IPRA Today
Illinois Park and Recreation
MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
I know that the board, staff and many of the members have worked tirelessly over this past year to revitalize IPRA. A great foundation has been created and I believe that we are headed in the right direction. Now it is my job, and the job of our staff, to take that foundation and build a successful IPRA that meets your needs now, and in the future.
Over my career I have embraced the idea that as leaders of organizations it is our responsibility to develop not only ourselves, but our staffs. I started my career more than 20 years ago as a recreation specialist for the United States Air Force and thanks to the opportunities I was given, and support of my supervisors, I have had the pleasure to be:
- a superintendent of recreation for an Illinois Park District;
- a vice president of operations for a $100M not-for-profit organization;
- a chief administrative officer for a $500M government agency; and
- now the leader of one of the largest, and I think the greatest, parks and recreation associations in the country!
And it has been the support and encouragement of supervisors and mentors, as well as access to quality training and education that has allowed me to grow as a leader. It is this dedication to education and professional development that I want to grow and strengthen at IPRA.
To the executive directors, I want to create an IPRA that will provide you the tools that you need to grow as chief executives. Whether it is finance, leadership or board management, IPRA should be providing you the training, information and support to help you excel, especially in these difficult economic times.
To those of you who aspire to one day be an executive director, IPRA should be giving you the tools to develop the skills necessary to become our future leaders. And for those of you who are just starting your careers, we want to invest in you. You are our future, and we need to make sure that we are positioning you for success.
My personal philosophy has always been that I don’t hire staff for the job they have today, but for the position I believe they will obtain two or three jobs from now. In doing so, I always make the commitment to help them grow - not only by providing them with tools and support, but also by challenging them to do more than they believe possible.
My commitment to professional development is one of the major reasons I wanted to be your executive director. As a membership organization, it is IPRA’s responsibility to provide you and your staff with quality training and educational opportunities that you deserve. I also look forward to making sure that your voices are heard. This past week was great for reconnecting with many of our members and I am looking forward to meeting many more of you over the next several months. And I am sincere when I say that I want to hear from you. Whether you are in Carbondale or Gurnee, Peoria or Flossmoor, or anywhere in between, I want this to be your IPRA. Over the next year, I will be traveling the state to listen to your ideas and share the progress we are making as an association.
I look forward to working with LoriKay and the rest of the board members to make 2011 an exciting year at IPRA.
Here is the 2011 board roster:
LoriKay Paden, Chair
John Curran, Chair Elect
Carrie Haupert, Past Chair
Nancy McCaul, AF Section Representative
Patrick Kloss, Northern District Representative
Joseph DeLuce, Central District Representative
Lori Lovell Knouse, Chicago Metro District Representative
Mary Jeanne Hutchison, Southern District Representative
Allison Niemela, CM Section Representative
Gail Ito, EM Section Representative
Brian Meyer, FM Section Representative
Michael Sletten, PNRM Section Representative
Richard Hanetho, REC Section Representative
Matthew Corso, TR Section Representative
I look forward to working with the board, the members, and the staff to implement the strategic plan, to improve communication with our members, and to provide meaningful networking opportunities.
Thank you again for your support of IPRA. I look forward to an exciting and successful year.
Best,
Jan Arnold, Executive Director, Illinois Park and Recreation Association
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MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD
Why do I feel so strongly and passionately about the direction we are headed in? Let me start with our biggest accomplishment – the hiring of our new executive director, Jan Arnold. While we have a vibrant vision and future direction, we need each and every one of you to get us there – working towards the common goal of becoming a more member driven association. This means all of you need to step up to the plate this year. Our 2009 membership survey tells us the majority of IPRA members don’t volunteer because they haven’t been asked - well, consider this your formal invitation! I am asking now, please volunteer your time; your efforts alone will make a significant impact.
What is the face of IPRA going to look like in 2011?
- Improved Education – a focus on improved quality of programming and a wider variety of topics for you to select from, growing professionals at all stages of their career and all levels within their organization.
