August 2016 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 Highlights Recent Training Highlights Aquatics Resource Group page

August 2016

Training Opportunities

NSA Update

The 2016 NSA Work Plan details several objectives to reach three main goals of education, communication and participation.

Building Blocks for Active Older Adults, October 7 The Changing World of Aquatics, September 13

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Message from the President

n 2016 Annual Conference Roanoke, November 5-8, 2016, Registration

Underway

n Over 2,000 athletes participated in the 2016 Senior Games

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VRPS Management Conference February 26-28, 2017 page 6

Quit Now Virginia pages

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The VRPS Board is committed to keeping our members informed and engaged, so we would like to take this opportunity to invite each member or a potential member to…….

n A Big Thank you to Newport News for being the Senior Games Host n 2017 Senior Games will be held in Henrico n Annual Memberships have increased n Awards & Citations Co-Chairs, Jason Bookheimer & Sandra Kellogg n 2016 Election Ballot is available on the website, please take time & vote n Cunningham & Associates will offer a one-time scholarship in honor of

Steve Buschor

n Cunningham will celebrate 50 years of service and will sponsor The

Foundation Social during the conference

ASK THE BOARD

n Congratulations & Welcome to the following new Directors:

• Harrisonburg, Luanne Santangelo • Chesterfield, Dr. James Worley • Fluvanna, Aaron Spitzer • Botetourt, Jim Farmer n NRPA Congress Room Block is set

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If there is anything members are not sure of and would like to know please send your ASK THE BOARD information to the 2016 Board of Directors via email to board@vrps.com.

VRPS Highlights Recent Training Highlights Aquatics Resource Group The Aquatics Resource Group has been going ‘swimmingly’!

We ran a workshop just before the summer season hit, highlighting the need for good communication and training for camps going to the water. Taking campers to a pool can be the most dangerous thing the children will do, and camp directors, counsellors and staff need to know what to expect, what to watch for, and what to demand from an aquatic facility. Thirteen people gathered at Cub Run RECenter to discuss this important safety topic.

The Annual Virginia Virtual Lifeguard Games is ongoing, results will be decided soon and our awesome state aquatic participants will be highlighted at conference with spirit videos and awards.

The Changing World of Aquatics, our fall workshop, is lined up for September 13, 2016 at the Reston Association Headquarters.

We have invited Shawn DeRosa, an aquatic risk management expert and current Director of Aquatics for Penn State University to speak on several aquatic topics. Join us for lunch, learning and CEU’s!

We have ordered cool swag and are planning more fun and games for the VRPS annual conference. By November many of us will be back to our off season, and ready to enjoy some much needed downtime and networking in Roanoke. See you all there!

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Quit Now Ad Design_APROVED

Training Opportunities Register now, before these opportunties pass you by!

THE CHANGING WORLD OF AQUATICS Shawn DeRosa, JD. TOPICS INCLUDE

TUESDAY, September 13

Lifeguard shortages Managing staff relationships Depositions legal proceedings Business Etiquette for Aquatics staff Turning adolescents into professionals Changes in the industry

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Reston Association Headquarters 12001 Sunrise Valley Drive Reston, VA 20191 703-435-6532

CEU APPROVAL COMING SOON

Registration OPEN NOW Two FULL Scholarships available – deadline to apply July 13 Early Registration -- Through July 13 $90 for VRPS Members $110 for Non-members Regular Registration -- Through September 7 $95 for VRPS Members $115 for Non-members Late Registration -- Through September 13 $95 for VRPS Members $115 for Non-members

NOTE: CEU fee not included in registration.

Light breakfast, coffee, beverages, and lunch included in registration fee.

Speaker, Shawn DeRosa, is an aquatics risk management expert and current Director of Aquatics for Penn State University. He has advised and created aquatics training programs and served as an expert witness in legal cases.

A recipient of the Aquatics International Power 25 designation and Association of Aquatics Professionals Distinguished Service Award he is a dynamic and experienced speaker.

Please submit all ADA requests at least 7 days prior to event. willa@reston.org 703-435-6532

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Training Opportunities

Membership— Leadership, Networking, Collaboration, Newsletter, Resources, and Support!

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The Connection…

Senior Resource Group Newsletter

SENIOR RESOURCE GROUP CONFERENCE

Building Blocks for Active Older Adults Friday, October 7, 2016

8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Bow Creek Community Recreation Center, 3427 Clubhouse Road, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Early member registration $45 Early non-member registration $55 Early student $20 CEU’s $10 Early Registration is now open, ending August 7, 2016 *Regular Registration opens August 8, 2016 *Late Registration begins September 17, 2016 *Rate increases Lunch included!

Scholarships available

http://datadsgn.formstack.com/forms/2016_srg_fall_workshop_scholarship www.vrps.com SRG has a block of 10 rooms at the Holiday Inn Virginia Beach – Norfolk Hotel & Conference Center for the fall SRG Conference on Thursday October 6, 2016. Mention VRPS! The address is: 5655 Greenwich Road Virginia Beach, Virginia

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(757) 499-4400 (800) 567-3856

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The block will be held until September 15, 2016, or until filled. www.HIVABeachNorfolk.com The rate is: $89.00, plus 14% sales tax plus $1.00 per night, per room lodging tax. page

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Keynote speaker Denise Scruggs, ADC, CDP, CADDCT, Director of Beard Center on Aging at Lynchburg College will share the knowledge that she has accumulated over 24+ years in the field of gerontology.

