Recreation in Georgia [Vol. 1, no. 6 (May 1967)]

Vol. 1, No. 6

Published by The Georgia Recreation Commission

May, 1967

~'"EC1JTTJ1"E DEI~\.RT~IENT

GOVERNOR PROCLAIMS RECREATION-Governor Lester Maddox signs the proclamation designating June as Recreation and Park Month in Georgia. Pictured are (L-R) William R. Tiller, Chairman, Georgia Recreation Commission; Charles C. Clegg, President of the Georgia Recreation and Park Society; and Dick Lane, Director of Recreation in East Point and member of the Georgia House of Representatives.
JUNE IS R ECREATION AND PARK MONTH IN GEORGIA!
This does not imply that Georgia's recreation and park opportunities and programs are more abundant during thi month . Actua lly, ex te n ive recreation activities are avai labl e throughout the yea r and this is as it should be. By the arne token, recreation sho uld not be limited to the summer time alone. The needs for it are just as pressing during the fall and winter.
June i specifi ed as a time for all recreation and park department and agencies to promote recreation , the field of recreation a nd the profes ion. All recreators are encouraged to use their im agination and initiative in impl e menting pecial p rogra ms and publicity campaigns during the month of June in order to focus public attention o n the importance of wholesome and constructive le isu r e .

RECREATION AND PARJ<. MONTH

BY THE GOVERNOR: WHEREAS: WHEREAS : WHEREAS:
WHERFAS :
THEREFORE s

The wise and prod uctive use of leisure is more important than ever OOfore to the health and welfare of each citizen of ou r State: and
The conservation and preservation of o ur State natural resources and the beautification of our state " total environment are the major concerns of our society today; and
Georgia . through its Georgia Recreation CC~M~ission . Georgia Recreation and Park Society. Recreation Cu rricula , and growing facilities and pr09ratM1 for leisure have boosted recreation and pa r ka in Georgia to a position of leadership; and
The National Recreation and Park Association has emphasized the recognition of June aa National Recreation and Park Month to direct the attention of all Americana to the importance of conservation , beaut i fication a nd recr eation: nC\11
I, Lester Maddox, Governo r of the State of Georgia , do hereby proclaim June to be "RECREATION AND PARK MONTH" in Geor gia and urge all citizens to participate in the many recreation programs provided for them, to work together to develop and protect our natural r esources and to make our State a more beautiful place in which to live .

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SPECIAL EDITION

WILLIAM R. TILLER, Chairman Georgia Recreation Commission

GEORGIA RECREATION COMMISSION

7 H uNTER STREET, S. W.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30 il 34

TELEPHONE 524-5550

LESTER G . MADDOX

April 27, 1967

JOHN H DA VIS l[li:II:CUTIVI: O l lltii: CTO "
W T OM MARTIN , JR. JAMCS A COLLEY
HAROLD 0 MEYER
COMMISSI O N MEMBERS
W I LLIA M R TILLER , C MAIIU4AN EVANS
VERN E J PICKREN . v CHIU"'H F OLKSTON
R OBERT T BA GGOTT. JR
NE WNAN MA S W A BOWEN
ST ATESBORO
JAMES E B ROWN D ALTON
A NTON H UBER , II M OU LTR I E
MRS CI C ERO A JOHNSTON DEK ALB C OUN TY
JA MES W K EY COLUMBUS
E AR L M ANN A TL ... NTA
L U KE L R U SHTON YOUNG HARR IS
ADVISORY COUNCIL
CHARLE:S M GRAVES . CH IUIIN . A TL ANTA
R OY A H A MM O ND , v D u BLIN
F RE D W CASWELL CAR T ERSVI L LE
CH -" ALES E -'YE S E LBERTON
JAMES R GOFF M OULTAlE
A . C . K ER BY LAG R... N G E
C L.A.UDE M . LEWIS WARNER ROB INS
H U GH 8 MASTERS A THENS
R ALPH G T U RNER STATESBO RO

Its appropr iate that Governor Maddox has proc laimed June as Recreation Month in Geo rgia. Recreation interest , at all leve l s and i ncluding a mult iplicity of avenues , is incre asing every day.
This increase in i n teres t and growth is manifested i n our office each week as reques ts for our advi sory services continue to accelerate. Reques ts take on various forms - "We need hel p in launc hing a recre ation program. How do we get started?", "Please assist us in locating a Director; "Our own club wants to develop a 12-acre park. Will you ass ist us ?"; "Send someone to explain federal assis tance pro grams" .; "Will you aid us in developing our farm for recre ation purposes."
Ye s, we are in the midst of a recreation revolution. Only in recent months th e communities of Baxley , Newnan, Hartwel l , Claxtor.-Evans County, and Roswell have established full-time recreation departments. Programs in our state insti tutions are growing as are those in ho sp ita ls, churches, and pr ivate agencies . This growth is attr ibuted strongl y t o the r ecre ation professiona ls in Georgi a and to the many l ay people who devote their energies to the field.
Mounting leisure has focu sed muc h attention on recre ation. As leisure continues to i ncre ase and problems of le i sure become more app a rent even more intensified inte res t will be seen in this important area of l ife .
In June we s alute those profe ss i onals and l aymen who wo r k so diligently i n the best interest of their citizenry i n providing wholesome and cons t r uctive le i s ure pursu i ts .
Let us look t o the future with caution - Let us not get "Lost" in the many activities in which we ar e i nvo l ved , t o the extent that we fail to plan properly for t he expanding futu re needs of our people.
Wi l liam R. Ti ller , Chairman

