IPRA Today
Illinois Park and Recreation
MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
It has been a tough campaign with plenty of negative attack advertisements everywhere. It's impossible to pick up the paper, answer your home phone, drive a few miles or flip on the television without an attack advertisement hitting you. After all these advertisements, it is hard to be confident we are selecting the proper governor, senator, representatives, judges and other public officials we should be excited about electing. The process is still the same. However, the tone of the campaigns has forced discussion off track. Instead of robust debate on how to move local, state and federal governments forward during challenging times, the discussion has been about who has lied more or who did something stupid years ago that most likely has nothing to do with leadership qualities or real problems we face today.
Fortunately, we do have an election to be excited about at the end of the week. The tone of this election is centered on how leaders running for office can help move IPRA forward in years to come. We have a full slate of fantastic candidates willing to serve and represent you as members of the IPRA Board of Directors. You will receive your opportunity to vote in an online election beginning Friday, Nov. 5, and running through Thursday, Nov. 11. IPRA members can vote for all six open positions. We have candidates running for the northern and central districts as well as the ethnic minority, communications and marketing and facility management sections. In addition, we have four candidates running for the Recreation Section. All these individuals are IPRA members who have the capability to lead during a time of change for our association.
Please make sure to take a few minutes to vote. It is important for several reasons. First, the members selected will represent you in your association. Second, this election may very well restore your faith in the political process. Third, does there have to be a third reason? I think Nos. 1 and 2 are really good reasons, so make sure to cast your IPRA ballot for the board of directors.
-Mike Selep, CPRP, IPRA Interim CEO
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MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD
Bringing Home the Gold
Congratulations to the Gurnee Park District and the Pleasure Driveway & Park District of Peoria for winning the gold medal in Minneapolis! Additionally, I’d like to congratulate the Bartlett, Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn and Schaumburg Park districts for being selected as finalists for this prestigious award. Illinois continues to be considered a national leader in leisure service delivery. We are very proud of our winners and finalists!
Executive Director Search Update
Our consultants from Hazard, Young and Attea (HYA) continue to move the search for a permanent executive director forward. They will be presenting candidates to a small group of board members on Nov. 10. Initial interviews will be conducted the week of Nov 15. The second round of interviews and final selection will be made by the entire board by early December. We will keep the membership updated as more details become available.
Strategic Plan Update
Our staff, led by Mike Selep and Chuck Balling, has set the timeline for the finalized strategic plan. This timeline will be presented for approval to the board at its Nov. 18 meeting. This plan will span a three-year time period and several tasks have already been completed. Watch for new, emerging services, along with improved ways for the association to conduct business and continue along the path of extreme efficiency and effectiveness!
IPRA Budget/Finance
Thanks to our staff and Finance Committee, chaired by Craig Talsma of the Hoffman Estates Park District, our budget will be presented to the board at Nov. 18 meeting. Association finances continue to get stronger due to cost-control measures and the creation of education services which will continue to grow with the implementation of the strategic plan. Our cash position at this time last year was $194,498, compared to this year's $553,570. In addition, we expect to exceed our full-year net revenue targets again this year.
Traveling the Great State of Illinois
Over the last year I have had the opportunity to visit with many sections, regions and affiliates throughout the state. Most recently Mike Selep, Chair-Elect LoriKay Paden and I visited with members from Central Illinois at the Peoria Zoo. Past Chair Ron Salski, Mike Selep and I are headed to Effingham this week to visit with members from Southern Illinois. I am inspired by the work our sections, regions and affiliates are doing to advance our profession. Networking with fellow members from around the state, rather just in your local area, is a great way to learn about different ways to conduct business – without ever having to leave the state!
NRPA Congress – Minneapolis, MN
As many of you may know, NRPA is making the shift from regions to networks. The Great Lakes network is alive and well with many people from Illinois serving in leadership roles, including Mike Clark, executive director of the Batavia Park District. If you are an NRPA member, I encourage you to get online and join the Great Lakes network where many resources will be available to you. Check out www.nrpa.org.
As always, if you have any questions or ideas you would like to share, please feel free to contact me at 630/529-3650 or at carrie@bloomingdaleparks.org.
-Carrie A. Haupert, CPRP, Executive Director, Bloomingdale Park District
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NEWS YOU CAN USE
Winners were announced Oct. 28 at the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Annual Congress and Exposition in Minneapolis. The Gurnee Park District won in the Class IV category (population 25,001-50,000). All four finalists in category IV were Illinois agencies. The other finalists were the Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn and Bartlett Park districts.
The Pleasure Driveway and Park District of Peoria won in the Class II category (100,001-250,000).The Schaumburg Park District was also selected as a finalist in Class III category (50,001-100,000). The National Gold Medal Award honors communities throughout the United States that demonstrate excellence in long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development and agency recognition. Each agency is judged on its ability to address the needs of those it serves through the collective energies of citizens, staff and elected officials.
Our Parks Services Department has evolved from the old days of taking scrap metal in for the "slush fund" - which we used to buy coffee and supplies for the break room. Of course, things have changed and in order to keep our ethical standards in tact, we abolished the "slush fund." The Morton Grove Park District has a transparent operation policy and will not use taxpayer money for buying coffee. So, we began throwing metals in the dumpster and paying a scavenger service to haul our scrap metals away in a recycle truck, or having the local scrap guy take them for free. This troubled me - we were literally throwing money away. Here we were paying to have our scrap removed, which costs the district money, or we were giving it away. What could we do to make this into a positive process?
