IPRA Today
Illinois Park and Recreation
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NEWS YOU CAN USE
Saturday, Aug. 20, at the Illinois State Fair - Park District Conservation Day! LPGA-USGA Girls Golf provides an opportunity for girls, aged 7-17, to learn to play golf, build lasting friendships and experience competition in a fun, supportive environment to prepare them for a lifetime of enjoyment with the game. Girls are learning values inherent to the game of golf, such as patience, respect, perseverance and honesty, preparing them to meet challenges of today's world with confidence. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Date: June 21, 2011 - 10:00 AM Additionally, strategies for enhancing and maintaining park safety, encouraging citizen engagement in safety initiatives and encroachment issues and how our Park Police help to manage them will be discussed. Participants will learn park safety strategies and initiatives that 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, Carl Schnibben, Park Police Chief, Naperville Park District Email Heather to register!
Date: July 8, 2011 - 10:30 AM Through this program, veterans benefit from a free one-year membership, learn about universal design fitness center equipment and enjoy free personal training sessions and monthly socials. After lunch, participants will have the opportunity to tour the Centennial Recreation Center. Learning Outcomes: Participants will: (1) learn how to implement a health and fitness program for injured service members in their community; (2) create beneficial partnerships with affiliate groups as a means of identifying individuals for the program. Presented by: Donna Sebok has been working with the Healthy Minds/Healthy Bodies program since its inception at Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association. She has been an integral part in the development of this program. Working as a CTRS for more than 18 years, the past year has been solely committed to veterans with disabilities at NEDSRA. Donna has been a speaker at state and national conferences. Greg Vitale has been in the field for 11 years. His most recent position is Manager of Fitness Center Operations for the Addison Park District’s Club Fitness. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation and Sports Management from Indiana State University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Governor’s State University. Greg is a an experienced speaker/presenter at the annual IAPD/IPRA Soaring to New Heights Conference as well as other venues. FEE INLCUDES LUNCH. Date: September 27, 2011 - September 28, 2011, 9:00 AM Registration available soon! CALENDAR/UPCOMING EVENTS
Click here for registration form! Event Date: July 6, 2011 9:00 AM - July 22, 2011 4:00 PM
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Park Specialist I Parks and Operations Full-time, Skokie Park District Park Technician I, Warrenville Park District Recreation Specialist, Downers Grove Park District Adult Coordinator, Fox Valley SRA Marketing Supervisor, Warrenville Park District NEWS ABOUT MEMBERS
The lifelong Illinois resident was selected as the IPRA Chairman in 2004 and was previously honored by her peers with the Robert Artz Award in 1999, the Fellow Award in 1998, and the Professional Award in 1990. Hodgkinson also served with the IPRA Therapeutic Recreation Section and Administration and Finance Section as well as with the Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Park District Risk Management Association. In addition, her legislative efforts on behalf of WDSRA have allowed special recreation services to be expanded in Illinois. Hodgkinson was also a founding Board Member for the Illinois Special Olympics in 1976. She has published more than 30 articles for professional publications including NRPA, Florida Parks and Recreation, Illinois Park and Recreation, Sports and Spokes, Athletic Business, and Special Parent. She is also a co-author of three books; Introduction to Recreation and Leisure, Arts for All: Making It Happen, and Volunteers – the Key to Successful Special Olympic Programs. Her career has always emphasized Equal Fun for Everyone. "Helping people with disabilities to realize their potential and access everyday life has been my goal for over 40 years," said Hodgkinson. WDSRA is a two-time winner of the National Gold Medal Award (1982, 1993), and Hodgkinson currently serves as the National Gold Medal Award Board Chair. Last year, she was named a Legend by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration as one of the top 100 professionals in the country. As an extension of nine member park districts in Chicago's western suburbs, WDSRA offers year-round recreational programs such as Special Olympics, wheelchair sports, drama, arts, camping, social clubs, disability awareness, and inclusion into park district programs. In 2010, WDSRA recorded nearly 4,500 participations for children, teens, and adults who benefitted from WDSRA's 1,500 programs, special events, and community awareness activities. Hodgkinson is a graduate of Southern Illinois University with a BS and MS in Recreation Administration. She is succeeded by Sandy Gbur who comes to WDSRA from a similar position with the West Suburban Special Recreation Association in Franklin Park. For more information about WDSRA, visit www.wdsra.com or call (630) 681-0962.