- Continued Transparency – increased communication, a facelift to our web site and so much more!! I encourage you to take a hard look at the Strategic Plan located on the IPRA web site so you can familiarize yourself with our initiatives.
- Last but not least, we plan to streamline IPRA to make it as efficient, effective and productive as possible.
As a board we will continue to need to make the tough decisions – even if that means not making the most popular ones. Please keep in mind; we are looking at the association as whole! How can we be the best that we can be? With you...our IPRA family.
GET INVOLVED. No excuses – if you have a concern about IPRA, get involved. If you have ideas, voice them. While we need the wisdom, discernment and guidance from our more seasoned professionals, we also need the fresh new perspectives of professionals from all areas and generations! We are clearly back on our feet, but now is the time to go above and beyond. I am dedicated to do whatever it takes this year to continue to build our IPRA! Thank you!
-LoriKay Paden, Chairman of the Board
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NEWS YOU CAN USE
The IPRA College & University Relations Committee has launched a campaign to recruit young people into the field of parks & recreation. Acknowledging that this is often a "discovery" career - many high school & college-aged students often do not realize that it is a planned course of study - the CURC partnered with Greg Bizarro of Jaffe Films to produce an informational CD that can be shown to agency staff (lifeguards, day camp counselors, etc.)
One complimentary copy per park & recreation agency with an active IPRA member. Please use this order form to place an order for additional copies.
The video is also available online. Be sure to check out the "Day in the Life" videos!
Questions? Please contact Heather Weishaar
Audience: High school/college age
Purpose: To promote careers that are park and recreation specific, as well as careers in parks and recreation that involve other disciplines. Educate young adults about the viability of parks & recreation as a career path. Provide accurate and compelling information about parks & recreation as a career and direct them to additional resources.
Contact: Michael Bradley
Email: michael.bradley@okstate.edu
For Immediate Release
National Visit A Park Day
Visit A Park Day is a day to set aside unnecessary obligations to visit your local, state, regional or national park. Our development team is committed to the mission of Visit A Park Day: to engage people to learn more about their local, state, and national parks as well as provide for education and recreation opportunities within the parks to foster future enjoyment and visitation to these parks.
Last year Visit A Park Day was a remarkable success! We hope for nothing less this year as we work to further engagement from schools, civic groups, student groups, organizations, and various people across the nation. As statistics related to obesity, crime, and less than healthy lifestyles are frequently cited across all mediums, National Visit A Park Day comes to help fight these negative aspects of our culture.
The development team created four major aspects that may enable various groups and individuals to help cultivate Visit A Park Day’s mission.
The vision statements for Visit A Park Day:
- Get people out to the parks on the designated day, April 8, 2011.
- Provide service and learning opportunities for people visiting parks on the designated day, April 8, 2011.
- Create and foster relationships for future engagement with the parks.
- Expose recreation and park programs to marginalized populations.
Many local and state recreation and parks programs, as well as non-profits, and related civic groups have used National Visit A Park Day as a day to highlight various programs, facilities, and other offerings. We hope that Visit A Park Day has as great of a year in 2011 as it has in the past. We, once again, ask leaders and groups to coordinate events and activities associated with 2011 Visit A Park Day. It is important to show children and adults the endless benefits parks and recreation may provide to our communities, society, and individuals. I hope to hear many success stories and plan to see many of you out on April 8, for Visit A Park Day.
For more information about Visit A Park Day or to contact Michael Bradley, please e-mail michael.bradley@okstate.edu.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has announced that $100,000 in Heartsaver AED grant funds are now available. Park districts, conservation districts, forest preserve districts, schools, municipal recreation departments and colleges or universities are eligible for the grant.
Please click here for more information!
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Event Date: February 10, 10 - 11 AM
Location: online
Contact: Heather Weishaar, 630-376-1911
Speaker: Barbara Heller, President Heller & Heller Consulting
Why is this important: Having a documented approach to pricing and more sophisticated approaches to pricing results in more program registrations and revenue. Too many agencies leave money on the table with inadequate pricing approaches.
