SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR AVAILABLE

Copies of the IAPD/IPRA "Life. . . Be In It." special events calendar are now available. The calendar highlights special events taking place from May through November at park, forest preserve, and conservation districts statewide.

Host "Life...Be In It." agencies and tourism offices throughout Illinois will receive copies of the calendar. Extra copies are available from the IAPD and IPRA offices.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs helped IAPD to partially offset the cost of the calendar.

CERTIFICATION

As of mid-June, 358 individuals have been certified by the Illinois Professional Certification Board in the categories of professional, provisional professional, or technician. Illinois was the first state to be approved under the new national plan. If you haven't sent in your application, please do so now. The grandfathering phase for all past IPRA professional members ends in November 1984. After that date the requirements are more stringent. The Professional Certification Board's goal for the first year is 50% participation of all eligible IPRA members. We are currently only half way there. Applications and complete description of the plan are available through the IPRA office.

GOLF OUTING

There's still time to make reservations for the Golf Outing on Aug. 3. The outing, sponsored by the Joint Legislative Committee, will be hosted by the Northbrook Park District. For more details, contact the IAPD office at (217) 523-4554 or Mike Rylko at (312) 459-5700.

COMING EVENTS

Aug. 8-9 Molding Park Landscape Seminar Aug. 9 Public Relations for Non Profits -Wheaton Aug. 10 IPRA Day at Wisconsin State Fair -Milwaukee Aug. 16 - 17 IPRA Senior Olympics - Elmhurst Aug. 18 IPRA Triatholon - Crystal Lake Aug. 19 Abe's Amble - Springfield Aug. 23 - 24 Summer Fling and IPRA Golf Tournament - Springfield Sept. 28 IPRA Sports Seminar - Bloomington Oct. 20 - 25 IPRA Tour to Orlando Oct. 24 Seminar on Large Multi-Purpose Lakes and Facilities - Lake Shelbyville

SUMMER FLING

Mark Aug. 23-24 on your calendar. Various IPRA committees are sponsoring a myriad of activities in Springfield on those dates that are geared to IPRA members, friends and their families. The schedule of activities is:

Thursday, Aug. 23 1:30 p.m. IPRA Board Meeting 1:30 p.m. Tours of Lincoln sites 6:30 p.m. Pig Roast on the lake Friday, Aug. 24 9:00 a.m. IPRA 1st Annual Golf and Tennis Tournament at Lincoln Greens Golf Course 9:30 a.m. Spouse and children's tours 1:30 a.m. Spouse and children's tours 4:00 p.m. Beer and Brats at the course 8:00 p.m. After Glo Party

Child sitting services will be available from 6 p.m. every evening. IPRA is hoping to provide an opportunity for members, friends and family to practice what they preach - "recreation is good for mind and body." If you haven't received a registration form please call Kay Kastel Forest, IPRA executive director, at (312) 991-2820.

ELECTION TIME FOR IPRA

It's IPRA election time. By mid-August all voting members should receive the ballot to select the 1984/85 board of directors.

Since terms are overlapping, not all positions are up for election. You will actually be voting on president-elect, secretary, northern region representative, southern region representative, one at-large position and two Chicago metro representatives. This is every member's opportunity to have input into the operation of the Association. Be active and vote.

In October you will have a second chance for input. This is the time when the sections elect their leadership for the coming year. All section members will receive ballots by mail no later than Oct. 15. Once again, take an active part and vote!

TAILGATE PARTY

The Second Annual Legislative Tailgate Party will be held Sept. 8 at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. Cosponsored by IAPD and IPRA, the party will begin at 3 p.m. in the tent west of Memorial Stadium. All state legislators will be invited to join us. For more information or to make reservations, contact the IAPD office or Robin Hall, director of the Urbana Park District, 901 N. Broadway, Urbana 61801. The reservation deadline is Aug. 1. Come join us watch Illinois beat Missouri.

IPRA TOUR TO ORLANDO

At this writing there are only a few spaces left on our tour to the NRPA Congress in Orlando. The package includes airfare, five nights lodging (more can be arranged), rental car and many options. Cost is $480 double -$615 single, with special family prices. The dates are October 20-25. If you are interested but haven't made your reservation, call the IPRA office at (312) 991-2820 for more details.

PLAN FOR 1985

President-elect Tom Richardson is seeking members to serve on committees. One of IPRA's strong points is its many volunteers who willingly give of their time to serve on one of the more than 20 Association committees.

To highlight just a few of the areas looking for assistance — fund raising, special events, mid-year forum, sports and activities, public awareness, technical assistance, communications and marketing, the fitness task force, and membership services. A committee interest form will appear in the August IPRA News. You can also call the IPRA office expressing your interest. The sections are also looking for volunteers. Don't be shy, we need your help.

Orlando to host Congress of Parks and Recreation The 1984 Congress for Recreation and Parks will be held October 21 through 24 in Oriando, Fla., announces Ted Flickinger, executive director of the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD). More than 80 educational sessions are planned for the four-day convention. They will focus on health and fitness, marketing, legal liability and computer technology. Other courses include accessibility in playground design, environmental challenges, public water play parks and a psychological basis for outdoor recreation planning for visitors. Twelve of the educational sessions can earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Park and recreation practitioners must earn CEU credits to form a permanent record of professional development. The CEU programs are Programmatic Computer Applications; Armed Forces Professional Training Institute; Legal Liability — Who, What, When and How; Dynamic Leisure Programming for Older Adults; The Negotiated Investment Strategy: An Alternative Approach to Intergovernmental Decision-Making; 1984 Institute for the Arts; Ethical Practices in Therapeutic Recreation; Women in Parks and Recreation Management Leadership; Workshop in Microcomputers; Profits in Parks and Recreation; Innovative Ways to Generate Revenue; How to Create Effective Advertisements, and Recreational Sports Management. Pre-registration is required for all CEU programs by Oct. 1. There is a $3 administrative fee for each CEU course. Conference and registration information can be obtained from the National Recreation and Park Association, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Va. 22302 (703/820-4940).

Illinois Parks and Recreation 04 July/August 1984