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Click here for IPRA Calendar or Submit an IPRA meeting or event JULY 7/3-7/9 Western Open Volunteering 7/5 Kane County Cougars vs. Dayton Dragons 7/7 Senior Committee Meeting 7/11 Teen Committee Meeting 7/11 PNRM Section Meeting 7/12 & 13 & 15 IPRA Day at Six Flags Great America 7/13 Schaumburg Flyers vs. Gary Railcats 7/17 Kane County Cougars vs. Lansing Lugnuts 7/17-21 Six-County Senior Olympics 7/20 Recreation Section Meeting 7/20 Chicago Cubs vs. Houston Astros 7/25 ITRS Administrators Lunch & Golf Outing 7/26 Chicago White Sox vs. Minnesota Twins 7/28 C&M Section Meeting and Social AUGUST 8/3 & 5 IPRA Day at Six Flags Great America 8/5 IPRA Lifeguard Games 8/9 IPRA Overnight Teen Canoe Trip 8/18 Senior Committee Meeting 8/18 Facility Management Section Meeting 8/19 Park District Conservation Day 8/24 ITRS Lunch Meeting SEPTEMBER 9/6 Museum and Nature Center Roundtable 9/7 IPRA Board of Directors Business Meeting 9/12 C&M Section Board Meeting and Roundtable Discussion 9/14 School Age - Day Camp Committee Meeting 9/15 Senior Committee Meeting 9/16 "Oh I Wish I Had Said..." Powerful Communication Workshop 9/19 Aquatic Facility Operators Certification Course 9/19 CPRP Study Night 9/21 Recreation Section Meeting 9/22 2nd Annual Park Pursuit 9/26 HR Manager's Luncheon 9/29 Sprecher 5,000 Golf Classic OCTOBER 10/3-4 Supervisor Symposium: Piecing Professionals Together 10/5 Participant Services Division of ITRS Meeting 10/6 Facility Management Section Mtg. 10/10 NRPA Congress & Exposition Read In The News @ ILipra.org or better yet Comment on these @ The Blog Spot Order your plate TODAY Advertise Here 2005 March April May May extra June June extra July August August extra September October November December December extra 2006 January February February extra March April May June	Price Adjustment for CPRP Exam The National Park & Recreation Association (NRPA) has adopted a $20 increase for the Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) exam starting July 1. This is the first increase in the price of the exam since 2002. The new cost for the exam is $195 for those that apply to take the exam after July 1. New exam applications were mailed out on June 28 to current PPRPs. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mike Selep at mike@ilipra.org or the IPRA office at (630) 376-1911 x206. Got Ideas? Dina Kartch, Education & Conference Director, is looking for some great educational ideas for this Fall and Winter. Email Dina with any ideas you have for workshops. It's your membership...get the training YOU want! Tracey Crawford Named IPRA Chairman of the Board-Elect Please congratulate Tracey Crawford of the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association as she was recently named the IPRA Chairman of the Board-Elect. Crawford will assume Chairman-Elect responsibilities beginning in 2007 and will then become the Chairman of the Board in 2008. Below is her bio and extensive list of accomplishments which will make her a wonderful leader of this association. Congratulations! Tracey Crawford earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Iowa, Iowa City. She is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and a Certified Park and Recreation Professional. Crawford is the Superintendent of Recreation of the Northern Suburban Special Recreation (NSSRA) which is a partnership of 12 north shore park and recreation agencies. Crawford’s 16 years of professional experience in therapeutic recreation and parks and recreation includes six years as the Inclusion Coordinator at Fox Valley Special Recreation Association in Aurora, IL; and three years as the Manager of Inclusion Services at NSSRA where for the past seven years she has been the Superintendent of Recreation. Her professional involvement includes serving as the Institute Chair for the National Therapeutic Recreation Section (NTRS) of the National Park and Recreation Association, the NTRS Chair for the Woman and Ethnic Minority Committee, the Great Lakes Board Representative for the NTRS Board, a Member on the Great Lakes Regional Council, a Board Member on the Illinois Therapeutic Recreation Section (ITRS) of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA), the Secretary and President for the Special