The answers of tomorrow are at the NRPA/Oglebay Computer Use Institute.

When you can look around a room and see directors, therapeutic recreation specialists, technicians, and professors, you might think some sort of organizational meeting was taking place. What You might not expect to find is that all these people were attending a school -- the same school. But that's just what one group has done.

The fourth annual NRPA/Oglebay Computer Use Institute was held recently at Oglebay in Wheeling, West Virginia, and it provided participants with answers to many questions they had about computers.

This is the only school of its kind that features classroom sessions taught by parks and recreation practitioners, top professors in the field, and commercial vendors. The educational sessions also offer a hands-on, try-before-you-buy approach.

If by some chance a classroom or lab session still doesn't answer your questions, several of the top parks and recreation software developers and providers are available to demonstrate their packages. If that still isn't enough, a computer lab comprised of UNIX workstations, PCs, Macs, and CAD stations is available for students to work independently or with others in an informal setting.

Varied Expectations, Singular Satisfaction

"The resources at this school are amazing," said Craig Ross, this year's chairman of the Board of Regents and associate professor in the Department of Park and Recreation Administration at Indiana University. "I've used computers for 17 years, and I still learned so many things I can hardly wait to get back to try them out in my office. Another one of the terrific things I get out of this school every year is a new list of other people like me -- parks and recreation computer users who I can call on in the future for help with questions I can't find the answers to anywhere else," he adds. Students arrive with different levels of knowledge and ability and different expectations. But they also seem to be pleased with what they learn and experience.

I would have walked into a world of hurt if I made the presentation to my board next week without having been here first. Now I have the answers they want," Cameron Dye of Virginia Beach says.

The school sees to it that students are satisfied by continually changing its technology level and focus to meet the students' needs. As Richard Abel of the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation Department West Virginia, explains, "When I attended the first Computer Use Institute, we as a department were at such a level that we had two small setups and a dot matrix printer and were very happy with that. Now we're networked together with 486's, laser printers, and using technology we didn't know existed. Our productivity has increased light years. Before I attended the first year, we didn't have a clear direction as a department for our automation. Now I have the information I need to be aware of the advances in the computer field. I also have the information my director needs to get what we need as a department as well as meeting the needs of my staff and the people we provide our programs for," he says.

Experts' Stamp of Approval

Doyle Allen, director of Camden/ Kershaw County Parks & Recreation in South Carolina, has been considered a pioneer in computer use for parks and recreation since he built his first system in 1977. And he believes that every parks and recreation professional that uses, purchases, or maintains computer systems can benefit from this school. In comparing the technology and information that was available in the past to the present, he says, "It's like the difference between rowing across the Atlantic Ocean in a Viking ship and soaring over it in a Jumbo Jet 707." Doyle added, "To keep up with the trends in technology, you'd better be current. If you don't, you're gonna be left in the dust Some say that they're waiting to see what is coming next year, that the technology will be obsolete before next year. That's the wrong attitude! Get in on the ground floor, and grow with it as it grows!"

So whatever your user level, whether you're the person responsible for the maintenance of systems, implementation of programs, or buying the software -- the Computer Use Institute has the answers.

The next NRPA/Oglebay Computer Use Institute will be held February 28-March 1, 1996 at Oglebay, Wheeling, WV. For further information, please call Sue George, Assistant Director, Oglebay Department of Continuing Education, 1-800-624-6988, ext 4019, or write to her at: Rt 88, Hubbard House, Wheeling, WV 26003, NRPA/ Schole address GEORGESE.