At Congress this year, you will hear a lot about NRPA’s “three pillars,” and you’ll also hear (and have heard in this column) a lot about the job we all have to do telling our collective story. As park and recreation professionals serving vastly different communities, you do so many things and have a lot of great things to talk about. And as an association helping you to do your job better, we do as well. It is really easy to get tangled up and cluttered when it comes to our messages.

That is where the “three pillars” come in—conservation, health and wellness, and social equity—all concepts that NRPA stands for and all areas where you are uniquely positioned to make the greatest impact and stand out above the rest.

In early 2012, the NRPA board and staff developed three position papers based on the pillars that were announced at a special briefing on Capitol Hill during the Legislative Forum. Our goal was to provide a clear and concise message so that Hill staffers would remember and appreciate the tremendous impact parks and recreation have on this nation and its economy.

It is in that spirit that we want you to think about these pillars, as areas of focus to help us all communicate better. Again, I know we all do so much, but here is why we landed on these three areas:

Conservation—Parks are critical in the role of preserving natural resources that have real economic benefits for communities. We are the leaders, often the only voice in our communities, for protecting open space, connecting children to nature, and providing education and programming that helps communities engage in conservation practices.

Health and Wellness—Agencies lead the nation in improving the overall health and wellness of communities. You are essential partners in combating some of the most complicated and expensive challenges our country faces– poor nutrition, hunger, obesity, and physical inactivity.

Social Equity—Universal access to public parks and recreation is a right, not just a privilege. Every day you are working hard to ensure that all members of your community have access to the resources and programming you offer. Very few—if any—can claim the same.

NRPA stands alongside each agency and individual in the responsibility to be a loud voice for the significance and impact of our collective work, elevated by these three pillars. This month, thousands of NRPA members will come together at the annual Congress and Exposition in Anaheim, California. At our opening general session on Tuesday, October 16, we will reinforce these pillars with the announcement of some very exciting initiatives that will give a collective lift to the profession, the communities we serve, and the association. I can’t wait to see you there!