People, Places N' Things

LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR — Congressman Sidney Yates of Illinois was presented the "Legislator of the Year" Award by the National Park and Recreation Association at a meeting of the Great Lakes Regional Association (NPRA) August 27 at Evanston. His leadership in behalf of parks and recreation was cited as outstanding. Pictured left to right are (back row) Robin Hall, President, IPRA and Director, Urbana Park District; Ted Flickinger, Executive Director, IAPD; Shel Newberger, President, Evanston Recreation Board; Joseph Schultz, NPRA Great Lakes Regional Director, Palatine, and (front row) David Phillips, President-elect, IPRA and Director, Wheeling Park District; Dan Brown, Director, Skokie Park District; Angie Econ, Supervisor, Senior Citizen Activities, Evanston Recreation Department; Congressman Sidney Yates (D) 9th District; Kay Forest, Executive Director, IPRA; Pete Koukos, President, IAPD and Commissioner, Park District of Highland Park.

CORRECTION — The editor apologizes for a mixup of the photos of Lydia Lombardo and Christine Orzech on page 19 of the September-October issue of Illinois Parks & Recreation. The correct identification is depicted below.

CHRISTINE ORZECH is the IPRA's "official greeter" as receptionist. She also is office manager, bookkeeper and secretary to Kay Forest. An employe of IPRA since 1977, she has a professional office background, including secretarial and bookkeeping duties. A native Chicagoan, she has lived in Mount Prospect since 1976.

LYDIA LOMBARDO is in charge of publications, public relations and membership services for Illinois Park and Recreation Association. She received a Bachelor's Degree in English/Communications with a public relations specialty from Mundelein College, Chicago. Before joining IPRA in 1981, she had worked as public relations director for Glenview Park District.

Gerard Byrne

Julie Chaney

THE CHAMPAIGN PARK DISTRICT announces two recent additions to its recreation staff. Gerard Byrne is the new coordinator of athletics and Julie Chaney the athletic supervisor.

Gerard recently received an M.S. degree in leisure studies, administration option, from the University of Illinois. While attending graduate school he spent the summer of 1981 as an intern with the Edinburgh Recreation Department in Scotland. He also received a B.S. degree in recreation administration from Eastern Illinois University. Prior to continuing his education at the University of

Illinois Parks and Recreation    42     November/December 1982

Illinois, Gerard worked for the Mundelein Park and Recreation District as the recreation supervisor.

Chaney recently received a B.A. degree in physical education from the University of Kentucky. While at U. K. she was honored with the Charles Hackensmith Memorial Award for Outstanding Undergraduate in health, physical education, and recreation. She has been a member of the Champaign Park District staff for six summers, working in the aquatics area.

MELANIE A. DeSPLINTER has been promoted to office manager for the Geneseo Community Park District, effective September 15, 1982. Her duties include bookkeeping, accounts receivable and payable, payroll, dictation, transcription, and management of office equipment. She also will serve as receptionist and secretary.

DeSplinter is a life long resident of Geneseo. She attended Blackhawk Junior College, Moline, where she graduated with an Associates Degree in education in 1974. She then transferred to Illinois State University and received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Recreation and Park Administration in 1977.

JO BAUMANN recently joined the staff of the Oak Brook Park District, assuming the duties of Recreation Supervisor. Baumann previously held the position of Youth Director with the Aurora YWCA. She is a graduate of Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Recreation and Park Administration.

Jennifer Miller

Michael Lucchesi

FRANKLIN PARK APPOINTS 2 EMPLOYEES — The Park District of Franklin Park announces the promotion of one employee and the hiring of another. Michael S. Lucchesi, a 11-year employee at Franklin Park Park, has been promoted from Superintendent of Recreation to Director of Parks and Recreation, and Jennifer Miller, formerly Recreation and Social Director for the Abbey Spring Condominium Association on Lake Geneva, has been appointed Recreation Supervisor at Franklin Park Park.

Lucchesi is a member of the National Recreation and Parks Association, the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association and the Suburban Park and Recreation Association. In 1983, Mr. Lucchesi will serve as Chairperson of the Arts in Recreation Committee of the IPRA. While serving as a member of that committee, he was active in the organization and implementation of the first Arts Institute for Recreation Professionals in Illinois. Lucchesi is a native of Boston, Mass., and did his collegiate studies at Arizona State University.

Miller received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Parks and Recreation Administration from Indiana University. Her responsibilities will include programming recreation classes and special events. With a background in cultural arts. Miller plans to participate in the district's community theatre program and other cultural arts activities.

Illinois Parks and Recreation    43    November/December 1982