IPRA Today - IPRA Board of Director Candidate Nomination Information

Tell My Story...

My story starts with working part time for the Downers Grove Park District working as a lifeguard, supervising softball games and helping lead after school programs for kids. I was not thinking of a career back then let alone that what I was currently doing could lead to a career choice. However, it was people such as Jim Ensign and Tom Carstens that informed me of their jobs and how I could become a public park and recreation professional. This led me to take some classes at College of DuPage in Recreational Leadership. It was then a person like Sevan Sarkisian who was my teacher at COD and got me interested and enthused about going to school for parks and recreation. I then went on to Illinois State University where people like Nancy Neibur, Sandra Little and Norma Stumbo took the time to coach me through my college career and formed my pathway into the profession.

Without these individuals I would have not known how or why to network and become involved. Through them I became President of our ISU Student Society, a board member for the IPRA Student Section and eventually a member of the NRPA Student Board. These individuals also opened many doors so I could apply for various scholarships and stipends to allow for the cost of travel, lodging and related expenses on a student and part-time employee budget. All of my experiences, and a lot of what I account for today would not have been possible without these special people and the funds to make it happen.

As I transitioned from para-professional to professional, this trend of special people did not stop. Individuals such as Bob Kotula, Rod Aiken, Terry Schwartz, Mike Kudla, Keith Franklin and Steve Scholten all entered my life at one point or another. Again the coaching, advice and networking they provided me has developed me into the leader I am today. Without these special people and the opportunities they gave me or helped facilitate, my career would not have advanced and been so satisfying.

I recently attended the IPRA Educational Institute with speaker Ian Hill. In his presentation he spoke about the special people in his life that had a profound impact on him and attribute to his success and the person he has become today. He donated to the IPRA Professional Development Program to provide scholarships to future leaders in our profession. He did so in honor and in the name of his special person. This year I donated to the Partners of Illinois Park and Recreation Association Foundation as in doing so I know I am paying it forward to help future professionals in parks and recreation have the same special people and opportunities I have been given over my career and have a story to tell in the future. Each year I will continue to donate in the name and honor of the special people named and unnamed in this article.

That is my story... what is yours? Will you pay it forward today?

Michael Clark, CPRP
Executive Director, Palatine Park District

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