IPRA Today
Illinois Park and Recreation
MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
IPRA members have been busy running numerous events this summer. Thank you for your service to the association. Your time, energy, skill and ability to provide educational and entertaining opportunities for members, agency staff and the public have helped advance the parks and recreation movement.
Lifeguard Games – Thank you to all involved with the Annual FM Section Lifeguard Games. The Aquatics Division led by Laura Clark from Bartlett, Kristi Brewer from St. Charles and Tim Jaskiewicz from the Arlington Heights Park Districts gathered nearly 50 teams for a full evening of fun competition between some of the best lifeguards in the state. It was a great opportunity to demonstrate perfected techniques and further build team skills. Where else can you see a dance-off of dozens of park district mascots? Gurnee Park District captured five of the top eight spots across two levels of competition and Chicago Park District brought home the spirit award.
Teen Battle of the Bands – Thank you to Mike Gianatasio from Lisle Park District and Bobbi Nance from the Park District of Oak Park for organizing a group of volunteers from the Recreation Section’s Teen Committee and putting together this competition for the past several years. There were more than 100 bands and 500 teens competing in local, six-area and statewide competitions. Thousands of friends, family and other observers watched these bands perform. It was a great opportunity for teens to demonstrate talents in an entertaining and constructive way. Results May Vary and the LMN Orchestra from the Warrenville local took first place in the event. One band, Disorderly Conduct from the Algonquin local, brought a bus load of 45 teen fans from the Chicago area to enjoy the state finals at the fair. These teens all rooted and danced for their favorite band and the other five bands that competed in the state finals. It was great to see this type of excitement generated by this competition.
BMW Championship – Thank you to Kelly Smith from Morton Grove and Tim Jaskiewicz from the Arlington Heights Park Districts and the entire BMW Championship Committee for helping to organize more than 600 volunteers and nearly 10,000 hours of volunteer service for this year’s tournament. The top 70 golfers in the world will be there. It looks like Tiger Woods will even be one of them if he does well this week at the event in Boston. There are a few limited volunteer slots open if you would like to be a part of the experience – Sept. 6-12. It is a great opportunity to network with fellow professionals and help out a worthy cause. This is one of the largest sporting events in Illinois and it has been a great partnership for IPRA and the Western Golf Association over the last 17 years. All the funds raised will help benefit the Evans Scholar Foundation’s mission to provide scholarships for caddies.
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MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD
This plan is rooted in solid research that was done last year – including a member survey by the Office of Recreation and Park Resources at the University of Illinois led by director Robin Hall, and a key study led by Rich Grodsky. Additionally, SPAC members reviewed other past studies and research – leading to the finalized plan.
Next steps include staff creating a three-year timeline, which will include measurable goals and tasks attached to the document. Chuck Balling and consultant Charlie Williams have graciously agreed to help with the next phase in setting timelines and tasks.
The IPRA Board of Directors and staff are committed to strong and solid implementation of the plan – with focus on providing the best services possible to our members and being the best state association for parks and recreation professionals in the nation!
I will keep you updated as we progress toward the actual implementation phase.
Lead the Way
Now that our strategic direction is set, it is time for the association to select a permanent CEO to lead us in implementation, direction and vision.
The board of directors has selected Hazzard, Young, Attea and Associates (HYA) to assist in our search. You may know some of the consultants working with us – many of whom are past chairs of IPRA – including Keith Frankland, Ray Morrill, Steve Persinger and Fred Hall.
HYA will lead the board through a rigorous process to ensure we select the right person for the job. We are working with several IPRA members to create a leadership profile that will determine the skill set, attributes and qualities we are looking for. This process will begin Sept. 15, with a goal of hiring the CEO by late December.
If you have questions regarding the process, feel free to contact me.
"Moo-Moo Classic"
On behalf of IPRA I had the privilege of attending the Illinois State Fair this year and I was impressed with the exposure our industry was able to garner. So, as not to break an age-old tradition, I served on the cow milking team with four members of IAPD and Peter Murphy.
Those of you who really know me realise that I was a little traumatized by the thought of milking a cow. In fact, I think the entire IPRA Board of Directors thought I might back out at the last minute. However, I’m proud to say I didn’t break tradition and I did indeed milk the cow. I wasn’t very good at it....but I did it!
While we didn’t make it to the final round milk-off, our team brought in a respectable 3¾ pounds of milk and even beat out the 4-H team!
