Spring 2014 VRPS Magazine by Jim Stutts

Virginia Parks & Recreation Official Publication of the Virginia Recreation & Park Society

Virginia Senior Games May 14 - 17, 2014

newport news, va

Spring 2014

Official Publication of the Virginia Recreation & Park Society

Volume 63 spring 2014

Virginia Recreation & Park Society 6372 Mechanicsville Turnpike Suite 109 Mechanicsville, VA 23111 Phone: 804-730-9447 Fax: 804-730-9455 vrps@vrps.com www.vrps.com

Executive Director James C. Stutts, CAE, CPRP Part-Time Assistants Karen Florey Nancy Turnage Office Manager Marlene Bresee

VIRGINIA RECREATION & PARK SOCIETY

60th Annual Conference

Editor Amy-Jo Hendrix, CPRP Send Articles to:ahendrix@viennava.gov or AmyJo Hendrix, CPRP, Town of Vienna Parks and Recreation, 120 Cherry St. SE, Vienna, VA 22180

Omni Homestead

Virginia Parks and Recreation is published three times per year by the Virginia Recreation & Park Society, Inc. VRPS is a non-profit professional organization supported by membership dues and contributions. VRPS is affiliated with the National Recreation & Park Association.

December 6 - 9, 2014

Subscription Information. Members receive the magazine as part of their annual membership dues. The magazine is available by subscription for $25 per year. Requests for subscription should be directed to VRPS, 6372 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Suite 109, Mechanicsville, VA 23111.

Hot Springs, VA

www.VRPS.com

Editorial Statement: Statements of fact and opinions are the responsibility of the authors alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of the officers, members or staff of the Virginia Recreation and Park Society or the Foundation of the Virginia Recreation and Park Society.

Mission The mission of the Virginia Recreation and Park Society 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.

Virginia Recreation & Park Society

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Contents

Features & Department 4

Message from the President

2014 VRPS Board, Key Leaders and Staff

Welcome Back Kirk Kincannon

VRPS 2014 Calendar of Events

News from the City of Hopewell

New Tennis Courts & a New Marina Office for the City of Hopewell

The LTI Challenge

News from Fairfax County

News from LTI

10 News from VRPS The Devil is in the Details 12 News from the City of Portsmouth

Member Profile: Dr. Wanda Gill, EDS, MPA

14 News from the Town of Herndon Member Profile: Amanda Herzog 15 News from the City of Norfolk Norfolk Partners with Local Museum to Provide Creative Learning

Experience During After School Program

16 News from Fredericksburg

Urban Trail Ride in Historic Fredericksburg

17 News from the City of Norfolk Norfolk Calls on Local Photographers to Preserve History

Cover: Photos are courtesy of Virginia Senior Games Facebook page

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n Virginia Recreation & Park Society

A message from the president

As many of you may remember from the Annual Conference, I want to focus this year on member involvement and that we need to get more members involved in the activities of the society. I have heard over the years that the Board of VRPS is disconnected from the membership. I can tell you that in my time on the Board we are anything but disconnected. The members of the Board are more involved than ever and are doing more to insure the success of VRPS than ever before. I have seen the number of members decline at a slower rate than the number of members involved in the activities of the Society and this has lead the Board to be even more involved. There are a great number of opportunities for you to become involved in the activities of the Society and help grow 4

Virginia Recreation & Park Society

You will only get value out of your membership in equal portions to what you put into it. The more you get involved the greater your enthusiasm and you become a champion for VRPS. VRPS needs to mean more to you than something to put on your resume. And as a champion you will show by your actions that VRPS is your professional society and that you are willing to give of your time to make it succeed and people will follow you. This is how our society will grow and flourish. So I ask you again, get involved, become a

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Aquatics Nicole Marko, AFO Cultural Diversity Athletics Seniors Jennifer Collins Outdoors Therapeutic Recreation Julie Saum

Fairfax County Park Authority

703-281-6501

nicole.marko@fairfaxcounty.gov

Arlington Co. of Parks & Rec

804-751-4135

JonesJ@chesterfield.gov

Woodrow Wilson Rehab Center

703-332-7270

julie.saum@wwrc.virginia.gov

Annual Conference Foundation Awards & Citations Hershey Track & Field LTI 2014 Management Conference Professional Education Virginia Senior Games Legislative

Cindy Roeder Laura McCarty, CPRP Greg Sager Pamela Sheets, CPRP, CPSI Paul W. Berryman Nancy Ellis, CPRP Jane Shelhorse, CPRP Lakita Watson, CPRP Shannon Moore, CPRP Karen Washington Kevin Myers Jim Stutts, CPRP, CAE Art Thatcher, CPRP

