Download IPRA New Member Orientation - Illinois Park and Recreation

Illinois Park & Recreation
Association
2015 Annual Report
Dear IPRA Member and Stakeholders,
Illinois Park and Recreation Association continues to be an organization that appreciates all the
support we receive from members and volunteers. Together we were able to do so much this
year!
IPRA is the middle of our rolling five year strategic plan that started in 2014, and has adjusted
annually. Our current plan takes us through 2020. As we look back at 2015, here are some of
our accomplishments.
In membership, we have more professional members than we have had in recent history going
back (to 2011) or before. We began giving students free membership dues for the first time! We
now have more than 2,700 members including professionals, students, advocates, and
commercial members.
We launched our new online communities, IPRAConnect and now have 14 communities to
serve specific interest areas for our members. IPRAConnect is the Illinois Park & Recreation
Association’s new, members-only online community. It is your connection to an invaluable
resource – each other! We know you value networking, professional development, sharing
resources…to build on that, we are excited to introduce you to the next level of member
collaboration.
We continue to build relationships with our friends in other associations, like Illinois Afterschool
Network as well as our friends at the American Camp Association-IL and our park and
recreation association colleagues in other states. In fact, IPRA’s webinar series now has
attendees from seven states and one of our in-person training programs even had an attendee
from Germany! We also continue to build our relationships with colleges and universities in
Illinois who are training the next generation of park and recreation professionals.
Continued on next page
We rolled out our new mentoring program, ProConnect, last year. It has a 95% satisfaction
rating. In our first year of the program, 24% of those who were not already Executive Directors
were promoted in the year since they applied for the program. IPRA won a national award for
innovation for ProConnect in its first year. We even expanded it in partnership with Southern
Illinois Park and Recreation Association (SIPRA) with ProConnect South in Southern Illinois.
This program is in partnership with University of St Francis in Joliet.
We have streamlined all of our scholarships into one process under the Illinois Park and
Recreation Foundation (IPRF) Scholarship Review Committee, making it easier for students and
professionals to apply for this continuing education funding source.
We continue to communicate about parks and recreation all over the country. In fact, we are so
proud that the PhD student we have been working with these last two years, Gus Hallmon, won
an award for his presentation on our behalf in Alberta, Canada this fall.
IPRA has had a great year in 2015 and 2016 looks to be even better. It is an exciting time to be
a part of serving our communities together in Illinois. If you would like to share your feedback on
IPRA’s direction, feel free to reach out to me at [email protected]. For more information go to
www.ilipra.org I look forward to seeing you at the conference!
The IPRA Board of Directors applauds your dedication in 2015 and is excited about the future.
We encourage you to make 2016 a year worthy of a standing ovation!
Sincerely,
Debbie Trueblood, CAE
Executive Director
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Eric Lee Wilson
Environmental Committee
Nick Troy
Leadership Academy Board of Regents
Marla Pineiro
Finance Committee
Rob Sperl
Illinois Urban Forestry Appointee
Jan Hincapie
Governance Committee
Mike Clark
Illinois Park and Recreation Foundation
Lori Neubauer
Health & Wellness Committee
Matt Ellmann
ProConnect Board of Regents
Colleen Palmer
Professional Services Committee
Allison Niemela & Jarrod Scheunemann
Community Campaign Task Force
Jan Hincapie
Joint Coordinating Council Committee
Matt Barber
Joint Conference Committee
Rita Fletcher
Joint Distinguished Park And Recreation
Accreditation Committee
Kari Felkamp
Joint Editorial Committee
Dominic Egizio
Joint Legislative Committee
Tom Hartwig
Joint Program Committee
John Wilson
Joint Exhibit Committee
Jennifer Hermonson
Administration & Finance Section
Carlo Capalbo
Administration & Finance Section
Laura Finch
Communications & Marketing Section
Kari Felkamp
Communications & Marketing Section
Charles Dockery
Diversity Section
Keith Wallace
Diversity Section
Tim Jaskiewicz
Facility Management Section
Jackie Gonzalez
Facility Management Section
Tim Girmscheid
Parks & Natural Resource
Management Section
Mike Sletten
Parks & Natural Resource
Management Section
Steve Golembiewski
Recreation Section
Conor Cahill
Recreation Section
Mike Selep
Therapeutic Recreation Section
Matt Corso
Therapeutic Recreation Section
Membership Council Board Representative
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
Professional
Advocate
2015
Commerical
2014
Student
2013
*AS OF MID-DECEMBER
ProConnect
Leadership Academy
Meetings
CPRP
Workshops
Webinars
Schools
*number of participants in each program
** ProConnect reflects both programs in
North and South, as well as regents
Administration & Finance
Focus directed toward administration, finance, human resources, risk management, and information
technology personnel.
