Where Did Summer Go?

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It seems like just last week everybody was busy conducting summer staff training and orientations. My hope is that you had a busy and successful summer – one filled with providing thousands of opportunities for children, adults and seniors to become more connected in your community, to stay or become physically active and to enjoy current and explore new interests through recreation.

It has been a busy summer at IPRA as well.

Our members have been planning and implementing great events such as the Park Pursuit, Lifeguard Games, Senior Olympics, Teen Battle of the Bands and Hershey Track and Field Games; volunteer opportunities through the BMW Championship (opportunities still available – Sept. 6-12 at Cog Hill in Lemont); educational opportunities such as the Communications and Marketing Section's Boot Camp, Therapeutic Recreation Section's Fall Leadership Workshop, Supervisor Symposium and Professional Development School; and more than 200 sessions for the annual IAPD/IPRA Soaring to New Heights Conference in January.

In addition, members of the Strategic Planning Advisory Committee (SPAC) have assembled and provided nearly 60 recommendations for the future direction of the association to focus and serve the needs of our members.

The summer has been busy, but just wait. Many changes will be implemented in the months and years to come. Ones you requested through responses to the membership survey and feedback form to SPAC recommendations. The goal is to provide more opportunities to become engaged in your association through education, networking and resource development. You are invited to take part in the new IPRA. The key to making these changes work is your involvement.

Thank you for your hard work this summer at your agencies and through IPRA. The staff and board encourage you to take advantage of opportunities for involvement. Please remember our warning: Your hard work and involvement in IPRA may lead to career advancement as well as stronger communities, a stronger profession and a stronger IPRA.      

- Mike Selep, MPS, CPRP, Interim CEO