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Don't Wait...Register Now! It's Online...Coming this August Even Faster, Friendlier & More Frugal IPRA Calendar Submit an IPRA meeting or event 7/5 Kane County Cougars 7/7 A&F Section Meeting 7/8 IPRA Senior Committee Mtg. 7/12 IPRA Arts & Events Mtg. 7/14 Schaumburg Flyers 7/18 Six-County Senior Olympics 7/18 Kane County Cougars 7/20 Park&Natural Resource Mtg. 7/20 Chicago White Sox 7/23 Camp Counselor Challenge 7/27 SPRA Mini-Golf Tournament 7/27 Chicago Cubs vs SF Giants 7/28 SPRA Soccer Coach Clinic 7/29 C&M Social/Roundtable 8/1 Kane County Cougars 8/4 Chicago White Sox 8/9 Programming Tools for After School Success 8/10 IPRA Teen Canoe Trip 8/18 SPRA Golf Outing 8/19 Facility Management Mtg. 8/19 IPRA Senior Committee Mtg. Read These Articles and More Online Submit your new releases to IPRA 6/17 - Miracle Field the right ticket for challenged youths in area 6/17 - Kids, suds posing fountains of trouble for park districts 6/17 - `Buddy ball' game has fun, hits, errors 6/16 - The Blog Spot sparks member interaction in Illinois 6/16 - Tragic Accident Involving Soccer Goals 6/15 - Naperville Park District offers “Lunch Hour Entertainment” 6/15 - The Blog Spot is here 6/14 - Big hugs for long-time pre-school teacher 6/10 - LWCF State Assistance Partially Restored at $30 Million 6/8 - Public can view planned park upgrades 6/8 - Taste the joy of Naperville 6/7 - Turf city, here he comes 6/6 - Website Survey Helps Pave The Way 6/2 - Wheaton Park District fears losing fields 6/2 - Tri-County park loses state support 6/2 - Plans aim to make great outdoors greater 6/2 - Paintball enthusiasts no longer welcome at Batavia site 6/1 - Teams are forming for Park Pursuit 6/1 - Wood Dale Park District selects a new director 6/1 - Kids can be trained to eat well Order a FREE PSA kit Order your plate TODAY Advertise Here March April May May extra June June extra	Featured News » The Blog Spot - IPRA's new blog makes history and sparks interaction » Volunteers Ready for Wee Western - Fun, games and trips for the players' kids » Park Pursuit Participants Set for Fun - The 9/23 event promises to shine » 2006 Board of Director Nominations - 3 positions are open. Nominate someone today! » IPRA Chairman-Elect Announced - Congratulations to Amy Charlesworth Resources » Did You Know? - Trends and information you need to know » News You Can Use - Fun, interesting and useful knowledge to help you succeed Things To Do » Western Open - Follow the action each day online at The Blog Spot » Park District Conservation Day - Volunteers wanted The Blog Spot Makes History and Sparks Interaction The Illinois Park and Recreation Association makes history with its recent introduction of The Blog Spot. The 2,700 plus member base of park and recreation professionals, along with the general public, now has the ability to interact, learn and have fun in IPRA’s newly created blog. The Blog Spot, http://IPRA.blogspot.com, features up to the minute news, chat rooms, pictures and polls relevant to the park and recreation professional. The creation and implementation of The Blog Spot comes from member feedback received through an online survey conducted of the January 2005 redesign of the IPRA website. Professional members of the association stated that increased technological advancements to further communication and learning would be of great benefit. “Creating The Blog Spot increases the number of ways IPRA can communicate directly with our members,” said Matt White, Communication and Marketing Manager for IPRA. "We are firm believers in technology and we wanted to provide something fresh and unique to the park and recreation field. No one out there is doing what we are doing.” Blogs have been in existence for several years now but have primarily been an “underground” medium. Just recently are you finding mainstream media outlets using blogs to interact with their consumers. Blogs have gained widespread acceptance in the business world due to their ability to connect with the end-user in a way that sparks conversation and leads to further brand awareness. IPRA has embraced technology with open arms with the redesign of their website, the implementation of monthly eNewsletters, a staff-utilized Intranet and now the interactive blog. On the horizon IPRA will soon be launching an online cooperative purchase program for its members to buy bulk supplies and equipment at significant savings. “We are continually expanding our resources and using technology to advance the professional careers of our members,” said Dean Comber, IT Manager for IPRA. “We have some of the brightest park and recreation professionals here in Illinois so we must keep up with the times and be able to provide them with the resources needed to succeed and grow.” The Blog Spot launched on the IPRA website Monday, June 6 with immediate positive feedback. Some of the topics in discussion include obesity in children, trends in alternative recreation activities, interesting facts about the benefits of recreation to individuals and the community and highlights from local park district events. An interactive chat room on the blog allows users to post questions they may have and receive feedback in a