Communications & Marketing
Focus directed toward those with specialized skills in marketing, public relations, creation of agency
publications, websites, media awareness, special events, branding, and other activities that promote the
value of parks and recreation.
Diversity
Focus directed on being the leading source for all aspects of diversity in the park and recreation
profession in Illinois and serve as a resource to IPRA members.
Facility Management
Focus directed toward professionals working in and managing a variety of facilities, including: aquatics,
community centers, ice, golf, museum, and multipurpose.
Parks & Natural Resource Management
Focus directed toward professionals working in and managing parks and natural resources in federal,
municipal, county and state parks, and conservation areas.
Recreation
Focus directed toward professionals that are recreation programmers, facilitators and administrators in
arts, special events, athletics, early childhood, school-age, and day camp, teens and seniors.
Therapeutic Recreation
Focus directed toward professionals that service individuals with disabilities in a variety of settings such
as community-based Special Recreation Associations, hospitals, physical rehabilitation centers and many
others.
Participation and leadership in an IPRA committee provides opportunities for individuals to share and
develop personal skills while developing resources and professional development opportunities for the
membership.
In cooperation with the IPRA, joining an affiliate group will further the opportunities for localized and
specialized education, networking and resources available to you throughout the state of Illinois.
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Central Illinois Recreation Council for Leisure Experience (CIRCLE)
Illinois Recreational Therapy Association (ILRTA)
Illinois After School Network (IAN)
Midwest Institute of Park Executives (MIPE)
Northwest Illinois Association of Parks & Recreation (NWIAPR)
South Suburban Park & Recreation Professional Association (SSPRPA)
South Illinois Parks & Recreation Professional Association (SIPRA)
Suburban Park & Recreation Association (SPRA)
Cheryl Deom, Glenview Park District
Robert Artz Distinguished Service Award
Rob Sperl, Wheaton Park District
Community Impact Award
Amy Charlesworth, Rolling Meadows Park District
Professional Recognition Award
Jennifer Porrevecchio, Lisle Park District
Young Professional of the Year
Dan Wagner, Inland Real Estate Group of Companies, Inc
Advocacy Award
Division I
Park: Naper Settlement, Early Learning Playscape
Renovation: Park District of Franklin Park, Chestnut Park
Division II
Park: Glencoe Park District, Friends Park
Renovation: Fox Valley Park District, Blackberry Farm
Aquatic: Park Ridge Park District, Centennial Aquatic Center
Multi-Use: Village of Romeoville, Romeoville Athletic & Event Center
Specific Use: Naperville Park District, Knochs Knoll Nature Center
Division I
Environmental Education: Downers Grove Park District - Lyman Woods
Apiary Program
Division I
Special Event: Foss Park District – Camp & Movie Night
Division II
Special Event: Decatur Park District – Zoo-rific Evening at Scovill Zoo
Ongoing Program: Glendale Heights Parks & Recreation Department – Play
at the Hub (PATH) After School Program
Ongoing Program: Downers Grove Park District - Movie Magic Exhibition
AGENCY SHOWCASE
First Place
Rockford Park District
Second Place
Orland Park Recreation & Parks Department
Third Place
Champaign Park District
People’s Choice Award
Wilmette Park District
Integrated Photography
Orland Park Recreation & Parks Department
Large Format
Orland Park Recreation & Parks Department
Wilmette Park District (TIE)
Marketing Campaign
Rockford Park District
Logo Design
Lombard Park District
BEST IN SHOW
Print Advertisement
Oak Brook Park District
Brochure Series
Lombard Park District
Print Communication
Joliet Park District
Electronic Communication
Lombard Park District
Downers Grove Park District (TIE)
Media Relations
Wheaton Park District
Green Marketing
Oak Brook Park District
Social Media
Bourbonnais Township Park District
Website
Downers Grove Park District