Untitled Document


Click Here for Complete IPRA Calendar Submit an IPRA meeting or event DECEMBER 12/1 Getting To Know Children With Mental Illness 12/5 Chicago Bulls Group Outing 12/7 Cut Your Health Insurance Costs! 12/7 Support Staff Holiday Luncheon 12/9 Discovering Your Personal Values & Vision 12/15 Support Staff Holiday Luncheon JANUARY 1/26-28 IAPD/IPRA Conference Read These Articles and More Online Submit your news releases to IPRA NOVEMBER 11/16 Trust for Public Land buys 20 acres in Lindenhurst for new park 11/14 Leaving a 30-year legacy 11/14 Glow-in-the-dark golf grabs hold 11/14 Park district to begin color-coded ID program 11/4 Recreation group in a pickle over fees 11/4 IPRA Network Upgrade OCTOBER 10/26 Illinois Gold Medal Winners at the NRPA Congress 10/7 Volunteer takes park district budget into his own hands with benefit 10/7 Proposed dedication agreement provides missing link in Millennium Trail route 10/5 Itasca board rejects Lake Park pool idea 10/5 Agency Showcase Competition Order your plate TODAY Advertise Here March April May May extra June June extra July August August extra September October November	Cut Your Health Insurance Costs: The ABCs of HRAs, HSAs, High Deductible & Self-Funded Plans December 7 from 9am-12pm at Poplar Creek Country Club in Hoffman Estates Contact: Nancy Aldrich at 847-506-7877 or naldrich@ahpd.org Click here to learn more about the session and register. Over the past year or two, much has been in the media about HRAs, HSAs and High-Deductible Plans as being the best ways for employers to reduce their health insurance expenses. But do they really work? Are they truly the best vehicles for cutting your health insurance costs? And what do employees think about them? Join us on December 7 when Scott Bast of the The Assurance Agency and Chris Jaeger of the PDRMA Health Plan help us sort through the ins and outs of these complex yet effective plans. In this session, we’ll learn how these plans work and discuss whether consumer driven and self-funded health plans make sense for park and recreation agencies. The session is targeted to Executive Directors, Business/Finance Managers, Human Resource Managers and other park and recreation professionals who are involved in making group health insurance decisions for their agencies or who wish to learn more about ways to reduce their agencies’ health insurance expenses. The cost is only $40 for IPRA members and CEUs are available. SPECIAL NOTICE: The Business Managers’ Holiday Luncheon will follow this workshop! Please note an additional fee of $15 will be requested for the luncheon and festivities. Discovering Your Personal Values & Vision December 9 beginning at 9am at the Schaumburg Park District Contact: Carrie Haupert at (630) 871-2810 or chaupert@wheatonparks.org Organizations spend countless hours and resources developing words and phrases that become their vision and values. However, more often than not that's all they are...words and phrases with no meaning behind them. Often times employees find themselves asking.. Where do I fit in? What is my purpose? What are my priorities? In this session we will explore what makes us tick. We will work through several individual exercises designed to help you identify your personal values, vision and ultimately answer the question...what is my fundamental purpose? The cost is only $30 for IPRA members and CEUs are available. 2006 IAPD/IPRA Annual Conference "Soaring to New Heights" January 26-28 at the Chicago Hilton Register for Conference Click here to register on-line and Save $$ Click here to download a registration form Register for Pre-Conference Workshops Click here to register on-line for pre-conference workshops Click here to download a registration form for pre-conference workshops Information Click here for more information about the conference Click here to download the Pre-Conference Brochure (PDF file - please be patient) Click here to submit Suggestions for the 2007 Conference on-line. Click here to download a Suggestions for 2007 Conference form. (PDF file) Exhibitor Questions? Contact Dina Kartch, dina@ilipra.org, or Faline Ramsey, faline@ilipra.org ... or call 630-376-1911. IPRA welcomes Dina Kartch! On November 18, Dina Kartch joined IPRA as the new Education & Conferences Director. In this role, she will develop and manage the association’s educational programs as well as collaborate with IAPD to produce the IAPD/IPRA Annual Conference. Dina has a background in association management – specifically in the meeting and educational program management areas. Prior to her work with associations, she taught third grade for six years and has earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in education. Dina looks forward to bringing her blend of skills and experience to her new role while working closely with IPRA’s members and staff to make IPRA the primary source for quality