August 2017 VRPS Presidents Newsletter

VRPS

The Virginia Recreation and Park Society The Virginia Recreation and Park Society is a private, non-profit professional organization, founded in 1953 and incorporated in 1956.

Its purpose is to unite all professionals, students, and interested lay persons engaged in the field of recreation, parks and other leisure services in the Commonwealth of Virginia, into one body.

President’s Newsletter VRPS Service Area and

Resource Group Highlights pages

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Paying it Forward

LTI Update page

August 2017

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SRG Fall Conference page

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FootGolf

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Notes from the President

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Training Opportunities CPSI, September 13-15 SRG Fall Conference, Sept. 21 VRPS Annual Conference, Oct 21-24 AFO Certification, Oct 25-26

Board Liasons

The VRPS Board encourages you to share your GOOD NEWS EVENTS with us! We want to know and we are listening!

2017 Annual Conference - LaTanya Turner, CPRP, Jim Stutts CPRP, CAE

board@vrps.com

2017 Virginia Senior Games - Rita Miller, Jim Stutts CPRP, CAE Special Events Conference - Doug Blount, Bill Sgrinia, CPRP 2018 Leadership Training Institute - Margaret Thorne

I look forward to seeing you in Hampton, October 21 24! With exceptional education, spectacular socials and newsworthy networking - From Trails to Treasure, Your Journey awaits at the 2017 VRPS Annual Conference.

2018 Annual Conference - Katey Legg, CPRP

SERVICE AREAS Central - Aaron Reidmiller, CPRP Southwestern - Bill Sgrinia, CPRP

Northern - Blythe Russian

Western - Jane Shelhorse

Eastern - Arlana Fauntleroy, CPRP The VRPS Board is committed to keeping our members informed and engaged, so we would like to take this RESOURCE GROUPS opportunity to invite each member or Aquatic - Blythe Russian Senior - Jane Shelhorse a potential member to……

ASK THE BOARD

Park Operations & Special Interest Groups - Arlana Fauntleroy, CPRP

COMMITTEES Awards & Citations - Bill Sgrinia , CPRP

Foundation - Jim Stutts CPRP, CAE

Student Initiatives - Lakita Watson, CPRP Legislation - Jim Stutts CPRP, CAE

If there is anything members are not sure of and would like to know please send your ASK THE BOARD information to the 2017 Board of Directors via email to board@vrps.com. page

Professional Education Arlana Fauntleroy, CPRP Nominations & Elections - Margaret Thorne Revenue Opportunities & Fee Structures - Blythe Russian

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Central Service Area

The Central Service Area has been busy in 2017! The VSG blew through Central Virginia in springtime bringing 1,875 participants from 19 states in 4 days. Those participants competed in 71 events in 19 sports at 14 venues. Accomplished with the invaluable assistance of many dedicated professionals and volunteers, with special thanks to host, Henrico County.

Right after VSG CSA hosted its annual workshop fundraiser. This year, CSA focused the workshop on inclusion and celebrating diversity. The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities spoke on diversity and inclusion, understanding the varying roles of gender and understanding race and privilege. Lizz Billings, CTRS, AFO, and member of CSA, taught lessons on developmental disabilities and provided hands-on learning. Sportable rounded out the afternoon by focusing on physical disabilities and inclusive programming. The workshop ended with a rousing game of wheelchair basketball!

A new development in the CSA marketing plan is the production of its own blog. CSA member Marie Sicola serves as editor-in-chief while encouraging all members to contribute articles and topic ideas. The purpose of the blog is to provide relatable, self-sustainable content that features localities in our own backyard.

Looking ahead, CSA is planning for a pickleball tournament hosted by Chesterfield County in the fall.

Eastern Service Area

The Eastern Service Area would like to thank everyone who helped to make this year’s Summer Survival a success!