School is Back in Session
Fall is a great time to get refocused on professional development. I am a firm believer that it is our responsibility as professionals to develop skills so we can be the best we can be and continue to advance our profession, agencies and careers. With that said, I encourage you to visit the IPRA website and take advantage of the many educational opportunities and new webinars available to members. Keeping current and educated in a time of economic change is the best way to stay vital to your organization!
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NEWS YOU CAN USE
The cost savings are an obvious benefit, but there are others:
-Save time comparing quotes and products.
-No minimum order requirements.
-Freight and delivery charges included in vendor’s bids.
-Vendors abide by the "Local Government Prompt Payment Act" allowing agencies 30 days from receipt of invoice to have it approved and another 30 days to make payments.
Go online to www.ilipra.org to get started.
1. Designate a staff member to serve as primary contact for the program. This person MUST be an IPRA member.
2. Primary contact will go to www.ilipra.org and log into the Members Only portion of the website using their username and password. If you do not have this information, please contact IPRA.
3. Once logged in, click the link on the left side of the screen labeled "SIGN UP FOR COOP TODAY"
4. Verify information
5. Confirm Memorandum of Understanding and complete Payment Information screens.
6. Click on Cooperative Purchase Program link to begin ordering. PLEASE NOTE: There will be no changes to agency orders after Sept. 13 – you may make changes to your orders as many times as you like until this date. Verify your orders. IPRA will not be responsible for any inaccurate data that is in the system and will not make any changes after Sept. 13.
7. If you experience any problems while completing the registration/ordering process, please contact IPRA immediately.
Pricing for Agencies
• $150 - EAV less than $100 million & SRAs
• $175 - EAV of $100-$200 million
• $200 - EAV of $200-$300 million
• $225 - EAV of $300-$500 million
• $250 - EAV of $500-$700 million
• $275 - EAV more than $700 million
The Cooperative Purchase Committee thanks you for your support and hopes you and your agency find the program as beneficial as we do. It’s never too late to save time and money.
The Illinois Park & Recreation Foundation (IPRF) provides resources to park and recreation agencies and professionals statewide through promoting the health and well-being of Illinois’ citizens, increasing the community-building impact of parks and recreation, enhancing the quality of life among Illinois residents and expanding the positive impact of parks and recreation on local economies in Illinois communities.
Part of our commitment to the profession is ensuring future park and recreation professionals have tools they need to be successful. Each year, we hold a silent auction at the IAPD/IPRA Annual Conference to raise scholarship funds for students majoring in recreation administration and leisure studies at Illinois colleges and universities.
You can help us reach our goal by donating a gift or service to Silent Auction 2011. All donations are tax deductible - IPRF is a 501-C-3 organization - and we also accept monetary gifts. More than 4,000 park and recreation professionals, commissioners and exhibitors will have the opportunity to bid on your donation at the conference.
Please complete and return the Donation Form by Nov. 12. If you have questions, feel free to contact Heather Weishaar at 630.376.1911 x202.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
WEBINAR: Hispanic Marketing – 9/14
Participants will gain an overview of the Hispanic market in Illinois and how this segment is actively interested in parks & recreation. Participants will be able to take their learning and apply it to 2-3 concrete applications and programs based on other Illinois park district Hispanic programs. Webinar access codes and login information will be emailed to registrants a week prior to event. Speaker: Jim Bilello, President, US Marketing, Inc.
SEDAC Public Sector Energy Efficiency Workshop - 9/15
SEDAC is hosting a free electric efficiency workshop for public sector officials in K-12 schools, community colleges, public universities and local, state and federal government. Discover opportunities to save energy in your facility and learn about incentives available to help you pay for efficiency measures.The free workshop will be held on Wednesday, Sept 15, at Heartland Community College in Normal, Ill.
WEBINAR: Creating New Energy in Your Recreation Programs - 9/21
Participants will be provided with information relating to recreation programming lifecycles and will receive a listing of all the necessary attributes involved in programming, such as standards, marketing support and aligning programs with community needs. Speakers: Barbara Heller, Principal Consultant, PROS Consulting; and Neelay Bhatt, Senior Consultant, PROS Consulting
Supervisor Symposium 2010: Branching Towards Excellence - 9/28
Supervisor Symposium is back again and better than ever! Join us at the Bartlett Park District for two days of educational sessions and professional connections. 0.5 CEUs per day.
