Given that change is the only constant in our lives, in this column I share how boards and their agencies are changing in the park and recreation field. The Board Member Profile IAPD believes it is important to keep an eye on the changing demographics of boards. These 2,100 locally elected officials serve without compensation and are responsible for the governing policies of Illinois' 345 park districts, forest preserves, recreation and natural resource agencies, which employ more than 43,000 individuals. This is a tremendous charge. Here's what we learned about board members this year.
Occupations vary widely for board members with some notable changes.
A smaller sampling of board members indicates that their top recreational pursuits in descending order of popularity are golf, walking, hiking, aquatics, boating, fishing, baseball and softball. It's predicted that the 4-year term will become more popular among boards. Overall, there is a trend toward 7- member boards and shorter terms, which reflects our more transient society, term limits and a desire to serve a shorter term. Comparing membership according to region, we've learned that Regions I and III are experiencing the greatest growth. Regions I and II comprise nearly half of the membership.