| IPRA Today - Leadership Academy - Applications available due June 1! | Editorial link | www.ilipra.org |
Enjoy the Ride
Hiring an executive director for IPRA has its similarities to selecting the best roller coaster ride. There’s the research, the waiting period and the excitement of the final decision. Approximately 2 years ago the search began for a new Executive Director. The firm of Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates donated their services to do the search. Keith Frankland, Steve Persinger, Ray Morrill and Rod Aiken (all past presidents of IPRA) formed the search team that led us through the process. As you narrow the field of applicants, there is a certain amount of nervousness and excitement connected with making the selection. When the final decision is made, there is still a waiting period to determine if the choice was the right one. As I reflect back on the past 18 months, I feel we made the right choice in hiring Jan Arnold. During her tenure, she has done an excellent job. My good friend Chuck Szoke said to me, "We may have only had Jan as our executive director for 18 months, but we got five years worth of work out of her." She has been a major factor in the resurgence of IPRA and has led this organization through a very difficult economic climate with very positive results. The organization is financially strong and is meeting the needs of the membership. We have used the strategic plan developed in 2010 to guide us through this recovery period and address the future growth of the organization. We started this year with one of our most successful state conferences and have just recently completed our first Educational Institute, attended by more than 260 IPRA members. Throughout the year, there are several educational webinar opportunities, and starting in October IPRA will be hosting the Leadership Academy, which will meet once a month for six months. This year has been true to the IPRA tagline of "Learn, Connect, Inspire." On behalf of myself, the IPRA Board and the membership, I want to take this opportunity to thank Jan Arnold for her leadership and dedication to IPRA and wish her all the best in her future position with the Park District of Oak Park. We now start the rollercoaster ride all over again. Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates has graciously donated its services for the executive director search. The deadline for applications is June 1st and information about the position can be found on the IPRA website. We have hired Terry Porter, former director for the Wilmette Park District as the interim director for IPRA. Terry will work closely with Jan to make the transition seamless and maintain member services until a new executive director can be hired. It looks like we are in for an exhilarating ride. John Curran, IPRA Chairman |
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