IPRA— IAPD 1981 Conference a smash!

By Lydia Lombardo
IPRA Membership Services Director

The 1981 LIFE. BE IN IT. IPRA/IAPD Annual Conference was certainly true to its theme. There were more delegates who attended than ever before, and response indicates that sessions and social events were vibrant and memorable.

Several "firsts" occurred at the convention which added to the "spark" that prevailed at the Hyatt-Regency O'Hare from November 12 to the 15.

•A record-breaking 2600 delegates attended the conference, and participation at social events and sessions was extremely high.

•A joint IPRA/IAPD luncheon was added for award presentations and was sold out as delegates gathered to honor their colleagues.

•The Saturday night banquet was reserved for fun and fellowship, and the walls of the Rosemont Ballroom bulged with happy delegates. For the first time in history, there were no "spare" banquet tickets floating around.

•The exhibit space was sold out two months in advance. (Three-fourths of the booths are already reserved for 1982).

•Session evaluations were overwhelmingly favorable indicating that their quality is improving each year.

The time and effort that went forth in preparations for this event produced a meeting that was educational, but fun. Credit belongs to the Joint Committee, ably chaired and alternately prodded and stroked by two energetic and competent chairpersons, Patti Roth of IPRA and Sue Rizzo of IAPD (Incidentally, co-chairing by two women is also a first). Congratulations and thanks to those who worked so hard to produce a great and lively conference.

And if delegates feel they learned a lot and enjoyed themselves this year, they can look forward to an even better conference in 1982. The conference will again be conveniently located at the Hyatt-Begency O'Hare and will take place November 18-21, 1982.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 15 January/February 1982