Herndon Parks & Rec Northern VA Regional Park Authority Hanover County Parks & Rec Shenandoah Co. Parks & Rec Virginia Beach Parks & Rec James City County Parks & Rec Louisa County Parks & Rec Suffolk Parks & Rec Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation Newport News Parks, Rec & Tourism Newport News Parks, Rec & Tourism Virginia Rec & Park Society GreenPlay LLC

703-435-6800x2123 cindy.roeder@herndon-va.gov 703-359-4614 lmccarty@vrpa.org 804-365-4690 rgsager@hanovercounty.gov 540-459-6777 psheets@shenandoahcountyva.us 757-426-0022 pberryma@vbgov.com 757-259-5370 nancy.ellis@jamescitycountyva.gov 540-967-4420 jshelhorse@louisa.org 757-514-7251 lwatson@suffolkva.us 757-385-0420 smoore@vbgov.com 757-926-1400 kwashington@nngov.com 757-926-1414 kmyers@nngov.com 804-730-9447 jim@vrps.com 757-592-3103 art@greenplayllc.com

CEO Office Manager Part-time Assistant Part-time Assistant

Jim Stutts, CPRP, CAE Marlene P. Bresee Karen Florey Nancy Turnage

Virginia Rec & Park Society Virginia Rec & Park Society Virginia Rec & Park Society Virginia Rec & Park Society

804-730-9447 804-730-9447 804-730-9447 804-730-9447

Executive Board

champion and help lead us into the future. Here are a few of the highlights you can look forward to in 2014. We are moving forward with Strategic Plan that started under the leadership of Cindy Roeder and continued with Katey Legg last year. This year we have already begun planning several member engagement sessions across the state as well as non-member/former member engagements to get input on what you want to see our Society become in the future. LTI is planned for this April at Wintergreen with a great schedule of educational sessions and a waiting list for attendance. Athletic Fields 401 is in full swing with four sessions being held around the state as well as two CPSI courses. Newport News will play host again to the Virginia Senior Games, they set the bar high last year and there is every indication that they will exceed their results this year. Finally, come join us in December as the Omni Homestead Resort plays host to the Annual Conference. The state-wide committee is putting together a world class educational program that will only be matched by the world class surrounding. In closing, thank you for the privilege of serving as your President this year. If you are currently involved in the activities of VRPS, thank you. We cannot do it without you. If you have not become involved, please consider finding one of the many avenues for involvement and do it. Become a champion for VRPS and help us grow to new heights in 2014 and beyond.

Board of Directors

757-592-3103 art@greenplayllc.com 804-365-4697 mgdurrer@hanovercounty.gov 757-393-8481x4102 thornem@portsmouthva.gov 804-864-7897 rita.miller@vdh.virginia.gov 804-730-9447 jim@vrps.com 757-592-3103 art@greenplayllc.com 757-393-8481x4102 thornem@portsmouthva.gov 804-693-1270 klegg@gloucesterva.info 703-969-2026 cynthia.messinger@fairfaxcounty.gov 757-385-1122 mkalvort@vbgov.com 757-474-8877 kdwillia@vbgov.com 804-365-4697 mgdurrer@hanovercounty.gov 703-385-7853 mmccarty@fairfaxva.gov 757-357-5951 lturner@isleofwight.net 804-864-7897 rita.miller@vdh.virginia.gov 804-730-9447 jim@vrps.com 804-290-0305 rei30@co.henrico.va.us 757-514-7251 lwatson@suffolkva.us 703-228-4735 lstuler@arlingtonva.us 434-455-582 maggie.mace@lynchburgva.gov 540-433-9168 lynnt@harrisonburgva.gov

Enterprise Group Chairs

President, Virginia Recreation & Park Society

our membership. By participating at the Service Area and Resource Group level, you can attend meetings, serve on committees, attend and support their activities, and serve on the Board as a leader. In addition to these, there are some more targeted opportunities with the Enterprise Groups that support the specialized functions of the Society. The Enterprise Groups include the Annual Conference, Virginia Senior Games, LTI, the Management Conference, Hershey Track and Field, the Foundation, Awards and Citations, and my all-time favorite the Legislative Committee. These opportunities require more time commitment and teamwork approach to the betterment of the membership as a whole. This is the next step in your membership involvement in the activities of the Society. The top of the involvement pyramid is the Board of Directors, an elected position by the VRPS membership that recognizes your special set of skills and your willingness to give back to VRPS.

