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Finally, It's Summer in Illinois!

And now, finally, its summer time in Illinois! Many park and recreation agencies have opened their pools and moved into summer programming. I encourage you to post some photos of summer in your "neck of the woods" on our IPRA Facebook page. I love to hear all about all the unique summer programs happening all over the state. I see Glenview Park District has a "Sciencepalooza" camp and the Waukegan Park District is looking forward to the Japanese Star Festival-Tanabata on July 7. Champaign Park District is hosting the Mariposa Music Festival on July 12 and many many park and recreation agencies are participating in the World’s Largest Swim Lesson on June 20, 2014. If you have something unique that brings the community together, please share it with us online!

As for IPRA, we are celebrating summer too, by bringing together our professional community. On May 30 we hosted a free open house breakfast at IPRA. We also have the 33rd Annual Six County Senior Olympics on July 9-25, 2014 and we’re always looking for more volunteers to serve about 500 senior citizens. We also have a Financial Software Review on June 11, a New Member Webinar on June 26, IPRA Guard Games on July 18 and the 3rd Annual Teen Camp Olympics on July 23. Check the website for more information.

Another way we’re bringing together our community is through mentoring. IPRA will soon be rolling out our new mentoring program through the IPRA Mentoring Task Force, led by Chair Matt Elman at the Wood Dale Park District. This task force has worked so hard for months to develop IPRA’s new three tiered mentoring program, designed specifically to provide mentoring at all levels of the profession. The program will have a start and end date, an application process and a graduation. We will limit the program to the number of qualified high quality mentors we have in the program to ensure that the mentees have a quality experience. My thanks to the Task Force for all their hard work. I can’t wait to see this new program take off and benefit professionals at all levels.

IPRA is also working towards the third year of the Leadership Academy- designed for all levels of professionals to advance in their career. This is IPRA’s premiere program, designed to teach leadership for the individual leader, leading a team, and leading an agency. We accept up to 30 people in each level. By the time you read this, the Board of Regents will be evaluating applications and selecting next year’s class. Each year, the curriculum is adjusted based on evaluations from attendees and speaker evaluations. The Academy features only the best national speakers on each topic all of whom must achieve highest standards to be retained in the program. If you have experienced one of the levels before, I encourage you to attend another level in a future year. This program is always evolving.

As you enjoy the rest of your summer, I hope you make time for recreation in your personal life to spend time with your friends and families, and maybe even enjoy a local pool or water park.

-Debbie Trueblood, CAE
Executive Director, IPRA

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