Peoria preview

Conference offers unique opportunities

By Arlene Mulder and Steve Persinger, 1986 Conference Co-chairs

Attention, park commissioners and recreation professionals!

Do you want to learn about up-to-date developments in the park, recreation and conservation field? Are you interested in visiting one of Central Illinois' most popular cities? Would you like to share ideas with your colleagues from across the State in a relaxed but yet stimulating environment?

If your answer to any one, or all, of the above questions is "yes," then "park-ticipate" with other members of the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) Nov. 20-23 in Peoria.

The 1986 Illinois Park and Recreation (IPR) Conference is unique in several respects. Participants will have the opportunity to truly savor Peoria's rich heritage and varied attractions by staying in accommodations separate from the convention headquarters at the Civic Center. The quality of the educational sessions and preconference workshops will surpass those offered on the national level.

Mulder         Persinger

In addition, the chill of winter will be softened by an indoor park setting where many of the conference functions, including a pork chop picnic, will be held. The spouses' program offers many "firsts," and an array of special programs, ranging from a dinner theatre to a Pub Crawl, will appeal to all participants' interests.

The agenda

The educational sessions have been developed by a subcommittee representing all IPRA sections and the IAPD. This task was accomplished under the guidance of committee vice-chairs Linda Wander, president, Downers Grove Park District, and John Wilson, director, Chicago Ridge Park District.

Of special interest to commissioners are sessions focusing on agency public relations, budgets, Illinois election law, purchasing, community interest surveys and liability insurance.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 4 September/October 1986

(Continued from page 4)

Information will also be presented on major legal and legislative issues.

The remaining sessions will explore a potpourri of topics on every imaginable interest for anyone related to the park, recreation and conservation field. These will include the park district greenhouse, arts programming, park signage and legal liability impact, the motivation of part-time staff, clinical and therapeutic recreational settings and front desk management. For a complete list of educational sessions, see the conference insert beginning on page 17.

As in past years, an effort has been made to include speakers from outside our immediate field. This will enhance the scope of the information presented. Also, many of this year's sessions will be held at sites other than the Civic Center for more practical presentations.

Preconference workshops

In addition to the educational sessions, there will be 10 preconference workshops on Thursday, one on Friday and one on Saturday. These workshops have a special fee, and registrations are processed through the IPRA office.

A workshop registration form is included in this issue's conference insert. Please note that not all workshops have been awarded Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

Preconference workshop titles include Tour on Tour, Pro Shop — Profit Center and/or Amenity, Foundation and Fund Raising — Wildlife Prairie Tour, Understanding Stress Plus Managing Stress Equals Success and Trends and Challenges in the Therapeutic Recreation Field.

Other workshops will discuss Maintenance Center Operations, We Can't Go On Meeting Like This (Parliamentary Procedures Plus), What You Need to Know About the Economy to Prosper, Internship Issues, Salaries: Can We Afford Not to Pay New Professionals?, Strategic Planning — Organization Facilitator Training and Project Construction — Supervision After the Contract.

Special features

A breakfast with members of Illinois' Congressional delegation has been scheduled for Saturday morning. You cannot afford to miss this exciting opportunity for a dialogue about the Land and Water Conservation Fund program and other federal issues affecting parks and recreation in our State.

Other conference "musts" include Thursday's grand opening, all-conference session with Peoria Mayor James Maloof and National Park Service Dir. William Penn Mott, Jr. A lighter touch will help kick off the '86 conference when Tony Clements, director of campus recreation at the University of Illinois, shares some comic aspects about the park and recreation field.

Other highlights • The agency intern mart will again be held on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. This provides an opportunity for agencies and students to meet and discuss job opportunities in the leisure field. Agencies should have received a special application for the intern mart. (These forms are also available from the IPBA office.) • Agency Showcase entries will be displayed in the Peoria Civic Center. Judging will take place prior to the conference; awards will be presented at the Saturday awards luncheon. • The exhibit hall will be an exciting place to visit. Take the time to talk with the exhibitors and enjoy the beautiful park setting. Remember, these exhibitors support IAPD and IPRA throughout the year. • Social activities are planned for all three evenings. Thursday's opening mixer at the Continental Regency will feature the music of Pork and the Havana Ducks. Friday evening will kick off with the All-Affiliate Party, followed by the Peoria Pub Crawl, or delegates may choose the dinner theater package. Following the Saturday banquet, get dancing to the sounds of the Bucldnghams. • The spouses' program has been expanded this year and will provide a variety of activities, seminars and tours. Advance registration is required. Please see the conference insert.

Final reminders

Each agency will receive a final copy of the program one week prior to the conference. This will enable staffs to see the detailed listing of sessions, speakers, times and locations before arriving in Peoria.

We feel that this year's conference will provide you with a unique combination of educational and social opportunities. Take this opportunity to "park-ticipate."

We'll see you in November.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Arlene Mulder is president of the Arlington Heights Park District. Steve Persinger is director of parks and recreation at the Geneva Park District.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 16 September/October 1986