format similar to that of Instant Messenger. “I am so proud of the hard work that went in to making The Blog Spot happen,” said Bill Wald, Chief Executive Officer of IPRA. “The feedback we have received from the field and our board of directors has been great.” “The new blog is yet another reason why our members are so grateful to have an association like IPRA,” said Jim Reuter, IPRA Chairman of the Board and Director of the South Elgin Recreation Department. “My staff and I really enjoy reading the topics being discussed." Every day you can Interact, Learn and Have Fun in The Blog Spot. Check it out now. Players' Kids are Playing at the Wee Western While their dads are out on the golf course competing for the Cialis Western Open championship, kids of all ages are busy having fun at the Wee Western. The children of professional golfers around the world travel to Lemont each year. But there will be no golfing for those kids. No watching golf. The kids are here to have fun, laugh, take day trips to Chicago-area amusement parks and play with the volunteers from the Illinois Park & Recreation Association. The PGA day care center, known the week of June 27 though July 3 as the Wee Western, is a floating facility that moves from tournament to tournament. Upwards of 80 kids will again be reunited together during the week-long golf tournament to hang out, play and take day trips with local volunteers from the Illinois Park & Recreation Association. The Carol Stream association handles the logistics and the volunteers each day of the tournament. “Partnering with the Profession Golf Association to provide daycare options and a fun place for the players’ kids to hang out has always been a rewarding experience for us volunteers,” said Mike Selep, IPRA Professional Services Director. “We provide a home away from home for the kids and by taking day trips to area amusement parks we really get to show off our great city.” The preparation needed to coordinate such an important event like the Wee Western begins weeks prior to the PGA’s arrival to Lemont. In order to provide a top-notch day care facility for the kids of professional golfers there is a lot of time spent organizing and shopping that needs to get done. “We’ve been working tirelessly to make sure this year’s Wee Western is as successful as in years past,” said Heather Weishaar, IPRA Corporate Relations Manager and Wee Western Coordinator. ”Between all the food, beverages and decorations we set up and provide for the Wee Western as well as coordinating exciting games and day trips we know the kids are going to have a great time.” The Professional Golf Association mandates that the location of the Wee Western facility and the planned day trips remain confidential due to tight security measures. For more information about the Wee Western and the volunteer efforts provided by the members of the Illinois Park & Recreation Association please call Mike Selep, Professional Services Director for IPRA at (630) 752-0141. Park Pursuit Participants Set For Fun Besides the thrill of racing around Chicago against other professionals and colleagues, building and strengthening bonds with team members and participating in an aerobic and brain-busting event...IPRA just solidified a deal with the Chicago Hilton to host a post-Park Pursuit reception! Teams participating in the 1st Annual Park Pursuit will be treated to a reception at the Hilton, site of the 2006 IPRA/IAPD Conference. A banquet room has been reserved for gathering after the event, talking about strategies and missed opportunities, eating and of course sharing in some adult beverages. Will this reception become "The Big Bar II"??? Get your team of four signed up today to find out! Click Here to Register! Premier Sponsors: Event Sponsors as of 6/1/05: 2006 Board of Director Nominations Due IPRA is seeking to fill three (3) positions on the 2006 IPRA Board of Directors. These positions include the following: At-Large Board Member (3-year term) Central Illinois Regional Representative (3-year term) Chicago Metro - Central Region (3-year term) Click here to download the Nomination Form. Congratulations to Amy Charlesworth - Newly Elected IPRA Board Chairman-Elect For her entire professional career, going on her 24th year, Amy Charlesworth has served the Rolling Meadows Park District. Her dedication and love for the field is evident and the members of IPRA will have the honor and privileged of seeing Amy serve a three-year term as the Chairman of the IPRA Board of Directors beginning in 2007. Q&A with Amy Charlesworth Q: Why do you aspire to be Chairman of the IPRA Board of Directors? A: I have been an active participant of my professional association for over 20 years; I believe serving as Chairman is a culmination of years of volunteer service to my professional association. It would be an honor to represent my peers as a leader for the association. Q: Describe your leadership style? A: In general I lead in a participative way. It is usually my aim to create a cohesive atmosphere that encourages people to work together for a common goal. Q: If elected Chairman, what is the one thing you would like to champion during your three years in office? A: We are coming off a real transition