IPRA Today
Illinois Park and Recreation
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NEWS YOU CAN USE
CALENDAR/UPCOMING EVENTS
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Here are some of our latest job posts - to view the complete listing, click here!
NEWS ABOUT MEMBERS
Name: Dan LoCascio
Employer: Park District of Franklin Park Position: Program and Facility Manager Educational Background: Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Management from Northern Illinois University and Masters in Recreation Administration from Aurora University. How long a member of IPRA? 12 Years.  Why is IPRA membership important to you? IPRA is important because of the support it provides. From networking to continuing education, it has been a major factor in building my knowledge base. Best thing about working in the field of parks & recreation? The smiling faces. We are very fortunate to work in a fun environment that you can take for granted until talking with people in other fields who are driven by different factors. In your opinion, what is the biggest issue facing parks & recreation? Play deprivation. I work with a lot of participants who are used to staying inside, mostly in front of the TV, computer, IPad, etc. They are used to being told what to do instead of figuring things out for themselves. What advice would you give a recent college graduate? Think long term. If you are fortunate to get a job right away, get involved in your district and IPRA committees. If you are working part time, do whatever is asked and more because experience is key. Tell us a little known fact about you! I was elected and serve on the School Board in District 84. What was your path to a career in Parks & Recreation? During summers in college, I cut grass for senior citizens in Leyden Township. In my senior year, Leyden opened a community center and I started working there. It was the perfect well-rounded experience because I ran classes, worked the front desk, answered phones and took registrations. After college I worked my internship at the Park District of Franklin Park, created my position and took on different responsibilities through the years. What is your favorite Parks & Recreation program you’ve been a part of? Park Pursuit! The planning is hysterical and gets pretty diabolical. During the event you see a different side of your peers as they breeze through a challenge or pull their hair out trying to complete goofy tasks! Who do you admire, and why? I person I admire most is my grandpa, who I call Papa. He is a "Renaissance Man" with a contagious personality and has seen a lot in his life. I absorb as much wisdom and stories as I can. SECTION/COMMITTEE INFO
TR Section Members,
Don’t miss the opportunity to gather as a section on March 5 for the Annual TR Breakfast. In addition to enjoying breakfast together and discussing our 2015 goals, we will have the opportunity to meet with Kevin Casey, Director of the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities. His department provides leadership for the effective management of the design and delivery of quality outcome-based, person-centered services and supports for individuals who have developmental disabilities throughout the state of Illinois. Director Casey is known as one of the most candid, open and honest leaders in Illinois. He will provide insights regarding the current process of how individuals receive services as well as upcoming changes to the process. In addition, Director Casey will discuss challenges and obstacles to being able to provide all necessary services to the growing number in need throughout the state of Illinois. If you have questions that you would like Director Casey to answer during his presentation, please forward them to me by Feb. 28 (mikes@fvsra.org). Click here to register! • Thursday, March 5 • 9:00-11:30am • Ashbury's At Boughton Ridge, 335 E Boughton Rd, Bolingbrook, IL Get directions • Registration Deadline: 2/20/2015 • Cost: $20 • CEUs: 0.1 Thank you to all who attended the Annual TR Section Meeting at the Conference in January. It was a great time to celebrate section efforts and accomplishments as well as individual and agency achievements. Congratulations to all of our award winners. See a complete listing in the attached minutes. Committee chairs please make sure to forward your committee goals to me by February 16. Looking forward to seeing everybody at the breakfast. Please make sure to sign up by February 20 to secure your spot. Mike Mike Selep, CPRP, MPS Assistant Director Fox Valley Special Recreation Association 2121 W. Indian Trail Aurora, IL 60506 C&M Committee Interest Survey
We are looking for volunteers to help serve on the C&M Section’s standing committees. Please take this short survey to let us know where your interest lies. Your time and expertise are vital to ensuring the strength and growth of our Section. We couldn’t do it without you! Agency Showcase Results Thank you to everyone who participated in Agency Showcase this year. There were a record number of entries, with a total of 58 districts who entered 271 submissions including 12 overall showcases. View the results of Agency Showcase and congratulate your fellow C&Mers for their outstanding work! C&M Meeting – March 11 Please join us for a Communication & Marketing Section Meeting & Educational Presentation on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 (1:00 PM - 3:00 PM) at the Batavia Park District – Shannon Hall. Topic: The Power of Branding Your Organization Speaker: Pure Imagination, Inc. CEUs: 0.1 For more information and to register, click here. C&M Facebook Group Stay connected with the C&M Section through our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/IPRACM/ Join the group to receive updates, share resources, ask questions, and to help out your fellow C&Mers. Check out these upcoming Section & Committee events! More information, and registration, available online!
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
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