Summer is Here!
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The season that most of us wait and plan for with great anticipation throughout the year and then seems to fly by from Memorial Day to Labor Day in a blink of an eye. It is also the season that generates so many lasting memories with family and friends. This summer has started a bit different for me. Last Monday, May 25, my father passed away after a long bout with Alzheimer's. As family and friends came together to celebrate his life, I could not help but notice the lasting impact he had on so many people. The consistent theme was my father's willingness to put others needs before his own. The passion and desire to serve others. That is what he did daily right up to his very last day. So why is that important? IPRA professionals do this daily, but we are often so caught up in the frantic pace of our lives that we have no idea how we have impacted or touched the lives of others.
I ask each of you to take time this summer to slow down and see the magic we create. The smile on a child's face, a couple walking through a park, families gathered at special events, the cheers coming from the crowd, the music at our outdoor concerts, and the natural beauty in our parks. These moments should be cherished, so don't miss them because they will be gone in the blink of an eye.
Summer is also an exciting time for IPRA. Our Board and IPRA staff have been working on several important initiatives.
• Our Community Campaign , Unplug Illinois
• ProConnect South
• Rolling out "IPRA Connect"
• Park Pursuit was the biggest ever with close to 250 members participating
And, lastly the IPRA Board and staff have agreed that there is an opportunity to streamline our association’s structure to recruit, recognize, and empower the hundreds of volunteers that give so much of their time throughout the year.
Through our efforts we plan to increase opportunities for volunteers, create a consistent process for volunteer recruitment, applications, selections, and appointments. Apply term limits where appropriate and necessary. Eliminate redundancy and overlap, and empower volunteers in ways that add value to our membership.
Look for more information in the coming months.
On behalf of the IPRA Board of Directors I wish you the best this summer and remember to slow down and see the magic we create!
Rick Hanetho
Executive Director, Northbrook Park District
I ask each of you to take time this summer to slow down and see the magic we create. The smile on a child's face, a couple walking through a park, families gathered at special events, the cheers coming from the crowd, the music at our outdoor concerts, and the natural beauty in our parks. These moments should be cherished, so don't miss them because they will be gone in the blink of an eye.
Summer is also an exciting time for IPRA. Our Board and IPRA staff have been working on several important initiatives.
• Our Community Campaign , Unplug Illinois
• ProConnect South
• Rolling out "IPRA Connect"
• Park Pursuit was the biggest ever with close to 250 members participating
And, lastly the IPRA Board and staff have agreed that there is an opportunity to streamline our association’s structure to recruit, recognize, and empower the hundreds of volunteers that give so much of their time throughout the year.
Through our efforts we plan to increase opportunities for volunteers, create a consistent process for volunteer recruitment, applications, selections, and appointments. Apply term limits where appropriate and necessary. Eliminate redundancy and overlap, and empower volunteers in ways that add value to our membership.
Look for more information in the coming months.
On behalf of the IPRA Board of Directors I wish you the best this summer and remember to slow down and see the magic we create!
Rick Hanetho
Executive Director, Northbrook Park District
