He looked me square in the eye and said, "Now tell me what the League is in a position to do for us." The Association President who said that to a new Executive Director had just treated him and the LFRA President to a fine luncheon in the fine dining area of a large agency.
Time had been spent viewing the many activities and opportunities provided R&W members of his association. There was a garage, barber shop, health room, dry cleaning outlet, discount store and a travel department. I was impressed! Then came the bomb..."What can the League do...?"
I have not forgotten the question or the President. He accepted my most inadequate answer and hopefully will note this attempt to face the same question a year and a half later for the benefit of all of the 140,000 who have at least indirect interest in what the League can do for them.
Although he is from one of the larger agency members of the LFRA, this President and his officers have continued to lend much support to the efforts of the 56 member League. They don't really need the League but they recognize a potential in the unification of all the associations with a common purpose.
The larger members can give assistance and do. The smaller ones seek direction and support. They also give some help in establishing buying power, objectives and services. All pay nominal dues which make the memberships in the respective agency associations entitle each individual member to LFRA membership also.
What Can The Leagues Do? There may be an impossible dream, an unreachable star, a new dawn for this cumbersome, overgrown and awkward youngster called the League of Federal Recreation Associations.
What the doubting Thomases don't seem to know or understand is the dedication of the hardy souls who have given thousands of hours to their volunteer time to make the League tick. They see the potential and are willing to sacrifice and struggle just to see things jell. Don't sell them short!
What makes one who has been in the depths more than once so sure of the big image and the anticipated realization of the potential of federation? The answer is people: Guys and gals who want something for the career employee in the way of credit for service, recognition for dedication, and the opportunity to enjoy social events and discount buying.
There appear to be five major divisions which make the future League worthy of your participation and backing. First there is this newspaper. Here is a means of communication which can and will tell the story as it is and to all the people. It is growing and needs help in securing more advertising, more news and pictures, and the assurance there will be someone from each agency willing to pick up the copies each month and see that they are circulated to the membership.
Second, the need is apparent for a well organized and aggressive travel program. This is being developed on an extensive scale and will mean funds with which to operate the League and to better serve the members.
Other divisions to be anticipated and now well into the planning and implementation stages are Discount Buying, Mutual Funds and Investments, and Insurance. As these last three unfold the true potential of the League will begin to be revealed. The volunteer efforts of many to whom so much is owed will be recognized.
Legislation to provide more benefits and highter morale can be sought with some degree of confidence. More agency associations will find a reason for belonging. There will indeed be a better mousetrap and businessmen with insight will indeed beat a pathway to the League door.
I am sure enough of the tomorrow of LFRA to be willing to give it some more volunteer hours. Others feel the same way. There is room for you, your interest, your suggestions and your involvement.
I want to thank the man who asked what the League can do for his membership. He started the wheels turning and one of these days I'd like to take him to dinner in The League Building.
David L. Brigham
Executive Director
November 28, 2008
November 25, 2008
The League
"The League" and "LFRA" are mentioned frequently in these early essays. It appears that the League of Federal Recreation Associations is still in existence, although they do not have a website. I am going to contact them in December to see what I can find out about their history and their current mission. I wonder if they still publish a Recreation Register newspaper?
--Barb
--Barb
November 23, 2008
December 1969
Years ago a little lady stood on the steps of the Library of Congress beside two small boys. She gazed across a street and square to the dome of the Capitol of the United States.
The boys were too young to know the meaning of a tear and the strange awe on her face. This was her first trip to a city which represented all that was great and free in her life. She was now 80 and could recall that she had been born a slave.
While there was much I did not understand at that moment, I do recall that I was one of those two small boys. Also, still fresh in my mind are the words of explanation for the display of emotion.
Turning to my mother, old Christie said, "Miss Marg, I been standing here thanking the Good Lord for letting me live in such an up-to-date century."
She did not live to see beyond the Model-T and the crystal radio set. She did not use electricity or even hear of TV. She had no social security or retirement. She was proud of her folks and her work and she had time for her church. Perhaps this was a basic life but it was a rich one.
There has been another moon landing and a precise, safe return. The perfection of these two exploits is almost beyond comprehension for we earthlings. The accomplishments we have lived to view are fantastic. What lies ahead defies all of our Buck Rogers visions.
As a symbol of our time there is a tip of the hat to the men who dared and who conquered the uncertainty of space. At the very base of the launch, the journey and the return lies a team. In some way each of us had a part.
There was the combination of science and courage, of service and faith, of government and private enterprise, and of talent and taxes.
It has been said we in the United States can accomplish anything we set our minds and attention to. Those who report these things are aware of our capability in large wars and of our utter frustration in the smaller ones.
