NRPS Newsletter June 2012
Dear Parks and Recreation Colleagues and Supporters,
On behalf of the Nevada Recreation and Parks Society (NRPS) Board, thank you for attending and/or supporting the 2012 NRPS conference in April. It is hard to believe the conference was two months ago, and I am just now finding time to reflect about the presenters, topics, vendors, colleagues and conversations. What did I learn? Who did I meet? What information can I use to improve the professional lives of others and myself? Where do we go from here? How can we utilize the conference experience to stimulate community and administrative support of Nevada Parks and Recreation professionals in our mission to deliver excellent: •customer service •creative and necessary products and services •development and sustainability of natural and constructed resources •community collaboration •alternative revenue streams •entrepreneurial endeavors. The answer is to share the information you obtained and retained. NRPS is only as strong and innovative as its members and participants. You shape the Society’s purpose and direction.
Recently I had a discussion with NRPS President Jayne Mazurkiewicz, regarding the direction of NRPS. We agreed that the purpose of NRPS is always evolving and that it is driven by member and agency needs and input. NRPS strives to be an agile entity responding to changes in our industry and member desires. We work with the National Recreation and Parks Association to deliver information about current product and service trends, as well as education and employment opportunities. NRPS has created and updated several of its communication tools (e-newsletter, website and magazine) to deliver information that will answer your questions and disseminate messages. NRPS is progressing as fast as we can, but we need your help to grow. We must all help shape the future of parks and recreation. If you have questions, or better yet, answers to aid in sustaining and growing one of the most diverse & essential public and environmental service businesses in our nation, please email them to: nrps@live.com. We want to know about employment, education and networking opportunities in your area. The more we contribute as a group, the greater impact NRPS will have as a support association. Thank you for your support,
Pandora Bahlman NRPS President Elect
Our mission is to support and recognize members of the Society and to promote Recreation and Parks as an essential service in Nevada. NRPS Vision Statement We support the National Recreation & Park Association and the benefits of Recreation and Parks for citizens of the State of Nevada. We serve with pride, leadership and professionalism. We Believe in creativity and innovative problem solving. We Believe in encouraging and promoting diversity in our membership. We Believe in recognizing the accomplishments of members and agencies. We Believe in members’ input to shape our vision through strategic planning. We Believe in cooperation, communications, teamwork and consensus building for the citizens, the Society and the agencies we serve. CHECK OUT THE NEW WEBSITE! WWW.NRPS.ORG
President-Jayne Mazurkiewicz, CPRP Past Pres.-Dirk Richwine, CPRP Pres. Elect-Pandora Bahlman Vice Pres. North-Jennifer Budge Vice Pres. South-Felicia Rivera-Baker Secretary-Kristy Bekiares Treasurer-Brady Dehn Members At Large NorthJoel Dunn Danny Gleich Token Barnthouse Darrin Price Members At Large SouthJeannette Palmer Veronica Reyes Nick Montoya Doug Guild PSP North-Al Rogers PSC North-Linda Fearnley PSP South-Shelly Gulotta PSC South-Dundee Jones
The NRPS Aquatic Committee is made up of aquatic professionals throughout the southern Nevada area. Members meet the 2nd Wednesday every other month to discuss aquatic trends, programming, staffing, operations and hot topics. In addition, the committee organizes several events throughout the year; Health & Safety Expo, Southern Nevada Lifeguard Games and a Recreational Swim Meet. Please visit our contact page on NRPS.org if you would like to contact our board members to receive additional information on any of our events, attending a meeting or becoming a member.
Did you know‌ Scholarships are available for Water Safety Instructor, Lifeguard Training Instructor, Lifeguard Management, Lifeguard Training and CPR/AED classes? Contact 702-5950010 for more information.