WEBINAR: Strategies for Enhancing & Managing Park Safety Across Your Community - 10/7
Participants will learn park safety strategies and initiatives they can evaluate for implementation within their own communities. Participants will gain an understanding of the ways in which park district police enhance park safety and how they integrate into the community and with other law enforcement personnel. Speakers: Ray McGury, Executive Director, Naperville Park District; and Carl Schnibben, Park Police Chief, Naperville Park District.
Aquatic Facility Operators Course - 10/12
The Aquatic Facility Operator Course is an 18-hour training program specifically designed to meet the needs of those working in public and semi-public recreational pool or water park facilities. The AFO program features a unique risk management approach rarely offered to operations personnel. The course provides information and training for both supervisory and operations personnel. In-depth instruction will be given on filtration, disinfections, water testing and treatment, design consideration, facility management, risk management, facility trouble-shooting and much more. The AFO certification course is the most comprehensive program available for those responsible for operating clean, safe and efficient aquatic facilities. Upon successful completion of the AFO course and exam, the National Certification Board of NRPA will officially certify participants. Certification is valid for three years and is renewable.
National Playground Safety Institute - 10/19
This course is the most comprehensive traning program offered on playground hazard identification and risk managment methods. Those taking the course are eligible to take the Certified Playground Safety Inspectors Exam - but must register for the exam, which is given on the third day of the Institute.
Early Childhood Trends Workshop - 11/6
This session will offer the following two sessions and a networking break:
Understanding the Child with Autism, Presented by Brian Houzenga, CTRS, SEASPAR; and What Can My Young English Language Learners Do in English? Presented by Tammy King, Bilingual Teacher from Illinois Resource Center.
CALENDAR/UPCOMING EVENTS
Arrowhead Golf Club: 10 a.m., 26w151 Butterfield Rd., Wheaton, Ill. 60189
Try more than 20 sports, ranging from wheelchair basketball and soccer to archery and rugby. Meet players and alumni from the Chicago Bears, Bulls, Cubs, Fire, Red Stars, Sky and White Sox. Learn about programs and places to get involved with sports in Chicago. With entertainment, music and more, the Family Sports Festival is a celebration of sports and health. Click here for details!
Date: Saturday, Sept. 18
Location: Midway Plaisance Park - 1130 E. Midway Plaisance North
Time: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Free Event
Event Date: Sept. 28, 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: Cadillac Ranch, 1175 W. Lake St., Bartlett, Ill.
Contact: Rica Cuff, 847-885-7500
Round up your seniors for a day of line-dancing fun with seniors from across Illinois! Join us at the Cadillac Ranch, 1175 W. Lake Street, Bartlett, Ill. Enjoy a plated lunch and line-dancing lessons taught by a professional line-dance instructor. Click here for details!
For registration information, please visit www.caetonline.com. Due to limited seats, early registration is recommended.
The following keynote speakers have been confirmed for this year’s event:
- Rich Lechner - Vice President, Energy & Environment, IBM
- Anne R. Pramaggiore - President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), ComEd
- Suzanne Malec-McKenna - Commissioner of the Department of Environment, City of Chicago
For the latest symposium information and updates, please visit www.caetonline.com
SECTION/COMMITTEE INFO
Sept. 13, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Location: Lake Bluff Golf Club, 355 W. Washington St., Lake Bluff
Contact: Scott McClaskey, 847-740-1111
The Lake Bluff Golf Club is located near I-94 and Skokie Valley Road (Hwy 41) in beautiful Lake Bluff on the North Shore. The course has hosted the Lake County Amateur for 42 years as well as many other tournaments and outings. The course offers mature tree-lined fairways and challenging greens set in a tranquil environment.
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, Sept. 7
Sponsored by Gold Medal Products: A Leading Manufacturer of all of your Concession Needs.
Click here for downloadable form!
C&M Section Meeting - 9/24
Do you still want to participate in a golf outing this year? You are welcome to join the A&F Annual Golf Outing on Friday, Sept. 24, at Village Greens of Woodridge Golf Course – shotgun start at 10 a.m. Non-A&F member fee is $50. Please see flier for details!
A&F newsletter correction: There will be NO A&F Board Meeting before the A&F Golf Outing on Friday, Sept. 24.
As you age, blood circulation slows and calcium deposits can form, leading to stiff muscles and joints. Stay limber into your golden years by doing yoga or Pilates stretches daily.
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