IPRA Today - Conference Registration Information!

Greetings!

My favorite aspect of IPRA has been identifying the wide diversity of services that each park district and municipal department provides. In Rockford, I toured their new conservatory and stood in an accessible tree house at their new Birds of Prey exhibit. In Wheaton, they celebrated their new bobcat at the Cosley Zoo. At WDSRA they are looking forward to their Special Talent night featuring performances of the many talented people who receive services at the SRA. At NWSRA one staffer raised funds this summer to send one of their athletic teams to the national competition in Oklahoma. There are a wide array of programs, services and dedicated professionals working in our greater community to make a difference in people’s lives.

As our field grows and develops, our professionals grow and develop new skills. This week, we will hold our first Leadership Academy sessions for professionals in levels 1, 2 and 3 who will come together for one day a month for six months to learn skills that will help them advance in their careers and bring back information they can share with their agencies. For this program, IPRA only accepted the top candidates in each level and I congratulate all of those who were accepted into the program. I encourage those who were not yet accepted to reapply next year.

This past week, I also had the pleasure of attending the Supervisor Symposium. The volunteers who coordinated the event did a great job of ensuring everything ran smoothly, presentations were high quality and attendees received the education they were looking for. I was thrilled to see that Judson University in Elgin sent 22 students to the program. I had the opportunity to meet the students, many of whom were freshman and sophomores majoring in Health and Wellness and Sports Administration, attending their first professional educational event. To each of you, I thank you for coming and taking this step to identify if a career in parks and recreation is right for you. To their professor, who coordinated their experience, I hope that more colleges and universities will follow your example and identify ways for their students to get the exposure to this kind of educational opportunity for their students.

In the coming weeks, I look forward to my visits to Southern Illinois Park and Recreation Association meeting in O’Fallon, Central Illinois Parks and Recreation Professionals meeting in Springfield, Northwest Illinois Association for Parks and Recreation meeting in Rockford and visits to the Decatur Park District, the Peoria Park District and many other agencies, affiliates, sections, committees and individuals across the state. If you would like me to come and visit your agency or group, please email me at debbie@ilipra.org. I am especially interested in visiting agencies that feel removed from IPRA’s services, those that have a unique perspective to share and students and new professionals who want to share their experiences.

To those who have already shared their time with me, I appreciate it very much. IPRA members have done so much to make me feel welcome. I couldn’t ask for a better group of people to serve with. Not only do you make a difference in your communities, you inspire others in the field to strive to do even more, and you inspire me with your commitment to challenge myself to do all I can to provide you with the best membership services possible. Thank you for all that you do to make a difference.

Ancel, Glink, Diamond, Bush, DiCianni & Rolek, P.C.

536 East Avenue, LaGrange, IL 60525 | Phone: 708-588-2280 | Fax : 708-354-0535