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
October 2015
Bring It
Save the Date
to the Beach, November 7 - 10! Exhibit Hall Adventure page
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Schedule page
Educational Session Highlights
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VRPS meetings
Hard at work - for you!
All things VRPS can be found at vrps.com. Is your Service Area or Resource Groups meeting listed?
Your VRPS Board members are working to serve YOU! Here’s the latest update and how you can get involved.
Developing a Roadmap for the Future of VRPS Session page
VRPS Board
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Bring It to the
Opening Session on Sunday at 10AM
VRPS Annual Business Meeting with Keynote Speaker, Tom O’Rourke
Tom O’Rourke is a 1978 graduate of Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania, is the Executive Director of the Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission and responsible for the oversight of the over 10,000 acre park system consisting of a wide array of parks, programs and services. Be sure to attend the entire opening session to hear about the work of your VRPS Board of Directors in 2015. There will be an update on the strategic planning work that has taken place this year, induction of the 2016 VRPS President, Margaret Thorne, and her Board of Directors, as well as a memorial service for those very special VRPS members who have passed away since our last meeting.
Bring It
on your mobile device
with our NEW conference mobile app
u Educational Session Schedules u
Exhibit Hall Map & Exhibitor List u
Social Activities u
u stay up to date on schedule updates & conference news with push notifications u connect with peers u and more!
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VRPS Highlights Recent Training Highlights A Summer Training Tradition
Eastern Service Area’s Summer Survival training was held on Saturday, May 30th at Norview Community Center in Norfolk. 193 participants joined in hands-on, experiential learning sessions and shared the experience with keynote speaker, ODU Lady Monarchs Head Basketball Coach, Karen Barefoot.
SWSA Workshop
With topics that are timeless and impact all of us, Southwest Service Area’s workshop on “Event Risk Management” and “Marketing for the Recreation Professional” was a great success. While we all know “hope is not a plan,” the opportunity to share strategies and talk about best practices was the perfect way to get us planning effectively! A special thank you to Paul Chapman, Franklin County and Bill Sgrinia, City of Danville for putting together this regional training opportunity.
NSA Management Workshop
Northern Service Area hosted a great workshop with rave reviews: “Speaker was passionate and presentation was clear and well thought out; Very engaging; Loved that she presented real-life situations; Funny, knowledgeable and entertaining” The Management Workshop was broken into two sections: Managing and Resolving Conflict in the Workplace and Managing Yourself to Lead Others.
Senior Resource Group Fall Workshop
Despite the wet, dreary conditions (thanks to Joaquin), the Senior Resource Group brought sunshine to the day for the attendees from across the state at the SRG Fall Conference. Great sessions, networking / sharing lunch and fun “feet on” activities highlighted this great day.
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VRPS Highlights - Fall 2015 Virtual Lifeguard Games
The Aquatics Resource Group held the first annual Virtual Lifeguard Games! In an effort to include teams from across the state without requiring them to travel, the games allowed sites to complete the events and submit their scores and a video, to establish a statewide winner. Teams from Reston Association, Blacksburg Parks & Recreation, Town of Warrenton Parks & Recreation and six teams from City of Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation competed. The following were the results from the first Virtual Lifeguard Games 1st City of VA Beach Parks & Recreation - Princess Anne Recreation Center 2nd Town of Blacksburg Parks & Recreation – Aquatic Center 3rd City of VA Beach Parks & Recreation – Great Neck Recreation Center Check out the winner’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpDXZkjb6Ik&feature=youtu.be
Have you logged in to the new vrps.com?
Now mobile friendly and compatible with more browsers! Check it out! Log in to www.vrps.com and review and update your profile to make sure we have the most up to date information about you.! This is where your conference name badge comes from, so be sure to include your certifications too! In the “Edit/View Information” section you can identify your Service Area and sign up for a Resource Group! What a great way to get involved!
VRPS Foundation
Members of the Foundation are very proud of the Scholarship Program that has awarded close to $150,000 in scholarships and assisted local students and professionals with their education including the 2015 VRPS Annual Conference! The FOUNDATION FRENZY membership drive is coming to the VRPS Annual Conference! Get ready to join in the frenzy!
Athletics Fields Series Returns March, 2016
Foun F R E d at i o n NZY
The 601 series of Athletics Fields will cover equipment shortcuts, field priorities and turf selection. These popular workshops are presented in partnership with Toro and sponsored by Turf-Equipment and Smith Turf & Irrigation. Educational (and entertaining) sessions are lead by Dr. Mike Goatley and Dale Getz. Mark your calendars and register soon! March 21: Salem, March 22: Chesapeake, March 23: Henrico and March 24: Loudoun
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Bring It to the
Exhibit Hall - Monday, 12 - 4:30PM
and don’t forget your sneakers!
Exhibit Hall Adventure where you can talk with recreation vendors who can help you reach your goals and be more efficient in the process, sponsored by
No adventure is complete without challenges and rewards! Be sure to dress comfortably and wear your sneakers so you can climb a 27-foot high inflatable rock wall then enjoy lunch in our “chill out” zones.
