Certification: The challenge of professionalism
More than 600 leisure professionals in Illinois are certified.
By John Beaman,
Chair, Illinois Park and Recreation Certification Board
The Illinois Park and Recreation Certification Plan was approved by the IPRA membership in 1982. Participation in the Plan is strictly voluntary.
To date, 624 leisure professionals in Illinois have received their certification. This means that approximately one out of every three IPRA members is currently certified. Although this level of participation is laudable, one has to wonder why more leisure professionals employed in Illinois have not become certified.
Defining certification
What actually is certification? Certification is basically a process in which individuals are examined to determine whether they meet or exceed certain prescribed standards. Certification of leisure professionals was developed by concerned leisure professionals who wished to improve the quality of personnel employed in the leisure services sector.
One of the strengths of the Certification Plan is that certification was developed and approved by leisure professionals. It was not forced on the profession by either employers or consumers.
Major components
The Illinois Park and Recreation Certification Plan has two main components. First, applicants must meet or exceed the prescribed education and professional experience qualifications to initially become certified. This gives employers an assurance that a new or existing employee meets or exceeds the requirements identified by leisure professionals as critical to performance in the leisure services sector.
The second major component of the Certification Plan is the requirement that certified professionals attain a prescribed number of hours of approved continuing education to maintain their certification. The developers of the Plan recognized that a professional's education does not end upon graduation from college. A continuing program of education is critical to updating current skills and acquiring new ones.
Under the Plan, certified professionals must attain two CEUs (Continuing Education Units) of continuing education every two years to maintain their certification. A CEU is the nationally recognized, standardized form of credit for continuing education used by most other professions. A CEU is defined as "10 contact hours of participation in an organized, continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction and qualified instruction."
The continuing education requirement is the same for all certified professionals. This recognizes the importance to both the veteran of 20 years, as well as the new professional, of continually educating themselves to keep abreast of the many changes that affect society.
Illinois Parks and Recreation 14 September/October 1987
CEU opportunities
Some critics of certification have suggested that they are professional and would pursue continuing education with or without certification. This may be true, but in the first two years of the plan approximately 20 percent of the certified practitioners failed to recertify.
The vast majority did not recertify because they failed to acquire the necessary CEUs. Most gave lack of time or opportunity as the reason for failing to attain their two CEUs.
Others who did recertify have stated that if it was not for the continuing education requirement in certification, they probably would not have attended as many continuing education opportunities as they did during the two-year period.
Ample opportunities for satisfying the continuing education requirement are available in Illinois. Those who use this as an excuse are avoiding the real reason they failed to attain their CEUs. If we are truly professional, we will seek out these opportunities and make the time to continue our professional development.
Answering the critics
Certification has been accepted by most professionals, but it does have some opponents. One of their major complaints is that certification does not guarantee successful job performance. This is indeed true, but certification has never been promoted as a guarantee of job performance. Certification, like educational diplomas and certificates, only guarantees that individuals have met the standards identified as increasing the likelihood of successful job performance.
Another concern about certification is that the requirements are too narrow, thereby possibly excluding some very talented individuals. There may have been some truth to this complaint, and the Plan was revised in 1986 to address this potential problem. An expanded set of options for qualifying for initial certification was developed. The revised requirements are available from the IPRA office.
Certification is a chance for us to publicly tell our employers, consumers and fellow professionals that we are concerned about the quality of leisure services in Illinois. The initial certification requirements help to insure that qualified individuals enter the leisure profession, while continuing education is critical to our continued growth, both personally and professionally. By becoming certified, we affirm this belief in quality and pledge to continue our growth as professionals.
The Illinois Park and Recreation Certification Board (IPRCB), which administers the Illinois Park and Recreation Certification Plan, challenges you to become certified and join your certified peers in making a statement about the importance of professionalism and quality in leisure services.
The following is a list of the professionals currently certified through the Illinois Park and Recreation Certification Board and included on the national roster of certified professionals. We congratulate all those on the list.
The IPRCB hopes that next year we will be able to proudly announce that 50 percent or more of IPRA's members have taken the challenge of professionalism and have become certified. Additional information about the Illinois Park and Recreation Certification Plan can be obtained by calling the IPRA office at (312) 991-2820.
