October 2009 VRPS Presidents Newsletter

October 2009 Edition

V I R G I N I A R E C R E AT I O N & P A R K S O C I E T Y

PRESIDENT’S NEWSLETTER Virginia Recreation & Park Society, 6372 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Suite 109, Mechanicsville, VA 23111 www.vrps.com vrps@vrps.com 804.730.9447 (o) 804.730.9455 (f)

From the President

INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the President

Cover

Calendar of Events/NPSI

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Signal Hill Elementary

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Leadership Training

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Joe Elton Elected President of the National Association of State Park Directors

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Leading the Heart of the Community

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V-ORG-Virginia Outdoor Recreation 12 Resource Group Professional Development

Improve your Game, Health & Life — Naturally!

Debra S. Bickley, CPRP (877) 736-2545 www.herbal-nutrition.net/dsbickley Independent Herbalife Distributor— Louisa, VA

Visit our website at: www.vrps.com

Michael Morris Director, City of Portsmouth Department of Parks, Recreation and Leisure Services

They Did It Again!

The 2009 VRPS Annual Conference in Roanoke lived up to the pre-conference billing. Our colleagues in the Roanoke Valley put on a terrific conference. On course, we have come to expect that from them. They certainly “Did It Again”!

The educational sessions were outstanding. Hopefully, everyone got the opportunity to hear Dr. John Crompton discuss the benefits of Parks and Recreation and his challenge for us to reposition and re-brand ourselves in our communities. The information he shared will make us all take a second look at our programs, facilities and customers and evaluate how we should position ourselves in today’s ever changing social environment.

What about those Conference Socials? The Saturday night welcome part at Landscape Supply , the Sunday “Night on the Mountain” at Mill Mountain Zoo and the Monday night “Tailgate Party” were all awesome. A good time, truly was, had by everyone who attended.

Congratulations to all of the award winners for a job well done!

Each year our profession continues to grow and expand, and it is evident in the programs, facilities and publications nominated for awards this year. The caliber of these nominations demonstrates the quality of the professionals involved in producing them. Again, congratulations to you all!

I would like to express a special thanks to the entire Conference Committee for your hard work and excellent final product. You truly did, “Do It Again”!

Mike Morris 2009 VRPS President

2009 VRPS Calendar of Events October 2009

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Athletic Resource Group Foundation of VRPS Board of Directors Meeting

Deep Run Recreation Center, Henrico VRPS Central Office VRPS Central Office

11:30am 10:30am 10:30am1pm

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Senior Resource Group Fall Conference Advance Registration Still Open!

Visit www.vrps.com for an application.

Deep Run Recreation Center, Henrico

8am-5pm

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VRPS Board Meeting

VRPS Central Office

10am2pm

26 & 27

Thanksgiving Holiday- VRPS Offices Closed

3

Central Service Area Meeting

3

Northern Service Area Holiday Social

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Senior Resource Group Meeting

21

VRPS Board Meeting Foundation of VRPS Annual Meeting & Board Meeting Leadership Orientation Meeting VRPS Board Meeting

November 2009

December 2009

Senior Resource Group Meeting

Richmond Parks & Recreation Hard Times Café –City of Fairfax Augusta County Government Center, Verona VRPS Central Office

10am 4pm- 8pm 11am

Charlottesville VRPS Central Office

10am 10:30am1pm TBA 10am

Leadership Training Institute –LTI 2010

Wintergreen

TBA

6-9

Virginia Senior Games

Greater Richmond Area

TBA

15

VRPS Board Meeting

VRPS Central Office

10am

September 2010

1114 1517

VRPS 56th Annual Conference

Hampton

TBA

National Playground Safety Institute (NPSI)

Hampton

TBA

November 2010

18

VRPS Board Meeting

VRPS Central Office

10am

January 2010 April 2010 May 2010 July 2010

22 27 15 1820

VRPS Central Office

Playground Safety Inspector Certification Course and Exam Save the dates to earn your CPSI or renew!