education and advancement in the field. Hang on to your 2005 Directories A change in the publication schedule of the IAPD/IPRA Membership Directory and Buyers’ Guide will ensure the 2006 edition – and all future editions – are more useful to IAPD and IPRA members. Instead of being published in late January or February, the Directory and Buyers’ Guide will move to a summer publication date. Especially in election years, the move to a later publication date will allow the material in the directory to remain current for a longer period. The new schedule will allow agencies that gain new commissioners in the April elections to accurately reflect their board members in the directory. Look for the 2006-2007 edition of the directory in the summer of 2006. IAPD and IPRA members may want to keep their 2005 directories until the new edition is published. IPRA Offers ListServ Emails to Members As a member of IPRA, you now have the ability to email other section members without having to remember everyone's email address or worry about addresses changing. Now you can talk amongst yourselves, ask each other questions, remind one another of meetings and workshops, etc. Join a ListServ today and stay in touch! Click here for more information about the IPRA ListServ. Please note, all ListServ correspondence will be monitored for inappropriate content or emails not in line with the IPRA mission statement. Violators will be put on a black-list and not be able to participate in such forums. 2005 Agency Showcase Competition - LAST CHANCE! The Agency Showcase Competition is the premier communication and marketing competition for park and recreation agencies. Submit your best printed and internet materials for judging and display at the 2006 Annual IAPD/IPRA Conference. Judging will cover the following categories: - Single Catalog Cover - Catalog Cover Series: A Year’s Offering - Single Catalog / Annual Report Content - Specific Facility Brochure - Specific Program / Event Brochure - Logo Design - Website - Newsletters Entries are due December 2, 2005. The cost per entry is only $20. Click here to learn more about the 2005 Agency Showcase Competition. Don't forget to attend the '06 Conference session, January 28 from 2:30-3:45pm, featuring Agency Showcase judges for in-depth conversations about what makes an award winning marketing piece! Shhh...Silent Auction is making a BIG noise this year! Click here to download the printable form. Contributions are still being accepted for the 2006 Silent Auction, held LIVE at the Annual Conference. Your contributions of products, gift certificates, coupons, etc. are greatly appreciated. Please send all Silent Auction contributions to the IPRA headquarters before January 6 to insure inclusion in the program. Auction proceeds fund the Illinois Park & Recreation Student Scholarship Program. Chicago Bulls Tickets For Sale Register Online Click here to download the printable brochure. Tuesday, February 14 vs. Sacramento Kings (7:30 PM) Deadline: 12/30/2005 Friday, March 10 vs. LA Clippers (7:30 PM) Deadline: 1/27/2006 Friday, March 24 vs. New Orleans Hornets (7:30 PM) Deadline: 2/10/2006 Tuesday, April 4 vs. Indiana Pacers (7:30 PM) Deadline: 2/17/2006 Don't forget to include the Fall/Winter Ticket Programs in your seasonal brochures! IPRA Support Staff Holiday Luncheon December 7 beginning at 11:30am at Wildfire Restaurant in Oakbrook (SPACE IS FULL) or December 15 beginning at 11:30am at Wildfire Restaurant in Lincolnshire Click here to download the printable brochure. Give the gift of networking...and a nice meal, this holiday season. You can give two gifts in one! Recognize your hard-working office staff by sending them to the IPRA Support Staff Holiday Luncheon, and give them the opportunity to network with other professionals in the field. All participants will receive a seasonal gift. Lunch includes appetizers, salad, choice of lemon pepper chicken breast or filet mignon, wild rice or redskin mashed potatoes, coffee, tea, or soda, and dessert. The cost is $37 for members and $49 for non-members. 2006 Ski & Snowboard Teen Trip February 3-4 at Chestnut Mountain, Galena, IL Contact: Bart Desch at 815-895-3202 or deschb2000@yahoo.com Click here to download the printable brochure. Join the IPRA Teen Committee and teens from park districts around the state at Chestnut Mountain for the night of your life. Slopes are open from 10:30 p.m. till 5:00 a.m.! Chestnut Mountain accommodates all types of skiers and snowboarders with 17 lighted downhill runs including 5 “easiest”, 9 “difficult”, and 3 “most difficult” slopes. Skis and snowboards are available for rental, and lessons will be ongoing from 11:00 PM until 3:00 AM. Not only is there skiing and snowboarding, there is a campfire area, video game room, DJ/dance room and a snack bar. Sponsored by the IPRA Teen Committee.
Copyright © 2005 Illinois Park & Recreation Assoc. IPRA Website