CHARLES C. CLEGG, President Georgia Recreation and Park Society, Inc.

Directon W. Carl Heger, Pest President Mytt i Deu (1965-67) H. Doug la s lu vttt {1 965-67) V irg tni a Carmichael (1966-68) Grady M cC almon ( 1966-68) Robert T Boggo11 (1965-6n Wilham l. Gtbbons (1 965-67) Edgar J Foroo (19656 n r ,.nk Hood (1 966-6B) Reine O'Rear (1966-68)
Preaidtnt Charles C. Clegg Super intendent of Recrution P. 0 . Box 661 Dalton, Ga. 30720
Pres ident fle et James A. Co lley Georg ia Recreat ion Commiu lon 7 Hunter St., S.W. At lanta , Ga . 30334
f irst Vice President Jamu 0 . Olles Supenntendent of Re creation Cobb County P 0 . Box 649 Martella, G1. 30060
S.cond Vice Presid ent Tom Will iams Superintendent of Recreat ion 226 S. Mldtson Avenue Doug(u, Go. 31533
S.cret1ry Kermit Perry Executive Secretary Newnen-Coweta Y.M.C.A. Box 175 Newnan , Ga .
Betty Ytrbrough Atlan t Recreat ion Department 260 Central Ave . S.E. Atlnt a, G.
Chirmn, Hospitl Section Th1d Studst ill Milledgev ill e Stlte Hospitel P. 0 . Box 325 Mdledgev ll e. Ga . 31061
Chirm1n, St1.1dent Section G. R1nd1 ll Ga rrett Box 2205 Georgie Southern College Ste te ,boro, Ge . 30458
Nt'A lepreMntetive Virg init Cormich..t (1 966-49)

GEORGIA RECREATION AND PARK SOCIETY. INC.
An affiliate of the Nat ional Recreat ion a nd Park Assoc iation
April 15, 1967

With ever increasing leisure time the people of our state are going to be partic ipati ng in some form of recreation. It may be of such a form as to contribute to a better, more well -rounded and therefore more meaningful life, or it may be of a f orm that will be detrimental to themselve s and possibly to the community in which they live. I t i s up to the citizens of our state to see that opportunit i es for worthwhile leisure experiences are available to t he people of our .communities.

The professional rec reator s and lay members of the Georgia Recreation and Park Soc i ety , the Georgia Recreation Commission, the State Parks Department and many other agencies and groups are dedicated to providi ng better recreational facilitie s and programs to the people of Georgia. But without t he enthusatic support of every city and county official and every citizen, then many people will not have the opportunity to fill their leisure hours in a way that wil l benefit themselves and their community.

Never before has recre at i on, received so much attention. Never before has recreation been so important. Never before ha s each one of us has such a challenge--to see that our chi ldren, our young people, our adults, and our senior citi zens have an opportunity to fill their leisure hours in a constructive way.

Sincerely,

~ Charles c.

~Cl. eOOga~c-rt0"../'

President

CCC :ne

J . Robert Ward, 33 year old native of Atlanta, is Minister of Christian Recreation for the Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church. He is a graduate of S)lvan High School and Georgia State College. Mr. Ward is married to the former Janice Wooten of Atlanta.
A LITTLE FELLOW FOLLOWS ME
A careful man I want to be A little fellow follows me
I do not care to go astray For fear he'll go the self same way
I cannot once escape his eyes Whate'er he sees me do be tries
Like me he says he's going to be This little lad who follows me
He thinks that I am big and fine Believes in every word of mine
The base in me he must not see This little lad who follows me
I must remember a I go Thru' summer suns and winter snow
I'm building for the years to be This little lad who foll ows me!
- Copied