September 15-17, 2010 Hampton, VA

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Signal Hill Elementary School - Manassas, VA A level and fun playing field . . . isn‘t that what we all strive for? Bankshot Basketball Court has contributed to that at Signal Hill Elementary, the only public school on the East Coast to have the unique basketball court that many have compared to a miniature golf course of basketball goals. The game‘s brilliant design entices children and adults of all ages and physical ability to try their hand. The beauty of it is that everyone can play side-by-side, regardless if they can run or roll onto the court in a wheelchair.

I first saw a Bankshot Basketball Court at a municipal park in our hometown of Manassas, Virginia. I was intrigued by the court filled with approximately 15 basketball goals of varying heights with decorative bankboards of varying size, shape and color. Furthermore, I was amazed at the range in age of children playing on the court. Groups of participants varying in age and ability were having fun and being active. At that time, I was half way through a two-year term as president of the Parent Teacher Association at my sons‘ elementary school. We had just completed the first phase of a playground expansion to provide suitable equipment to engage our upper grade students grade 35. When I saw the Bankshot Court and the way the children, including my own, flocked to play, I knew it would make a great addition to our school playground.

Our school serves students with varying physical and mental abilities. The Bankshot Basketball Court has been a tremendous way to engage all the students in fun, non-aggressive physical activities. Plus, as a mother, I like t h e Submitted By: fact that while the children are having fun and getting exercise, they Jennifer Shephard Signal Hill Elementary are also using their math minds to figure out the best angle to bank School PTA the shot!

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Leadership Training Institute April 18-20, 2010 Wintergreen Resort 2010 Theme: Changing Views Early Bird Rates: (deadline Jan. 31, 2010) VRPS Member $525 Non-Member $575 Standard Rate: (Feb. 2nd—Mar. 31, 2010) VRPS Member $550 Non-Member $600 Registration includes lodging, CEU‘s, all meals (except Monday Lunch), educational sessions, and graduation certificate. There are Undergraduate and Graduate curriculums offered. Scholarships are available.

Application is available at www.vrps.com visit the LTI page!

Further details on applying, contact: Tameka Dillard @ 757-514-7256, tdillard@city.suffolk.va.us Bryan Price @ 434-797-8848, pricebe@ci.danville.va.us Shawn Hopson @ 757-385-2080, shopson@vbgov.com

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Virginia State Parks Director Joe Elton Elected President of the National Association of State Park Directors Stone Mountain, GA Virginia State Parks Director Joe Elton was elected president of the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) at the NASPD annual meeting this week. His two-year term begins immediately and expires in September 2011. ―Joe Elton is widely respected for running one of the best systems in the country despite being one of the most frugally supported,‖ said NASPD Executive Director Dr. Phil McKnelly. ―Many people would be satisfied to just hold their own when confronted with staff and funding shortages, but Joe has forged important relationships with private and non-profit groups and found ways to continually improve Virginia State Parks. His primary focus is on proper stewardship and enhancing the visitor experience for every park guest.‖ Elton has served as the Virginia State Parks Director for 15 years. A board member of the NASPD for six years, he is the immediate past vice president.

California State Parks Director Ruth Coleman was elected Vice President and Massachusetts State Parks Director Priscilla Geigis was elected Secretary-Treasurer during the meeting.

The award-winning Virginia State Parks are operated by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. ―I‘ve known and worked with Joe for many years, dating back to my time on the Virginia Board of Conservation and Recreation,‖ said DCR Director Joseph H. Maroon. ―Joe‘s election to this national office is a reflection of his dedication and service to Virginia‘s outdoors and the nation‘s environment. But just as none of us ever achieves anything alone, I know Joe is supported by a talented, devoted and hardworking staff, who are as proud of him as I am of the vote of confidence this election represents.‖ In 2007 Elton received the NASPD Distinguished Service Award ―in recognition of many years of dedicated service and inspired leadership to the conservation, interpretation and enhancement of our nation‘s natural and cultural state park treasures.‖ A focus of Elton‘s efforts in Virginia State Parks has been the personal experience of each of the more than 7.2 million annual visitors. ―I‘ve not met the person who decided to go to a state park to have a bad time,‖ Elton said. ―Because leisure time is so precious, we must make sure we meet or exceed visitor expectation. Our state and national parks are precious examples of America‘s best natural, cultural and recreational treasures, and they‘re special places that provide a therapeutic tonic for the

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Elton‘s goals as president include elevating the public‘s awareness of the natural and economic value of ‗America‘s State Parks.‘ ―In his new series, Ken Burns celebrates the centennial of the national park system and calls our national parks America‘s Best Idea.