Learning Outcomes: Participants will review a pricing template for use in developing a process & will review the nonmonetary opportunities in pricing.
Registration deadline is 1 week prior to webinar. Webinar access codes and instructions will be emailed 1 week prior to event.
Click here to register!
Date: May 12, 10 - 11 AM
Location: online
Contact: Heather Weishaar, 630-376-1911
Speaker: Barbara Heller, President Heller & Heller Consulting
Why this is important: Leadership development is the most critical competency for senior managers. The best agencies devote time and resources to ensure continuity.
Learning Outcomes: Participants will identify the most important leadership competencies and will review how to develop a succession management plan.
Registration deadline is 1 week prior to webinar. Webinar access codes and instructions will be emailed 1 week prior to event.
Click here to register!
CALENDAR/UPCOMING EVENTS
Be the first to educate the new members of Congress on the importance of parks and recreation to local communities and our country, and encourage them to be champions for our issues:
- Protecting and enhancing the federal investments in public parks
- Using parks and recreation to increase activity and improve health
- Conserving open space and making public lands accessible for public use
- Connecting kids to nature and the outdoors, reducing childhood obesity
- Revitalizing urban areas and creating livable communities
Legislative Forum is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to be the voice for parks and recreation and advocate for our field. Register today for your early bird discount.
Important for all participating Park & Recreation Agency Representatives to attend! Please note new meeting location.
Event Date: February 9, 10 AM - 12 PM
Location: Schaumburg PD Community Recreation Center, 505 N. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg
Contact: Heather Weishaar, 630-376-1911
Join the IPRA Board of Directors for the first official meeting of the 2011 year at the new administration offices of the Fox Valley Park District, Cole Center Administrative Office.
Event Date: March 10, 10 - 11:30 AM
Location: Fox Valley Park District, 101 W. Illinois Ave., Aurora
Contact: Jan Arnold, 630-376-1911
CONFERENCE
Your feedback is extremely important to us - please complete a conference evaluation by clicking on this link.
You may also suggest sessions for the 2012 conference by completing this form.
SECTION/COMMITTEE INFO
Don't smoke! Tobacco is responsible for millions of deaths worldwide every year. It also costs billions of dollars to many governments and families to treat diseases related to the use of tobacco.
Event Date: February 16, 2 - 3 PM
Location: Oak Brook Park DIstrict,1450 Forest Gate Road, Oak Brook
Contact: Dan Peboontom, 630-353-3344
Event Date: February 17, 11 AM - 12:30 PM
Location: TBA
Contact: Keely Childress
The Section meets regularly. Section meetings are held throughout the year. Section members are urged to participate in the seciton so that their professional needs may be heard.
Dates for 2011: Feb 17, April 21, June 16, Aug 18, Oct 20 and Dec 15.
Event Date: February 18, 11 AM - 3:30 PM
Location: Schaumburg Park District,Schaumburg Tennis Plus, 1416 N. Payne Road, Schaumburg,
Contact: Dan Peboontom, 630-353-3344
Event Date: February 24, 10 - 11:30 AM
Location: Bartlett Park District, 700 S. Bartlett Rd., Bartlett
Contact: Steve Muenz, 630-513-4337
Please join us if you are interested in joining the committee to plan the 2011 Supervisor Symposium. For more information, please contact Steve Muenz or Jackie Gonzalez.
Contacts: Steve Muenz, 630-513-4337 or Jackie Gonzalez, 630-784-6187
Event Date: February 25, 1 - 3 PM
Location: Garden Terrace Banquets, 1000 Wllington Ave., Elk Grove Village
Contact: Jessica Alexenko, 630-645-9539
Please bring samples, screen shots and ideas. If you have specific discussion requests on this topic, please e-mail them to Jessica by Friday, February 18.
RESOURCES/SURVEYS
Please follow this link to take a short survey that requires less than ten minutes of your time. The findings of this research will be disseminated soon and will be beneficial to recreation professionals.
Thank you,
Daniel G. Yoder and Paul Schlag
Professors in the Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration Department at Western Illinois University
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