The Exhibit Hall Adventure continues all afternoon with interactive activities, door prizes and the silent auction!
• Kings Dominion passes • Spirit of Norfolk cruise • kayaks • paddle boards • VRPS corn hole board set • • VCU Rams basketball package • NASCAR Torque Club Suite for Richmond Spring race • • numerous golf and souvenir packages from across the state •
Complete Park and Playground Solutions For all your park and playground needs, choose Cunningham Recreation. We can offer our customers quality park and playground products, custom design capabilities and excellent service.
800.438.2780 cunninghamrec.com
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Driven by members: VRPS and NRPA
As you have been hearing this year, the VRPS Board of Directors is working on updating the strategic plan. One of the key components to this project was to gather member feedback. VRPS members spoke clearly about their professional challenges, proudly about their professional organization and directly about opportunities for improvement through the online member survey. In August, NRPA shared the results of their online membership survey (via email, dated August 28) . With a sigh of validation, the Board quickly recognized that the trends identified in the VRPS member survey mirror those nationwide. The challenges and issues that we are addressing here in Virginia resonate across the country. Just as we are working to build a better organization for our members, NRPA is doing the same. As you hear more about our initiatives for the future in the upcoming weeks, please know that you, the members, are our number one priority!
Below are key findings from the 2015 VRPS Membership survey :
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Professional development and training is the highest priority of VRPS members Engaging members will develop stronger relationships with the society The majority of VRPS memberships are paid by their employers VRPS members have a positive image of the organization Continued need for more opportunities to obtain information
Below are key findings from the 2015 NRPA Membership survey :
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Primary need is for current information Membership benefits ranked very high Professional development is highly valued NRPA certified professionals are highly engaged Valuable networking opportunities are found with NRPA
Saturday, October 24, 2015 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Men’s and Women’s Doubles: 9:00 a.m. Mixed Doubles: 1:00 p.m. ($15.00 for 1 event, $25.00 for 2 events) Rockwood Park - Chesterfield County 3401 Courthouse Road, North Chesterfield, VA 23236 REGISTRATION ENDS OCTOBER 22, 2015
Competition will follow a double-elimination format with games played to 11 points. Light refreshments will be provided throughout the day.
Register online: https://www.raceit.com/Register/?event=34825 page
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1-800- QUIT NOW 1-800-784-8669 V I R G I N I A
QUITNOW.NET/VIRGINIA
Friday 8AM - 5PM
QUIT NOW AD REV1
Thursday, July 18, 2013 11:17:38 AM
AFO* * Preconference institutes
Saturday
Monday
Tuesday
registration 7:30AM - 4PM
registration 7AM - 4PM
registration 7:30 - 11AM
Project Learning Tree*
Educational Sessions
Educational Sessions
12PM - 5PM
10AM - 12PM
11AM- 12PM
Resource Group Meetings 8:30AM- 12:30PM
Teaming Up Teambuilding at the Adventure Park*
Opening Session with Tom O’Roarke, Keynote Speaker and Business Meeting 12 - 1PM
Directors Forum
Educational Sessions
Behind the Scenes Facility Tour* 7- 10PM
Lunch on your own
Exhibit Hall Adventure
1:15 - 5:30PM
6 - 7PM
Welcome Social
Educational Sessions 5:40 - 6:15PM
Cocktail Hour 7 - 9:30PM
Service Area Meetings 6:15 - 8PM
Awards Banquet and Dinner
10AM - 5PM
require pre-registration
Sunday
registration 2 - 5PM
12PM - 5PM
8:30 - 9:45AM
Dinner on your own 8 - 11:30PM Social page
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8AM- 12:15PM
8 - 8:30AM
12 - 4PM
Bring It to the
VRPS Annual Conference
VRPS Board of Directors Strategic Plan Update
Throughout the year, you have heard that your VRPS Board of Directors has been working on developing a plan for the future of VRPS. This strategic planning process has been intensive with an equal combination of research, facilitated meetings, analysis of data. I am proud to say, that because of the hard work, time and dedication of the Board, we are preparing to present you a draft Roadmap for the Future of VRPS. It is our goal to provide every member have the opportunity to: • gain an understanding of • the history and reason behind the need for such a document • the strategic planning process used • a chance to review • internal and external trends • sumary of data collected • the draft plan developed by the board • provide feedback While you are attending the VRPS Conference in Virginia Beach, please consider attending one of two educational sessions where you can hear about the work that has been taking place and review the draft. Learn more about the strategic plan, the process of and information gathered in evaluating survey responses, our facilitated meetings and more! In addition to hearing about the year-long efforts and taking the opportunity to review the draft document, you will also be encouraged to provide feedback and input on this plan in the upcoming weeks. Don’t worry if you are not able to make it to one of the sessions or you will not be attending the conference. A webinar will be held on Friday, November 13 at 1 p.m., which will cover the same presentation and will be recorded, so that you can view it online, as your schedule permits. Members are invited and encouraged to provide feedback through the middle of December, so that we can finalize the document and present it to you before the end of this year.
