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Click Here for IPRA Calendar Submit an IPRA meeting or event JANUARY 1/10 IPRA Arts & Events Committee Meeting 1/10 IPRA Teen Committee Meeting 1/26-28 IAPD/IPRA Conference FEBRUARY 2/2 Participant Services Division of ITRS meeting 2/3 All-Night Ski & Snowboard Trip 2/3 Contracting Out Your Pool Management & Revitalizing Your Pool - hosted by SIPRA 2/10 American Camp Association National Conference Daycamp Day Read These Articles and More Online Submit your news releases to IPRA JANUARY 1/7 Chicago named "Fattest city in America" 1/6 Award-winning agency mixes education, fun 1/6 New program aims to get community to be healthy 1/6 Dodgeball league living up to its name DECEMBER 12/27 Not just child’s play - Naperville Park District looks to craft long-term recreational plan 12/27 A look at what’s hot, not and could be 12/21 Wheeling Park District Receives Financial Reporting Award 12/21 Fox Valley Park District recently hosted Speaker of the House 12/19 Gurnee parks director leaving to take Glenview job 12/19 Agency Showcase Competition Winners Announced 12/17 Is your child a couch potato at age 10? Here’s help 12/15 Roselle Park District looking to sell park to bring back pool 12/15 Round Lake Area Park District honored 12/15 TPL purchases six acres to help York Center Park District create its largest park 12/15 Awards & Recognition Committee Announces Winners 12/13 2006 Election Results Are In 12/13 Glenview Park District Names New Executive Director 12/9 Sterling Park District Named 2005 Sports Illustrated Good Sports Community of the Year 12/1 Special Needs Day and PETCO Reindog Parade coming to Santa House Order your plate TODAY Advertise Here March April May May extra June June extra July August August extra September October November December December extra	Want a sneak peek at the 2006 IAPD/IPRA Conference Guide? January 26-28 at the Chicago Hilton Then check out the full conference guide online - Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 You will get an old-fashioned paper copy of the conference guide inside your January/February issue of Illinois Parks & Recreation. (Be sure to take that issue with you to Chicago.) The magazine will arrive in the mail in early to mid January. Did you forget to register? Late registration for both Pre-Conference workshops as well as regular Conference sessions will place at 7:30am on Thursday, Jan. 26 at Conference. General Information Click here for more information about the conference Click here to submit suggestions for the 2007 Conference on-line Train-the-Trainer Workshop March 21-23 This three-day workshop will feature Ruby Newell-Legner, who is one of the most sought after customer service experts in the Leisure Industry. She will lead an interactive workshop that will provide professional guidance to those that are responsible for the training and professional development of staff. This workshop will help those that are new to training individuals to those that want to explore new ways enhance the training they provide. More details to come! Aquatic Facility Operators (AFO) Course April 18-19 at the Wheaton Park District The AFO certification course is the most comprehensive program available for those responsible for operating clean, safe, and efficient aquatic facilities. More details to come! National Playground Safety Institute – Certified Safety Inspector Course Third week in April Sponsored by the National Recreation and Park Association, this NPSI Course is the most comprehensive training program on playground hazard identification and risk management methods offered anywhere. More details to come! IPRA to Introduce Podcasting Within the next week or so IPRA will again launch another vehicle for its members to learn about the association as well as trends and happenings in the field of parks and recreation in IL. Last Friday, IPRA's Marketing Director, Matt White, sat down with IPRA CEO, Bill Wald, for their first ever podcast! Podcasting is not new...well it's about a