That series will run this fall, and the previews have been fantastic,‖ Elton said. ―If national parks are America‘s Best Idea, then state parks are not far behind. It‘s our state and national parks that create the National System of Parks dreamt of by the founder of the Nation Park Service, Stephen Mather, and his contemporaries.

Elton cites the healthful impact of outdoor recreation and time spent in nature on an individual‘s mind, body and spirit. He also promotes state parks as economic engines that stimulate local and state economies.

Elton is the sixth Virginia State Parks director since the position was created in 1936.

In his 15 years of service, he has overseen the most dynamic period of growth and development in Virginia State Park history. During his tenure, DCR has opened six new parks, and five more are in the planning and development stage. He oversees 35 state parks with a total of 70,000 acres. The parks have more than 500 miles of trails, 1,800 campsites, 260 overnight cabins and lodges, 288 full-time positions and hundreds of seasonal positions.

The state park system is responsible for generating more than $170 million in annual economic impact statewide. In 2001 Virginia State Parks received the national gold medal award for ―excellence in parks and recreation management.‖ Submitted By: Elton is a graduate of Ohio State University, the Commonwealth

By Jim Meisner Management Institute, and the Virginia Executive Institute at VirArticle originally published ginia Commonwealth University‘s Wilder School of Government 9/11/2009 and Public Affairs. He lives in Powhatan, Va., with his wife, Patty.

They have two adult sons, Alex and Lance.

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LEADING THE HEART OF YOUR COMMUNITY IN TIMES OF CHANGE An educational series that provides a journey to rediscover the role you and your agency play in your community.

Live Webcast Dates: November 13, December 11, February 12, April 9, May 14, September TBA all sessions begin at 11:00 a.m. EST On-Demand Archived sessions are included with purchase if date of live session has

STEP 1 – PROVIDE REGISTRANT INFORMATION INDIVIDUAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION: Your Name: Your Agency: Your Email: AGENCY REGISTRATION INFORMATION: Agency Name: Agency Contact: Agency Contact Email:

STEP 2 – SELECT REGISTRATION PACKAGE Registration Options

Investment

Agency – series of 6 sessions*

$595

Individual – series of 6 sessions

$100

Individual – per session

$30 each

# of sessions X $30 each =

Dec. 11

Feb. 12

Circle session date:

Nov. 13

TOTAL

April 9

May 14

Sept. TBA

*please complete attached roster

STEP 4 – RETURN REGISTRATION INFORMATION Registration Deadlines are one week prior to the session date.

Complete the registration form and return to:

FRPA Executive Office 411 Office Plaza Dr – Tallahassee, FL 32301 FAX (850) 942-0712

If registering as an agency be sure to enclose your training roster.

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LEADING THE HEART OF YOUR COMMUNITY IN TIMES OF CHANGE An educational series that provides a journey to rediscover the role you and your agency play in your community.

Live Webcast Dates: November 13, December 11, February 12, April 9, May 14, September TBA all sessions begin at 11:00 a.m. EST On-Demand Archived sessions are included with purchase if date of live session has passed.

FOR EVERY SITE THAT WILL BE VIEWING THE SIMULCAST, A SEPARATE PASSWORD WILL BE SENT VIA EMAIL. PLEASE PROVIDE BELOW, THE CONTACT NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS OF THE INDIVIDUAL COORDINATING EACH VIEWING SITE. SITE # 1

Site Coordinator Name (Please Print)

Site Coordinator Email (Please Print)

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 make additional copies if needed

11

# of Individuals Viewing at this Site

VIRGINIA RECREATION & PARK SOCIETY

PRESIDENT’S NEWSLETTER Virginia Recreation & Park Society 6372 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Suite 109 Mechanicsville, VA 23111 www.vrps.com

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October 2009 Edition