GreenPlay LLC Hanover County Parks & Rec Portsmouth Parks, Rec & Leisure Services VA Dept. of Health Virginia Rec & Park Society GreenPlay LLC Portsmouth Parks, Rec & Leisure Services Gloucester Parks, Rec & Tourism Fairfax County Park Authority Virginia Beach Parks & Rec Virginia Beach Parks & Rec Hanover County Parks & Rec City of Fairfax Parks & Rec Isle of Wight Parks & Rec VADept. of Health Virginia Rec. & Park Society Henrico Division of Rec & Parks Suffolk Parks & Rec Arlington Co. Dept. of Parks & Rec Lynchburg Parks & Rec Harrisonburg Parks & Rec

VRPS Staff

Art Thatcher, CPRP, AFO, MPA

his has been quite the winter, the Polar Vortex has covered Virginia with more snow than we’ve seen in many years. It has canceled schools, delayed work and created issues across the state. VRPS has not been spared from this Polar Vortex, the Leadership Orientation has been canceled twice because of snow that has blanketed the state. The snow has not deterred the Board from beginning its plans for the coming year. We held our first Board meeting in January which I conducted via Skype from my temporary office in Carbon Valley, Colorado. I am pleased to announce that Marcy Durrer will be your Vice President and Margaret Thorne will be your Treasurer on the Executive Board for 2014.

Service Area Chairs

Springing into 2014!

President Vice President Treasurer Lay Member Executive Director President Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Lay Member Executive Director Central Eastern Northern Southwestern Western

Resource Group Chairs

2014 vrps boards key leaders & staff Art Thatcher, CPRP Marcy Durrer, CPRP Margaret Thorne Rita Miller Jim Stutts, CPRP, CAE Art Thatcher, CPRP Margaret Thorne Katey Legg, CPRP Cindy Messinger,CPRP Michael Kalvort, CPRE Kathy Williams, CTRS Marcy Durrer, CPRP Michael McCarty, CPRP LaTanya Turner Rita Miller Jim Stutts, CPRP, CAE Aaron Reidmiller, CPRP Lakita Watson, CPRP Lesley Stuler Maggie Mace, CPRP, AFO Lynn Turner

jim@vrps.com marlene@vrps.com karen@vrps.com nancy@vrps.com

Board Liaisons Central Service Area Eastern Service Area Northern Service Area Southwestern Service Area Western Service Area Aquatics Athletics Cultural Diversty Outdoors: Seniors Therapeutic Recreation LTI

Marcy Durrer Margaret Thorne, Michael Kalvort Mike McCarty, Cindy Messinger LaTanya Turner LaTanya Turner Cindy Messinger

Professional Education Virginia Senior Games Hershey Track & Field Legislation Awards & Citations Annual Conference ‘14 Foundation Management Conference ’15

Jim Stutts Jim Stutts, Art Thatcher Michael Kalvort Art Thatcher, Jim Stutts Art Thatcher Katey Legg Jim Stutts Jim Stutts

Mary Durrer, Jim Stutts Kathy Williams Margaret Thorne, Marcy Durrer, Michael Kalvort

Revised 2/10/14 SPRING 2014

n Virginia Recreation & Park Society

news from fairfax county

of Supervisors confirmed the appointment of Kirk W. Kincannon as director of the Fairfax County Park Authority.

Kirk served as the director of recreation, parks and cultural activities for the City of Alexandria, from 2004-09. During his tenure as director, Alexandria received its national accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies. He also served as deputy director of parks, natural resources and capital projects with Alexandria for four years. In addition, Kincannon spent five years as the director of parks, recreation and tourism for Wythe County, Va.

Most recently Kirk served as Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Boulder, CO. During his tenure he has successfully completed two strategic planning processes. The first focused on improvements to park planning, and the second plan focused on internal department re-alignment and streamlining, which resulted in improved, more strategic service provision to the public. Kincannon is well-known for his ability to engage with citizen groups. He has successfully leveraged both public and private partnerships in order to supplement park and recreation opportunities for the community. When asked what are you most excited about in returning to Virginia? Kirk said “Reconnecting with all my VRPS family of colleagues and friends, coming back to work in my home state and home county of Fairfax and working for the Fairfax County Park Authority.”

Become a champion for VRPS! Visit www.vrps.com or call the VRPS Office at 804-730-9447 or email vrps@vrps.com for volunteer opportunities. 6

Virginia Recreation & Park Society

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march 2014

irk began his park and recreation career in Fairfax County, first serving as a recreation coordinator with the Town of Herndon for four years before coming to the Fairfax County Park Authority for 10. His work at the Park Authority included progressively more responsible positions at Mount Vernon RECenter and Lee District Park and RECenter. He also served as manager of Lake Accotink Park for seven years.