Certified Professionals
|
James L. Berousek
|
Robin J. Caravello
|
Peggy Ann Curtis
|
Alien Francis Ackennann
|
Thomas Joseph Blackburn
|
Pamela J. Carey
|
James T. DaRosa
|
Rod Aiken
|
Ronald W. Blemler
|
Debbie Carlson
|
Frank DeAtley
|
James C. Albritton
|
Richard M. Blust
|
Jan Carlson
|
Dennis J. DeLance
|
William T. Alden
|
Dennis Bokemeier
|
Jayne K. Carstens
|
Ronald J. Deboer
|
Barbara Altwies
|
Nancie J. Boland
|
Kim Cashmore
|
Scott R. Dell
|
Gerard I. Armstrong
|
Rick Bold
|
Grant A. Casleton
|
Debra D. Demarco
|
Phyllis Amtzen
|
Gregory B. Bott
|
Alien Cassady
|
Cheryl Loudon Deom
|
Wayne A. Aronson
|
Jeff Boubelik
|
Kathleen Cassens
|
Vito W. DiCanio
|
Cory Atwell
|
Cheri A. Bourbon
|
Vincent Castellanoz
|
Dorothea DiGuido
|
Mark E. Badasch
|
Evelynne H. Bowman
|
Cheryl Ann Cater
|
Ronald E. Diehl
|
Jerome Baer
|
D. James Brademas
|
Amy L. Charlesworth
|
Diane Dillow
|
Gary Baker
|
William A. Brauer
|
Andy Clark
|
Gayle Dixon
|
Chuck Balling
|
James O. Breen
|
Virginia M. Clark
|
Janet M. Dolan
|
Joseph J. Bannon
|
Michael E. Brezinski
|
Terry Clarke
|
Judith Dolan Mendelson
|
Jill Bartholomew
|
Mary Brosious
|
Edward C. Clift
|
Dick Dooley
|
Ginny Bateman
|
Daniel D. Brown
|
Joseph N. Cogley
|
Joe H. Doud
|
Reid Bateman
|
Jana K. Brown Kulikowski
|
J. Christopher Comstock
|
John W. Downs
|
John H. Beaman
|
George H. Bryant, Jr.
|
Douglas G. Congdon
|
Peter C. Drogos
|
Ned F. Bell
|
Ewen Bryden
|
Thomas E. Connolly
|
Denise Drucker Blinick
|
Larry Belknap
|
Gayle D. Burke
|
Karen Correll
|
Ron Dumke
|
Debra Bemm
|
Mary E. Burkee
|
Gene Cromwell
|
|
Rick Bemm
|
Gerard J. Byrne
|
Kathleen Cunningham
|
(Continued on page 16)
|
Danette M. Benignetti
|
Cynthia N. Capek
|
|
|
Phil Bennett
|
Angelo J. Capulli
|
|
|
Illinois Parks and Recreation 15 September/October 1987
 
|
|
Alex J. Marx
|
Larry Reiner
|
|
|
Gerard P. McCord
|
Randy Reopelle
|
|
|
Diane McCray
|
Greg Repede
|
|
|
Michael McElligott
|
Dr. Donald Rezab
|
Robert Dunsmuir
|
Jane Hodgkinson
|
Liza McElroy
|
Keith Rich
|
Patricia F. Eagleton
|
Nancy Hohs
|
Dr. William R. McKinney
|
Thomas J. Richardson
|
Glen A. Ekey
|
Sarah P. Holcombe
|
Mark M. McKinnon
|
Richard Riecks
|
Matthew L. Ellmann
|
Mary Jayne Holley
|
Marypat McNicholas
|
Walter C. Righton
|
Edward Emerick
|
Gary Hopfinger
|
Jeffrey D. McClard
|
Don R. Ritter
|
Robert Ems
|
Heather J. Hoppe-Theiszmann
|
Leslie S. Merema
|
Rick Robbins
|
James B. Ensign
|
Cheryl N. Horvath
|
Vince Merenda
|
Alexander L. Roberts
|
Robert D. Espeseth
|
Joan S. Horvath-Kruger
|
Pete Merkel
|
James Rock
|
Michael P. Evans
|
Charles Hoscheit
|
Jan D. Mersmann
|
Robert W. Roiek
|
Susie K. Field
|
Duane S. Hosimer
|
Greg Meyer
|
Patricia Roth
|
George C. Fink
|
Jeanne Hosier
|
Steven Meyer
|
Mary Ann Rowe
|
Gary T. Foiles
|
John Hovde
|
Sue A. Micklevitz
|
Thomas E. Rowe
|
Thomas F. Foley
|
Craig D. Hubert
|
James W. Miller
|
Betty Russell
|
Bruno Fontana
|
Suzette Huckstadt