period for our association, we’ve changed our fiscal year, we’ve had many staff changes, and we’ve sold a building. All of these activities have contributed to a change in our operations. The financial forecast that indicated the need to sell the building now needs to be revisited and a new strategic financial plan needs to be developed, instead of concentrating a budget on how to fund capital improvements we can focus on how we are benefiting our best assets – our membership. Q: What do you feel should be IPRA staff’s priorities during the next three years? A: Our priority should always be service to our membership. Each staff member is responsible for a different component of what we offer our members. We have had an enormous amount of staff change in the past two years. I have experienced this as a part of my work environment over my years at Rolling Meadows. I have a phrase that I have used with new staff at work. It takes one year to learn the job, the next year to feel comfortable and start to implement change and the third year to really make it your own. Looking at the current staff team I see a positive energy as well as a strong desire to be successful. As we continue to shift from a volunteer driven association to a staff driven association we need to trust the staff to use their abilities to guide our volunteers as new opportunities are presented to the membership. New findings...helpful advice...event recaps...LET US KNOW! School District 3 in Fox River Grove has a Blog! Last week we came across an interesting blog highlighting notes from the school district's board meetings and general district news. This is a perfect example of how your agency came easily, cost-effectively and routinely update the residents of your community. If your agency is having a difficult time communicating and getting feedback from your residents maybe it's time you created a blog. Basic blog templates can be found for free at Blogger.com or contact Matt White at IPRA for advice and questions. New findings...helpful advice...event recaps...LET US KNOW! Chuck E. Cheese for Older Playful People Playful inventor, Nolan Bushnell, the original creator of Pong and Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theater, is at it again. He’s pulling together his two inventions and merging them into a restaurant that doubles as a games palace. The uWink Bistro chain scheduled to open this coming fall in Los Angeles (where else?) is intended to be a “party and playful place for young, media-savvy adults”. The design of the uWink goes against the current trends in a number of ways; touch screens rather than wait staff will be used for all ordering of food, music, etc. and the video games are designed to engage up to six people in “social play” rather than gaming alone at home. (Source: Swartz, J. “Fun and games go along with food at new bistro chain”. USA Today, 5/31/2005) Underlying Trend(s): This new business suggests that: Members of Generation Y and younger have a high comfort and skill levels with technology but often feel less confident in their abilities for personal or social interactions Possible Application(s): What might this mean for parks and recreation? Any and all communications and interactions with participants 30 years or age and under require technology. Technology has become a necessity not a nicety for these groups. Conversation and even simple social interactions don’t always flow naturally for this tech-savvy group. Consider offering simple social game and mixers as a way to attract and involve this young adult age group who has little experience with spontaneous socializing. Think coed, no previous experience kickball. Follow the Western Open action at The Blog Spot From June 27 through July 3 the IPRA staff will be periodically posting updates, pictures, interviews and highlights from the Western Open at The Blog Spot. Follow along at your computer and share your thoughts and views! Recent Blog Posts: Tragic Death Involving Soccer Goal Post / Simple steps to avoid being "Phished" / Western Open volunteers gearing up for tournament / Summertime and the living's easy / Avoiding Itchy Rashes This Summer / Rapid Response Recreation / Attention All Mac Users... / The Price of Obesity / Community Turns Out to Open New Playground / Looking for new programming ideas? Park District Conservation Day The Illinois Association of Park District's and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association's Joint Public Awareness Committee is proud to present "Park District Conservation Day at the Illinois State Fair" on Saturday, August 20th. Volunteers are needed to distribute promotional items, coordinate stage entertainment and assist with children's activities. Bring the entire family for a day of fun! The thrilling Jesse White Tumbling Team will perform at the Park District Conservation Day opening ceremony at 10:00 a.m., and the IPRA Teen Battle of the Bands finalists will compete on the Lincoln Stage. Volunteers must sign up by July 15. Volunteers receive a free Park District Conservation Day t-shirt and free parking and admission to the fair. Visit ILparks.org or ILipra.org to sign up. It's free!
Copyright © 2005 Illinois Park & Recreation Assoc. IPRA Website