Cut Your Health Insurance Costs:
The ABCs of HRAs, HSAs, High Deductible & Self-Funded Plans
December 7 from 9am-12pm at Poplar Creek Country Club in Hoffman Estates
Contact: Nancy Aldrich at 847-506-7877 or naldrich@ahpd.org
Click here to learn more about the session and register.

Over the past year or two, much has been in the media about HRAs, HSAs and High-Deductible Plans as being the best ways for employers to reduce their health insurance expenses. But do they really work? Are they truly the best vehicles for cutting your health insurance costs? And what do employees think about them?

Join us on December 7 when Scott Bast of the The Assurance Agency and Chris Jaeger of the PDRMA Health Plan help us sort through the ins and outs of these complex yet effective plans. In this session, we’ll learn how these plans work and discuss whether consumer driven and self-funded health plans make sense for park and recreation agencies.

The session is targeted to Executive Directors, Business/Finance Managers, Human Resource Managers and other park and recreation professionals who are involved in making group health insurance decisions for their agencies or who wish to learn more about ways to reduce their agencies’ health insurance expenses.

The cost is only $40 for IPRA members and CEUs are available.

SPECIAL NOTICE: The Business Managers’ Holiday Luncheon will follow this workshop! Please note an additional fee of $15 will be requested for the luncheon and festivities.

Discovering Your Personal Values & Vision
December 9 beginning at 9am at the Schaumburg Park District
Contact: Carrie Haupert at (630) 871-2810 or chaupert@wheatonparks.org

Organizations spend countless hours and resources developing words and phrases that become their vision and values. However, more often than not that's all they are...words and phrases with no meaning behind them. Often times employees find themselves asking.. Where do I fit in? What is my purpose? What are my priorities? In this session we will explore what makes us tick. We will work through several individual exercises designed to help you identify your personal values, vision and ultimately answer the question...what is my fundamental purpose?

The cost is only $30 for IPRA members and CEUs are available.

2006 IAPD/IPRA Annual Conference "Soaring to New Heights"
January 26-28 at the Chicago Hilton

Register for Conference
Click here to register on-line and Save $$
Click here to download a registration form

Register for Pre-Conference Workshops
Click here to register on-line for pre-conference workshops
Click here to download a registration form for pre-conference workshops

Information
Click here for more information about the conference
Click here to download the Pre-Conference Brochure (PDF file - please be patient)
Click here to submit Suggestions for the 2007 Conference on-line.
Click here to download a Suggestions for 2007 Conference form. (PDF file)

Exhibitor Questions?
Contact Dina Kartch, dina@ilipra.org, or Faline Ramsey, faline@ilipra.org ... or call 630-376-1911.

IPRA welcomes Dina Kartch!

On November 18, Dina Kartch joined IPRA as the new Education & Conferences Director.

In this role, she will develop and manage the association’s educational programs as well as collaborate with IAPD to produce the IAPD/IPRA Annual Conference.

Dina has a background in association management – specifically in the meeting and educational program management areas. Prior to her work with associations, she taught third grade for six years and has earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in education.

Dina looks forward to bringing her blend of skills and experience to her new role while working closely with IPRA’s members and staff to make IPRA the primary source for quality education and advancement in the field.

Hang on to your 2005 Directories
A change in the publication schedule of the IAPD/IPRA Membership Directory and Buyers’ Guide will ensure the 2006 edition – and all future editions – are more useful to IAPD and IPRA members.

