IPRA highlites By Kay Forest IPRA Executive Director

The mid year Section Forum to be held March 28-30 in Champaign/Urbana should prove to be one of the best educationally that registrants have attended. The format was changed this year to include only half and full day seminars. Congratulations to the committee and its chairman John Bruns.

The 1981/82 IPRA Salary and General Information Survey has been completed and mailed to all participants. IPRA members who wish to purchase a copy can request it from the office. The actual data collected consists of three phases, Part 1-Budget, tax levy and general information; Part 2-Salary information; Part 3-Facility data. Once all the problems with the computerized program are corrected, several hundred different comparison reports will be available.

We have been working several years to develop this membership service. A committee will be formed to monitor and analyze the results, develop guidelines for its use and next year to encourage complete statewide participation and updating the original information.

Special thanks to the Park District of Highland Park for the use of their computer and especially Ernie Nance and Kermit Smith for spearheading this prefect.

I would also like to congratulate him on his new position in Dallas, Texas. IPRA is losing a good friend and strong supporter. At his farewell party, Ernie was presented the 1982 IPRA President's Award for his contributions to the association.

The 1982 membership directory is being printed and should be mailed to all members in April. This is a useful publication and is compiled by the Publications Committee under the chairmanship of Larry Reiner. If you don't receive your copy by April 30, please let us know. So that members are not deluged with junk mail, IPRA requests that members do not lend directories to non-members.

It was just one year ago that IPRA hired Lydia Lombardo as the Membership Services Director. As a result, we have seen our publications and public relations enhanced and overall membership services improve. She was responsible for developing "Passport to Professionalism", the "Conference Capers" and 'Tn Between" to name just a few. Past IPRA Boards made a wise decision in 1980 when deciding to add a staff person on a trial basis and in 1981 making that a permanent association position. I personally want to thank her for being a viable part of the IPRA team.

Illinois Parks and Recreation      18     March/April 1982