Denise will discuss the six dimensions of wellness as they relate to parks and recreation programming, generational differences between current 50+ participants and the impact generational differences have on programming, marketing, and services for older participants and identify building blocks for successful older adult programs.

You will also hear from other distinguished guest speakers to include Dr. E. Ayn Welleford, Department Chair of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Gerontology, Lynne Berg, Director of Primeplus Norfolk Senior Center, Shirley Confino-Rehder, Certified Interior Designer and Business Owner of Universal Design, and Ian Phillips of Play-Well TEKnologies.

Sessions are scheduled to run concurrently.

EXPERIENCE the Challenge!

Discover an engaging new outdoor fitness course that brings families together, encourages them to become more fit, and creates an experience they will come back to time and time again.

800.438.2780 cunninghamrec.com

NSA Update

The Northern Service Area has been committed to increase participation and progress is showing. Efforts to expand our “NSA Champion” initiative and create more contacts, liaisons and partners has led to NSA meetings attendance doubling. More importantly, information is being shared to more agencies, VRPS, and the service area. The 2016 NSA Work Plan details several objectives to reach three main goals of education, communication and participation.

Our winter social included a brainstorming game to explore workshops and social ideas. As a result, two educational workshops were held in May and were well received. The first workshop was on the topic of starting and managing scout programs and the second workshop covered special event’s operational needs. The remaining 2016 workshops are covering topics of “Marketing” and “Improving evaluation skills”. The marketing workshop is to be held in September workshop is followed by lunch and a “Foot Golf” social at Pinecrest Golf Course in Annandale, VA, The “evaluation” workshop is taken place in October, which follows our year-ending NSA meeting when 2017 goals and objectives will be discussed.

One of the best parts of 2016 is the visiting and sharing with peers. We have also had meeting and workshops at great facilities and parks within our service area. Meetings, socials and workshops have taken place at Frying Pan Farm Park and attendees toured Kidwell Farm during lunch. The April NSA meeting was held at the Reston Association Headquarters and the room was packed. Our gracious hosts informed us on the great programs and facilities they are offering to a large audience. The June meeting was held at Splashdown in Manassas and participants were met with pastries, drinks, and a ton of hospitality from the incredible site staff. They also provide a guided tour of the facility at the end of the meeting. As a remembrance of the great time spent with these wonderful folks, staff handed out small gift bags to NSA members. Future locations for the activities in 2016 include Green Spring Gardens and Stacy Sherwood Center in the City of Fairfax. Of course, the NSA will also be represented at the annual conference in Roanoke.

As the second half of the year begins, NSA continues to get people involved and utilize the benefits of VRPS. Plans, activities, and involvement continues to promote personal and professional development. We look to reach out to new and exciting partnering opportunities. We want our recent success to our goals to be sustainable.

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VRPS Management Conference The VRPS Management Conference is returning to the beautiful City of Suffolk Sunday, February 26 – Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront and Conference Center! The 2017 theme is “Innovate, Motivate, and Collaborate: Making Management Fun”! We are excited to host this event and look forward to a wonderful learning and networking experience. The Management Conference is an excellent opportunity for new and/or experienced professionals to engage in sessions that will enhance their professional development and reignite our passion for our great profession. Our presenters come from various professional backgrounds not only from award winning parks and recreation agencies, but also educational institutions such as Old Dominion University, Clafin University, North Carolina State and Virginia Wesleyan College. Our host hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront sits adjacent to the historic Nansemond River and provides a free buffet breakfast as a part of your stay. I hope you are feeling lucky because Suffolk Parks and Recreation is sponsoring a “Casino Night Social” on Monday night complete with game tables, prizes, food and fun! Lunch is also included Monday and Tuesday. There are so many reasons why you should register for this conference! Not only will you receive quality sessions but you will have fun while networking with other professionals from all over the state. To receive updates on conference, like us on Facebook (VRPS Management Conference)! I hope to see you in Suffolk in 2017!

February 26-28, 2017 Suffolk, Virginia Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront and Conference Center

VRPS Management Conference Commitee Lakita Watson, CPRP, Suffolk Parks and Recreation (Co-Chair)

Jason Jones, CPRP, Suffolk Parks and Recreation (Logistics)

Mark Furlo, CPRP, Portsmouth Parks, Recreation and Leisure Services (Co-Chair)

Jason Pittman, CPRP, Suffolk Parks and Recreation (Volunteers)

Mark Palmachuck, Portsmouth Parks, Recreation and Leisure Services (Sponsorships) Theresa Earles, Suffolk Division of Tourism (Marketing) Emily Upton, Suffolk Parks and Recreation (Social) Helen Gabriel, Suffolk Parks and Recreation (Logistics)

Ashley Jones, Norfolk Parks, Recreation and Open Space (Education) Tameka Williams, Suffolk Parks and Recreation (Registration) Jim Stutts, VRPS (Registration) Margaret Thorne, VRPS Board President

Lakita S. Watson, Co-Chair, 2017 VRPS Management Conference

LaTanya Turner, VRPS Board Vice President

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