As the premier state conference for park districts, forest preserves, conservation and recreation agencies in Illinois, the IAPD/IPRA Soaring to New Heights conference brings together more than 4,400 professionals and elected officials for three exciting days of quality educational programming, networking and professional development.

Recognize a colleague for going above and beyond!

This first session will feature local leader, Mark A. Kaufman. Mark is the president of AthletiCo, Ltd., a 19-year-old provider of physical therapy, occupational therapy, work rehabilitation, and fitness services with 65 locations in and around the Chicago area and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

This lively session will cover conflict resolution from the two sides of the spectrum we usually face in the work place: between co-workers and with customers. Participants will be given useful tools that can be immediately put into practice that will help facilitate the start of difficult conversations, remove the emotion from conflict, and diffuse potentially volatile situations with co-workers and customers, so that the most important aspect of the encounter - the relationship - is kept intact.

Time to recertify or looking to become certified? Registration is now open for the October 20-22 CPSI training course. Hurry - pre-registration ends September 25!

Gain essential skills for understanding, relating and working productively with all types of people...even the most resistant. Strong team dynamics, cooperation, collaboration and people skills are the foundation of today's most innovative, profitable and successful organizations.

Do the children in your school respond to "no or don’t" commands? Let's discuss how you can change those negative statements to positive and get children to follow directions while building their self-esteem. We'll also discuss the causes of misbehaviors, creating a plan of action for aggressive children and how to involve parents.

Make the most of your IPRA membership - check out these upcoming Section & Committee meetings!

Therapeutic Recreation Section's PSC Inclusion Committee - 9/17/15
Early Childhood Committee Meeting - 9/18/15
Senior Committee Meeting - 9/18/15
Athletic Committee Meeting - 10/6/15
Early Childhood Committee Meeting - 10/9/15
Therapeutic Recreation Section's PSC Inclusion Committee - 10/15/15
Communications & Marketing Section Meeting & Workshop - 10/15/15