THE WHO LE OF MAN By Robert Ward
Docs the church have a responsibility when it comes to the leisure time and the recreation activities of its members? lt is a known fact that man now has more free hours for recreation than at any time in history.
When l started my career as a Church Recreation Director eleven years ago, I gave little thought to this leisure. Sure, I realized that a recreation program in the community could help to keep boys and girls off the street, and mothers would have an idea of where junior was hanging out, but past this point, 1 h ad given little thought.
Then one day an unusual thing happened. It was during a twelve year old boys basketball practice. A blond freckle-faced kid walked into the recreation center with a broad grin and a hole scuffed in the knee of his pants and asked to join the "basketball team. Not being a familiar youngster, I asked him where he attended church. He said he didn't. I asked him where his parents attended when they went. He said they did not attend church either. This surprised me because in a small community such as this, every family was affiliated with one of the churches. After allowing the youngster to sign up for basketball, I invited him to visit Sunday School the following Sunday, telling him that if he didn't like it he didn't have to attend but could continue to use the recreation cente r. l practical ly forgot about him, thinking he probably wouldn't be interested. The following Sunday I was in for a real surprise. Down the sidewalk came Billy in a tattered sport coat much too large and on his hand a small boy about six years old. The little boy was his younger brother, and from that day on, these two fine little boys became totally immersed in the life of the church and the community. Before long, the parents came to the recreation center to see what was drawing their sons' attention, and as a result of this freckle-faced boy, an entire family found that there were people who cared about them as individuals.
From that day on, I have become more and more convinced that to be a true disciple of God one must be willing to be interested in the individual to the point that one might sec worth in every man. What is the mission of the church? To me, it is to procla im the story of God and His Blessed Son. Jesus Christ, to the whole man. Christ fe lt close to the individual even in a crowd. He believed in the worth of every man and the ability of men through God to reach their potential.
What does this say to the recreator? Only this; if we are not concerned enough and do not believe in developing the total potential of every individual, not only through his vi iblc talents but those that arc invisible, we are not recreators but merely plodding an existence. The world is crying for someone to care, to care enough to listen and encourage man to be a whole person. Recreation should bring out the very best of what is inside the individual. This is the time of expression a nd individual excellence. The recreator has been placed in a unique posi tion -- if he will only be sensitive enough to look and listen, he can be used to give strength and stability that will produce the very best of the whole person.
May every Recreation Director throughout the State of Georgia be what his title implies, a Re-Creator.
Editor1s Note:
Recently a wealthy Christian layman gave the Wieuca Road Baptist Church of Atlanta $230,000 to build a recreation building, his only stipulation being that the building be named for Robert Ward, Director of Christian Recreation, Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church. The donor also gave an additional $40,000 with which to establish scholarships to educate young men considering Christian recreation as a career.
The Georgia Recreation Commission congratulates Mr. Ward in this high honor and is plea ed to p resent hi fine article, The Whole of Man, to all Georgians. The dedication of this man exemplifies that of other recreation and park personnel, in our great state. Because we have leadership of this caliber, Georgia becomes a better place in which to live.

--
Dedicated Professional Leadership
the Key to Our Tomorrows
THE BRIDGE BUILDER
An old man traveling a lone highway Came, at the eveni ng cold and gray, To a chasm deep and wide. The old man cro sed in the twilight dim , For the sullen stream held no fear for him . But he turned when he reached the other side And built a bridge to span the tide. " Old Man," cried a fellow pilgrim near, " You are wasting your strength with building here. Your journey will end with the ending day And yo u will neve r again pass this way. " You have crossed the chasm deep and wide, Why build a bridge at eventide?" And the builder rai ed hi old gray head. " Good friend, on the path I have come," he said, "There followeth after me today A youth whose feet will pas thi way. "This strea m which has been as naught to me , To that fair-haired boy may a pitfall be. He, too, mu t eros in the twi light dim, Good friend, I am building thi bridge for him."
-Anonymous
Our future
depends
on you.

BEGIN YOUNG . . . . . . . . . . . . . GROW STRONG IN BODY MIND . . . . . . . . . . . . AND SPIRIT
WITH SUPERVISED ACTIVITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . FOR ALL!

EXTRA- EXTRA- Read All About it!
Georgia's on the Move

*

LA FAYETTE

* ~ARTERSVILLE

'0 0
NEWNAN ORGANIZES - Action by the Mayor and Council has resulted in the establishment of a new department of municipal government - The Newnan Recreation and Park Department. Above James A. Colley (left) of the Georgia Recreation Commission and City Manager Earl Joiner review the Recreation Appraisal recently completed by the state agency.

RECREATION REFERENDUMS POPULAR
Harry Harrington (seated), Director of Recreation and Parks for the City of LaFayette, is delighted about the upcom~ng bond issue which will provide $500,000 for recreation development. Bruce Prosser, of Milledgeville, R. G. Jones of Columbus, and Tom Drummond of Carrollton share his enthusiasm. In recent developments Columbus voters approved bond for $300,000 for Recreation expansion as did the voters of Muscogce for $600,000.
Cartersville's new modern Civic Center is attracting scores of citizens who participate in a variety of activities. The structure was made possible by virture of a bond issue.