With a background in interviewing, writing, and editing, she will be an excellent addition to the WDSRA team. Moulton will responsible for promoting and establishing WDSRA as a major presence in our communities and act as a liaison with various community groups. Moulton brings with her strong communication skills and a passion for making a difference in the community. "I am excited about working for WDSRA because this group makes such a difference for families and children in our community. Through recreational programming families are able to watch their children develop new skills while also developing much needed support networks," comments Moulton. Moulton most recently comes from the Coasts, Oceans, Ports & Rivers Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers in Reston, VA. Her experience includes reporting and editing, member retention and recruitment, and events. She holds a degree in Journalism from Indiana University. The first Park Board consisted of three members, who implemented the vision of having parks and open space along the banks of the Fox River by purchasing 35 acres of land for the development of Pottawatomie Park. With this purchase, the District played a key role in making St. Charles a resort community in the 1920s. In time, the park offered tables, benches, swings, a boat launch, refreshment stands with ice cream and soda pop, a merry-go-round and a pavilion for dancing. By the 1930s, the Park Board purchased a number of acres north of the park and Lester J. and Dellora A. Norris donated additional acres. This led to the development of the swimming pool complex, 9-hole golf course, ball diamond with stone bleachers and amphitheater.
As the community continued to grow, the District offered recreation programming at Pottawatomie Park and used local neighborhood parks and school facilities in cooperation with the City and School District. In April of 1967, City and Township voters approved the formation of the St. Charles Park District as a separate taxing body that was charged with providing public park and recreation services to the residents of St. Charles Township. The initial Board was made up of five members. As growth of the City of St. Charles and the Township continued through the 1970s and early 80s, the decision was made to broaden the representation of the community by increasing the Board to seven members in 1983. Just as the St. Charles Township Park District played a key role in making St. Charles a resort community in the 1920s, today, the St. Charles Park District plays an important part in the vitality of this community, providing open space and programming that appeal to a wide cross-section of the population of the District. St. Charles Park District provides an abundance of programs and facilities that meet the diverse abilities, ages, genders and interests of its residents.
As trends in recreation changed over the years, the District prepared itself by acquiring and developing new park sites and exciting facilities and expanding recreational programming offerings to all age levels. Also, the District assumed a leadership role in environmental education and natural resource conservation, protecting and maintaining numerous natural areas for the enjoyment of future generations. With many of the parks and facilities located on historically significant sites, and many more protecting valuable wildlife habitat and natural resources, the District is a primary contributor to preserving the cultural and ecological heritage of the St. Charles region. The recreational, open space and natural habitat opportunities offered by the St. Charles Park District are rich and varied. With nearly 1,500 acres of park and open space owned or managed by the St. Charles Park District and a variety of active and passive recreation opportunities for people of all ages, the St. Charles Park District provides award-winning facilities and programming to its community.
Wheeler dedicated 31 years of service to the District overseeing daily operations, maintenance and improvements to the crown jewel of the Fox River – Pottawatomie Golf Course. Most recently, the award-winning course was ranked 15th best 9-hole golf course in America by Golf World magazine. Wheeler retired in February.
Under Ryan’s 25 years of leadership, the District has acquired and developed numerous park sites and facilities. Being responsible for the general management and planning efforts of nearly 1,500 acres, Ryan has coordinated millions of dollars in grant funding and capital improvements. Ryan retired in April and is now managing his family farm.
Conner’s 27-year career has included managing the annual multimillion dollar budget, adopting new technology to offer online registration to the community and advanced computer system upgrades for District staff. Conner retired in May and plans to relax and travel.
PGA Pro Ron Skubisz joined the District in April. Hailing from St. Andrews Golf Course in West Chicago, Skubicz welcomes the opportunity to bring his 30+ years of experience to Pottawatomie Golf Course.
Laura Rudow joined St. Charles Park District as Superintendent of Parks & Planning in April. Previously she was employed with the Naperville Park District as Superintendent of Parks for 12 years. Rudow graduated from Southern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public administration from DeVry University.
Karin Schindel was named Business Manager in May. She spent the previous four years at the Oak Park Park District as the Accounting Supervisor and then the Superintendent of Business Operations. Schindel earned a bachelor’s degree from Marquette University in business economics and urban and environmental affairs and a master’s degree in public administration from Keller University. Gibbs has worked in local media for over nine years, including as a reporter and anchor for WREX-TV and more recently for Maverick Media as a morning radio co-host on WGFB-FM. "Laura’s media background, involvement in the community, and previous seasonal employment with the Park District as a youth have provided her with a solid foundation and great fit for this position. We are thrilled to have Laura on board as a new member of our public relations and marketing team," said Marketing & Communications Manager Denise Delanty. Gibbs’s main responsibilities will include implementing the Park District’s public relations efforts, including radio and television appearances, information booths, speaking engagements, news releases, publication distribution, advertising copywriting, and social media initiatives. "My career has come full circle. I started volunteering at the Park District when I was just 12 years old, and this is where I want to retire from. I am thrilled to be back! I have always had a special place in my heart for the Rockford Park District, and I am excited to be able to combine my two areas of expertise, media and recreation. This is a dream job," said Public Relations & New Media Manager Laura Gibbs-Green. For more information, contact Laura Gibbs-Green at 815-987-8852 or lauragibbsgreen@rockfordparkdistrict.org. |
