"Art Gill, Supervisor of Rangers of the Lake County Forest Preserve District has been named Professional of the Year by the Midwest Institute of Park Executives," Donald Stronger, District President, announced today.

M.I.P.E., an affiliate of the National Recreation and Park Association, was founded to promote the establishment and proper use of public parks, gardens, reservations and recreation grounds and to establish a friendly cooperation of all agents directing and controlling the same.

The award, presented January 14, 1982 at the annual meeting and awards luncheon in Bensenville, IL, was a culmination of the efforts put forth by Gill in his years as a professional in park management. These efforts included serving with the Illinois Park and Recreation Association, as Parks and Natural Resources Management Section Director-Elect, secretary, membership chairman, and Co-Chairmanof the Conference Committee.

Gill, 32, who joined the District in 1977, resides in Libertyville with his wife, Pam, and their three children.

Patrice Greiner has been named Public Information Director for the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Departments, City of Evanston, according to Donald J. Wirth, Director of those Departments. She succeeds Mary Jane Gauen who, on May 28, retired after 15 years in the position.

A 1980 graduate of Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University, Greiner has held two other professional positions. From September 1980 to May 1982, she was a staff writer for the Merchandise Mart (Chicago). Prior to that, from January 1980 to September 1980, she was a public relations account executive with Briar J. Quirk, Inc., of Chicago.

As an undergraduate, Greiner spent the summer of 1979 as an assistant to Gauen, was a reporter for both the Daily Northwestern and Radio Station WNUR-FM and served as a copy editor for the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Green Bay, Wisconsin during the spring of 1978.

Effective June 1, 1982, Ms. Denise George joined the staff of the South Suburban Special Recreation Association (SSSRA) as Program Specialist. Ms. George received a Bachelor of Science in therapeutic recreation from Illinois State University in December, 1981. She completed her internship with SSSRA. In her capacity as program specialist, Ms. George will plan, implement, supervise, lead and evaluate recreation programs for special populations.

Diane McCray has recently joined the staff of the Roselle Park District, having assumed the position of Superintendent of Recreation.

Prior to joining the Roselle Park District staff, Diane held the position of Recreation Center Supervisor with the Wood Dale Park District. She is a graduate of Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Recreation and Park Administration. Professional affiliations include the Illinois Park and Recreation Association and the Suburban Park and Recreation Association.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 20 July/August 1982

Colleen Winchester

Arbor Day, May 1, 1982, was a community project when the Oak Lawn Park District Board of Commissioners, assisted by local citizens who had contributed to the Park District's Memorial Tree Fund, planted trees in two park sites. Contributions to this fund are donated not only in memory of a loved one, but as a special gift for the living as evidenced by little Colleen Winchester, left, whose grandmother donated to the tree fund for Colleen's birthday.

Individual trees were donated by the Johnson-Phelps Auxiliary to Post No. 5220, the Cook County Adult Probation Department employees, and Mr. John A. Pohl. Mayor Ernest Kolb joined Park Commissioners Marjorie Ann Joy, Richard Barrett, Alex Kazmierczak, Janet Swanson, Park Director Martin Larson, Jr., and local citizens for the tree planting ceremonies.

In conjunction with Arbor Day, the Cub Scouts from Hannum Troop 3610 planted 250 pine seedlings in Lewandowski and Central Parks on May 4. These trees were donated to the troop by the Department of Conservation.

All in all, the Arbor Day ceremony exemplified people of all ages participating in the beautification of parks for present and future generations.

The Southern Illinois Park and Recreation Association announces its officers for 1982-83. President is Robert Angleton, Director of Parks and Recreation in East Alton. George Bryant, Director of Salem Parks and Recreation, is President-Elect. Secretary is Ann Hildreth, Recreation Supervisor for East Alton. Highland Parks and Recreation Department's Caria Harris is Treasurer. Caria Harris serves as a Recreation Supervisor. The new officers will be sworn in at the November meeting.

The Easter Seal Leisure Resource Center in Peoria received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Governor's office on the International Year of Disabled Persons. The award recognizes outstanding achievement in the area of recreation for people with disabilities. Pictured with the Award, signed by Governor Jim Thompson, are Kim Sky, Recreation Coordinator, and Steven Thompson, Director of the Easter Seal Leisure Resource Center.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 21 July/August 1982