|
Jennifer Nolan Miller
|
Michael Ryiko
|
J. Karl Foss
|
Nancy Hudson
|
Nancy J, Miner
|
Gregory G. Sagen
|
Keith Frankland
|
William E. Hughes
|
Lynn H. Minuskin
|
Gene D. Sanks
|
Dan W. Frase
|
Daniel L. Hypke
|
Joseph D. Modrich
|
Sevan Sarkisian
|
Laurie L. Freeman
|
Frederick E. Jackson
|
David W. Mogle
|
Randall L. Schawel
|
Susan Friend
|
Caroline Margaret Jacobsen
|
Patrick B. Morley
|
Preston W. Schellbach
|
Therese M. Fritzmann
|
R. Jarecki
|
Ray Morrill
|
Kathleen C. Scheltens
|
Michael A. Fugiel
|
Richard E. Johns
|
Patrick L. Moser
|
Gary Schiefer
|
Steve Furlong
|
Mary Ann Johnson
|
Janet K. Mountcastle
|
Dan Schimmel
|
Carolyn S. Garofalo
|
Patty Johnson
|
Kathy Mulligan
|
Jean Schlinkmann
|
Deborah A. Garrett
|
Tanya Johnson
|
John C. Muno
|
Tim Schmidt
|
Ronald N. Gbur
|
Annie Lee Jones
|
Linda Brougham Naatz
|
James R. Schneckenburger
|
William C. Geihsler
|
Judy A. Julison
|
Tom Naatz
|
Kay J. Schneegas
|
Evelyn Getty
|
Peg Kallio
|
Deborah D. Nelson
|
Mark Schneiderman
|
Jack M. Giambrone
|
Thomas M. Kalousek
|
Rudy Nelson
|
Stephen C. Scholten
|
Daniel C. Gibble
|
Karen D. Kamradt
|
John Nemerovski
|
Jeffrey Schryver
|
Arthur A. Gill
|
Donald W. Kappel
|
William C. Neumann
|
Joe Schultz
|
Wendy L, Gismondi
|
Steven Karoliussen
|
Dan Newport
|
Terry G. Schwartz
|
Michael J. Glabinski
|
Ginny Keefe-Wiemerslage
|
Dave Novak
|
Patricia M. Sergeant
|
Laura Lynn Glazier
|
Kathleen E. Kelley
|
Carol O'Brien
|
James R. Sharp
|
Lori Glazik
|
Caroline E. Kelling
|
Robert J. O'Brien, Jr.
|
Cathy Shekleton
|
Cheryl Ann Gordon
|
Kevin T. Kendrigan
|
Cynthia O'Connor
|
Jennifer B. Shoellhom
|
Darlan Gordon
|
Roger Key
|
Joseph M. O'Malley
|
Jeanine Shotas
|
William M. Grady
|
Karen A. Kiester
|
Gerald M. Oakes
|
Mitchell Shulich
|
Michael Grandy
|
Patricia Klawitter
|
Ray Ochromowicz
|
Thomas J. Shuster
|
Robert K. Gray
|
Gary Koren
|
Robert Orsi
|
Charles J. Siegler
|
Ronald Greenberg
|
Robert Kotula
|
Daniel Otto
|
Debra L. Siler
|
Daniel J. Griffin
|
Kimberly Kovac
|
James A. Pacanowski
|
Gary Silkgitis
|
Steve Grimes
|
Jerry Krewer
|
Lynn Parfitt
|
Billy Sim Sisler
|
Richard Grodsky
|
Thomas Kruse
|
Margaret Partak
|
Connie Skibbe
|
Teresa Grodsky
|
Ronald Kubicki
|
Jerry E. Pask
|
Carole A. Sluis
|
James R. Grove
|
Colette Kubiesa
|
Steve Patterson
|
Pam Smalarz
|
James H. Gruenwald
|
Michael Kudia
|
Chuck Paxton
|
Brian T. Smith
|
Linda L. Gryziecki
|
Daria Kay Kuhs
|
Arlene G. Perry
|
Kermit J. Smith
|
Ronald J. Gunter
|
Greg Kuhs
|
Stephen D. Persinger
|
Robin Coe Soderquist
|
Denise Haack
|
Robert Kunkel
|
Janice P. Peterson
|
Donna Soltanek
|
Thomas E. Hacker
|
Betsy Kutska
|
Greg Petry
|
Sue Sp angler
|
Fred P. Hall
|
Ken Kutska
|
Jack F. Philbrick
|
Michael S. Spencer
|
Leane Hall
|
Sharon T. Labak
|
David F. Phillips
|
Robert Spencer
|
Robin Hall
|
Robert Lashbrook
|
Lawrence Piekarz
|
Diane Stanke
|
R. C. Hallberg
|
Jack Lepper
|
Fred Ploegman, Jr.