Somehow, we find ourselves on the big teams and full of pride concerning what we have done as a nation. Then someone indicates in a rather uncomplimentary way that we are "just another government worker." Or, "you are one of those who stays at the trough because you couldn't make it out in the rough and tumble anyway."
And we freeze and grumble and absorb the needles because we have only a small voice and we are poorly organized.
Have we forgotten the role we played in the moon landing? How far would science have progressed without people like us? What about the rights of our citizens to stand as equals? Are there benefits in terms of hospital care and pensions, social services and heal standards? What about the drug regulations and investment protection?
You can be proud you are in government and a vital part of something big. You are doing and the public should hear about it.
The League is not something brand new. Nor is the objective. In a voluntary way there is a strong effort to bring the employees of all government agencies under one tent, in a federation of organization. The purpose: to give strength to the Federal servant as someone of importance whose voice needs to be heard in unison.
For too long the members of each agency have been satisfied to enjoy the rivalry of inter-agency exchanges and a little discrediting. Now the time has come through this new medium to shout from the housetops.
Great things are being done in and by government. People are responsible for all that our nation achieves. Surely there is something or someone in your agency worth talking about.
Our problem is that we do well with the big things and the small frustrate us. Let's turn things around and with your help have more news and stories than we can possibly use for the January issue.
We need these stories from any who will take a few moments to write or send a clipping to Recreation Register, 1500 Lawrence St, N.E., Wash., D.C., 20017. Someone close to you has helped make this a time to remember.
As we grow in unity and purpose we could do worse than say from our generation and our Capitol, "I'm just standing here thanking the Good Lord for letting me live in such an up-to-date century."
David L. Brigham
Executive Director
The boys were too young to know the meaning of a tear and the strange awe on her face. This was her first trip to a city which represented all that was great and free in her life. She was now 80 and could recall that she had been born a slave.
While there was much I did not understand at that moment, I do recall that I was one of those two small boys. Also, still fresh in my mind are the words of explanation for the display of emotion.
Turning to my mother, old Christie said, "Miss Marg, I been standing here thanking the Good Lord for letting me live in such an up-to-date century."
She did not live to see beyond the Model-T and the crystal radio set. She did not use electricity or even hear of TV. She had no social security or retirement. She was proud of her folks and her work and she had time for her church. Perhaps this was a basic life but it was a rich one.
There has been another moon landing and a precise, safe return. The perfection of these two exploits is almost beyond comprehension for we earthlings. The accomplishments we have lived to view are fantastic. What lies ahead defies all of our Buck Rogers visions.
As a symbol of our time there is a tip of the hat to the men who dared and who conquered the uncertainty of space. At the very base of the launch, the journey and the return lies a team. In some way each of us had a part.
There was the combination of science and courage, of service and faith, of government and private enterprise, and of talent and taxes.
It has been said we in the United States can accomplish anything we set our minds and attention to. Those who report these things are aware of our capability in large wars and of our utter frustration in the smaller ones.
Somehow, we find ourselves on the big teams and full of pride concerning what we have done as a nation. Then someone indicates in a rather uncomplimentary way that we are "just another government worker." Or, "you are one of those who stays at the trough because you couldn't make it out in the rough and tumble anyway."
And we freeze and grumble and absorb the needles because we have only a small voice and we are poorly organized.
Have we forgotten the role we played in the moon landing? How far would science have progressed without people like us? What about the rights of our citizens to stand as equals? Are there benefits in terms of hospital care and pensions, social services and heal standards? What about the drug regulations and investment protection?
You can be proud you are in government and a vital part of something big. You are doing and the public should hear about it.
The League is not something brand new. Nor is the objective. In a voluntary way there is a strong effort to bring the employees of all government agencies under one tent, in a federation of organization. The purpose: to give strength to the Federal servant as someone of importance whose voice needs to be heard in unison.
For too long the members of each agency have been satisfied to enjoy the rivalry of inter-agency exchanges and a little discrediting. Now the time has come through this new medium to shout from the housetops.
Great things are being done in and by government. People are responsible for all that our nation achieves. Surely there is something or someone in your agency worth talking about.
Our problem is that we do well with the big things and the small frustrate us. Let's turn things around and with your help have more news and stories than we can possibly use for the January issue.
We need these stories from any who will take a few moments to write or send a clipping to Recreation Register, 1500 Lawrence St, N.E., Wash., D.C., 20017. Someone close to you has helped make this a time to remember.
As we grow in unity and purpose we could do worse than say from our generation and our Capitol, "I'm just standing here thanking the Good Lord for letting me live in such an up-to-date century."
David L. Brigham
Executive Director
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