Recreation Associations for Northern Illinois (SRANI), a Board Member on the IPRA Board, a Board Member on the Illinois Park and Recreation Foundation, serving on the IPRA Conference Committee, the IPRA Membership Serves Committee, the IPRA Recreation Administration Committee, the IPRA Finance Committee, the ITRS Workforce Development Committee, the ITRS Inclusion Division, the Illinois Ethnic and Minority Section of IPRA. Currently, Crawford is completing her third term on the IPRA Board of Directors and she has been elected to serve as President Elect for NTRS. She has presented on the topics of inclusion, staff motivation, internships and diversity at local, state, and national level workshops and conferences. She is a trainer for the Illinois Park and Recreation Association’s “Benefits are Endless” marketing program and the Crisis Prevention Institute’s Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training Program. She has been awarded the ITRS Affiliate Member Award, the ITRS Professional of the Year Award, The NTRS Presidential Award and the NTRS Meritorious Service Award for her dedication and service to the field of recreation. Awards & Recognition Committee Looking for Nominations It's time again to think about deserving individuals and over-achieving agencies for this year's Awards & Recognition Program. A postcard has been sent out as an early notice and nomination forms will be accepted beginning July 1 so don’t wait to get your nominations turned in. Go to the Awards & Recognition page online to view the award descriptions and to download the necessary forms. All nominations must be delivered to the IPRA office no later than October 31, 2006. Thank you to the committee members who have done such an excellent job so far this year! Richard A. Missing, CPRP (Chair) - Buffalo Grove Park District Sandra L. Chevalier - Tinley Park Park District Stephanie FitzSimons, CPRP - Bartlett Park District Rochelle Kruse, CPRP - Winnetka Park District Joseph M. Pollina, CPRP - Glenview Park District Thomas M. Ritter, CPRP - Vernon Hills Park District Steve Thomas, CPRP - Clarendon Hills Park District Ralph D. Voris, RPRP - Retired Matt White - IPRA Erika Young - St. Charles Park District Rich Zielke, CPRP - Plainfield Township Park District Get Caught Up on The Blog Spot's News The following are just some of the recent blog postings on The Blog Spot. We have added RSS (Really Simple Syndication) technology to automatically include blog postings on the main page of the IPRA website to make it easier for you to find newsworthy articles and updates. Now you can comment on any article posted. What you need to know about automated defibrillators NRPA Congress Travel Packages Supervisor Symposium 2006 - Piecing Professionals Together Emerald Ash Borer is Here in IL Top 10 Parks & Recreation Values IPRA Leads the Pack...and We're Not Stopping! Six-County Senior Olympics 2006 Subscribe to The Blog Spot's feed and receive email updates when articles are added to the website and blog! Just enter your email address on The Blog Spot and verify the confirmation email that will be sent to you. Allow Candidates to Apply For Jobs Online Agencies, did you know that when you post a job opportunity on the website you have the ability to allow interested candidates to apply for your job opening with the click of a button? When posting a job be sure to select "Allow Resume Submittal Via IPRA Online Resume Builder". By doing this, you are allowing people to apply for the job directly by using their saved resume that has been posted to the IPRA park & rec JOBS page. Next time you post a job don't forget to use this beneficial feature! If you have a job currently posted without this feature and would like to add it please send an email to Dean Comber and he can help you out. Go to the park & rec JOBS! IPRA's Cooperative Purchase Program Coming Soon Each year, IPRA coordinates a Cooperative Purchase Program on behalf of park districts, municipal recreation agencies, forest preserves, conservation districts, special recreation associations and private agencies throughout Illinois. The program, the only one of its kind in the field of parks and recreation, is an excellent way for your agency to save staff time and valuable tax dollars by purchasing with other park