IPRA Today - Conference Early Registration Deadline is November 22

I can't wait to see IPRA members at Professional Development School (PDS) in Decatur next week!

Graduates are welcome to come back year after year. The feel of this event is unique: Everyone stays on site at the Decatur Conference Center and participates together from breakfast through evening activities. The Board of Regents do a "heroic" job of making this event "super" (can you guess our theme?) and I want to recognize them for their efforts: Patricia Adducci, Belvidere Park District; Paul Bafia, Genoa Township Park District; Carlo Capalbo, Worth Park District; Diane Dillow, Warrenville Park District; Katie Gock, Algonquin Park & Rec; Cody Kamp, Fox Valley Park District; DeDe Kern, Northfield Park District; Dori Napolitano, WDSRA; Tim Reinbold, Warrenville Park & Rec; Kevin Romejko, Wheeling Park District; and Dave Weiner, Warrenville Park District.

I also want to remind you that the IPRA Joint Section Awards Luncheon is tomorrow, Friday November 8 at Chevy Chase Country Club in Wheeling. This is our second annual Joint Section awards event. Last year it was such an emotional event for our winners - they were each surprised twice, once when their name was called, and again when they suddenly saw their families at the back of the room cheering them on and supporting their careers in parks and recreation. Tomorrow is going to be another exciting opportunity to recognize our peers in parks and recreation. Did you know that any member can nominate any other member for these awards? Next year, who will you nominate? Does someone in your agency deserve recognition in front of their families and peers for their service?

Recently, we held the annual elections for the IPRA board and section boards. Thank you to everyone who voted and thank you to everyone who stepped up and ran in the elections. This is a great way to advance your career by taking on a leadership role with IPRA. Plus, we appreciate all your volunteerism and service to our mission. The winners will be announced soon.

Finally, as we are now approaching year end, I wanted to remind you of three items for your "to do" list. First, did you renew your membership? There is a discount if you renew before December 15, and if you renew on line, you will have a chance to win a free I-Pad mini in the raffle. Second, have you registered for conference? The conference is only 11 weeks away and will be here before you know it! Finally, did you make your year end donation to the Partners of the Illinois Park and Recreation Foundation? These funds go to support professional and student scholarships. Even if you donated last year, this should be part of your annual commitment to the profession. You can always donate on line, click here, but if you forget, we will be mailing a reminder letter soon.

Thank you to all the members for all that you do and all the ways that you serve. Members are IPRA’s lifeblood. In this report alone, you can see that members are participating in IPRA in so many ways, through membership, volunteerism, leadership opportunities, career recognition, donating, and attending and learning at our events. Thank you for your service. Let us know what we can do to serve YOU better!

-Debbie Trueblood, CAE

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