Instead of being published in late January or February, the Directory and Buyers’ Guide will move to a summer publication date. Especially in election years, the move to a later publication date will allow the material in the directory to remain current for a longer period. The new schedule will allow agencies that gain new commissioners in the April elections to accurately reflect their board members in the directory.

Look for the 2006-2007 edition of the directory in the summer of 2006. IAPD and IPRA members may want to keep their 2005 directories until the new edition is published.

IPRA Offers ListServ Emails to Members
As a member of IPRA, you now have the ability to email other section members without having to remember everyone's email address or worry about addresses changing. Now you can talk amongst yourselves, ask each other questions, remind one another of meetings and workshops, etc.

Join a ListServ today and stay in touch! Click here for more information about the IPRA ListServ.

Please note, all ListServ correspondence will be monitored for inappropriate content or emails not in line with the IPRA mission statement. Violators will be put on a black-list and not be able to participate in such forums.

2005 Agency Showcase Competition - LAST CHANCE!

The Agency Showcase Competition is the premier communication and marketing competition for park and recreation agencies. Submit your best printed and internet materials for judging and display at the 2006 Annual IAPD/IPRA Conference.

Judging will cover the following categories:
- Single Catalog Cover
- Catalog Cover Series: A Year’s Offering
- Single Catalog / Annual Report Content
- Specific Facility Brochure
- Specific Program / Event Brochure
- Logo Design
- Website
- Newsletters

Don't forget to attend the '06 Conference session, January 28 from 2:30-3:45pm, featuring Agency Showcase judges for in-depth conversations about what makes an award winning marketing piece!

Shhh...Silent Auction is making a BIG noise this year!
Click here to download the printable form.

Contributions are still being accepted for the 2006 Silent Auction, held LIVE at the Annual Conference. Your contributions of products, gift certificates, coupons, etc. are greatly appreciated. Please send all Silent Auction contributions to the IPRA headquarters before January 6 to insure inclusion in the program. Auction proceeds fund the Illinois Park & Recreation Student Scholarship Program.

Chicago Bulls Tickets For Sale
Register Online
Click here to download the printable brochure.

Tuesday, February 14 vs. Sacramento Kings (7:30 PM) Deadline: 12/30/2005
Friday, March 10 vs. LA Clippers (7:30 PM) Deadline: 1/27/2006
Friday, March 24 vs. New Orleans Hornets (7:30 PM) Deadline: 2/10/2006
Tuesday, April 4 vs. Indiana Pacers (7:30 PM) Deadline: 2/17/2006

Don't forget to include the Fall/Winter Ticket Programs in your seasonal brochures!

IPRA Support Staff Holiday Luncheon
December 7 beginning at 11:30am at Wildfire Restaurant in Oakbrook (SPACE IS FULL)
or
December 15 beginning at 11:30am at Wildfire Restaurant in Lincolnshire
Click here to download the printable brochure.

Give the gift of networking...and a nice meal, this holiday season. You can give two gifts in one! Recognize your hard-working office staff by sending them to the IPRA Support Staff Holiday Luncheon, and give them the opportunity to network with other professionals in the field.

All participants will receive a seasonal gift. Lunch includes appetizers, salad, choice of lemon pepper chicken breast or filet mignon, wild rice or redskin mashed potatoes, coffee, tea, or soda, and dessert.

2006 Ski & Snowboard Teen Trip
February 3-4 at Chestnut Mountain, Galena, IL
Contact: Bart Desch at 815-895-3202 or deschb2000@yahoo.com
Click here to download the printable brochure.

Join the IPRA Teen Committee and teens from park districts around the state at Chestnut Mountain for the night of your life. Slopes are open from 10:30 p.m. till 5:00 a.m.! Chestnut Mountain accommodates all types of skiers and snowboarders with 17 lighted downhill runs including 5 “easiest”, 9 “difficult”, and 3 “most difficult” slopes. Skis and snowboards are available for rental, and lessons will be ongoing from 11:00 PM until 3:00 AM. Not only is there skiing and snowboarding, there is a campfire area, video game room, DJ/dance room and a snack bar. Sponsored by the IPRA Teen Committee.