176 Parks and Recreation summer employees from around the region came out on June 10th to the Brittingham-Midtown Community Center in Newport News to learn from various speakers to learn and be motivated for a successful summer season. The day started with wonderful speakers including William Broderick, the Christopher Newport’s Women’s Basketball coach, and Margaret Thorne, our 2016 VRPS President. Attendees broke off to sessions including Inclusive Programming, Water Safety, Arts and Crafts, Teamwork, Summer Games and more to experience new programs and find ideas to bring back to their city’s summer programs. The day ended with a great closing session with Thomas Reamon, former NFL football player and current Landstown High School Football Coach. All of our speakers encouraged our summer employees to put their best effort in to not only making the summer camps in the Eastern Service area a success, but to be mindful of the impact their role plays in the lives of the youth that attend our programs.

The Summer Survival Committee put together another outstanding training again this year and we can’t wait to see what great programming the 2018 Summer Survival Training holds!

Northern Service Area & Aquatics Resource Group

The Northern Service Area Board Meeting was held at Splashdown Waterpark in Manassas on June 28th. This meeting partnered with the Aquatics Resource Group and had an overlying theme of Aquatics. Willa Whitacre, chair of ARG presented, “the reality of running a large aquatics operation.”

She discussed everything from our typical user groups, non-typical user groups, and governing restrictions. In aquatics, many operators are facing the same issues and problems in management but are running completely different facilities. In the end, our “whys” of aquatic management are all the same. Allowing our guests to have a safe and enjoyable experience at our facilities is key to our overall site management.

Western Service Area

July 8th and 9th the Western Service Area held its 3rd annual Guns n Hoses softball tournament at the Shenandoah County Park in Maurertown. We had 9 teams participate in the event which was a fundraiser for the service area.

The next scheduled business meeting for WSA will be August 23 at 10am at Harrisonburg Parks and Recreation, 305 South Dogwood Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22801

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VRPS 2017 Annual Conference, October 21-24 Hampton Roads Convention Center

Great

Sessions andSpeakers!

register now at vrps.com

Sunday, October 22, 2017

Using Economic Impact Data to Demonstrate an Agency’s Relevance ........................................................................Chris Nunes Sales, Even if You Don’t Sell (And Everybody Sells) ....................................................................................................Mike Shelah Work Smarter Not Harder: How Technology Can Help Without Being a Distraction ............................................. Marcy Durrer Volunteering: Does it Pay? Volunteer Coordination in a Risk Management World ....................................................Haydn Kihm NRPA Park Metrics and Data Resource ............................................................................................. Kevin Roth and Melissa May Ready…Set…Grow! ...........................................................................................................................................Debbie Woodbury Lions, Tigers and Games Oh My! New Cooperative-Based Activities for All .......................................................... Dr. Eddie Hill The Benefits of Contractual Public Partnerships .........................................................................................Dr. Norman Merrifield Paradise Creek Park: A Sustainable Partnership .................................. Marjorie Mayfield Jackson, Sarah, Sumoski, and Mark Furlo Millenials: They’re More Than Just Memes ............................................................................ Morgan Kerns and Jason Bookheimer The New Justice League: Building Supreme Teams ..................................................................................................Lakita Watson Emotional Intelligence ................................................................................................................................................Mike Shelah Strategically Measuring Customer Service in Recreation Centers ................................................................................Rachel Lenn Come Again? Creating a Welcoming Environment for a Diverse Aging Population .................. Patricia Mock and Brenda J. Davis How Do I Keep My Head Above Water? ................................................................................................................... Art Thatcher Marketing in a Digital Age ......................................................................................................... Michael Kalvort and Rachel Lenn Effective Teambuilding Programs Require Knowledge, Options and a Little Philosophy .............................................Greg Cronin The Splash Pad Epidemic: Come Find Out What Your Customers Want, What Your Operators Need and What You Can Afford! .....................................................................................................Sandy Kellogg and David Barr Creating a Culture of Opportunities for Your Team ......................................................................Allison Buschy and Karen Pauley The Urban Trails of Richmond: Challenges and Successes .......................................................... Michael Burton and Andrew Alli