The Fairfax County Board

april 2014

Welcome Back Kirk Kincannon

Mon, 3/17 Tues, 3/18 Fri, 3/21 Mon, 3/24 Tues, 3/25 Tues, 3/25 Wed, 3/26 Thurs, 3/27

Wed, 4/2 10 am Wed, 4/2 - Fri,4/4 Tues, 4/15 1pm Fri, 4/18 10am Thurs, 4/24 10am Thurs, 4/24 10am Sun, 4/27 - Tues, 4/29

ARG Round Table Workshop - Harrisonburg, VA CPSI - Newport News VSG Meeting - Newport News, VA 2014 AC Meeting - VRPS Central Office CSA Meeting - Hopewell, VA Board Meeting - VRPS Central Office 2014 Leadership Training Institute

may 2014

VRPS March - may 2014 Calendar of events 10am 1pm 10am 8am 8am 10 am 8am 8am

WSA OAP Workshop - Harrisonburg, VA VSG Meeting - Newport News, VA 2014 AC Meeting - VRPS Central Office Athletic Fields - Salem Athletic Fields - Chesapeake ARG Round Table Workshop - Reston, VA Athletic Fields - Henrico Athletic Fields - City of Fairfax

Fri, 5/9 10am Wed, 5/14 - Sat,5/17 Mon, 5/26

2014 AC Meeting - VRPS Central Office 2014 Virginia Senior Games VRPS Central Office Closed

news from the city of hopewell

New Tennis Courts & a New Marina Office for the City of Hopewell

opewell Schools along with Recreation and Parks teamed up to build 8 tennis courts at the Hopewell High School location. Due to an expansion of the high school the 6 court system had to be demolished. In an effort to host future district, regional and state tournaments it was agreed that we should build the 8 court system. Courts will be open to the public as well in early 2014 as we

are working to place a walkway to the courts as well as adding bleacher pads to the site. The City of Hopewell is investing $1.5 million in upgrades to the Hopewell City Marina. In doing so we are building a Marina office/store on site, adding a second launch ramp, a canoe launch, updated the parking lot to include lighting as well as new bulkhead in the canal area. SPRING 2014

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News from LTI

The LTI Challenge By Derek Stamey, CPRP, Director Goochland County Parks, Recreation and Facilities

s recreation and park professionals we are afforded (with great gratitude to VRPS) a plethora of professional development avenues. Annual conferences, service area training opportunities, and other workshops abound on the state, regional, and local docket. These opportunities are beneficial and I would encourage any recreation professional to take advantage of them when possible. But what about the Leadership Training Institute? Why this specific opportunity? With all of the options out there, why LTI? LTI is the signature professional development program offered by the Virginia Recreation and Parks Society and is developed by other recreation professionals, each with diverse backgrounds in the field. The efforts of VRPS and the LTI Board lead to a series of hands-on team building activities, impactful and enthusiastic speakers, and engaging networking opportunities. Personally, my 2008 LTI attendance forged an experience that I recount to my staff as a cornerstone of where I am as a professional. It was an intense exposure into the world of professional self evaluation, and development at multiple levels; the first true steps I took toward becoming a complete, well rounded, and equipped professional.

The efforts of VRPS and the LTI Board lead to a series of hands-on team building activities, impactful and enthusiastic speakers, and engaging networking opportunities. So why is LTI the right course for you? Where to start with the experience….was it the beautiful mountainous setting? Was it the diverse group of professionals seeking a common threaded sense of leadership enlightenment? Or the handful of great speakers and team building activities that commenced quickly upon arrival in the Virginia mountains? All of the above, my fellow professional, all of the above. The enthusiastic guest speakers and session leaders will stick with you forever. The echoes of Coach Joe’s “not on my menu” speech still reverberates in my head and even finds its way into staff meetings. I still have his laminated business card in my desk drawer whenever I need to be reminded to focus on the things that are important at that moment and not to dwell on the curveballs that life throws your way.

Since my time with LTI, I was lucky enough to be appointed as the Director of Parks and Recreation in Goochland County in 2009 and have steadily worked hand in hand with staff to bring the department to where it is today as the Department of Parks, Recreation, & Facilities in 2014. Without a doubt, my experiences from my time on the mountain helped me and my staff on that journey. For those seeking to develop themselves professionally or further their careers, make LTI a priority.

For supervisors, managers, and administrators, seek out those in your organization that strive to excel professionally and make a commitment in cultivating their talent and desires to shine in our field. Your organization and your staff will benefit from it. Our profession will benefit from it. I challenge you all to learn today, lead tomorrow, and inspire forever!

Learn Today, Lead Tomorrow, Inspire Forever.

