board of Trustees and leadership have committed to achieve as we reach the next century and beyond.

These are just a few of the items that are used to inform our membership of current activities. In addition, NRPA branches and sections provide quarterly newsletters for their memberships. There are also many educational sessions available to members, whether at the NRPA Congress for Recreation and Parks or seminars and schools that NRPA offers across the country. Many of these educational programs are offered in partnership with NRPA's state affiliates.

We understand that our members' busy schedules often do not permit them to read all of the materials that are provided as membership services. However, we believe it is the responsibility of our staff to consolidate activities in documents that can be more easily read and comprehended.

Towards this end, we will be delivering new and timely information for members in the coming months. First, we have inserted a copy of the 1998 NRPA Training Calendar in this December issue of Parks & Recreation. This calendar, generously paid for by Oglebay management, provides you with a full 12-month overview of available educational offerings from NRPA and its state affiliates. You will find this calendar to be a valuable planning resource.

We are also providing you with a condensed version of the 1997 NRPA Annual Report, summarizing our major activities from the past year. Every member should read this report in order to better understand the magnitude of activities provided by the Association.

In the February 1998 issue of Parks & Recreation, we will be running a "status report" update on the scope and depth of activities that NRPA has accomplished through the Vision 2000 initiatives.

This is just the beginning of how we will take action to communicate more effectively with all members. We can be proud of our accomplishments this past year; each of us has a responsibility to keep current on the activities of our national organization.

Please feel free to contact me with suggestions on how we can better provide you with relevant information in a timely and easy-to-read format.