The Nevada Recreation and Parks Society (NRPS) is a non-profit, professional organization, founded in 1958. Its main purpose is to promote the growth and development of Nevada recreation and parks. NPRS is affiliated with the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA). NPRS has several levels of membership to meet the needs of all parks and recreation professionals, students, retirees, agencies, and affiliates. PROFESSIONAL This category includes persons who are or have been employed full time in an executive, leadership or supportive staff capacity within a public or private agency or department of recreation or parks or educational institution. ($30) RETIRED PROFESSIONAL This category includes any persons over 45 years of age, who has been a Professional Member of NRPS, NRPA, or an NRPA Affiliate for a minimum of ten (10) years and has officially retired from a qualified professional position. ($15) ASSOCIATE This category includes persons who are employed part time or volunteers within the recreation and parks field, and who subscribe and agree to the aims and objectives of this society. ($15) STUDENT This category includes persons who are enrolled full time in high school, colleges or universities with an interest in parks and recreation or an allied field. ($10) AGENCY This category includes the Agency Director and members of the policy or advisory board or commission. Dues are based on full time employee (FTE) equivalent. ($250 – 20 FTE’s or more; $150 – under 20 FTE’s) ORGANIZATION/INSTITUTION AND AFFILIATE This category includes national, state, and local organizations, hospitals, colleges, universities, clubs, and local, state or regional societies and organizations. ($50) COMMERCIAL This category includes all vendors, commercial and for-profit organizations who subscribe and agree to the aims and objectives of this society. ($50) HONORARY May be bestowed upon those persons approved by this society’s Executive Board.
Grant Opportunities •
Tony Hawk Foundation Skatepark Grants, Deadline: July 2012. Up to $25K public skateparks serving at-risk youth in low-income areas. Info & app: http://www.tonyhawkfoundation.org/news/2011/12/ 14/new-grant-guidelines-prompt-better-skateparks/
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National Alliance for Accessible Golf for Individuals With Disabilities, Deadline: Rolling. Up to $20K to provide golf programs for individuals with disabilities. Info & app: http://www.accessgolf.org/grants/ alliance_grants.cfm
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Click this link for 40 grant opportunities related to youth, obesity prevention, disadvantaged communities etc. http://gallery.mailchimp.com/c495f0016892d0a1472cb6 86f/files/40__Grant_Opportunities_2012.pdf
FFY 2012 FEDERAL LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND NEVADA DIVISION OF STATE PARKS GRANT ANNOUNCEMENT The Nevada Division of State Parks is pleased to announce the availability of federal funds for local park and recreation capital improvement and acquisition projects through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (L&WCF) program. All political subdivisions, including counties, incorporated cities; unincorporated towns, general improvement districts, and Native American tribal governments are potentially eligible for the 50:50 matching grants offered through the program. For FY 2012, Congress approved an Interior Appropriations Bill that made available approximately $270,980 to Nevada’s political subdivisions and Native American tribal governments. Applications will be prioritized based on criteria as described in the grant manual.
Individual funding requests should generally range between a minimum of $25,000 ($50,000 total project budget with a 50% match) and no maximum, however, the maximum amount is rarely awarded to any single recipient. Exceptions to the $25,000 minimum rule can be considered on a case by case basis for political subdivisions serving populations fewer than 10,000. Local matches can exceed 50%, but the federal share cannot exceed 50% of the total project amount. Application packages, including the application forms and grants manual, will be available on State Parks’ website http://parks.nv.gov/lwcf.htm on or about July 1, 2012. The due date for FFY 2012 L&WCF grant applications is August 31, 2012, by 5:00 p.m. Faxed or email copies will NOT be accepted. Please submit to the following address: Nevada Division of State Parks Attn: Jenny Scanland 901 Stewart Street, Suite 5005 Carson City, NV 89701 Please contact Jenny Scanland at 775-684-2787 e-mail jscanland@parks.nv.gov for any questions about the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant program.
www.bciburke.com
Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program Do you have an idea for a local conservation and outdoor recreation project, but need assistance to move that vision into reality? Then, let's talk! Fill out an RTCA Application Contact RTCA staff to learn more about applying. Applications are due August 1 Mission: The mission of the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program (RTCA) is to assist community-led natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation initiatives. RTCA staff provide guidance to communities so they can conserve waterways, preserve open space, and develop trails and greenways. Who may apply: The project applicant may be a state or local agency, tribe, non-profit organization, or citizens' group. RTCA does not provide financial assistance to support project implementation. How to Apply: Download the 2012 application from www.nps.gov. Applicants should discuss their project with RTCA staff before applying for assistance. It can be helpful to schedule an advance field visit by our staff to best understand how RTCA can be of assistance. Due date: Applications are due by August 1st for assistance beginning the following fiscal year (October 1st through September 30th). Please send application information and project description to RTCA_Application@nps.gov by August 1 or by US Mail to the appropriate Program Manager postmarked by August 1. Contact: A map and contact information for our regional offices is available on www.nps.gov.