year or so old (ancient in the tech world)...but IPRA insists on offering the latest advancements to its members. In short, a podcasting is basically like a radio show that one can download on their computer for listening. No, you will not need an iPod or any other mp3 player to listen to the show. IPRA has made listening to the roughly 10-15 minute shows as simple as clicking a button. No downloading files...no installing of third-party programs. IPRA podcast initiative, called WIPRA The Voice, hopes to gain popularity among section leaders, board members, and other leaders in the field as a means to promote events and learnings to others. Look for the WIPRA The Voice logo on the IPRA website, www.ILipra.org, in the next week or so. Sit back, relax, and advance with IPRA. Did you know IPRA memberships can be FREE? IPRA's Commercial Drive 2006 was designed to add your staff to the growing IPRA membership. Sometimes budgets are tight and there may not be money for some of your staff to join IPRA...now you can have new members join for FREE! Here's the catch...recruit a vendor or company that you work with in your community to become a Commercial Member of IPRA and we'll give you a Professional Membership! Simple! Conference is coming up and it's a great time to get everyone in your office a membership. The educational workshops planned for 2006 will be fresh and exciting! Membership has never been so important for the success of your staff and your agency. Click here to view the Commercial Drive brochure. Promotion ends Feb. 3 ,2006. Networking at Conference Receives Top Billing According to a recent poll hosted on The Blog Spot, 67% of voters said that they were most excited about networking with friends and colleagues at the 2006 Conference. A distant second, at 17% of voters, was the opportunity of attending educational workshops. Conference is a great place to catch up with old friends and discuss work...or the Bears! You never know who you'll end up chatting with at Conference. Try to talk with everyone and meet as many new people as possible. You never know when you may call on them for a job. Agency Showcase Competition Produces Excellent Creative Work Take a look at the outstanding creative work done by IPRA professionals this year. The competition was bigger and better than ever! Don’t forget to attend the session “What Makes a Winner?” (#907), hosted by the judges of the competition, on January 28 from 2:30-3:45pm. This is your chance view the judges’ comment sheets and get valuable feedback on your work! All the Agency Showcase Competition work will be displayed at Conference across from Conference Headquarters in the main hallway (you can't miss it once you're there). Winners must pick up your plaques at Conference Headquarters. Catch a Sneak Peek at Silent Auction Items! Click here to view the Auction Items. Thanks to all who have contributed to the Silent Auction taking place at the 2006 Conference. This year brought in the greatest number of gifts as well as the greatest monetary value of gifts! Good luck to all of you planning on participating in the auction. Auction proceeds fund the Illinois Park & Recreation Student Scholarship Program. Conference. Be at it. Remember the Life. Be in it. campaign that was found everywhere in the 80s? Well IPRA is bringing back the fun characters in a retro t-shirt especially for the 2006 Conference! A limited supply of t-shirts can be purchased at Conference in the Silent Auction area for only $15. After we run out...yes we will run out because these shirts are so cool...they can be bought after Conference for $20. Get your early and relive the 80s in GLAM-style! Don't worry, permission from the Life. Be in it. folks has been granted. Chicago Bulls Tickets For Sale Register Online Click here to download the printable brochure. 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! 2006 Ski & Snowboard Teen Trip (DEADLINE IS JAN. 17) 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 © 2006 Illinois Park & Recreation Assoc. IPRA Website