Monday, October 23, 2017

Ewwwie, Gooey and Gross! Keeping Training and Inservice Meaningful and Real ...........................Sandy Kellogg and David Barr Special Events:The Do’s, The Dont’s, The Maybe’s .....................................................................................................Chris Nunes Nail the Interview: Get the Job/Internship....................................................................................................................Rob Ramos Case Study: Hopewell City Park and Nature Playground .............................................................Aaron Reidmiller and Scott Wiley Experiential Learning: Partnerships for the Win!..................................................................................... Jill Sturts and C.J. Gajan Panel Discussion Students and Young Professionals .......................................................Margaret Thorne and Mark Palamarchuck The Innovation Imperative ..................................................................................................................................... Barbara Heller The Good, The Bad, and the Potentially Ugly: Recreation in 2025...................................... Dr. Doug Kennedy and Dr. Eddie Hill Making Lemonade Out of Lemons: How to Work with Difficult People ................................................................Lakita Watson Changing Your Community Through Innovative Programming ................................................ Jason Bookheimer and Bill Sgrinia It’s a Win Win: Strategies for Internship Success (Seekers and Supervisors) .......................................Takeyra Collins and Jill Sturts The ABC’s of LinkedIn...............................................................................................................................................Mike Shelah

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Park Reclamation and Green Infrastructure .............................................................................................................. Marlie Smith Trash Talk! A Different Viewpoint on Park Waste Management ....................................................................................Dan Smith Develop, Engage, Retain: The Importance of Email Marketing Databases ............................................................. Roberta Korzen Taking Ownership and Accountability Strategies .............................................................................................................Tom Hoy Dormant Seeded Bermuda Grass Field Without Irrigation.........................................................................................Mike Skelton Keep It Simple: Grounds Management ................................................................................................................ Dean Whitehead Food Vendors in Your Parks – It’s Not Just Ice Cream Trucks and Hot Dog Carts Anymore .................................... Marcy Durrer How to Make Smart Parks with New Technology and Minimal Risk .............................................. Barbara Heller and Ed Krafcik Meadow Management at Your Park ........................................................................................................................Michael Moore Getting the Most From Mowing ....................................................................................................................................Jeff Clarke The Roots of Government: How to Highlight Your Grounds Department to Help Grow and Flourish ................ Matthew Austin Lifeguard and Park Attendant Staffing, Recruitment and Retention of the Millennial Generation ....Joshua Schmidt and Eric Nielson Community Gardens: Introduction and Application .............................................................Victoria Campbell and Dan Bremner Partners in Collaboration – Partners for Success!....................................................................Tiffanie Rosier and Angela Thompson

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Paying it Forward

After 33 years as a parks and recreation and municipal government leader in communities across Virginia, I was fortunate to retire from public service in April 2016. Over the past year, I embraced my newfound “freedom” and spent time reflecting on what the next stage of my life should become. I now lead several communitybased volunteer initiatives and provide consulting services while also shortening my bucket list. Thanks to the many skills I gained from VRPS educational programs, mentoring by its diverse leadership, networking with colleagues, and volunteering in a myriad of society activities during my professional career, I am enjoying a vibrant and engaging semi-retirement.

In pondering how I can give back to an organization that has given so much to me, I came to the realization that I want to ensure the VRPS tradition of continuing education, networking and legislative advocacy remains strong in the years to come. I believe in the profound ways park and recreation programs and facilities positively impact our communities and state. I want to support future professionals by ensuring they receive the same leadership building blocks and principles that allowed me to enjoy a wonderful and fulfilling career. So how am I paying it forward?

First, I am a Platinum contributor to the Foundation of VRPS and participate as an active board member. As we all painfully recall, the Great Recession resulted in significant reductions to professional development budgets. Contributions to the Foundation help ensure member access to the Society’s vibrant learning programs and networking activities, which have and will continue to grow future VRPS leaders.

Second, I regularly connect with active and retired Society members to encourage advocacy for our profession and its many programs and facilities. Recognizing that VRPS members represent many different political entities, it remains imperative that we present a united front regarding the relevance of our profession and the importance of its work to our diverse communities and natural environments.

Third, I made a bequest to the Foundation of VRPS in my will. I believe it’s important to endow not only your family, but also the organization(s) you believe make a difference. I want my money to go to places that I trust and value. As a long-term member and beneficiary of VRPS, I am part of an institution that represents professionalism, challenging work, diligence and close camaraderie.