and recreation agencies in bulk. The savings is an obvious benefit of the program, however, the Co-op program offers other benefits as well. You save time comparing quotes and products. Freight and delivery charges are included in vendor’s bids, so there are no surprises when it’s time for delivery, and Vendors abide by the “Local Government Prompt Payment Act” allowing agencies 30 days from receipt of invoice to have it approved and 30 days after approval to have it paid. Online registration and ordering will begin mid-August...stay tuned for specific dates. Recently Certified Professionals! Click here to learn more about becoming certified! Certified Park & Recreation Professionals (CPRP) Jessica A. Desens, CPRP, Round Lake Area Park District Michelle E. Tompkins, Evanston Parks/Forestry & Recreation Associate Park & Recreation Professionals (APRP) N/A Provisional Park & Recreation Professionals (PPRP) N/A Over 450 IPRA Volunteers to Help at the Western Open Next week, from July 3-9, over 450 IPRA members and others simply wanting to help out, will be volunteering their time at the 2006 Western Open. Volunteers will assist at the main gates taking tickets, the hospitality tents verifying credentials, the clubhouse maintaining order as well as driving players to the tee box, and a lot of other really neat duties. A number of people will also be helping with the Wee Western which provides childcare for the players' children. Thank you to everyone who has graciously taken time out of their busy schedules to volunteer for this great golf tournament. If you would still like to volunteer call the IPRA Western Open trailer at (630) 257-1762 and ask for Mike Selep, Nick Barajas or Mark Baumann. Next week check out The Blog Spot for volunteer comments and testimonials from the tournament! Early Registration for Park Pursuit Ends TODAY! The Park Pursuit, modeled after the hugely successful Amazing Race game, allows for the members of IPRA to engage in a day-long race where team building, healthy competition and recreation take center stage. Participants of the Park Pursuit, made up of teams of four, will be challenged both physically and mentally as they race through the streets and parks of Lincoln Park. Clue cards will direct teams to various Lincoln Park landmarks where tasks will be performed to continue on in the race. Not only are bragging rights at stake but participants will get a true sense of unity while learning to work better as a team. Click here for registration information. Early registration ends June 30...don't wait and pay more! Thank you to our 2006 Park Pursuit sponsors: * Premier Sponsor * Tickets Available for Cubs and White Sox Games!!! Some tickets have become available for the sold-out Cubs and White Sox group outings. If you are interested in joining IPRA for some great baseball and loads of fun contact Heather Weishaar at heather@ILipra.org to get tickets. Cubs game on July 20 - 15 tickets available White Sox game on July 26 - 26 tickets available Tickets are first come, first served. Hurry! Lifeguard Games Aug 5 at Bensenville Water Park Cost: Early Bird Fee of $70 per team if you register before July 15 Click here for registration information. The IPRA Lifeguard Games is a competition for park and recreation agency lifeguards and junior lifeguards. Teams of 4 (2 male and 2 female or 1 male and 3 female) will compete in a series of events to test their lifeguard skills, strength, speed, endurance and their ability to work as a team. This is a friendly competition that encourages each guard to rise to challenges, practice their craft, learn from other guards and have fun. Teen Canoe Trip Aug 9-10 in Sauk City, WI Cost: $55 per person or $26 per SRA participant Click here for registration information. The Teen Canoe Trip is set on a 21-mile scenic stretch of the Wisconsin River northwest of Madison. On the first day, we will canoe approximately 12 miles and set-up camp along the river. The second day will consist of packing up and paddling the final 9-mile stretch. A special schedule is planned for SRAs with a reduced fee! Registration is first come-first served. There is an agency maximum of 10 participants including staff. The trip maximum is 150 participants.
Copyright © 2006 Illinois Park & Recreation Assoc. IPRA Website

