EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The California Association of Parks and Recreation Commissioners and Board Members (CAPRCBM) were established in 1968 at the request of the California Park and Recreation Society (CPRS) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).  The organization was formed to support California’s many parks and recreation commissioners and board members.

Originally, a section under the CPRS umbrella, CAPRCBM was formed as an independent association with equal status and affiliation as CPRS at the national level.  CAPRCBM’s early success was due to the strong visionary leadership roles by both park and recreation professionals and commissioners/board members and the organization’s close ties with NRPA’s Commissioner-Board Member (C-BM) branch.

MISSION STATEMENT

The California Association of Park and Recreation Commissioners and Board Members (CAPRCBM) provide education, networking and advocacy that enhance the role of commissioners and board members.

GOALS AND PURPOSE 

Market Factors and Industry Trends

California is one of the richest states in the United States and its economy surpasses most foreign nations.  With a culturally diverse population, California provides a rich array of parks and recreation activities that is an integral part of our daily lives. California’s parks and recreation contributes to our community’s economy with job opportunities and tourism and provides a relaxing diversion to today’s busy lifestyle.

CAPRCBM is the only organization within the United States representing a state’s parks and recreation commissioners and board members.  All other states provide representation under the state’s parks and recreation professional organization.  This separate identity has provided both independence and challenges for our organization. 

Organizational Structure

CAPRCBM is a non-profit organization governed by a board consisting of officers and directors.  Both officers and directors are parks and recreation commissioners or board members of city, county, or special recreation and park districts within California.  Officers and Board Members serve on a volunteer, no pay, basis.  Officers serve one year terms.  Directors, representing northern and southern California, are elected for staggered three-year terms.  A coordinator/staff person is paid on a part-time basis.  Officers and Board Members serve on various committees throughout the year.  Most committee work is done at the officer or board member level.  The board meets three times during the annual CPRS and Pacific Southwest Conference:  the Out-going Board, the In-coming Board, and the annual General Membership meeting. In addition, board members meet once in the spring and once in the fall.

Purpose

Issues involving California’s beaches, parks and recreation are an integral part of the CAPRCBM.  Either appointed or elected, commissioners and board members recommend the community’s concerns involving parks and recreation to their respective city councils.  This can include, but is not limited to, the opening of a teen center; expanding programs to include toddlers or adult day care; a new community service building; or the expansion and beautification of the city’s “flagship” park.

Goals and Purposes:

             To promote the state’s advancement of the beaches, park, recreation and conservation movement, through the development of strong individual and group citizen involvement and participation.

             To strengthen and expand the, status role, and effectiveness of all recreation-park, boards and commissions for the accomplishment of greater public service.

             To promote the education of citizens and citizen’s groups as to the needs, opportunities, and potentials of recreation, park and conservation services throughout the state.

             To encourage the most efficient and effective organization and administration of beach, park, recreation and conservation services at all levels and to provide a continuous channel of communication at local, state, and district, and national levels.

             To work for the proper recognition and financial support of beach, park, recreation, and conservation services at all levels.

             To establish policies as general guidelines of direction for government in mattes affecting beaches, recreation, parks, and conservation, and upon request to serve as “expert witnesses” before committees on legislation.

             To implement and accomplish such programs or proposals consistent with the purpose of this organization.

In essence, CAPRCBM is significant because it provides a resource for California’s commissioners and board members to seek education and training in their roles as commissioner/board members;  the opportunity to network and share ideas with other members,  and be advised on legislative updates directly affecting beaches, parks and recreation at both the state and national levels

PRODUCTS AND PROGRAMS

CAPRCBM has always prided itself in providing its members with four (4) quality products and programs:

Educational Workshops

Conference Sessions

Legislative Issues

Scholarship

Educational Workshops

A key to the success of our members and our organization is to travel the presentation of educational workshops on such topics as:

Who is CAPRCBM?

 What is the role of the commissioner

and/or board member?

What is the Brown Act?

These workshops are hosted regionally or by a member city.  Agencies in the surrounding communities are notified of the date, time, place, registration fee and topics.  In addition to the above mentioned topics, we customize the topics specific to the agencies or other critical issues requiring special attention.

Conference Sessions

Annually, CAPRCBM participates at the California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) and Pacific Southwest Conference.  Our participation includes representation on the conference planning committee, a general membership meeting, an annual awards and installation banquet, membership and information, booth, hospitality suite, and conference sessions.  CAPRCBM realizes that it must continually strive to develop conference topics and sessions that will enthusiastically motivate commissioners, board members, and professionals to participate.

Knowledge and advocacy of legislative issues are key elements of CAPRCBM’s objectives.  CAPRCBM’s legislative committee members and board members communicate regularly with CPRS and NRPA (National Recreation and Parks Association) as to the progress of state and federal legislation.  If necessary, the legislative committee members contact the board to rally support from our state and federal representatives.  As officers and board members, we must continue to focus our attention on issues pertinent to beaches, parks and recreation.

Scholarship

Each year CAPRCBM awards two scholarships to college students emphasizing parks and recreation or leisure studies in a California college or university.  The students are enrolled in a college or university within California. CAPRCBM is proud it can offer students a monetary gift to assist in their educational endeavors.

STRATEGIC ALLIANCES

The idea and inception of CAPRCBM came from our national affiliate, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), and from the state affiliate, the California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS).

NRPA’s initial support provided the thrust for CAPRCBM.  NRPA realized the importance of commissioner/board members in all aspects of parks and recreation, and includes a C-BM branch within the organization.

CPRS’s members are the parks and recreation professionals within the state’s agencies.  The positions these professionals hold can be at the entry level of recreation leader to the highest management level of director or general manager.  The majority of these professionals have trained and been educated in parks and recreation and leisure studies.  CPRS continually provides support to our organization.  CPRS reserves a non-voting seat at each of their board meetings for the CAPRCBM President, or designee.

Both NRPA and CPRS are important allies in CAPRCBM’s overall existence.  Both organizations support CAPRCBM’s core competencies and understand our value to our members and to their members.

VALUE CREATION

CAPRCBM’s greatest assets are its training and educational services.  No other organization within California provides its parks and recreation commissioners and board members training like CAPRCBM.

SUMMARY

CAPRCBM has maintained its same path since 1968, providing education, scholarships and legislative information.  It has served its members well during this time.

As with all organizations, CAPRCBM has evolved and new members have joined with enthusiasm, motivation and desire to take the organization to the next level.  We, as citizen advocates, can accomplish this great task before us.