The Blog Spot Makes History and Sparks Interaction
The Illinois Park and Recreation Association makes history with its recent introduction of The Blog Spot. The 2,700 plus member base of park and recreation professionals, along with the general public, now has the ability to interact, learn and have fun in IPRA’s newly created blog. The Blog Spot, http://IPRA.blogspot.com, features up to the minute news, chat rooms, pictures and polls relevant to the park and recreation professional.

The creation and implementation of The Blog Spot comes from member feedback received through an online survey conducted of the January 2005 redesign of the IPRA website. Professional members of the association stated that increased technological advancements to further communication and learning would be of great benefit.

“Creating The Blog Spot increases the number of ways IPRA can communicate directly with our members,” said Matt White, Communication and Marketing Manager for IPRA. "We are firm believers in technology and we wanted to provide something fresh and unique to the park and recreation field. No one out there is doing what we are doing.”

Blogs have been in existence for several years now but have primarily been an “underground” medium. Just recently are you finding mainstream media outlets using blogs to interact with their consumers. Blogs have gained widespread acceptance in the business world due to their ability to connect with the end-user in a way that sparks conversation and leads to further brand awareness.

IPRA has embraced technology with open arms with the redesign of their website, the implementation of monthly eNewsletters, a staff-utilized Intranet and now the interactive blog. On the horizon IPRA will soon be launching an online cooperative purchase program for its members to buy bulk supplies and equipment at significant savings.

“We are continually expanding our resources and using technology to advance the professional careers of our members,” said Dean Comber, IT Manager for IPRA. “We have some of the brightest park and recreation professionals here in Illinois so we must keep up with the times and be able to provide them with the resources needed to succeed and grow.”

The Blog Spot launched on the IPRA website Monday, June 6 with immediate positive feedback. Some of the topics in discussion include obesity in children, trends in alternative recreation activities, interesting facts about the benefits of recreation to individuals and the community and highlights from local park district events.

An interactive chat room on the blog allows users to post questions they may have and receive feedback in a format similar to that of Instant Messenger.

“I am so proud of the hard work that went in to making The Blog Spot happen,” said Bill Wald, Chief Executive Officer of IPRA. “The feedback we have received from the field and our board of directors has been great.”

“The new blog is yet another reason why our members are so grateful to have an association like IPRA,” said Jim Reuter, IPRA Chairman of the Board and Director of the South Elgin Recreation Department. “My staff and I really enjoy reading the topics being discussed."

Every day you can Interact, Learn and Have Fun in The Blog Spot. Check it out now.

