Committee Collaboration: How You Can Make a Difference 

The backbone of any association is its committees. They provide a structured way for members to contribute their unique skills and insights toward a common purpose. They give members an opportunity to get more involved in the organization, build connections with like-minded professionals, and influence the direction of the association’s initiatives. 

Benefits of Committee Collaboration 

• Diverse Perspectives Drive Innovation - Bring your wide range of experiences and expertise to the table, to spark innovative thinking. By actively collaborating, you can identify creative solutions and new approaches to challenges, helping the association remain relevant and dynamic. 

• Stronger Decision-Making - Collaboration fosters open dialogue, enabling committees to make well-rounded decisions that reflect your and other members’ needs and interests. By leveraging your and other committee members’ collective knowledge and experience we can make informed, thoughtful choices that better serve the community. 

• Professional Growth and Networking – By working on a committee you can develop new skills, learn from your peers, and enhance your leadership capabilities. The relationships formed through committee collaboration can also help you expand professional networks, creating a supportive community of individuals with shared goals and values. 

• Building Ownership and Engagement - When you contribute to a committee, you take a more active role in shaping the future of your association leading to the association’s success. Stay involved with REC Net year-round, not just at conferences and help us encourage others to do the same. 

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REC NET Committee Goals 

Here is the short list of the committees and our goals: 

Conference Planning Committee 

• Identify speakers and topics for the National Conference 

• Interested in joining?  Contact: gary.bleil@rcra.org  

Ways and Means Committee 

• Create and implement engaging new events, games, and initiatives to help fundraise for the association. 

• Interested in joining? Contact: dmerenick@reston.org  

Podcast & Blog Committee 

• Brainstorm topics, speakers, and writers to enlighten, inform and engage our members as well as other professionals. 

• Interested in joining? Contact:  Contact: annie.pilek@rcra.org 

Membership Committee 

• Enhance the association makes meaningful connections with members and vendors. This committee is responsible for recruiting new members and vendors; organizing activities to keep members involved throughout the year, such as Member Meetups, workshops, regionals and contests; and promoting the national conference. 

• Interested in joining? Contact: lisa.jennings@rcra.org  

Get Involved and Make an Impact 

Your participation in committees can be a game-changer—for you, your peers, and the entire association. Whether you’re passionate about programming, advocacy, research, or any other area, there’s a committee that can benefit from your involvement. Committees offer you the chance to help shape the future of the recreation field, build lasting relationships, and develop your professional skills. 

Take the next step today. Explore the committees within our association and consider joining one that aligns with your interests. Your voice, ideas, and expertise are essential to our shared success, and through collaboration, we can achieve our goals and create a lasting impact. 

The Impact of Committee Collaboration on REC-Net’s Goals 

Committees play a pivotal role in helping us fulfill our mission, which this year is to continue to learn together and grow as a community. To be able to do that we want to continue to improve member engagement, create more professional development programs, and explore new initiatives to drive success. When our committees work together toward common goals, you can help us enhance the association’s ability to: 

• Implement meaningful programs that directly benefit members. 

• Provide relevant professional development opportunities that help members grow. 

• Strengthen community partnerships and expand the association’s influence. 

Ultimately, when you actively engage in a committee you contribute to the overall strength and sustainability of our association. This collaborative approach ensures that our association remains aligned with the needs and interests of its members, continuously evolving to provide value and support. 

What is Time Commitment? 

You can define that. The committee call can be as short as 30 minutes. You do not have to meet every month. Agree to meet when you can. If you have an idea but can’t make a meeting find time to connect with the lead person to share it. You don’t necessarily have to be the person to get it to the finish line. We of course would love as much time as you can give, and we also understand we are all busy. So please don’t let the fear of committing your time get in the way of making a positive impact.