YARNSTORMING Opened in 1988, the West Flamingo Center for Active Adults is one of four Clark County Senior Recreation Centers located in the Las Vegas Valley.. We have a small facility, but it is abuzz with line dancing, bridge games, tap dancing, table tennis, painting, knitting, canasta, crochet, Mahjong, needlepoint, Scrabble, movies, field trips, pickle ball, dominos, Yoga, Tai Chi, watercolor painting, computer classes, pool, parties, Hula dancing, low impact exercise classes and more! Last summer, members who like to crochet and knit contributed and attached crocheted squares to a handicap hand railing which was too hot to use in the searing summer sun. Hence the first Las Vegas YARNSTORMING group formed. Other things such as sign poles and street lamp poles were decorated with squares to adorn the urban landscape in and around the center. The hand railing project brought the center a large amount of publicity, which resulted in more donated yarn, as well as new members who did not know about the center. Diane Bush, the center’s supervisor is also a member of the Friends of Winchester Public Art Committee. The committee had been trying for several years to find a way to enhance a very plain pedestrian bridge in its neighborhood. Local university students came up with wonderful designs, but all proved to be too expensive, at a time of austerity in the County. But following the success of the Yarnstormed hand railing, the chair of the committee asked Diane if the West Flamingo Yarnstormers could tackle the bridge. After contemplating the bridge’s location (it leads to the Las Vegas Sunrise Hospital), and researching other bridges around the world that had already been Yarnstormed, Diane (who is a trained artist) came up with a design made up of circles in a sunrise. The seniors loved the design , and agreed to start crocheting circles of all sizes and colors‌only dull browns, grey and dull greens were off limits, and bright Sunset colors were encouraged.
After the circles were completed, they were attached with a simple base stitch to a cut piece of shade cloth. The shade cloth covered ten 6 foot tables that stretched from one end of the multi-purpose room to the other end. Diane and the seniors came in on three consecutive Sundays to have use of the room and tables, without disrupting classes. With music, and coffee and snacks, two different 30 foot long panels were covered in circles, in the space of a month. Diane attached snap on grommets with a hammer, threaded key rings through the grommets, and it was ready to hang on the chain link fence that covered the bridge. On the appointed night before International Yarnstorming Day, Boy Scout Troop #238 met Diane and a member of the Friends of Winchester Art Committee at the bridge. By taking advantage of the cooler dusk temperatures, the Boy Scouts quickly installed both panels, barely touching the water and snacks Diane brought for them, not knowing how long the task would take. The multi-generational part of the project worked out perfectly! The next morning, Art Committee Chair, Victoria Hart, and Diane picked up a folding table, some chairs, a cooler for water and headed down to the bridge. There we met with the press, our local commissioner, members of the Winchester Art Committee, Parks and Recreation Director, Jane Pike, and center members to witness a “Yarn Cutting” ceremony. The weather was cooperative and five interviews later, we packed up the coffee, donuts, juice, water, tables and chairs, to head back to our busy Monday mornings. The community is raving about the murals, and thanks to donations from the Friends of Winchester, to cover the cost of the shade fabric, grommets, and sewing needles, the county only spent minimal funds on water and snacks for helpers. As promised to the seniors, the many TV and newspaper spots brought in more donated yarn, and new members to the center. Everyone asks “What’s next?” After we finish celebrating our success with a small luncheon for the seniors, we need to recover that hand railing, which has faded in the relentless Las Vegas sun!
Mesquite Youth Triathlon Virgin Valley Elementary School annual triathlon Thursday & Friday morning at the Mesquite Recreation Center.
This race is the highlight of the school year for many of kids. They start talking about it the first day of school. A triathlon is usually a race consisting of a run, bike ride and swim. For the Virgin Valley Elementary School, it’s a run, scooter board and swim. The kids first run a lap around our large grass area; then go into the gym and do a lap on a scooter board, and close with a quick swim that is the length of the outdoor pool. Nick Montoya, City of Mesquite Athletics & Leisure Services Superintendent, said the school has been running the race for 12 years. “It’s an amazing event and we are proud to coordinate it with the School. “We have been co-sponsoring the event, we provide lifeguards and a place for the race.” “The community loves the event and comes out in masses to see who will be the new champion or the repeat winner” he said. “School PE teacher Leon Durbin is really the force behind it all.”
Announcements, Articles, Pictures‌
Please send submissions for the NRPS monthly newsletter to Jeannette.Palmer@cityofhenderson.com We want to hear from you!