IPRA Today

 While everyone on both staff teams works on the conference, I am grateful for the leadership of Leesa Kuo, IPRA’s Conference Director, Sue Triphahn, IAPD’s Conference Director and Sue Cottingham-Haupt, IPRA’s Conference Coordinator.

I also want to welcome our new Chairman of the Board, Jan Hincapie, Director of the Lincolnwood Parks & Recreation Department.  Jan was IPRA’s intern years ago and is thrilled to be coming around full circle as IPRA’s new Chair.  As a municipal director, she brings a fresh perspective to IPRA and is a constant advocate for municipalities.  She has already formed several new task forces for IPRA for 2014 to support the first year of the new strategic plan.  These task forces include Women in Leisure, Community Outreach, and Mentoring.  I am thrilled to work with these task forces to support our new plan and Jan’s vision for IPRA.

As the conference, during the Awards Luncheon, the following awards were granted.  Congratulations to these professionals who were recognized for their service to IPRA and parks and recreation: Robert Artz Lifetime Achievement Award:  John Curran, Tinley Park Park District; Community Impact Award: Diane Stanke, Park District of Oak Park; Professional Award: Carrie Fullerton, Bloomingdale Park District; and Young Professional of the Year: Steve Golembiewski, Westmont Park District.

During the 2014 Annual Business Meeting, Outgoing Chair, Allison Niemela honored the following people with Chairman’s Awards.  Congratulations to these professionals for your service to IPRA: Sue Cottingham- Haupt; Michael Kies, CPRE, Hoffman Estates Park District; Nancy McCaul, CPRP, Fox Valley Park District; Carlo Capalbo, CPRP, Worth Park District; and Kari Miller, Batavia Park District.

During the Annual Business Meeting, Allison also gave special recognition to Heather Weishaar, IPRA’s Communications and Development Manager and Sue Triphahn, CMP, Education & Conference Director from our sister organization Illinois Association of Park Districts.

Congratulations also to the new agencies who achieved Distinguished Accredited Agency status: Buffalo Grove Park District, Channahon Park District, Elk Grove Park District, Park District Of Highland Park, Lincolnwood Parks And Recreation Department, Lombard Park District, Park District Of Oak Park, Rockford Park District, Rolling Meadows Park District, Urbana Park District, Warrenville Park District, and Wheeling Park District. 

The 2013 Outstanding Sustainability/Conservation Award was given to O’Fallon Parks and Recreation, St. Charles Park District, and Waukegan Park District in their respective divisions. 

The 2013 Outstanding Facility and Parks Award were given to Champaign County Forest Preserve District, Bloomingdale Park District, Geneva Park District, Crystal Lake Park District, Urbana Park District, Carol Stream Park District, and Glenview Park District. 

The 2013 Outstanding Program and Special Event Awards were given to Waukegan Park District and the Mundelein Park District in their respective divisions. 

The Agency Showcase Awards went to Rockford Park District in first place, Wilmette Park District in second place, and Park District of Highland Park in third place.  The Agency Showcase People's Choice Award went to Wilmette Park District.  Other Agency Showcase recipients in their respective categories were Park District of Oak Park, Lombard Park District, Arlington Heights Park District, Rockford Park District, Arlington Heights Park District, Winnebago County Forest Preserve District, Addison Park District, Oswegoland Park District, Skokie Park District, Channahon Park District, Buffalo Grove Park District, and Northbrook Park District. 

The Exceptional Workplace Award recipients were Channahon Park District, Chicago Park District, Mundelein Park & Recreation District, Oak Lawn Park District, Olympia Fields Park District, Oswegoland Park District, Park District of Oak Park, Romeoville Recreation Department, SEASPAR, Warrenville Park District, and Waukegan Park District.

Congratulations to these award recipients!  Next year, I hope each of you take the time to nominate someone for one of these awards or to strive to achieve one of these awards.  The purpose of all service award programs is both to recognize leaders who have gone above and beyond in their service, but also to motivate others to do the same.  Maybe next year’s award recipient will be you!

If you attended the IPRA Annual Business Meeting at conference, you know we’re off to a great 2014 with IPRA!  Our financial status is healthy and strong.  Our membership is growing.  We have new high quality educational opportunities for our members.  We are focused on creating additional access for services and ensuring that we do a better job of serving members across Illinois.  We are creating partnerships and collaborations with likeminded organizations.  And we are working to ensure that all members of IPRA feel valued in our diverse community.  I look forward to working with all of you this year to come together in taking IPRA to the next level of service, growth, value, and access. 

-Debbie Trueblood, Executive Director

 

...Though all the homes and people on The Hill are meaningful to me, the home at the top of The Hill is particularly special.  My mom and dad, after stumbling upon it on a Sunday drive, purchased the lot in 1953.   Then they, along with extended family, built a house from the ground up.  Each weekend they gathered; the women and children brought food and the men brought their tools.  It was six years before I was born.  This home became the seed for 60 years of our family’s association with The Hill, and our beautiful Whitewater Lake."

This is an excerpt from a story I wrote about the place that I call home: The Hill in Whitewater, Wisconsin.  This is where my love for water was born, which eventually led me to a lifeguarding job on the same lake.  It was also the location of the first swim lesson program that I created and taught in front of my house.  Ironically, it was also there that I learned about the field of parks and recreation in Illinois, from the late Kevin Kendrigan, the former Executive Director of NWSRA, on a boat one afternoon. 
When I returned to work after the IAPD/IPRA Conference this year I had a renewed spirit.  I found myself smiling for no particular reason and walking with a bit of a bounce in my step.    I always return from conference with great ideas, but this year was different.  When I was sworn in as IPRA Chairman I looked out at the crowd and saw friends, colleagues, my current and former staff, my family and people I have yet to meet.  As I said in my speech, I wouldn’t soon forget that moment.  The reason was because I was where I was supposed to be... I was home. 

This field provides so much more than a paycheck and a title.  It provides a family of sorts; a comfortable, secure and nurturing home for us to grow.  Even after 30 years in the field I am humbled by the many people I come in contact with; overflowing with passion, enthusiasm, a love for our field and most importantly a desire to serve. 

One of the initiatives of the Strategic Plan this year is developing opportunities for mentoring.  Matt Ellmann, Executive Director of the Wooddale Park District is leading the Mentoring Task Force.  Their charge is to work with the IPRA staff to develop and maintain a mentoring program to connect our members.  Ironically, my first mentor was Lydia Lombardo, the Membership Services Director at IPRA, my internship supervisor.

This year we will also explore the possibility of affiliating with Women in Leisure Services (WILS), a national organization for women working in parks and recreation with The Women in Leisure Services Task Force.  Margaret Resnick, Executive Director of the Mundelein Park District and the members of the task force will be assessing the needs of women throughout the state to see how IPRA can better meet those needs.  The birth of this task force came from the increased interest in topics and information relating to women from members throughout the state. 

As I close, I hope you will find a home in IPRA.  Being home provides a sense of security and comfort, and it serves as a place where we can be our true selves and grow.   If you want to get involved or you have a suggestion, please email me at jphincapie@lwd.org or call me at 847-745-4724. 

I hope to see you soon.  We’ll leave the light on.

-Jan Hincapie, Director
Lincolnwood Parks & Recreation Department