The Virginia Recreation and Park Society Uniting all professionals, students, and interested lay persons engaged in the field of recreation, park and other leisure services in the Commonwealth of Virginia into one body. PRESIDENT’S NEWSLETTER 2014 Annual Conference The 2014 Annual Conference Planning Committee welcomes you to The Homestead in December. Page 2
MAY 2014 2013 Awards
Around Virginia
CPSI
The Awards & Citations application process is changing - see what that means for you.
The Service Areas and Resource Groups have ways for you to get involved.
The second offering of the Playground Certification Course is coming to Rockingham/ Harrisonburg. Are you ready?
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Call for Service Are you ready to take your VRPS service to the next level? The Nominations & Elections Committee is soliciting suggestions & nominations for Board Service 2015-2017. Page 8
LTI Hosts the President (of VRPS)!
Once again VRPS partnered with Toro to offer a fun and educational workshop for athletic field, irrigation and turf maintenance personnel. Guest speakers Dale Getz, CSFM with Toro, and Mike Goatley with Virginia Tech once again joined us for an informative seminar.
This year I had the opportunity to attend LTI as a participant and it was an amazing experience. The committee did an outstanding job of putting together an excellent program. “Learn Today, Lead Tomorrow, Inspire Forever!” is a fitting theme for LTI and it’s true that you never stop learning. My house’s theme was Size Matters! Yes we were in the big house and we hosted the Monday Night Team activity, but even greater than that was the size of everyone’s heart and their love for what they do. We discovered that we are measured by the size of the community we serve, the size of our budgets, the size of our staff and size of our facilities. However, I discovered that it is the size of our hearts that matters most. The number of hours we give to the work we do, the number of miles we walk at a weekend event, the number of lives we’ve touched in our careers and the number of relationships we’ve built both professionally and personally in our careers. These are things that matter… Size Matters!
Special thanks to the four host localities - Salem, Fairfax, Henrico and Chesapeake.
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AWARDS & CITATIONS The Awards and Citations Committee has started the planning process for this year’s awards program, and we are very excited to announce that this year’s nomination process will be completely electronic! No longer will you have to create 10 packets of nomination forms, census data, CDs, or t-shirts, mugs, and signs! We are currently in the processing of finalizing the design of the online nomination forms and will be testing the process as well as ensuring that the directions are easy-to-follow. In the meantime, you can certainly start drafting your nomination forms as the categories will not be changing for the 2013 awards programs. It is our goal to have the electronic submission process ready for use around July 1. You will be required to either pay with a credit card at the time you submit your nominations, or you will be able to choose “bill me.” However, please note that if you choose the “bill me” option, your balance must be paid by the ultimate nomination deadline, which currently looks to be around the end of August. So, if you need extra time for processing invoices, please plan on submitting early and processing your invoice right away. Otherwise, if payment isn’t made by the deadline, you’re applications will be disqualified. Be on the lookout for more information - we can’t wait to see what you’ve been doing!
AWARD CATEGORIES
FOR PROGRAMS, FACILITIES, PUBLICATIONS, ETC. THAT OCCURRED JANUARY 1 - DECEMBER 31, 2013
Fellows Award Distinguished Service Distinguished Volunteer Service Outstanding New Professional Distinguished Private Sector Best New Program Best New Special Event Best New Facility (Bricks & Mortar)
Best New Facility (Parks, Playgrounds, Blueways, Greenways & Trails)
Best New Renovation/Addition (Bricks & Mortar)
Best New Renovation/Addition (Parks, Playgrounds, Blueways, Greenways & Trails)
Best New Environmental Sustainability Best Promotional Effort - Traditional Best Promotional Effort - Specialty
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Call for VRPS Board Service 2015-2017 The VRPS Nominations and Elections Committee is soliciting suggestions/nominations of individual members to be considered for the elections slate for 3 professional positions on the Board of Directors. The committee is also encouraging interested individuals to submit their names and qualifications for consideration. These opportunities consist of a 3-year commitment to serve on the VRPS Board of Directions. More information can be found at www.vrps.com
Legislative Updates
Contact Us
VRPS believes that parks, open space, and recreation services are basic needs of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Furthermore, VRPS believes the quality of life for Virginians will be greatly enhanced through the protection of adequate park, recreation and conservation areas, appropriate programs and facilities, and the conscientious use of the environment. These provisions can be assured only by the aggressive and cooperative efforts of all members involving public and private agencies at the local, state, and national level .
VRPS Board of Directors President* Art Thatcher, CPRP Vice President* Marcy Durrer, CPRP Treasurer* Margaret Thorne Lay Member* Rita Miller Board Member Michael Kalvort, CPRE Board Member Katey Legg, CPRP Board Member Michael McCarty, CPRP Board Member Cindy Messinger, CPRP Board Member LaTanya Turner Board Member Kathy Williams, CTRS Executive Director* Jim Stutts, CAE, CPRP
You are strongly encouraged to read the 2014 Legislative Platform on the VRPS website. This identifies key areas VRPS supports, which many localities ask for as well. In addition, you can find the VRPS Legislative Tool Kit - a great resource for your meetings with legislators.
* Executive Board
2014 VRPS Discount Ticket Program
Email the full Board: board@vrps.com Email the Executive Board: exboard@vrps.com
VRPS Central Office 6372 Mechanicsville Turnpike Suite 109 Mechanicsville, Virginia 23111 (804) 730-9477 www.vrps.com vrps@vrps.com
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