Players' Kids are Playing at the Wee Western
While their dads are out on the golf course competing for the Cialis Western Open championship, kids of all ages are busy having fun at the Wee Western. The children of professional golfers around the world travel to Lemont each year. But there will be no golfing for those kids. No watching golf. The kids are here to have fun, laugh, take day trips to Chicago-area amusement parks and play with the volunteers from the Illinois Park & Recreation Association.

The PGA day care center, known the week of June 27 though July 3 as the Wee Western, is a floating facility that moves from tournament to tournament. Upwards of 80 kids will again be reunited together during the week-long golf tournament to hang out, play and take day trips with local volunteers from the Illinois Park & Recreation Association. The Carol Stream association handles the logistics and the volunteers each day of the tournament.

“Partnering with the Profession Golf Association to provide daycare options and a fun place for the players’ kids to hang out has always been a rewarding experience for us volunteers,” said Mike Selep, IPRA Professional Services Director. “We provide a home away from home for the kids and by taking day trips to area amusement parks we really get to show off our great city.”

The preparation needed to coordinate such an important event like the Wee Western begins weeks prior to the PGA’s arrival to Lemont. In order to provide a top-notch day care facility for the kids of professional golfers there is a lot of time spent organizing and shopping that needs to get done.

“We’ve been working tirelessly to make sure this year’s Wee Western is as successful as in years past,” said Heather Weishaar, IPRA Corporate Relations Manager and Wee Western Coordinator. ”Between all the food, beverages and decorations we set up and provide for the Wee Western as well as coordinating exciting games and day trips we know the kids are going to have a great time.”

The Professional Golf Association mandates that the location of the Wee Western facility and the planned day trips remain confidential due to tight security measures.

For more information about the Wee Western and the volunteer efforts provided by the members of the Illinois Park & Recreation Association please call Mike Selep, Professional Services Director for IPRA at (630) 752-0141.

Park Pursuit Participants Set For Fun
Besides the thrill of racing around Chicago against other professionals and colleagues, building and strengthening bonds with team members and participating in an aerobic and brain-busting event...IPRA just solidified a deal with the Chicago Hilton to host a post-Park Pursuit reception!

Teams participating in the 1st Annual Park Pursuit will be treated to a reception at the Hilton, site of the 2006 IPRA/IAPD Conference. A banquet room has been reserved for gathering after the event, talking about strategies and missed opportunities, eating and of course sharing in some adult beverages. Will this reception become "The Big Bar II"??? Get your team of four signed up today to find out!

Click Here to Register!

Premier Sponsors:

Event Sponsors as of 6/1/05:

2006 Board of Director Nominations Due
IPRA is seeking to fill three (3) positions on the 2006 IPRA Board of Directors. These positions include the following:

At-Large Board Member (3-year term)
Central Illinois Regional Representative (3-year term)
Chicago Metro - Central Region (3-year term)

Click here to download the Nomination Form.

Congratulations to Amy Charlesworth - Newly Elected IPRA Board Chairman-Elect
For her entire professional career, going on her 24th year, Amy Charlesworth has served the Rolling Meadows Park District. Her dedication and love for the field is evident and the members of IPRA will have the honor and privileged of seeing Amy serve a three-year term as the Chairman of the IPRA Board of Directors beginning in 2007.

Q&A with Amy Charlesworth
Q: Why do you aspire to be Chairman of the IPRA Board of Directors?
A: I have been an active participant of my professional association for over 20 years; I believe serving as Chairman is a culmination of years of volunteer service to my professional association. It would be an honor to represent my peers as a leader for the association.

Q: Describe your leadership style?
A: In general I lead in a participative way. It is usually my aim to create a cohesive atmosphere that encourages people to work together for a common goal.