Leadership Training Institute • Wintergreen Resort Register Today • April 27 - 29, 2014

www.vrps.com/EducationEvents/LTILeadershipTrainingInstitute.aspx 8

Virginia Recreation & Park Society

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News from vrps

The Devil is in the Details By: D. Michael Pfahl

ccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 64.5 million people volunteered through or for an organization at least once between September 2011 and September 2012. But apparently, we are hazardously short of reaching the bar when it comes to protecting everyone in our volunteer workforce.

Parks, Recreation, and Conservation agencies are among the most active users of a valuable and essential volunteer workforce. Let’s face it, without volunteers, many of us just couldn’t get the job done. But, lurking behind the eagerness of this vast army of help is a serious problem; some of the troops are tainted. We have a dangerous situation when people whose background includes serious encounters with law enforcement agencies.

It is evident that more incongruous volunteers are attempting to gain access to parks, recreation and conservation programs. In February 2013 alone, one of our best known private screening companies that have shown their corporate commitment to providing above average background check services to our profession, reports a staggering numbers of “hits”. They uncovered 945 Felonies (Murder, manslaughter, major drug offenses, robbery, etc.) and 3,065 Misdemeanors (Assault, battery, DUI’s, simple drug possessions, etc.) among volunteers seeking placement in a community based parks and recreation program or service. This number has increased by 93.5% in just over 2 years. What is even more startling is every one of these individuals gave consent to have their background checked. Consider the huge untraceable number who likely retracted their volunteer application when being told there would be a background check. “Excuse me, did you say the program would also be on Saturdays? I’m sorry; I have to work every other Saturday.”

Parks and Recreation or Human Resources professionals must ask, “How did one company find 4,010 volunteers in one

Virginia Recreation & Park Society

month with troubled criminal histories” and “How many people have we unknowingly approved, and even granted access you our most vulnerable populations, because they fell through a crack in our system?” It is simple for any agency and organization to say, “We background check our volunteers.” What is not so simple is conducting a background check that actually provides the information we need to make the right hiring decisions. The irrefutable fact is that there is no “perfect” background check system. However, there are a variety of multiple steps that can be taken by skilled investigators that when collectively combined gets us as close as possible to a perfect background check. There are screening companies that will advertise that their background check is “national.” Be cautious and take the time to dig deeper. This may be code for a database only search. Stopping a criminal background investigation based on information found, or not found, in a national database is not considered by the courts as exercising due diligence and is not accepted in the employment screening world.

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Nationally acclaimed safe hiring expert and Attorney Les Rosen literally wrote the book on background checks. In a recent article titled, National Criminal Databases No Substitution for County Courthouse Searches during Real Background Checks, Mr. Rosen wrote, “Employers also have to realize if they are getting a real “screening” with a background check or if they are getting a “scanning” or a “scamming.” The only way that remote computer access represents a best practice is if the information being accessed is the same as going to the court house. If it is not the functional equivalent, then an employer is not getting a real background check. At best, they are getting a “scan” of what information may be available, but it is not complete or up to date. A “scam” is where a background screening firm sells such remote access as the real thing when in fact it is not. Employers selecting a background firm that advertises quick turnaround time by means of electronic courthouse connecting need to make sure they are getting a screen, and not a scan or a scam.” We do know that since 2006, the national specifications for background screening in the field of parks, recreation, and conservation require a hands-on search at the county level or the functional equivalent of a county level search. For a background check to be comprehensive and provide the information necessary to make good hiring decisions, it all centers on the accuracy of the information gathered from a thorough investigation. In keeping with the highest industry standards for

background checks, Mr. Rosen says, the critical part is to ensure that the information obtained is the “functional equivalent” of going to the courthouse and accessing a public computer terminal or other means of locating names of defendants. If employers and background firms use this technology to search records in thousands of counties that in fact do not have data that is complete and up to date, then there is a great deal of risk. Unless a background firm performs proper due diligence so the remote computer search renders the same detail as going to the courthouse, the employer may otherwise find they are not getting the protections they thought they were receiving.” To illustrate this point, in 2012 one screening company conducted over 39,000 background checks for one USOC sport’s governing body. In their annual report they verified that 49% of the disqualifying offenses would NOT have been found in a “database only” search for felonies and misdemeanors. They were found in the county courthouses where each crime was adjudicated. There is money to be made by voracious vendors at the peril, and expense of the parks and recreation departments when they stop the background check investigation at a national database search.

Why?

