IPRA Today

One more week until the Soaring to New Heights Conference! There are so many aspects of conference I am looking forward to this year. One of which is our Sponsor a Student Program at the Annual Awards Luncheon at conference. Today’s newsletter article features the student IPRA is sponsoring at our table this year, Lukas Wyss from the University of St. Francis.

The Sponsor a Student Program started last year. It is a way for students to attend the luncheon for free and a way for agencies to have a student join their table at NO expense to the agency. This is not a program where an agency buys lunch for a student. It is instead a way for agencies to donate their time and attention to a student during the event. Students will be assigned to agencies who signed up for the program and we let the students and agencies know who they are matched with in advance. We hope that as you share your table together, you will take the opportunity to introduce your sponsored student around to your peers, commissioners, and friends. We want it to be a special opportunity for students to network with professionals in the field at a very high level. Further, my goal has always been that by sharing the luncheon with current college students, that they will see those people who are being honored in our field for their work and the students will be inspired to do the best they can do in their careers and to stay in parks and recreation in the early days of their career when finding the right path is challenging. Thank you to everyone who has selected this opportunity to Sponsor a Student.

Each of the last two years, in my travels around the state, meeting with different schools, I choose to select a special student to honor as IPRA’s Sponsored Student. Last year it was Torri Withrow, a student at SIU-Carbondale. This year, I selected Lukas Wyss, a junior at University of St. Francis in Joliet.

I met Lukas when about a dozen other park and recreation professionals and I were visiting his class doing mock interviews. As the other professionals and I were talking before the class, reviewing who we were assigned to meet with, the discussion moved to Lukas. In fact, every single professional in the room (including me) already had some kind of connection to him. I hadn’t met him yet, but I’d heard of him. Most others had already worked with him in some capacity. That is amazing networking skills for a junior in college!

When I met Lukas, he continued to impress me. He is bound and determined to become an Executive Director at a park district at some point in his career and after speaking with him, I believe he WILL meet his goal!

Lukas grew up in Colorado which sparked his love for the outdoors and recreation. His mother worked in parks and recreation and started educating him on how park districts and recreation departments function. During his time at St Francis, he has completed a marketing and communications internship with the local recreation department, as well as completing 50 hours of field work with the Lisle Park District. He was recently hired in a part time capacity at Joliet Park District. He states, "With continued dedication, education, and love for recreation I will seek new and existing trends in the field of recreation to provide optimal experiences for all participants, in order to one day become an executive director."

What an honor it is for me to sponsor Lukas at the Annual Awards Luncheon as IPRA’s Sponsored Student. I look forward to meeting all the other students who will have this opportunity. I hope that the agencies sponsoring them will be able to give their students some special attention too. This is a great way to invest in the future of our field.

See you all at conference!

Debbie Trueblood, CAE
Executive Director
Illinois Park & Recreation Association

 

Thanks...For the Memories, the Moments and the Opportunity

As I prepare to step down from the role of IPRA Chairman of the Board, I reflect on the past year.   Our 33rd President Harry Truman once said "Men and Women make history and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better."

Army General Douglas MacArthur said that "A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent."

In this, my final article, I would like to honor the leaders of our association; my fellow IPRA board members, and thank them for their service.   When many agencies are doing more with less, they have committed numerous days out of the office to represent their fellow IPRA professionals.  They spent hours reviewing packets, attending extra meetings, traveling around the state, talking to members and spending nights away from their families.  I believe we’ve made a difference and I hope you are as proud as I am to have served.  Special thanks go to Mike Kies and Allison Niemela, two amazingly passionate members, who will be leaving the Board after the conference.   I am also grateful for our incredible Executive Director, Debbie Trueblood and her staff.  They supported the board in every way.

Last year when I was became Chair I talked about the concept of "having a moment".  A moment was defined as that time when you stand at a program, a park dedication, or the grand opening of a facility and you rise above everything, and pause to reflect.  You stop to enjoy the moment.  It is at that time you know exactly why you do what you.  You feel great satisfaction, joy and pride.

This year was a combination of amazing moments.  Our Board touched members throughout the state.  We met in Fairview Heights in the southern region, Springfield in the central region and Rockford in the northwest.  We networked with each other and with members in each region.  We saw their beautiful facilities.  We realized at every meeting that while we are different geographically, we all share the passion and love for what we do. Those moments made me stop, reflect and realize how fortunate I am to be part of the IPRA family.

Did everyone agree with the decisions made by the Board?  Probably not, but we know that each decision was made with the best interest of our members in mind.  Some decisions were difficult, but we walk away stronger because of our experience.  Most importantly, we walk away as friends.   This year will always stand out as something very special; mostly due to the time we spent together. 
 
As we are about to embark on our week together at conference, I thank you for making IPRA a priority and for your support of me as Chair.   By making IPRA stronger, you are benefitting your communities and ultimately, the State of Illinois.  Congratulations on a job well done, and thank you for your motivation, professionalism and passion.  


Jan Peterson Hincapie, CPRP
Director of Parks and Recreation
Village of Lincolnwood