The future of member services: why NRPA is centralizing its regional offices.

As summer draws to a close, NRPA is reorganizing and reenergizing to deliver more value to our membership. We are committed to promoting public awareness and support for recreation, park and leisure services; facilitating relevant public policy; enhancing the education and development of park and recreation professionals; and developing and disseminating a body of knowledge and thought leadership.

In order to better serve our members in these capacities, NRPA continues to work towards regaining fiscal health and building an improved organizational infrastructure. I've written to you several times about the tremendous financial challenge the association faces in aligning our budget to meet the realities of today's economy. In light of those challenges, the Board of Trustees during its meeting in Coral Gables charged the executive director and the Executive Committee with balancing the budget, which would require a reduction of $700,000. The Executive Committee considered an array of options for accomplishing this with the least disruption to member services. Alter considerable analysis, the decision to phase out NRPA's five regional offices was reached unanimously.

These actions do not mean that NRPA is dissolving its regions or its program development and coordination. Rather, the objectives are to maximize our employees' skills sets, provide efficiencies in programs, internal systems and processes, and ensure quality and consistency of educational sessions and meetings for members nationwide.

Providing educational development opportunities and training to assist park and recreation professionals and the citizens they serve is at the very heart of our purpose as a national association. Centralizing educational programming and other member services will enable NRPA to provide more educational opportunities for more professionals. It will also allow us to explore new and compelling alternatives for education, training and professional certification such as distance learning, and to integrate educational programs with our state affiliates--all with the cost savings necessary to preserve NRPA's financial stability. Along with the offer to former regional staff members to serve at the national office, NRPA will add the appropriate staff necessary to provide the high level of service our members deserve.

The decision was a difficult one for our Executive Committee, given the regional offices' many accomplishments and significant contributions over the years. The Executive Committee and Board are grateful for all the service, support and professionalism demonstrated by regional office directors and staff. The details of a transition plan to shift the work currently performed in the regional offices to the national office will be communicated directly to the Board of Trustees, and to our membership in the pages of this magazine.

I want to emphasize that NRPA's top priority is to provide high-quality services to our members. The phase out of the regional offices means that the way these services are delivered may change. The Board of Trustees members, by becoming more visible and more active, will help us maintain a strong regional presence. As we work through this transition, know that NRPA is listening to you and your concerns. Together, we will ensure that NRPA's future remains bright.

David Lose, FASLA NRPA Chair