Q: If elected Chairman, what is the one thing you would like to champion during your three years in office?
A: We are coming off a real transition period for our association, we’ve changed our fiscal year, we’ve had many staff changes, and we’ve sold a building. All of these activities have contributed to a change in our operations. The financial forecast that indicated the need to sell the building now needs to be revisited and a new strategic financial plan needs to be developed, instead of concentrating a budget on how to fund capital improvements we can focus on how we are benefiting our best assets – our membership.

Q: What do you feel should be IPRA staff’s priorities during the next three years?
A: Our priority should always be service to our membership. Each staff member is responsible for a different component of what we offer our members. We have had an enormous amount of staff change in the past two years. I have experienced this as a part of my work environment over my years at Rolling Meadows. I have a phrase that I have used with new staff at work. It takes one year to learn the job, the next year to feel comfortable and start to implement change and the third year to really make it your own. Looking at the current staff team I see a positive energy as well as a strong desire to be successful. As we continue to shift from a volunteer driven association to a staff driven association we need to trust the staff to use their abilities to guide our volunteers as new opportunities are presented to the membership.

New findings...helpful advice...event recaps...LET US KNOW!

School District 3 in Fox River Grove has a Blog!
Last week we came across an interesting blog highlighting notes from the school district's board meetings and general district news. This is a perfect example of how your agency came easily, cost-effectively and routinely update the residents of your community. If your agency is having a difficult time communicating and getting feedback from your residents maybe it's time you created a blog.

Basic blog templates can be found for free at Blogger.com or contact Matt White at IPRA for advice and questions.

New findings...helpful advice...event recaps...LET US KNOW!

Chuck E. Cheese for Older Playful People
Playful inventor, Nolan Bushnell, the original creator of Pong and Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theater, is at it again. He’s pulling together his two inventions and merging them into a restaurant that doubles as a games palace. The uWink Bistro chain scheduled to open this coming fall in Los Angeles (where else?) is intended to be a “party and playful place for young, media-savvy adults”.

The design of the uWink goes against the current trends in a number of ways; touch screens rather than wait staff will be used for all ordering of food, music, etc. and the video games are designed to engage up to six people in “social play” rather than gaming alone at home. (Source: Swartz, J. “Fun and games go along with food at new bistro chain”. USA Today, 5/31/2005)

Underlying Trend(s): This new business suggests that:

Members of Generation Y and younger have a high comfort and skill levels with technology but often feel less confident in their abilities for personal or social interactions

Possible Application(s): What might this mean for parks and recreation?

Any and all communications and interactions with participants 30 years or age and under require technology. Technology has become a necessity not a nicety for these groups.
Conversation and even simple social interactions don’t always flow naturally for this tech-savvy group. Consider offering simple social game and mixers as a way to attract and involve this young adult age group who has little experience with spontaneous socializing. Think coed, no previous experience kickball.

Follow the Western Open action at The Blog Spot
From June 27 through July 3 the IPRA staff will be periodically posting updates, pictures, interviews and highlights from the Western Open at The Blog Spot. Follow along at your computer and share your thoughts and views!

Recent Blog Posts:
Tragic Death Involving Soccer Goal Post / Simple steps to avoid being "Phished" / Western Open volunteers gearing up for tournament / Summertime and the living's easy / Avoiding Itchy Rashes This Summer / Rapid Response Recreation / Attention All Mac Users... / The Price of Obesity / Community Turns Out to Open New Playground / Looking for new programming ideas?

Park District Conservation Day
The Illinois Association of Park District's and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association's Joint Public Awareness Committee is proud to present "Park District Conservation Day at the Illinois State Fair" on Saturday, August 20th.

Volunteers are needed to distribute promotional items, coordinate stage entertainment and assist with children's activities. Bring the entire family for a day of fun! The thrilling Jesse White Tumbling Team will perform at the Park District Conservation Day opening ceremony at 10:00 a.m., and the IPRA Teen Battle of the Bands finalists will compete on the Lincoln Stage. Volunteers must sign up by July 15.

Volunteers receive a free Park District Conservation Day t-shirt and free parking and admission to the fair. Visit ILparks.org or ILipra.org to sign up. It's free!