If you build it, they will come ...

On a sunny Friday afternoon in late June, more than 500 people gathered in rural Ashburn, Virginia, the site of the new Ahrens National Recreation and Park Association Institute. These participants had come to witness an event, not just the dedication of a state-of-the-art facility, but a vision, a catalyst for the future growth of the parks and recreation movement.

The day's events included a keynote address from Washington Redskins quarterback Gus Frerotte, a park and recreation graduate of the University of Tulsa, as well as words of inspiration from Claude Ahrens, who initiated the drive for the Institute with a $1 million challenge-donation to the NRPA in October 1993, and NRPA executive director R. Dean Tice. Visitors were treated to tours of the Institute, and live entertainment was provided by the Fairfax City Band and the Very Special Arts Program of Loudoun County.

Situated on a 120-acre tract in the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority's Brambleton Regional Park, the land will be developed into a model park that will eventually contain sports fields, jogging paths, nature trails, picnic sites, and an aquatic facility.

The project, which NRPA hopes will preserve the proud history of the recreation profession, will also advance the mission of parks and recreation well into the 21st century. National Recreation and Park Association 22377 Belmont Ridge Road Ashburn, Virginia 20148 [phone]

September 1997

Dear Members and Friends:

On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the National Recreation and Park Association, we would like to thank the 1000 donors to the Fulfilling the Challenge capital campaign. The dedication of the Ahrens NRPA Institute on June 27, 1997 marked a very significant step towards the Association's goals as detailed in the Vision 2000 report, and has created tremendous excitement and momentum for NRPA!

The Association continues to strive for excellence in providing exceptional services to our members. We are confident that many of our existing initiatives make a difference in communities across the country. Consider a few of them: "Benefits are Endless", "Active Living/Healthy Lifestyles", Youth at Risk, Programs That Work, national safety programs in aquatics and playground safety, and the Joseph Lee Memorial Library which provides superb resources, as one of only two libraries in the country with national archives charting this country's park and recreation movement.

It has been said that the hallmark of a living institution is its constant growth, a pursuit of its full potential, striving to become that which it is destined to be. To ensure the continued growth of the Association and its services and programs, the Board of Trustees has taken the first step with the creation of a development office, which will raise revenue for current and future programs that enhance membership services and ensure the longevity and vitality of the Association.

Soon you will receive your invitation to join the 1997-1998 Inaugural Annual Fund. The Annual Fund has been established as a permanent vehicle which will seek support from all who support parks, recreation, and environmental conservation. Just once a year, the Annual Fund will seek your tax-deductible gift to help us expand on the extraordinary programs and services which make NRPA a leader in the park and recreation movement.

Your support will enable us to move forward and keep the momentum going! We hope you will respond generously when you receive the information. Thank you, again, for your support and loyalty to the National Recreation and Park Association.

Sincerely,

Development Committee

Ken Kutska       Richard Johns    Joe Crookham
Dan Newport      Bob Toalson      Chris Jarvi
Richard Ahrens   Jimmy Calloway   Eric O'Brien