It’s my desire to support future generations of VRPS members in their personal and professional growth.

There are many other ways to provide financial support to our professional organization. If you are interested in discussing these options, please reach out to me, Jim Stutts, Greg Sager or the other members of the Foundation. I encourage you to think about how you can make a meaningful difference in the future of VRPS, its members and our Commonwealth. I know the person I am today is due in no small part to the time I spent engaged with the work of VRPS and its Foundation and I will pay it forward.

Contributed by Cindy Curtis page

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The VRPS Foundation is looking for auction items

Please consider donating a round of golf, a museum visit

or other great local finds!

Then, bid on your favorite items at the 2017 VRPS Annual Conference, while raising money for a great cause!

Email your donation commitment rgsager@hanovercounty.gov

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FootGolf

On Saturday, June 10, Pinecrest Golf Course, Fairfax County Park Authority, hosted an American FootGolf League U.S. FootGolf National Championship Qualifier tournament. Over 35 players competed in 4 main divisions, men (ages 18-45), women (18 & older), Senior (46+ older), and Junior (age 12-17). The lowest score was a 55 and was shot in the men’s division by Steve Liberto.

The top 30% of the players of each division qualifies directly to the U.S. FootGolf National Championship 2017. The U.S. FootGolf National Championship 2017 location has not yet been released.

The 2016 championship was held at the Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Springs, California on November 4-6.

FootGolf is the newest sport sweeping the nation. It is a hybrid between golf and soccer and is perfect for families. Pinecrest is the only FootGolf facility in Fairfax County, Pinecrest Golf Course is the first American FootGolf League certified course in Fairfax County! The par 60 course is 1,965 yards with 18 holes. The course is available to play on weekends and some holidays, after 1:30 PM. For more information or for a reservation, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/ and search FootGolf.

Contributed by Sarah Oberther, CPRP Manager, Pinecrest Golf Course

Did you know that can see all the upcoming VRPS meetings, events and deadlines on the VRPS website? Just click on this icon on the left side of the homepage!

August 31

VRPS Board, Service Area & Resource Group Ballots Close CPSI

September 21 NSA Fall Workshop Inclusion and ADA in Recreation Stacy C Sherwood Coom Ctr, Fairfax

September Leesburg 13 - 15 September 21 SRG Fall Conference

Don’t see your Service Area or Resource Group event listed there?

Have your Chair or Web Admin contact Nancy (nancy@vrps.com) to help them post it!

Reston

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Senior Resource Group Fall Conference SRG 2017 Fall Conference: Keys to Empowerment Thursday, September 21 Reston Community Center Professionals working with the 50+ population: learn about age-related physical and cognitive changes that impact older participants, as well as strategies for adapting programs. Learn strategies to adapt your programs to address changes for aging populations, as well as exploring new program resources and ideas. Network and meet professionals in your field.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Lynn Reid, Director Area Agency on Aging from Loudoun County will discuss: How to attract and tailor positions for retired professionals and other high quality volunteers.

Tips on how to engage professional volunteers and keep them involved.

Learn how volunteers are utilized in Loudoun County senior centers.

Session Presenters: Miki Goerdt, Arlington County will speak about; Empowering Through Understanding Do You Know What Upset You?

Marti Bailey, Sibley Hospital will discuss; Words Matter: Harnessing the Power and Energy of Language.

Catherine Motivans, Loudoun County; Building Bridges of Cultural Understanding.

Brandy Bauer and Hayoung Kye, National Council on Aging; Mastering Aging: Help Seniors with Financial, Mental, and Physical Wellness.

Conference Registration information: Registration Fees

Member: $65.00 Non-Member: $90.00

Student Member: $40.00 Student Non-Member: $65.00 Senior Resource Group Board:

Karen BrutschĂŠ, Chair 703-390-6157

Cheryl Wheeler, Secretary 703-771-5156

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Adriana Carr, Chair-elect 703-228-0554 Janice Myrick, Treasurer 757-514-7265

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