The Association Report

Kevin Stiens

The End of a Challenging Year; Looking Toward 2021

Jim Headley

As 2020 comes to a close, it has been the most challenging year our profession has faced – we have dealt with how to interface with the public while managing public safety and COVID-19. While this year has been extremely challenging, Jim and I have marveled at the work all of you have done throughout the state to improve the quality of life of those you serve. Our communities need parks and recreation more than ever and you have met that need. Parks and recreation professionals have gone above and beyond to open facilities and offer programs to ensure all are included and everyone is invited to participate…even in the midst of a pandemic. Hosting our Annual Conference, in Spartanburg, was an incredible accomplishment. While there were many logistical challenges and COVID protocols to implement, our conference was a tremendous success. SCRPA would like to thank all of you that made the 2020 Annual Conference a success as we could not have done it without you. We would like to thank Jon Woodsby and the rest of the conference committee, for a tremendous job hosting the conference. We had 110 delegates this year representing 36% of our usual attendance. We also had 29 companies taking 32 booth spaces representing 49% of our normal spaces taken.

In addition to our annual conference, SCRPA hosted several other events over the past couple of months: • The CPSI course and exam were offered virtually and we had 20 participants. • The 18th Annual SCRPA Golf Tournament was held on

October 22 at LinRick Golf Course and was a tremendous success with 18 teams. We would like to thank Richland County

Recreation Commission for hosting the event this year. A special thanks also goes to Dustin Jordan for his leadership in the event’s success. We are excited to announce that this year’s golf tournament set the record for the most money ever raised with $13,956.85! We sincerely appreciate all of you who donated their time, got hole/tent sponsors and door prizes. It all set the new bar for future fundraisers. • Continue to represent you in areas of reopening procedures for your programs and facilities. • Served on the Municipal Association of SC Legislative Committee.

SCRPA is actively working on the following professional development opportunities for 2021:

• Park Maintenance Institute

A one day Institute this year, scheduled on January 20 at

Saluda Shoals Park • The Programming Summit

To be held on Hilton Head Island February 24-26 • The Southern Leisure Management and Trends Institute

To be held in Columbia February 4-5 It has been a pleasure to serve you this year and we would like to wish each of you a wonderful holiday season. As always, please let us know if we can ever be of any assistance.

Scenes from the 2020 socially distanced Annual Conference