1. A database search is instantaneous. 2. A database search is inexpensive. 3. Misdemeanor and felony records originate at the county courthouse level. There is a required variable fee, depending upon the jurisdiction, which must be paid to access and verify records. This takes additional time and money increasing the vendor’s cost and reducing their profit. The Bottom Line: vendors can charge less if the background check investigation is stopped at what is found or not found in a database search or if only one county courthouse is searched to verify

actual records. The Danger: a large percentage of people with disqualifying criminal histories adjudicated in other jurisdictions that are not verified will pass the background check. Then, we will unknowingly welcome them under our umbrella to the privilege of working one on one with children, youth, people with a disability and the elderly. Serious consideration should be given by every parks, recreation, and conservation decision maker to avoid the trap of continuing to do it the way it has always been done. Too many times the decision on how far to go with our background check investigation is based only on the price without a full understanding of what that price actually delivers. When we do, the field of parks, recreation, and conservation and those we have pledged to serve suffers the consequence. The check list is available to determine if your current method of screening is providing the due diligence required, meets the expectations of the profession and gets you as close as possible to a “perfect” background check. Ask your provider these questions.

1. Verification of Identity - Is the first step in your practice to verify the person’s name, date of birth (D.O.B.) and address against the Social Security Number provided to ensure the person is who they purport to be?

2. Identification of Current & Past Addresses – After verification of identity do you conduct an address trace to verify the person’s current address and previous addresses to determine the logical jurisdiction in which to conduct the background screening?

3. State or County Criminal Record Search – After determining the logical jurisdiction(s) in which to conduct the background screening do you conduct a Statewide or Countywide (depending

on the jurisdiction) criminal record check to capture all misdemeanor and felony convictions in the jurisdiction with the longest and most current residency? How do you obtain actual local court records?

4. National Criminal Record Search – Do you access criminal data from all 50 states using a regularly updated, dependable data base service? 4-a - Do you verify records found from your data base search with a physical record search at the appropriate county courthouse housing the original record?

5. Sex Offender Registries - Do you search all 50 state repositories plus the District of Columbia for known sex offenders? 5-a Do you verify records found from these repositories with a physical record search at the appropriate county courthouse housing the original record? A negative answer is a red flag indicating a gap wide enough for someone to slip through and be unintentionally welcomed into the paid or unpaid workforce. Done correctly, employment screening is a highly complex and technical field. Transferring the liability to the right third party, entirely outside of the public entity, is an intelligent and potential long range cost saving move. Leave it to the experts to find the devil in the details. It takes the undistracted attention to every possible detail by the background screening partner to tighten the net and effectively keep people out of our parks and programs who simply do not deserve the privilege. D. Michael Pfahl is president of DMP Consulting, Inc. and has been in the field of Parks and Recreation for over 34 years, instrumental in ushering in national background screening protocol for the National Recreation and Park Association and for NYSCA while serving as National Executive Director. dmpconsulting@ bellsouth.net • www.dmpconsulting.org

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News from City of portsmouth

M ember P rofile

Dr. Wanda Gill, EDS, MPA Place of work: City of Portsmouth Parks, Recreation & Leisure Services Department

Favorite Experience on the job: Project manager for Capital Improvements

Position: Assistant Director

Toughest part of the job: Not enough hours in the day!!!

Education: PhD in Educational Leadership, Master’s in Public Administration

Favorite Recreational activity: Riding my Honda 1300 motorcycle

Professional Memberships: American Association of School Administrators (AASA) VRPS, NRPA member

Favorite Book: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be: Athens, Greece

Family: Married to Dr. Orin Gill, one daughter, Jessica

Hometown: Virginia Beach

Celebrating our Past, Charting our Future 60th Annual State Conference December 6-9, 2014 The Omni Homestead in Hot Springs Calling All Speakers! The 2014 Annual Conference Education Committee is currently seeking session proposals for the Conference to be held December 6-9, 2014 at the Homestead Resort. Visit the VRPS website listed under Annual Conference for proposal form, guidelines and session topics. Know a great potential speaker? Please forward the request for session proposal information to them!

ILLUMINATING GENERATIONS

First submission for session proposals are due by March 12, 2014 to Blythe Russian brussian@nvrpa.org for consideration. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to present at this beautiful location!

You’re not just buying lights. You’re buying an affordable system that reduces energy and maintenance costs year after year. That means while decreasing wasted energy, you’ll save money and help protect the environment for his future.

Questions? Please contact Ann Marie Heiser Annmarie.heiser@herndon-va.gov or Blythe Russian brussian@nvrpa.org.

To learn more visit: www.musco.com/generations Local area representatives: Steve Wiley 800/825-6030 (toll free) 804/836-6785 (mobile) steve.wiley@musco.com

Joe Forche 800/825-6030 (toll free) 804/385-8950 (mobile) joe.forche@musco.com

Virginia Recreation & Park Society

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News from the city of norfolk

News from the town of herndon

Norfolk Partners with Local Museum to Provide Creative Learning Experience During After School Program

M ember P rofile

Amanda Herzog Favorite experience on the job: I enjoy the camaraderie of being part of a team, working special events and connecting with families that we serve.

