Recreation conference celebrates 50 years - North Carolina Municipal and County Directors Conference

A long with a flood of other baby boomers, the North Carolina Municipal and County Directors Conference (MCRDC) turned 50 in February. This conference began formally in 1948 under the leadership of Harold D. Meyer, faculty member at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. MCRDC boasts the longest ongoing recreation-training event in the United States.

The first meeting, in 1946, was an informal gathering around a table at the Naval Armory Building on campus. Initially the group was called "the big five," since only the major urban-area directors (Durham, Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and Raleigh) were involved. Smaller departments were added immediately. At the first official conference in 1948, 28 individuals attended the Municipal Recreation Executives meeting. For the first 25 years, only municipal directors met before county departments were established.

The format for the early years included a "swap shop" event where individuals met, divided by community size, for an evening and talked about whatever subjects were introduced from the floor. The next day, the entire group addressed timely topics presented by invited speakers or panels.

In the beginning, the founders determined that no officers would be elected and no minutes or proceedings kept. This structure encouraged directors to speak openly about any topic concerning their profession or individual job. Since that time, a planning committee of elected directors hap been instrumental, although the event continues to be coordinated by UNC-Chapel Hill. The committee represents the wishes of the participants. In addition, the conference has received support in planning from the recreation consultants who are funded by the state of North Carolina.

The meetings of the first 25 years were coordinated by Meyer. He always led the charge for more and better recreation, meeting the challenges of society and improved professional preparation. He traditionally gave a challenge at the closing meeting, saying, "Recreation will be more important tomorrow than it is today." Since that time, the meetings have been coordinated by such noted professionals as Doug Sessoms, Tom Stein, and Lee Meyer.

The largest group to date, 116 directors, recently attended the 1998 meeting. R. Dean Tice, executive director of the National Recreation and Park Association, served as the keynote speaker for the banquet, which was attended by more than 150 current and retired directors, educators from local colleges and universities, and government supporters.

Throughout the past 50 years, the issues discussed in the two-day workshop change, although some themes constantly re-emerge. For example, in 1968, the theme of the conference was "Change." The sessions included the following:

* Current Social Changes that Affect You (poverty programs, public housing, the new morality)

* Current Economic Changes that Affect You (inflation, tight money, revenue resources)

* Current Management Changes that Affect You (organizational structure, planning, public relations).

The issue of racial integration of recreation programs was a big issue in the conference's first 25 years, but further issues of diversity, such as integrating non-English-speaking individuals into park and recreation programs, were among the topics in 1998.

The value of MCRDC exists in being able to address the issues relevant to cities and counties throughout the state. Themes of previous programs are shown below.

The theme of the 1998 conference was "Golden Opportunities." The first 50 years saw great gains in the recreation movement in North Carolina. With leaders meeting from both large and small units, representing the diversity of individuals within the state, to solve problems and set directions, the next 50 years will be full of further possibilities.

RELATED ARTICLE: Past MCRDC Program Themes

Critical Crossroads

New Ways for New Days

Proposition: Innovation

Energy and Conservation

Rx$$

Crisis Management

Quality Service = Quality Life

Ensuring/Insuring our Future

Strength through Unity

Progress through People

Leadership, Partnership, and Changing Roles

Karla A. Henderson, Ph.D., is the coordinator of the MCRDC; Harold Moses is a retired MCRDC coordinator.

COPYRIGHT 1998 National Recreation and Park Association
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group