Got Ideas?
Dina Kartch, Education & Conference Director, is looking for some great educational ideas for this Fall and Winter. Email Dina with any ideas you have for workshops. It's your membership...get the training YOU want!

Tracey Crawford Named IPRA Chairman of the Board-Elect
Please congratulate Tracey Crawford of the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association as she was recently named the IPRA Chairman of the Board-Elect. Crawford will assume Chairman-Elect responsibilities beginning in 2007 and will then become the Chairman of the Board in 2008. Below is her bio and extensive list of accomplishments which will make her a wonderful leader of this association. Congratulations!

Tracey Crawford earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Iowa, Iowa City. She is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and a Certified Park and Recreation Professional. Crawford is the Superintendent of Recreation of the Northern Suburban Special Recreation (NSSRA) which is a partnership of 12 north shore park and recreation agencies. Crawford’s 16 years of professional experience in therapeutic recreation and parks and recreation includes six years as the Inclusion Coordinator at Fox Valley Special Recreation Association in Aurora, IL; and three years as the Manager of Inclusion Services at NSSRA where for the past seven years she has been the Superintendent of Recreation.

Her professional involvement includes serving as the Institute Chair for the National Therapeutic Recreation Section (NTRS) of the National Park and Recreation Association, the NTRS Chair for the Woman and Ethnic Minority Committee, the Great Lakes Board Representative for the NTRS Board, a Member on the Great Lakes Regional Council, a Board Member on the Illinois Therapeutic Recreation Section (ITRS) of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA), the Secretary and President for the Special Recreation Associations for Northern Illinois (SRANI), a Board Member on the IPRA Board, a Board Member on the Illinois Park and Recreation Foundation, serving on the IPRA Conference Committee, the IPRA Membership Serves Committee, the IPRA Recreation Administration Committee, the IPRA Finance Committee, the ITRS Workforce Development Committee, the ITRS Inclusion Division, the Illinois Ethnic and Minority Section of IPRA. Currently, Crawford is completing her third term on the IPRA Board of Directors and she has been elected to serve as President Elect for NTRS.

She has presented on the topics of inclusion, staff motivation, internships and diversity at local, state, and national level workshops and conferences. She is a trainer for the Illinois Park and Recreation Association’s “Benefits are Endless” marketing program and the Crisis Prevention Institute’s Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training Program. She has been awarded the ITRS Affiliate Member Award, the ITRS Professional of the Year Award, The NTRS Presidential Award and the NTRS Meritorious Service Award for her dedication and service to the field of recreation.

Awards & Recognition Committee Looking for Nominations
It's time again to think about deserving individuals and over-achieving agencies for this year's Awards & Recognition Program. A postcard has been sent out as an early notice and nomination forms will be accepted beginning July 1 so don’t wait to get your nominations turned in.

Go to the Awards & Recognition page online to view the award descriptions and to download the necessary forms.

All nominations must be delivered to the IPRA office no later than October 31, 2006.

Thank you to the committee members who have done such an excellent job so far this year!
Richard A. Missing, CPRP (Chair) - Buffalo Grove Park District
Sandra L. Chevalier - Tinley Park Park District
Stephanie FitzSimons, CPRP - Bartlett Park District
Rochelle Kruse, CPRP - Winnetka Park District
Joseph M. Pollina, CPRP - Glenview Park District
Thomas M. Ritter, CPRP - Vernon Hills Park District
Steve Thomas, CPRP - Clarendon Hills Park District
Ralph D. Voris, RPRP - Retired
Matt White - IPRA
Erika Young - St. Charles Park District
Rich Zielke, CPRP - Plainfield Township Park District

Get Caught Up on The Blog Spot's News
The following are just some of the recent blog postings on The Blog Spot. We have added RSS (Really Simple Syndication) technology to automatically include blog postings on the main page of the IPRA website to make it easier for you to find newsworthy articles and updates. Now you can comment on any article posted.

What you need to know about automated defibrillators
NRPA Congress Travel Packages
Supervisor Symposium 2006 - Piecing Professionals Together
Emerald Ash Borer is Here in IL
Top 10 Parks & Recreation Values
IPRA Leads the Pack...and We're Not Stopping!
Six-County Senior Olympics 2006

Subscribe to The Blog Spot's feed and receive email updates when articles are added to the website and blog! Just enter your email address on The Blog Spot and verify the confirmation email that will be sent to you.

Allow Candidates to Apply For Jobs Online
Agencies, did you know that when you post a job opportunity on the website you have the ability to allow interested candidates to apply for your job opening with the click of a button?

When posting a job be sure to select "Allow Resume Submittal Via IPRA Online Resume Builder".

By doing this, you are allowing people to apply for the job directly by using their saved resume that has been posted to the IPRA park & rec JOBS page.

Next time you post a job don't forget to use this beneficial feature! If you have a job currently posted without this feature and would like to add it please send an email to Dean Comber and he can help you out. Go to the park & rec JOBS!