Want a sneak peek at the 2006 IAPD/IPRA Conference Guide?
January 26-28 at the Chicago Hilton

Then check out the full conference guide online -
Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

You will get an old-fashioned paper copy of the conference guide inside your January/February issue of Illinois Parks & Recreation. (Be sure to take that issue with you to Chicago.) The magazine will arrive in the mail in early to mid January.

Did you forget to register?
Late registration for both Pre-Conference workshops as well as regular Conference sessions will place at 7:30am on Thursday, Jan. 26 at Conference.

General Information
Click here for more information about the conference
Click here to submit suggestions for the 2007 Conference on-line

Train-the-Trainer Workshop
March 21-23
This three-day workshop will feature Ruby Newell-Legner, who is one of the most sought after customer service experts in the Leisure Industry. She will lead an interactive workshop that will provide professional guidance to those that are responsible for the training and professional development of staff. This workshop will help those that are new to training individuals to those that want to explore new ways enhance the training they provide. More details to come!

Aquatic Facility Operators (AFO) Course
April 18-19 at the Wheaton Park District
The AFO certification course is the most comprehensive program available for those responsible for operating clean, safe, and efficient aquatic facilities. More details to come!

National Playground Safety Institute – Certified Safety Inspector Course
Third week in April
Sponsored by the National Recreation and Park Association, this NPSI Course is the most comprehensive training program on playground hazard identification and risk management methods offered anywhere. More details to come!

IPRA to Introduce Podcasting
Within the next week or so IPRA will again launch another vehicle for its members to learn about the association as well as trends and happenings in the field of parks and recreation in IL.

Last Friday, IPRA's Marketing Director, Matt White, sat down with IPRA CEO, Bill Wald, for their first ever podcast! Podcasting is not new...well it's about a year or so old (ancient in the tech world)...but IPRA insists on offering the latest advancements to its members. In short, a podcasting is basically like a radio show that one can download on their computer for listening. No, you will not need an iPod or any other mp3 player to listen to the show. IPRA has made listening to the roughly 10-15 minute shows as simple as clicking a button. No downloading files...no installing of third-party programs.

IPRA podcast initiative, called WIPRA The Voice, hopes to gain popularity among section leaders, board members, and other leaders in the field as a means to promote events and learnings to others.

Look for the WIPRA The Voice logo on the IPRA website, www.ILipra.org, in the next week or so. Sit back, relax, and advance with IPRA.

Did you know IPRA memberships can be FREE?
IPRA's Commercial Drive 2006 was designed to add your staff to the growing IPRA membership. Sometimes budgets are tight and there may not be money for some of your staff to join IPRA...now you can have new members join for FREE! Here's the catch...recruit a vendor or company that you work with in your community to become a Commercial Member of IPRA and we'll give you a Professional Membership! Simple!

Conference is coming up and it's a great time to get everyone in your office a membership. The educational workshops planned for 2006 will be fresh and exciting! Membership has never been so important for the success of your staff and your agency.

Networking at Conference Receives Top Billing
According to a recent poll hosted on The Blog Spot, 67% of voters said that they were most excited about networking with friends and colleagues at the 2006 Conference. A distant second, at 17% of voters, was the opportunity of attending educational workshops.

Conference is a great place to catch up with old friends and discuss work...or the Bears! You never know who you'll end up chatting with at Conference. Try to talk with everyone and meet as many new people as possible. You never know when you may call on them for a job.

Agency Showcase Competition Produces Excellent Creative Work
Take a look at the outstanding creative work done by IPRA professionals this year. The competition was bigger and better than ever!

Don’t forget to attend the session “What Makes a Winner?” (#907), hosted by the judges of the competition, on January 28 from 2:30-3:45pm. This is your chance view the judges’ comment sheets and get valuable feedback on your work!

All the Agency Showcase Competition work will be displayed at Conference across from Conference Headquarters in the main hallway (you can't miss it once you're there). Winners must pick up your plaques at Conference Headquarters.

Catch a Sneak Peek at Silent Auction Items!
Click here to view the Auction Items.

Thanks to all who have contributed to the Silent Auction taking place at the 2006 Conference. This year brought in the greatest number of gifts as well as the greatest monetary value of gifts! Good luck to all of you planning on participating in the auction. Auction proceeds fund the Illinois Park & Recreation Student Scholarship Program.

Conference. Be at it.
Remember the Life. Be in it. campaign that was found everywhere in the 80s? Well IPRA is bringing back the fun characters in a retro t-shirt especially for the 2006 Conference!

A limited supply of t-shirts can be purchased at Conference in the Silent Auction area for only $15. After we run out...yes we will run out because these shirts are so cool...they can be bought after Conference for $20. Get your early and relive the 80s in GLAM-style!

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

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!

2006 Ski & Snowboard Teen Trip (DEADLINE IS JAN. 17)
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.