IPRA members have been busy running numerous events this summer. Thank you for your service to the association. Your time, energy, skill and ability to provide educational and entertaining opportunities for members, agency staff and the public have helped advance the parks and recreation movement.
Lifeguard Games – Thank you to all involved with the Annual FM Section Lifeguard Games. The Aquatics Division led by Laura Clark from Bartlett, Kristi Brewer from St. Charles and Tim Jaskiewicz from the Arlington Heights Park Districts gathered nearly 50 teams for a full evening of fun competition between some of the best lifeguards in the state. It was a great opportunity to demonstrate perfected techniques and further build team skills. Where else can you see a dance-off of dozens of park district mascots? Gurnee Park District captured five of the top eight spots across two levels of competition and Chicago Park District brought home the spirit award.
Teen Battle of the Bands – Thank you to Mike Gianatasio from Lisle Park District and Bobbi Nance from the Park District of Oak Park for organizing a group of volunteers from the Recreation Section’s Teen Committee and putting together this competition for the past several years. There were more than 100 bands and 500 teens competing in local, six-area and statewide competitions. Thousands of friends, family and other observers watched these bands perform. It was a great opportunity for teens to demonstrate talents in an entertaining and constructive way. Results May Vary and the LMN Orchestra from the Warrenville local took first place in the event. One band, Disorderly Conduct from the Algonquin local, brought a bus load of 45 teen fans from the Chicago area to enjoy the state finals at the fair. These teens all rooted and danced for their favorite band and the other five bands that competed in the state finals. It was great to see this type of excitement generated by this competition.
BMW Championship – Thank you to Kelly Smith from Morton Grove and Tim Jaskiewicz from the Arlington Heights Park Districts and the entire BMW Championship Committee for helping to organize more than 600 volunteers and nearly 10,000 hours of volunteer service for this year’s tournament. The top 70 golfers in the world will be there. It looks like Tiger Woods will even be one of them if he does well this week at the event in Boston. There are a few limited volunteer slots open if you would like to be a part of the experience – Sept. 6-12. It is a great opportunity to network with fellow professionals and help out a worthy cause. This is one of the largest sporting events in Illinois and it has been a great partnership for IPRA and the Western Golf Association over the last 17 years. All the funds raised will help benefit the Evans Scholar Foundation’s mission to provide scholarships for caddies.