Trailblazers: milestone man: former deputy director of the National Park Service Ira Hutchison has a lot to be proud of, but he considers his service to NRPA to be the defining moment in his life.Ira Hutchison's 55-year career in the park and recreation field is filled with many milestones. From entering the fledgling therapeutic recreation (TR) field as one of its first African-Americans in the 1950s, to becoming the first African-American deputy director of the National Park Service in 1977. But Hutchison's accomplishments go deeper than skin color. Hutchison organized New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of City's first specialized recreation program for narcotic narcotic, any of a number of substances that have a depressant effect on the nervous system. The chief narcotic drugs are opium, its constituents morphine and codeine, and the morphine derivative heroin. See also drug addiction and drug abuse. addicts. His urban focus also led to the creation of NRPA's first urban affairs trust, and his dedication to the field has earned him accolades, including an award from the U.S. Department of the Interior. Most Proud Moment: Receiving the Ralph C. Wilson award in 2004 for his long-term service and dedication to NRPA NRPA National Recreation and Park Association NRPA Natural Resources Protective Association (Staten Island, NY) NRPA Niagara Regional Police Association (Canada) NRPA National Rifle and Pistol Association since 1965. "It represented a lot for me. Number one, it was named after a person that I knew very well and admired greatly. It also represented to me the fact that my peers recognized me. As I learned that I was being nominated for that award, it sort of signaled for me all the good, the different, the satisfying, the frustrating--all that wasn't for naught." Most Embarrassing Moment: As a member of the National Association of Recreation Therapists, Hutchison attended its fourth annual convention in Athens, Ohio
Athens is a historic college town in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Ohio, best known as the home of Ohio University. , in March 1956. Hutchison enjoyed the camaraderie and collegial col·le·gi·al adj. 1. a. Characterized by or having power and authority vested equally among colleagues: "He . . . atmosphere of the conference, regardless of his minority status. "People were just happy to be in TR, it was a colorblind col·or·blind or col·or-blind adj. Partially or totally unable to distinguish certain colors. kind of thing." One night a large group of therapeutic professionals met at a restaurant. Before they had a chance to order, Hutchison and another African-American colleague were asked to leave the table. "It was the only time I've ever had to deal with race in terms of activity overtly so." Most of the people at the table left with Hutchison and regrouped at a colleague's house. "It sort of made me feel good about them. [We] were together in pursuit of a common goal, which was recreation." Words of Wisdom: Move away from the "absolutist" mentality of parks and recreation, where the recreation director or someone else in management decides what the population will receive. Focus on sustainable community Sustainable communities are communities planned, built, or modified to promote sustainable living. They tend to focus on environmental sustainability (including development and agriculture) and economic sustainability. development, paying attention Noun 1. paying attention - paying particular notice (as to children or helpless people); "his attentiveness to her wishes"; "he spends without heed to the consequences" attentiveness, heed, regard to the economic, social and cultural changes in a population and create programming that reflects these differences. Favorite Quote: "I have a side for the man to see, but I also have a side that I know is me." Anonymous (1960s ea) Future of Parks and Recreation: "I don't think parks and recreation are going to die or disappear, but I think it's going to end up low on the totem pole totem pole Carved and painted vertical log, constructed by many Northwest Coast Indian peoples. The poles display mythological images, usually animal spirits, whose significance is their association with the lineage. Each figure represents a type of family crest. of what is considered to be critical human needs. There's a reason why the clubs--the [Boys and] Girls [Clubs of America], the YMCAs--have plenty of bucks, you can see what they do; we insist on preaching intangible messages."
Name: Ira Hutchison
Title: Executive Director of Roundtable Associates; first
African-American deputy director of the National Park
Service in 1977.
Member since: 1965
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