IPRA Today

I want to thank the board, the members and the staff for their support over the past year.  We have accomplished so much together:

• Launched a new logo and tagline for the Association: Learn.Connect.Inspire.
• Updated the Finance Policy, Administrative Policy, and By-laws for IPRA and Foundation
•  IPRA Headquarters relocated to the Park District of LaGrange (536 East Ave; LaGrange IL 60525
• Created the Membership Council. The seven section representatives are working to develop the Membership Council operating guidelines
• Reduced the size of the IPRA Board of Directors from 14 to 9 members 
• Launched a redesigned website
• Enhanced educational opportunities: 2012 calendar of offering and launching the Education Institute and Leadership Academy this year
• Revived the IPRA Foundation and created an endowment call the "Building Futures Fund"
  
  Lastly, thanks to everyone for a great 2012 conference.  This year we had over 4,350 attendees (3,053 delegates and 1,297 exhibitors).  This is up 250 from our 2011 conference.  Please complete the survey on line so we can continue to improve.  Here is what a few of your peers are saying:
  
  "The awards luncheon was so much better this year. I loved the video introductions of the winners. It got done quickly and was so much more professional this year."
  
  "I've said this for years (I've been attending since 1995, I believe). You folks are good at adapting. You keep the sessions short which better holds the attention of the attendees. Excellent variety of session. I especially like the way you're branching out into areas that aren't completely parks and rec related. For example, the two sessions computer safety and ways to find information by Mr. Brazell. They were superb! I wish there could be more sessions on trails. We attended the trail workshop on Thursday morning. It was excellent. I'd like to see more of that."
  
  "This has been the best conference in YEARS!! Excellent work to all the staff and volunteers!!"
  
  "This conference was significantly better than I thought it would be and certainly far and away superior to NRPA. There were so many great sessions I was sorry I couldn't be in 2+ places at once! Keep up the great work."
  
  "The conference sessions were top rate, the staff at the IAPD/IPRA levels were extremely professional and everyone really made great efforts to work well together. There is such a sense of Park community!"
  
  If you were able to join us at conference, I hope you learned a few new things, connected with old friends and made new ones, and were inspired to continue to make a difference in your community! If you were not able to join us this year, I do hope to see you next year!
  
  I look forward to working with each of you in 2012 to make IPRA even stronger and responsible to our members.
  
  Thanks again for all you do!
  
  Jan Arnold
  Executive Director
  
  

 

Just like the Chicago weather, parks and recreation is changing.  The big change is retirement.  In the United States the Boomers are retiring at a rate of 10,000 per day and plenty of those Boomers are in the field of parks and recreation.  At this writing there are 5 Executive Director positions open in the metropolitan Chicago area all due to retirements.  That is a major loss of experience in our profession.      

The big question, do we have the educational opportunities to properly train professionals to fill this void?  The answer is a big Yes.  The just completed 2012 IAPD/IPRA Soaring to New Heights Conference provided a wide variety of educational sessions, workshops, and hands on learning opportunities to advance the profession.  

The opportunities for continuing education are plentiful.  The 2012 IPRA education calendar is available on the IPRA website and now is the time to begin to set the dates aside and register for the programs that will help advance your career.  

On April 20th IPRA will offer an IPRA Education Institute at the Doubletree Chicago-Oakbrook.  Craig Hickman, co-author of the "Oz Principle" will be the featured speaker.  He will focus on getting results through individual and organizational accountability. The registration fee is only $40 and includes lunch and .4 CEU’s.  

In October IPRA will launch a newly created Leadership Academy.  The Academy is an intensive six month program that can benefit you regardless of what stage you are in your career.  This program will meet one full day per month for 6 months providing the skills for professionals to become top administrators in our field.  

These are just two of the many educational offerings provided by IPRA in 2012.  Professional development is a personal commitment to lifelong learning.  Are you ready to make that commitment?  If you want to be part of that change that is coming and prepare yourself for a successful future don’t miss these educational opportunities.  Don’t let change pass you by.   Become part of the leadership in parks and recreation.  

John Curran, IPRA Chairman of the Board
Director, Tinley Park Park District