IPRA Today

Illinois Park and Recreation

NEWS YOU CAN USE
On behalf of the Illinois Park & Recreation Association (IPRA), we would like to invite you renew your membership at this time.

Dues rates in 2014 will remain the same. We’re pleased to offer a $15 discount for members who renew by December 15, and this year we are also adding a $10 discount for members outside of the Chicago-Metro region, for those who have the main administrative office outside of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, and Will counties. No action is necessary on your part; your renewal invoice will reflect the savings.

To renew, please follow these instructions:
•    Begin by logging into the IPRA website. If you have never logged on to the website, your user name is your email address (all lower case), and your password is ipra (all lower case.)
•    On your profile page, you can view your contact information, pay open invoices, view our events calendar and read news updates.    Scroll to the bottom of the screen under Accounting Information.  In the accounting information section you can view your renewal quote for membership renewal (or any open purchase orders).  You can click on the invoice and proceed to the payment screen.
•    If you want to pay renewals or invoices for additional staff, click on the view organization icon which is located under your name and photo.  From your agency profile, scroll to the bottom of the screen to the accounting information section.  Click on the box that reads show related invoices.   You can select to pay the membership that you want to renew, and proceed to checkout.  Each renewal requires its own payment process.  
•    In order to view and pay agency invoices, you must be logged into the site as a member.  If you have an employee who will be managing online renewals and he is not a member, we suggest that he login under a member’s account and from their profile, view and pay the agency open invoices.
•    If you wish to purchase IPRA memberships for new staff, please contact Sheila Mulvey.
•    Please use this time to review your contact information and ensure that your information displays properly.
 
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Certified Playground Safety Institute (CPSI) - October 22-24, 2013
Bridges of Poplar Creek Country Club

Early Childhood Trends Workshop - 11/2/13
Downers Grove Park District - Lincoln Center
8:30AM - 11:45AM

Professional Development School - November 10-13, 2013
Decatur Conference Center & Hotel

Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) Exam Preparation - 12/6/13
Prisco Community Center
10:00AM - 3:00PM

IPRA New Member Webinar - 4th Quarter - 12/13/13
online
10:00AM - 11:00AM
 
CALENDAR/UPCOMING EVENTS
Joint Section Awards Luncheon - 11/8/13
Chevy Chase Country Club
12:00PM - 3:00PM

IPRA Board Meeting - 11/14/13
IPRA Headquarters
10:00AM - 12:00PM
 
CONFERENCE
Preliminary Program
You should have received your copy of the September/October issue of Illinois Parks and Recreation magazine, which contains the preliminary program. You may also view it online.

A detailed schedule of all sessions and workshops will be posted on the conference site within the next two weeks. Please check www.ilparksconference.com frequently to stay in the know and keep informed on all conference updates!

Conference Registration is Open!
Don’t delay... the early registration deadline is Friday, November 22. Register online or download a copy of the registration form

Make Your Hotel Reservation
Click here to make your reservation at either the Hyatt Regency Chicago or at the Swissôtel.




 
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Here are some of our recent job posts. For a complete listing, click here.

  • Superintendent for Recreation, Village of Lincolnwood
  • Warner Park Facility Manager, City of Madison Parks
  • Head Lifeguard, Park District of Highland Park
  • Recreation Supervisor, Belvidere Park District
  • Group Exercise Instructor, City of Lake Forest
Have a job to post? Click here!
 
NEWS ABOUT MEMBERS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     

Media Contact:
Holly Cabel, Superintendent of Recreation
630-513-6200 • hcabel@stcparks.org

St. Charles Park District Announced as Finalist for the 2013 National Gold Medal Awards in Parks and Recreation

St. Charles, IL October 8, 2013 – The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), is pleased to announce the St. Charles Park District as a finalist for the 2013 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. This honor was presented to Director of Parks & Recreation Holly Cabel and Superintendent of Parks & Planning Laura Rudow on Tuesday, October 8 during NRPA’s Annual Congress & Exposition in Houston, Texas. This year’s proud sponsor of the Gold Medal Awards program is Musco Lighting LLC.

Upon receiving the finalist award, Cabel remarked, "The Park District is honored to be a Gold Medal finalist for the second consecutive year and to be viewed nationally as a leader in the park and recreation field. Our agency won in 1998 and has been an eight-time finalist over the years."

Park Board President Karrsten Goettel added, "Being named the best in the nation is truly an honor for the St. Charles community. Receiving this prestigious award is a testament to the St. Charles Park District, in particular its staff, and its mission to enrich the quality of life for its residents through excellence in programs, parks, facilities and services."

In 36 square miles, St. Charles boasts a winning combination of the arts, theater, dining, retail, affordable housing, nationally ranked schools and diverse green spaces. Residents enjoy nearly 33 acres of park land per 1,000 persons. The Fox River, a focal point for boating, biking and festivals, is a major natural asset winding through 181 park acres including two State-designated nature preserves, a 9-hole golf course, boat launches, fishing piers and more.

Agencies are judged on their ability to address the needs of those they serve through the collective energies of citizens, staff and elected officials. In the category of park districts serving populations of 25,001-50,000 residents, the St. Charles Park District competed against three other finalists: the parks and recreation departments of Doral, Texas; Westerville, Ohio; and Winter Park, Florida.

A panel of five park and recreation professionals reviews and judges all application materials.  Judges are chosen for their considerable experience and knowledge in parks and recreation on both the local and national levels. 

Founded in 1965, the Gold Medal Awards program honors communities in the U.S. that demonstrate excellence in parks and recreation through long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development and agency recognition.  Applications are separated into seven classes, with five classes based on population, one class for armed forces recreation communities and the State Park System Class awarded every other year. This year, AAPRA and NRPA will award the prestigious and highly sought State Park System Class Gold Medal award.

For more information on the Gold Medal Awards, visit http://www.nrpa.org/awards or http://www.aapra.org.


The St. Charles Park District is a special purpose government unit, founded in 1911 dedicated to enriching the quality of life of Park District residents through excellence in programs, parks, facilities, and services.

The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration is a non-profit organization founded to advance knowledge related to the administration of recreation and parks; to encourage scholarly efforts by both practitioners and educators that would enhance the practice of park and recreation administration; to promote broader public understanding of the importance of parks and recreation to the public good; and, to conduct research, publish scholarly papers and sponsor seminars related to the advancement of park and recreation administration.  For more information, visit www.aapra.org. 

The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people.  Through its network of 30,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy lifestyles, recreation initiatives, and conservation of natural and cultural resources.  For more information, visit www.NRPA.org.  For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.

Musco Lighting, LLC is a company that has specialized in lighting systems for sports and large areas for more than 30 years.  Musco has pioneered dramatic improvements in energy efficiency and affordable ways to control wasted spill light and glare.   Permanent and temporary lighting services range from neighborhood fields to NASCAR super speedways.  For more information, visit www.musco.com.



 
SECTION/COMMITTEE INFO
Wintrust Financial