Why citizens are important to advocacy: now more than ever, citizens need to make legislative contacts who will support parks and recreation

Parks & Recreation, Jan, 2005 by Ron Lehman

Greetings from Illinois! I have been puzzling over what a new Chairman would or could say in his first Perspectives article.

Could it be a simple thank you? It just doesn't seem appropriate. There have been so many individuals that have helped form and share my beliefs and convictions about the mission of parks and recreation, and I'd like to give special thanks to a few:

My wife, Mary Ann, would be first and foremost. The Channahon Park District Board and Director Chuck Szoke, Illinois Association Executive Director Ted FLickinger, Dean Tice, Marty Nohe, Eric Obrien, Bob Hall, John Crompton, Don Jesson, Alice Conkey, Jonathon Korfhage, John Thorner and all the NRPA trustees that have been involved with the Governance and Finance Committees are individuals I have had the privilege of working closely with over the years. The list could go on and on. Each had their own opinion and passion for improving the association, and each is someone that has helped me to understand NRPA and its many components. My appreciation to all is a given, and I ask for their continued support and involvement in our association.

My thoughts also want to look ahead, but first I'd like to pause and reflect on our indebtedness to past leadership, trustees and staff. Over the past 39 years, significant success has been achieved. The association has survived hardships and economic downturns, but has continued to improve in its quest to accomplish the purpose for which it was conceived.

The nation is more aware of the importance and value of parks and recreation and of the need for active and healthy lifestyles. But still, funding for these programs are being threatened. NRPA must be an active participant in providing leadership and assistance to our members as they strive to meet the expectations of the citizens they serve.

One way NRPA can help members, is to educate our legislators on the issues facing parks and recreation. The NRPA Mid-Year Conference and Legislative Forum on Parks and Recreation takes place every year in February, set within Washington, D.C., and provides the perfect setting to not only catch up with fellow NRPA members, but also an opportunity to meet with legislators in person and help educate them on the work in your state and at the local level.

As a citizen member of NRPA, I can tell you that this conference is especially designed for citizen advocates of parks and recreation. As constituents, members of Congress will listen to our voice first to find out what the community needs and wants. Legislators are cognizant of the impact that citizens have with other voters in the community, and a positive comment regarding his or her support of programs can make a big difference.

Senators and Representatives are craving information from their hometowns and home states--they look to citizens to come forward and share success stories from the area. Hearing specific examples provide value and purpose to what the legislators are doing, and will further encourage them to support parks and recreation. While visiting, citizens can inform them and thank them for programs and monies that have made a difference, and in return, Congress members will be more likely to vote on that issue in your favor again.

This year, more than any, is an important time for citizens to speak up for parks and recreation. Although calls, letters and emails are crucial ways to keep legislators informed, they do not have as strong an effect as a personal encounter.

If I haven't explained why citizen advocacy is important, allow me to share some excellent thoughts written by Peter Murphy, general counsel of the Illinois Association of Park Districts, who has also witnessed the strength of citizens firsthand:

   Why bother with political
   involvement? What the electorate
   does not realize is that
   their lethargy gives even more
   political power to those who are
   involved in the process.

   Federal, state and local government
   controls every facet of life in
   American even though we may not realize
   it. From the cost of health care, the
   taxes we pay and the way they are spent,
   to the price of milk, bread and sugar and
   the speed we can drive our cars. The list
   goes on and on.

   How are these decisions made and how
   are priorities established? Do politicians
   think them up or create them? If so, only
   to a small degree. For the most part, the
   political agenda of every local, state and
   federal government is set by interest
   groups.

   While interest groups take many shapes
   and sizes, the predominant form of such
   groups are associations. There are
   23,000 national and more than 64,000
   state, local and regional associations in
   the United States representing every
   industry, profession, cause and interest.

   If the American Medical Association,
   Home Builders Association, American
   Bar Association, National Realtor Association
   and NRPA have anything in common,
   it is the desire of their membership
   that the association advocate for them. In
   fact, the main part of association activity
   in America is political advocacy. These
   groups differ, however, on how to influence
   the political process. For many
   organizations, cash is the basis for their
   influence. For park and recreation agencies,
   contacts are the currency of our
   political power.

   That's where you come into the picture.
   Your involvement is critical to the success
   of your field of parks and recreation.
   It is grass roots politics where we can
   make the playing field level. Exercise
   your political muscle and it will grow--political
   advocacy and involvement in
   the process is a sign of leadership. Give
   it a try ... it works.