Place of work: Town of Herndon Parks and Recreation – Herndon Community Center Position: Recreation Services Supervisor II

Toughest part of the job: Anticipate technological trends and demands.

Education: B.A. – Recreation and Leisure Professional memberships: VRPS; CRPA; NRPA; NAEYC; NAA.

Favorite recreational activity: Basketball

Hometown: Syracuse, New York Favorite book: The Four Agreements Family: Parents: Kenneth & Christina Herzog; Siblings: Kari & Jessica; Nephew: Kenzie; Niece: Beatrice.

Mother (left): Christina Herzog Sister (right): Kari Herzog - her daughter, my niece (Beatrice)

Built on a strong foundation that has spanned three generations, Cunningham Recreation is dedicated to creating unique, fun playgrounds that provide meaningful play experiences for children of all ages and abilities. From lightly themed play areas to complete themed designation parks, if you can imagine it, we can build it!

800.438.2780

www.cunninghamrec.com

Virginia Recreation & Park Society

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If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be: Australia & Alaska

he Chrysler Mu s e u m in Norfolk, Virginia is one of A m e r i c a ’s m o s t distinguished midsized art museums with a world-class collection of more than 30,000 objects, including one of the great glass collections in America, The Glass Studio, which opened in November 2011. The Glass Studio offers free glassmaking demonstrations, classes, and workshops for students and adults. The state-of-the-art facility accommodates both aspiring and master glass artists with fully equipped facilities for a range of glassmaking processes. The Glass Studio recently launched a new education initiative, Glass After School (GAS), that introduces middle school students to a unique classroom filled with fire and glass. The Norfolk Department of Recreation, Parks & Open Space’s After the Bell (ATB) program was selected as inaugural partner for GAS. It’s an exciting and ideal partnership since the mission of ATB is to provide not only extended academic support, but also social enrichment and recreational programs to middleschool students. ATB currently provides programs at three of Norfolk’s middle schools.

take advantage of opportunities that may otherwise pass them by. The value in discovering new things is so precious, and The Glass Studio provides an experience many students will treasure for a long time to come.” Made possible by a $25,000 gift from The Batten Educational Achievement Fund of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, the students enjoy the creative art-making projects, but the Glass After School program delivers much more. Students learn to work with tools and to understand the importance of practice. They study the scientific properties of glass and master a new

vocabulary. They meet physical challenges by practicing skill drills. They develop trust and teamwork as they learn to rely on partners. Finally, they build confidence by safely mastering hot-glass processes typically seen as “dangerous.” “I see the students’ eyes glow with pride once they score and break the glass off the blowpipe for the first time,” Studio Instructor Kristi Totoritis said. “It melts my heart. You can watch their self-esteem grow right before you when they are able to create with a material they have always been told not to touch.” “All of my life, people told me not to play with glass and not to play with fire because I’d get hurt—but I didn’t get hurt,” 11-yearold Kayla said after her first glassblowing session. “I was good at this! And I could do this as a job,” she said. With a broad smile, Kayla added, “I felt like somebody doing something important for the first time.” Twenty-four ATB students took part in the inaugural class, most taking advantage of the opportunity to create one of a kind Christmas gifts for loved ones. More have expressed enthusiasm to participate in future classes. This unique partnership is a perfect example of community organizations finding creative ways to continue learning opportunities for students after the bell rings.

“We are honored to be the first to partner with the Chrysler Museum of Art and The Glass Studio,” said Clifton Russell, RPOS Senior Recreation Supervisor II. “It is always great to see students SPRING 2014

n Virginia Recreation & Park Society

News from fredericksburg

News from the city of norfolk

Urban Trail Ride in Historic Fredericksburg

By Tiffany Capehart, Special Event and Marketing Coordinator, Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation and Public Facilities

or 15+ years, Jane Shelhorse, Director of Louisa County Parks, Recreation & Tourism, along with her husband Jim Shelhorse, a retired Fredericksburg Police Officer, have led the Urban Trail Ride in historic Fredericksburg. This unique event allows participants to bring their own horses and take a guided horseback tour through historic downtown Fredericksburg while visiting different points of interest within this beautiful city. The popularity of this event has people coming from all over the state to participate, including Mounted Police Units from Prince William County and Virginia Beach with upwards to 80 participants. The idea for this program came to Jane Shelhorse while she was the Assistant Director of Fredericksburg Parks, Recreationand Public Facilities. Being a rider herself and having participated in the trail ride through Richmond that benefits the Richmond Police Mounted Unit, she thought it was something we could definitely do for the City of Fredericksburg. Luckily

Virginia Recreation & Park Society

she happened to be married to the Spokesperson, Event Coordinator, and main member of the Mounted Unit for the Fredericksburg Police Department; which helped in the coordination of the event. “My favorite thing about the ride is that it is a win-win-win, for the riders, the City and VRPS. What I enjoy most is seeing so many of the people who come from all over the region to participate, and they do it year after year. It’s just a great event.”

