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Save the Date...Click Here Upcoming Events IPRA Calendar Submit an event for this month in... May 20 IPRA Senior Committee Mtg. May 21 & 22 2005 Illinois Games June 16 C&M Section Board Retreat July 5 Kane County Cougars game July 7 A&F Section meeting July 14 Schaumburg Flyers game July 18 Six County Senior Olympics July 18 Kane County Cougars game July 20 Chicago White Sox game July 23 Camp Counselor Challenge July 27 Chicago Cubs game - SOLD OUT Links Volunteer TODAY Order a FREE PSA kit Order your plate TODAY Sponsors Advertise Here eNewsletters March 2005 April 2005 May 2005	extra News The success of this month in...Parks & Recreation has led to the creation of extra. As needed, extra eNewsletters will be sent to update the IPRA membership of meetings, events and news of interest. The deadline for the monthly eNewsletter is still one month earlier than the date of distribution. However, if you miss getting into the main eNewsletter you can still submit a request by completing the form found here. IPRA hires Professional Services Director Mike Selep has joined the IPRA team this month, from the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association, as the new Professional Services Director! Mike will oversee member recruitment and retention, act as a liaison between IPRA and its committees and sections, run the annual Western Open volunteer force, and more. Please help us welcome Mike Selep. He can be reached by email at mike@ilipra.org. Increase revenue, participation and general traffic The Joint Public Awareness Committee created a website a couple of years ago which allows Park Districts to input their facilities and events...for FREE. By posting your agency's events and facility offerings on this website the general public can now take advantage of all your events. PLEASE go to illinoisparksandrecreation.com and update the calendar listing with your events. JPAC has been doing community outreach by distributing magnets & PR pieces to promote the site, but we need you to help post your events. This is an excellent way to increase revenue, participation and general traffic within your programs, parks & services--and it's FREE. Don't miss out on this great opportunity. Are you looking for a mentor? If so, there are plenty of professionals willing to help. Check out the mentoring page on the IPRA website to find out which mentors are available from you to choose from. The process is very easy, go onto the site and click “Available Mentors” and you can look at the bio’s from the mentors to pick from. Mentoring Program Testimonials: “The opportunity to meet and learn from fellow professionals is a benefit that can not be measured. The relationships that I have formed through the IPRA mentoring program have and will continue to provide benefits throughout my career” Ryan Risinger Superintendent of Recreation, Buffalo Grove Park District “The IPRA mentoring program can be a great networking and career development resource for any professional in the field that can open up doors to new ideas and approaches to recreation and parks administration.” Ron Schneider Co-Chair Mentoring Committee/Superintendent of Recreation, Freeport Park District “After attending the Speed Mentoring Workshop at the IPRA conference as a graduate student in 2003, I met some wonderful people. One of those people helped me get an internship at their Park District. After my internship was complete, I was hired on as Superintendent and am now the Director of the Alsip Park District. The internship possibility might not have been possible if I did not attend the workshop and the experience and knowledge that I obtained opened up may opportunities.” Jeannette Huber Director of Parks and Recreation, Alsip Park District Parks Day at the Capital IPRA's Matt White, Heather Weishaar & Sheila Lowrey talk OSLAD funding with Gov. Rod Blagojevich IPRA sounds off in NBC "Water Cooler" segment IPRA's Matt White gets interviewed Friday, May 13 during the 11am NBC newscast regarding the recent deaths at the Lincoln Park Zoo. He shared his concern for the animals and the administration but urged people to get out and enjoy our parks and recreate this summer.
Copyright © 2005 Illinois Park & Recreation Assoc. IPRA Website

The success of this month in...Parks & Recreation has led to the creation of extra. As needed, extra eNewsletters will be sent to update the IPRA membership of meetings, events and news of interest.

The deadline for the monthly eNewsletter is still one month earlier than the date of distribution. However, if you miss getting into the main eNewsletter you can still submit a request by completing the form found here.

IPRA hires Professional Services Director
Mike Selep has joined the IPRA team this month, from the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association, as the new Professional Services Director! Mike will oversee member recruitment and retention, act as a liaison between IPRA and its committees and sections, run the annual Western Open volunteer force, and more.

Please help us welcome Mike Selep. He can be reached by email at mike@ilipra.org.

Increase revenue, participation and general traffic
The Joint Public Awareness Committee created a website a couple of years ago which allows Park Districts to input their facilities and events...for FREE. By posting your agency's events and facility offerings on this website the general public can now take advantage of all your events.

PLEASE go to illinoisparksandrecreation.com and update the calendar listing with your events. JPAC has been doing community outreach by distributing magnets & PR pieces to promote the site, but we need you to help post your events.

This is an excellent way to increase revenue, participation and general traffic within your programs, parks & services--and it's FREE. Don't miss out on this great opportunity.

Are you looking for a mentor?
If so, there are plenty of professionals willing to help. Check out the mentoring page on the IPRA website to find out which mentors are available from you to choose from. The process is very easy, go onto the site and click “Available Mentors” and you can look at the bio’s from the mentors to pick from.

Mentoring Program Testimonials:
“The opportunity to meet and learn from fellow professionals is a benefit that can not be measured. The relationships that I have formed through the IPRA mentoring program have and will continue to provide benefits throughout my career”
Ryan Risinger
Superintendent of Recreation, Buffalo Grove Park District

“The IPRA mentoring program can be a great networking and career development resource for any professional in the field that can open up doors to new ideas and approaches to recreation and parks administration.”
Ron Schneider
Co-Chair Mentoring Committee/Superintendent of Recreation, Freeport Park District

“After attending the Speed Mentoring Workshop at the IPRA conference as a graduate student in 2003, I met some wonderful people. One of those people helped me get an internship at their Park District. After my internship was complete, I was hired on as Superintendent and am now the Director of the Alsip Park District. The internship possibility might not have been possible if I did not attend the workshop and the experience and knowledge that I obtained opened up may opportunities.”
Jeannette Huber
Director of Parks and Recreation, Alsip Park District

Parks Day at the Capital

IPRA's Matt White, Heather Weishaar & Sheila Lowrey talk
OSLAD funding with Gov. Rod Blagojevich

IPRA sounds off in NBC "Water Cooler" segment

IPRA's Matt White gets interviewed Friday, May 13 during the 11am NBC newscast regarding the recent deaths at the Lincoln Park Zoo. He shared his concern for the animals and the administration but urged people to get out and enjoy our parks and recreate this summer.