A light-bulb moment... why not take the metal in ourselves, get cash for it and donate the money? This presented another challenge - where do we donate this money? You guessed it , another light bulb! One of our employees suggested we give it to the needy in Morton Grove. Our town, like many others, has residents who have fallen on hard times financially. We have a financial assistance program to help those in need utilize our programs. We decided to donate any cash from the scrap metal collections and give it to the financial aid line in our budget. Now doesn’t this make sense? The proceeds generated from the recycled material, as it is diverted from the waste stream, is trackable, recordable, accountable and responsible. That clearly defines the term transparency. We literally take the trash and turn it into cash to help our residents that need it.
-Greg Jayne, Morton Grove Park District
There's still time to make a donation to the 2011 IPRF Silent Auction! Click here for a donation form!
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Event Date: Nov. 6, 9-11:45 a.m.
Location: Downers Grove Park District, 935 Maple Ave., Downers Grove
Contact: Toni Tellefsen, 630-963-1300
- Understanding the Child with Autism, Presented by Brian Houzenga, CTRS, SEASPAR
- What Can My Young English Language Learners Do in English? Presented by Tammy King, Bilingual Teacher from Illinois Resource Center.
Event Date: Nov.16, 10-11:30 a.m.
Location: online
Contact: Heather Weishaar, 630-376-1911
Presented by: John Engh, Chief Operating Officer, NAYS (National Alliance for Youth Sports)
This webinar will discuss how to effectively manage and oversee youth sports coaches.
Once a volunteer is effectively screened and trained, there should be systems in place to ensure coaches are reflecting your department’s philosophies and coaches are held accountable of their behavior. Participants will learn a proactive approach to managing youth sports coaches, and will gain insight on developing policies for evaluation and accountability of volunteer youth sports coaches.
- Registration Deadline: 11/9
- Webinar log in information will be emailed to registrants 1 week prior to the event
Click here to register!
Event Date: Dec. 2, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Location: Armstrong Center-Carol Stream Park District, 391 Illini Drive, Carol Stream
Contact: Nancy Aldrich, 847-506-7877
In this exciting, interactive workshop, Lauren Soderstrom, PHR, training specialist for the Management Association of Illinois, will help you understand your five signature strengths and how to best apply them in your professional and personal lives. By knowing your strengths, you’ll be more productive and effective, you’ll become willing to invest in others’ strengths, you’ll seek to get people with the right strengths on your team and you’ll understand how to best meet the needs of those who look to you for leadership and vision. You’ll also be more productive, efficient and happy because you’ll be capitalizing on your strengths, not focusing on your – or others’ – weaknesses.
Terri Tamer, HR generalist with the Bolingbrook Park District, will also share Bolingbrook’s experiences with the Strength Finders program. The entire agency has embraced the Strength Finders program and the changes that have occurred at Bolingbrook – and with its staff – is really amazing!
IMPORTANT!! You must purchase a new edition of the Strength Finders 2.0 book by Tom Rath and complete the online Strength Finders assessment to identify your five signature strengths before coming to the workshop. You may purchase the book at Amazon.com (current price is $9.98 plus S/H). It’s also available at Barnes & Noble, Borders, Walmart and other local retailers. It must be a new edition because you need the special key inside, which is required for access to the online Strength Finders assessment. And remember to bring your completed Strength Finders assessment and your book to the workshop!
Click here to register!
CALENDAR/UPCOMING EVENTS
Event Date: Nov. 5, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Location: Bartlett Park District, 700 S. Bartlett Rd., Bartlett, IL
Contact: Nicole Chesak, 847-781-3635
- 9 – 9:30 am Check-In/Registration for Workshop
- 9 – 11:30 am Workshop
- 11:30 am – 12 pm Check-In/Registration for Luncheon
- 12 – 2 pm Luncheon and Awards Ceremony
Event Date: Nov. 16, 8:45 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: Des Plaines Park District, Prairie Lakes Community Center,515 E. Thacker Street
Contact: Jessica Gray, 630-645-9580
Each attendee will receive a detailed program/reference booklet with complete information about all performers, exhibitors and book listings. With 16 jury-selected performers and more than 75 exhibitors, there is no reason to come away empty handed!
Registration questions contact: Jessica Gray at 630-645-9580, or jgray@obparks.org.
Event Date: Nov. 18, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Location: Location TBA
Contact: Mike Selep, 630-376-1911
CONFERENCE
Conference Registration: Please click here to register online.
Conference Housing: Housing is open and people may make reservations with the housing form (must be sent to hotel) or via the links/phone number below.
Be sure to indicate you are attending the IAPD/IPRA Conference and mention the group code IAP to ensure the discounted room rate.
SECTION/COMMITTEE INFO
Event Date: Nov. 17, 2 - 3 p.m.
Location: Bartlett Park District,700 S. Bartlett Road, Bartlett
Contact: AJ Collier, 630-540-4839
Event Date: Nov. 19, 1 - 3 p.m.
Location: Fox Run Golf Links, 333 Plum Grove Road, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Contact: Kathleen Talenco, 630-858-2462
Date: Dec. 10, 1 p.m.
Location: Oswegoland Park District, South Point Center, 810 Preston Lane, Oswego, IL
Contact: Cheryl Keilson, 630-554-4484
Come and join this active, fun and supportive committee! RSVP by Dec. 7 to Cheryl.
Lighten up your workout routine by getting outside! Whether morning or evening, it's cooler and the air is fresher!
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