Fall Trainings Just a Small Part of the Upcoming CPRS Calendar

by Frank Carson • CPRS President

This fall looks to be a very exciting time for our regions, districts and sections. So many outstanding trainings and local events returning inperson. The Leadership Summit on September 15 in Burlingame will be led by our state board President-Elect, Doug Grove. There will be the School of Rec at the end of September hosted by the Recreation Section in West Hollywood. The Aquatics Section will be hosting the California Aquatic Management School (CAMS) in Lake Arrowhead mid-October. The always popular Maintenance Management School in Lake Arrowhead in November will be successfully returning in-person.

So many things to be excited about! The month of August in the City of El Cajon we recognize that staff may start getting a little fatigued from summer full-day programs, so we try and surprise them with #AugustAmbush. I first learned of this concept attending the NRPA’s Director’s School. It’s where parks and recreation administrators go out into the field and surprise staff with treats and thank you for working so hard throughout the summer. We have a large hashtag sign and the staff really appreciate the ice cream treats.

Over the past seven years this has become so popular that staff talk amongst themselves and guess when I and their parks and recreation managers will come out with treats and for a photo with them to post on our social media. It’s a good reminder also that staff want to be recognized. A few other agencies in the region have copied this concept, such as Mark Nix with the City of Mission Viejo. He created #SeptemberSurprise with the hashtag sign and everything. It is important that we celebrate our staff’s successes. We need them to be as successful as we are. Side note, just make sure you have staff present before you go. I may have made that mistake once.

I want to thank Mark Brunner, President of CPRS District 2, for being the first CPRS District to host a Frank 5K. If you remember, my plan is to visit all 15 Districts within CPRS and run, walk or hike a 5K in their district in an informal setting. Mark and a group of folks from District 2 met with me in the Auburn Area in June to hike the Forresthill Bridge and Lake Clementine Dam. To say it offered amazing sites is an understatement. If you are an avid hiker, the Forresthill Bridge is the tallest bridge in California and it offers great views hiking under it.

There is some exciting news from our A-Team with Cindy Bagley as the Chair working with our Lobbyist Doug Houston. CPRS sponsored AB 1789, where money has been designated for trails for local agencies. This is a big feather in our cap, so to speak. This can open new doors for us to have greater conversations and lead greater efforts to secure more funding to expand and reinvigorate our services.

There is also CPRS’ JEDI Counsel with Tiarra Warner, Adam Chow and Doug Grove representing the state board along with members of CPRS. JEDI: Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. We are very excited for the work that is coming from this group and look forward to their continued continued on page 50

Frank Carson is the 2022-23 CPRS President and the Director of Parks & Recreation for the City of El Cajon.

2022-2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT

Frank Carson City of El Cajon 619-441-1756 fcarson@cityofelcajon.us

PRESIDENT-ELECT

Doug Grove, RLA, ASLA, LEED AP RHA Landscape Architects 951-781-1930 dougg@rhala.com

VICE PRESIDENT Kyla Brown Riverside County Regional Park & Open Space District 951-955-4306 kylabrown@rivco.org

SECRETARY-TREASURER

Nicole Acquisti, CPRP City of Burlingame 650-558-7337 nacquisti@burlingame.org

REGION 1 REPRESENTATIVE (Dist 1, 2, 3)

Adam Chow, CPRP City of San Ramon 925-973-3321 achow@sanramon.ca.gov

REGION 2 REPRESENTATIVE (Dist 4, 5, 6)

Lauren Merriman City of Campbell 408-866-2107 laurenm@campbellca.gov

REGION 3 REPRESENTATIVE (Dist 7, 8, 15)

Lauren Cronk North of the River Recreation & Park District 661-392-2000 lcronk@norrecreation.org

REGION 4 REPRESENTATIVE (Dist 11, 13, 14)

Victoria Reyna, CPRP Jurupa Community Services District 951-727-3524 vreyna@jcsd.us

REGION 5 REPRESENTATIVE (Dist 9, 10, 12)

Jenni Worsham City of Fountain Valley 714-593-4447 jenni.worsham@fountainvalley.org

SECTION REPRESENTATIVES (Administrators, Recreation and Recreation Therapy) Tiarra Warner City of Rohnert Park 707-588-3407 twarner@rpcity.org

(Aging, Aquatics, Development & Operations and Educators)

Teri deRosier Cosumnes Community Services District 916-405-5605 TerideRosier@csdparks.com

Please contact any Board Member with questions or comments