IPRA's Cooperative Purchase Program Coming Soon
Each year, IPRA coordinates a Cooperative Purchase Program on behalf of park districts, municipal recreation agencies, forest preserves, conservation districts, special recreation associations and private agencies throughout Illinois. The program, the only one of its kind in the field of parks and recreation, is an excellent way for your agency to save staff time and valuable tax dollars by purchasing with other park and recreation agencies in bulk.

The savings is an obvious benefit of the program, however, the Co-op program offers other benefits as well. You save time comparing quotes and products. Freight and delivery charges are included in vendor’s bids, so there are no surprises when it’s time for delivery, and Vendors abide by the “Local Government Prompt Payment Act” allowing agencies 30 days from receipt of invoice to have it approved and 30 days after approval to have it paid.

Online registration and ordering will begin mid-August...stay tuned for specific dates.

Recently Certified Professionals!
Click here to learn more about becoming certified!

Certified Park & Recreation Professionals (CPRP)
Jessica A. Desens, CPRP, Round Lake Area Park District
Michelle E. Tompkins, Evanston Parks/Forestry & Recreation

Associate Park & Recreation Professionals (APRP)
N/A

Provisional Park & Recreation Professionals (PPRP)
N/A

Over 450 IPRA Volunteers to Help at the Western Open

Next week, from July 3-9, over 450 IPRA members and others simply wanting to help out, will be volunteering their time at the 2006 Western Open. Volunteers will assist at the main gates taking tickets, the hospitality tents verifying credentials, the clubhouse maintaining order as well as driving players to the tee box, and a lot of other really neat duties. A number of people will also be helping with the Wee Western which provides childcare for the players' children.

Thank you to everyone who has graciously taken time out of their busy schedules to volunteer for this great golf tournament. If you would still like to volunteer call the IPRA Western Open trailer at (630) 257-1762 and ask for Mike Selep, Nick Barajas or Mark Baumann.

Next week check out The Blog Spot for volunteer comments and testimonials from the tournament!

Early Registration for Park Pursuit Ends TODAY!

The Park Pursuit, modeled after the hugely successful Amazing Race game, allows for the members of IPRA to engage in a day-long race where team building, healthy competition and recreation take center stage.

Participants of the Park Pursuit, made up of teams of four, will be challenged both physically and mentally as they race through the streets and parks of Lincoln Park. Clue cards will direct teams to various Lincoln Park landmarks where tasks will be performed to continue on in the race. Not only are bragging rights at stake but participants will get a true sense of unity while learning to work better as a team.

Click here for registration information. Early registration ends June 30...don't wait and pay more!

Thank you to our 2006 Park Pursuit sponsors:
*** Premier Sponsor ***

Tickets Available for Cubs and White Sox Games!!!

Some tickets have become available for the sold-out Cubs and White Sox group outings. If you are interested in joining IPRA for some great baseball and loads of fun contact Heather Weishaar at heather@ILipra.org to get tickets.

Cubs game on July 20 - 15 tickets available
White Sox game on July 26 - 26 tickets available

Tickets are first come, first served. Hurry!

Lifeguard Games

Aug 5 at Bensenville Water Park
Cost: Early Bird Fee of $70 per team if you register before July 15
Click here for registration information.

The IPRA Lifeguard Games is a competition for park and recreation agency lifeguards and junior lifeguards. Teams of 4 (2 male and 2 female or 1 male and 3 female) will compete in a series of events to test their lifeguard skills, strength, speed, endurance and their ability to work as a team. This is a friendly competition that encourages each guard to rise to challenges, practice their craft, learn from other guards and have fun.

Teen Canoe Trip
Aug 9-10 in Sauk City, WI
Cost: $55 per person or $26 per SRA participant
Click here for registration information.

The Teen Canoe Trip is set on a 21-mile scenic stretch of the Wisconsin River northwest of Madison. On the first day, we will canoe approximately 12 miles and set-up camp along the river. The second day will consist of packing up and paddling the final 9-mile stretch.

A special schedule is planned for SRAs with a reduced fee!

Registration is first come-first served. There is an agency maximum of 10 participants including staff. The trip maximum is 150 participants.