“My favorite thing about the ride is that it is a winwin-win, for the riders, the

departments in a way unlike before.

But moreover, it allows us City and VRPS. What I enjoy as a Society to work together, most is seeing so many promoting and advertising each of the people who come other through from all over the region to t h i s e ve n t a l l while taking an participate, and they do it active role in raising money for year after year. the Scholarship Program. And It’s just a great event.” we wouldn’t let you go at it alone! We will provide the first locality with some supplies we have used in years past to include event This year our November 9, 2013 event had day signage, buckets the horses use for water, over 60+ people participate allowing us to and a few more key things. donate $250.00 to the Scholarship Program. Each year as this event travels, the hosting As this event is a VRPS Scholarship Program locality can add more necessary supplies or fundraiser, I wanted to pose the question, promotional materials to the next hosting should the Urban Trail Ride go on the road? locality, who knows what you will get in your My vision for this event is that each year Urban Trail Ride event package. it is held in a different locality, to allow people all over the state to enjoy this If you are interested in hosting unique equestrian event. Maybe it’s a the 2014 Urban Trail Ride please trail ride at Lake Anna, or a guided hike in contact me at the mountains of Rockingham County or tncapehart@fredericksburgva.gov another historical ride but in Williamsburg. and let’s talk about how to make This would allow horse lovers statewide to get engaged with their Parks and Recreation this special event a statewide one!

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Norfolk Calls on Local Photographers to Preserve History

hotographers young and old traveled the carriage paths of Norfolk’s eight historic municipal cemeteries recently snapping shots for the 1st Annual Cemeteriescape Photography Contest. The contest, a collaboration between Norfolk’s Dept of Recreation, Parks & Open Space (RPOS) and the Norfolk Society for Cemetery Conservation (NåSCC), encouraged photographers to capture the beauty, landscape, art and architecture that encompass Norfolk’s cemeteries, with the winning shot receiving a $1000 grand prize. The photography contest is a creative way to not only showcase the cemeteries’ rich cultural and architectural history, but to also provide a source of income for cemetery restoration efforts. In Norfolk, cemetery monuments and statues are considered private property, placing responsibility of their upkeep and maintenance on the families of those interred. With six of the eight historic cemeteries featured in the contest dating back to the 1800s, many family members have either passed away or left the area, leaving behind crumbling monuments. Contestants submitted their photos with a small entry fee and at the end of the contest all photos were displayed and sold at a local art gallery with proceeds benefiting the NSCC, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, protection, and promotion of Norfolk’s historic cemeteries. Several Cemeteriescape 2013 photographs remain for sale at cemetery offices with all proceeds benefitting NSCC. More than 200 entries were submitted and judged by local photography aficionados, with cash prizes awarded to first, second, and third place entries for three age divisions (18 and up, 11 to 17, and 10 & under). In total, more than $3,000.00 was raised for the NSCC, which will in turn invest the funds into restoring monuments and statues, and providing tools and supplies for frequent volunteer cemetery work days in an effort to maintain the integrity of the historic landscape. Not only did the contest provide funding to the much needed restoration efforts, it served as a vehicle to bring visitors to the cemeteries. Photographers also provided permission rights for the photographs to the City of Norfolk so the beauty of the cemeteries can be shared. For more information about Norfolk’s Historic Cemeteriescape, visit Norfolk Society for Cemetery Conservation online at www. NorfolkSocietyforCemeteryConservation.org. SPRING 2014

n Virginia Recreation & Park Society

Virginia Recreation & Park Society

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n Virginia Recreation & Park Society

Virginia Recreation & Park Society 6372 Mechanicsville Turnpike Suite 109 Mechanicsville, VA 23111

SPRING SAVINGS DAYS TICKETS! Valid April 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 26, 27; May 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25 & 26, 2014

PARK & RECREATION DAYS TICKETS! Valid June 27 – August 3, 2014

ONLY

Ages 3 & above Children ages 2 & under admitted FREE.

For Additional Information Contact: The Virginia Recreation and Park Society at 804-730-9447 For up-to-date Park information go to: www.kingsdominion.com Park Opens April 5, 2014. WaterWorks Opens May 24, 2014 © 2014 Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Intimidator™ 305 takes its name from Dale Earnhardt, “the Intimidator” © 2014 Cedar Fair, L.P. © KD14-124

Virginia Recreation & Park Society

SPRING 2014