Bring It to a
Developing a Roadmap for the Future of VRPS Session Sunday, November 8 2:45 - 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 10 10:00 - 11:15 a.m.
Friday, November 13 1:00 - 1:45 p.m.
Virginia Beach Hilton Albemarle
Virginia Beach Hilton Peacock A
VRPS webinar*
There will also be a brief presentation at the Business Meeting, during the Opening Session on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. page
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* available “on demand” through the webinar archives on vrps.com
Tell me something new ... member news Wishing you well The Virginia Recreation and Park Society would like to wish Ryan Peters a fond farewell as he prepares to relocate to Tampa, Florida. Ryan currently serves as the Central Service Area Chair and has been actively involved with VRPS since 2012. Ryan has played an important role in a variety of CSA and VRPS events including the CSA pickleball tournament, Virginia Senior Games, and the Central Virginia Track and Field Finals. Ryan has accepted the position of Team Supervisor II, with Tampa Parks and Recreation, and will be managing Tampa’s accreditation standards. Ryan, we all wish you the best of luck on this new journey in your professional career!
With deepest sympathies Antonio Hill, a native of Chesapeake, passed away Sunday, September 27, 2015. He joined the City of Suffolk Department of Parks and Recreation in May 2014. Prior to coming to Suffolk full-time, Antonio worked in various parks and recreation departments in Hampton Roads part-time: Newport News, Chesapeake, and Virginia Beach. Lakita Watson reflected, “He brought so much energy and creativity to whatever he was working on. He gave you 110% no matter what his role was.” Recently, Antonio presented at the 2015 Summer Survival and was elected to the Board of Directors for the VRPS Eastern Service Area in August. The entire VRPS family expresses our deepest sympathies in this loss.
Did you know that can see all the upcoming VRPS meetings, events and deadlines on the VRPS website? Just click on this icon on the left side of the homepage!
October 23 October 28 November 7 - 10 November 11 November 19
NSA - Fall Social on the Farm
November VRPS Office Closed 24 & 25 November 30 Leadership Training Institute Scholarship Deadline December 3 CSA - Quarterly Meeting
12 - 3PM at Frying Pan Park
NSA - Fall Quarterly Meeting
10AM – 12PM at Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center
VRPS Annual Conference
10AM - 12PM in Fredericksburg
Virginia Beach
Don’t see your Service Area or Resource Group event listed there? Have your Chair or Web Admin contact Nancy (nancy@vrps.com) to help them post it!
VRPS Office Closed VRPS Board of Directors Quarterly Meeting
10AM at VRPS Office
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Bring It
to the VRPS Annual Conference Check out the conference schedule on pg 3 (and vrps.com) to plan your time at the conference. The Opening Session and Business Meeting, with Keynote Speaker Tom O’Rourke, Executive Director of Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission, in Charleston South Carolina, is at 10:00 am on Sunday.
Pre-Conference Institutes u
Pre-registration and payment required
Aquatic Facility Operator Certification Course u Teaming Up! The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium u Behind the Scenes Facility Tours, Virginia Beach and Beyond u u Virginia Department of Forestry, Project Learning Tree: A Park Educator’s Best Friend u
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Educational Session Highlights Grant Writing for a Purpose | Dr. Eddie Hill & Jennifer Goff u
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u Cost Recovery and Pricing in Action | Chris Nunes, CPRE u u Start Achieving Your Dreams Today! | Dara Kalvort, MBA u u u
Recreation & Parks 2030 | Tom O’Rourke u u
Creating Tomorrow’s Leaders: Gen Y & Z | Betsy Kennedy & Jennifer Goff u u
Expense Management: Reduce Cost, Not Quality | Chris Nunes
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Staff Communication: Control, Filters & Perception | Lori Hoffner u u
Leadership in the New Millennium | Darrell Crittendon u
Trends: The Future of Parks and Recreation: An Interactive Roundtable | Michael Kalvort, Darrell Crittendon, Lakita Watson & Mark Furlo u u How to Deliver Superior Customer Service | John Houser u
u How to Encourage Organizational Improvement | Cindy Curtis, CPRP u u Dealing with the 3 D’s: The Difficult, Demotivated, and Duds | Bobbi Nance, CPRP u u Hey Coach: Positive Practical Approaches to Athletes and Parents | Lori Hoffner u
Social Functions u
Game On! | Neptune Park | Saturday, 7 - 10 p.m. u
u Get Your Glow On | Neptune Park
| Saturday, 8 - 11:30 p.m. u
u Awards Banquet | Virginia Beach Convention Center | Monday, 7 - 9:30 p.m.u
Lodging
Lodging is provided by our host hotel the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront 3001 Atlantic Ave, Virginia Beach, VA 23451 - 757-213-3000
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