Calling All Park and Recreation Leaders!

We are currently receiving applications for those people who wish to run in our next election. We have seats up for election to all seven section boards as well as two seats on the IPRA Board of Directors; Chicago Metro Region Rep and Southern Region Rep. Any member who lives in one of those two regions may choose to run for the board. For clarification, IPRA defines the Chicago Metro Region as those members from the following counties: Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and Will. And IPRA defines the Southern Region as members from the following counties: Alexander, Bond Calhoun, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Crawford, Cumberland, Edgar, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Greene, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jersey, Johnson, Lawrence, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, Massac, Monroe, Montgomery, Moultrie, Pike, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Richland, St. Clair, Saline, Scott, Shelby, Union, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, White and Williamson. Applications are available on the IPRA website homepage. 

 

Do you have challenges this summer? Maybe you can find the help you’re looking for from your IPRA colleagues. We now have on-line communities through IPRAConnect for the following member groups: Administration & Finance Section, Aquatic Facility Managers, Business Managers, Communications & Marketing Section, Diversity Section, Executive Directors/Municipal Directors, Facility Management Section, Human Resource Professionals, IT Networking Community, Open Forum (all members), Parks & Natural Resource Management Section, Recreation Section, and Therapeutic Recreation Section. To participate, sign on here.

IPRA is also thrilled to open applications for the 2015-2016 year for the ProConnect mentoring program. As you’ve heard, this program received a national award for innovation and participants gave it a 97% approval rating last year. The program is designed for all levels of professionals, matching them into a three tiered mentoring team including early career, mid-level, and advanced professionals in each team. The teams meet together at five events over six months including events which feature educational topics, networking, a service project, and the culmination luncheon. This program is in partnership with University of St Francis and is hosted by the ProConnect Board of Regents. This year we have one program in the Chicago- Metro area, information available here.

As well as a secondary program, ProConnect South in southern Illinois in collaboration with Southern Illinois Park and Recreation Association (SIPRA). For more information about South, please contact George Bryant at the Mt Vernon Park and Recreation Department. 

Finally, the Illinois Park and Recreation Foundation (IPRF) recently rolled out a new approach for student and professional scholarships. Student scholarships are available to attend the IPRA/IAPD conference in January. Professional scholarships are available for need-based, merit-based, Diversity Scholarship for Professional Development School, and the Rod Aiken Scholarship for Leadership Academy. These applications have been streamlined and will be available soon!

It is a busy time for park and recreation professionals. I hope you have a fantastic summer and the weather cooperates with all your programs and special events.