The organization of events is perhaps the primary activity of recreation organizations. Workers in the recreation industry, salaried and voluntary, are essentially organizers of people whether they be event directors or facility supervisors. This organization of people is manifest by what we see and call an "event".
The events conducted by Recreation organizations include:
- Competitive or non-competitive recreation events
- Courses
- Promotional events
- Conferences
- Fundraising events
The organization of courses to assist participants learn more about playing, coaching and officiating are a fundamental part of the work carried out by recreation organizations. Such events must be carried out to ensure the continuance of the sport or recreation activity.
Promotional events are organized to promote the form of recreation activity to a target market with the underlying objective to increase participation. They may also have a second objective to promote the sponsor to the target market as well.
Conferences have many objectives. They may be organized gatherings of participants and/or members to carry out planning, to review progress, discuss important issues, circulate new information, select committee personnel, examine the position of the organization and to impart new knowledge about the sport or recreation activity.
Fundraising events include dinner functions, special entertainment functions, charity auctions and awards evenings.
Irrespective of the type of event, the skills required to manage an event are much the same and only the magnitude and complexity differs. Persons who are called upon to manage an event may acquire many titles but in this text for the sake of simplicity they will be called the Event Director.