May 2018 - Parks & Recreation - 12

EDITOR'S LET TER

Leadership Through Encouragement
Leaders are made, they are not born. They are
made by hard effort, which is the price which all of
us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.
- Vince Lombardi, Green Bay Packers head coach
I have had the pleasure of meeting incredible people in the field
of parks and recreation, who have risen up the ranks to earn a
leadership role in their respective agencies. In many cases, these
are individuals who, from a very early age, had a passion for
community service and a sincere desire to make a difference in
people's lives. As leaders, they've made sacrifices and worked
hard to reach their goals, but they also acknowledge that they
cannot be truly effective if they fail to teach, nurture and motivate their staffers to achieve their own success.
Writer Lori A. Hoffner explores this subject further in this
month's cover story, " Leadership Is More Than a Noun, "
on page 50. Hoffner points out that leaders not only promote creative and innovative thinking among individuals,
but they also encourage them to take greater ownership in their work and projects. What's more,
she offers insight into the two main types of leaders: Transformational and Transactional.
In the feature, " A New Vision for Atlanta " on page 56, contributor Vitisia Paynich provides an in-depth
look at how Atlanta's Department of Parks and Recreation is using public and private funding to create parks and develop public lands that can transform the city and enhance the lives of its residents.
Contributor Paula Jacoby-Garrett explains why play is vital to children's physical and emotional
well-being in " Developing and Expanding Learning Through Play " on page 24. She also discusses
how this year's NRPA Parks Build Community Project, Sandorf Park, in Indianapolis, Indiana, is
addressing the importance of play head on.
May 19 is Kids to Parks Day, a national day of play, connecting kids and families with their local,
state and national parks. The National Park Trust started this initiative in 2011, and it takes place
annually on the third Saturday of May. For more information about hosting your own Kids to
Parks Day event, check out the Advocacy column on page 30, " Invite Your Members of Congress
to Kids to Parks Day, " by NRPA's Jayni Rasmussen.
Echoing the sentiments of Coach Lombardi: leaders are made, not born - and that's where you
can make a difference. You are a mentor who has the power to create tomorrow's leaders by motivating your staff to think outside the box and develop their own projects. After all, offering your
team the encouragement and support needed for their success, ultimately, makes your organization that much stronger.

GINA MULLINS-COHEN
Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Publishing
Editorial Director
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Parks & Recreation

| M AY 2 0 1 8 | W W W. PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G

PRESIDENT AND CEO
Barbara Tulipane, CAE
VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING,
COMMUNICATIONS AND
PUBLISHING, AND EDITORIAL
DIRECTOR
Gina Mullins-Cohen
gcohen@nrpa.org
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Sonia Myrick
smyrick@nrpa.org
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTOR
Catrina Belt
cbelt@nrpa.org
Suzanne Nathan
snathan@nrpa.org
PUBLICATION DESIGN
Creative By Design
www.creativebydesign.net
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EASTERN REGION AND EUROPE
Kip Ongstad
703.858.2174
kongstad@nrpa.org
SALES MANAGER
WESTERN REGION AND ASIA
Michelle Dellner
949.248.1057
mdellner@nrpa.org
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MAGAZINE ADVISORY
BOARD MEMBERS
Keith Anderson
Gerald Brown
Ernest Burkeen
Brendan Daley
Anthony-Paul Diaz
Ryan Eaker
Robert García
Kathleen Gibi
Sandra Gonzales
Tim Herd
Brian Johnson
Todd Lehman
Sam Mendelsohn
Maria Nardi
Lisa Paradis
Gil Peñalosa
Vic Richard
Dr. Kevin Riley
Karla Rivera
Paula Sliefert
Anne-Marie Spencer
Stephen Springs
Randy Wiger

May 2018 - Parks & Recreation

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