|
Dennis R. Stein
|
Jerry Handlon
|
Jan Lewis
|
Steven S. Plumb
|
Theodore R. Steiskal, Jr.
|
Vicki Milligan Hardey
|
Janice M. Linduska
|
Steve Pohlman
|
Michael Sterba
|
Steve Hartman
|
Thomas J. Lippert
|
Theresa Tolle Pohlman
|
Linda Mulkerin Strass
|
Carl P. Hartmann
|
Joann Lodine
|
Mick Pope
|
Sharon Strzelczyk
|
Edward Harvey
|
Janet Lonergan
|
Robert A. Porter
|
Kristin Ann Stuffelbeam
|
Alvin Hattendorf
|
Ken Losinski
|
Terrence Porter
|
William H. Sturgis
|
Patricia Hayes
|
Thomas G. Lovern
|
Joyce L. Pottinger
|
Paul V. Swanson
|
Jerry Hayner
|
Michael S. Lucchesi
|
Todd D. Pratt
|
Charles J. Szoke
|
Kerry Patrick Hays
|
Teena Mackey
|
Cathy Puchalski
|
Thomas Tayler
|
John L. Hedges
|
Joyce Magsamen
|
Bob Pushee
|
Frederick C. Thompson
|
Paul E. Heinkel
|
Tony Malcak
|
Richard Pyle
|
Robert F. Toalson
|
Patricia M. Hensley
|
Thomas A. Mammoser
|
Robert D. Quill
|
William S. Tookey
|
Bobbie Herakovich
|
Janet Manson
|
Sue Quill
|
Terry Tumquist
|
Sheri Herring
|
David Markworth
|
Randy Ralston
|
Lois B. Tyznik
|
Ann C. Hildreth
|
Danielle Marsico
|
Deborah Randazzo
|
Carol Unzicker
|
Susan Hill
|
Mike Martino
|
Reesa M. Rayford
|
Donald P. VanArsdale
|
Illinois Parks and Recreation 16 September/October 1987
Mary E. VanArsdale
|
John M. Vann
|
Robert Vaughan
|
Marilee Verdu
|
Ralph J. Voipe
|
Ralph D. Voris
|
Gary M. Watson
|
Linda Watts
|
David Edward Weiss
|
Marvin S. Weiss
|
Mark L. Weller
|
Charles E. Westphal
|
Laurajean B. Whalen
|
Larry R. Wheeler
|
Thomas C. White
|
George Whitehead
|
Sandra Whitmore
|
Ann Wilkins
|
Kerry Willey
|
Keith D. Williams
|
Raymond G. Williams
|
John W. Wilson
|
Linda Wiltberger
|
Donald J. Wirth
|
Jim Wiseman
|
Marvin Wolf
|
Max L. Woods
|
Patricia Yeager
|
Sandra Young Bahlenhorst
|
Raul Zaidivar
|
Richard J. Zarr
|
James M. Zawlocki
|
Edward A. Zeienka
|
Roger L. Zimmerman
|
Jo An M. Zimmermann
|
Ann S. Zito
|
Anthony J. Zito
|
Judith Zopp
|
Certified Provisional Professionals
|
Bruce E. Baum
|
Patti Jo Boehm
|
Laura J. Brown
|
Eric Lee Christensen
|
David E. Cooley
|
Kathryn P. Danielson
|
Diane E. Eustis
|
Jayne R. Glade
|
David W. Haring
|
Robert T. Holcombe
|
Joni A. Jordt
|
Heather Ann Krupke
|
Dawn E. Lemme
|
Mary J. Loos
|
Shari McCarty
|
Inez S. McGachey
|
Maureen McNicholas
|
Robert M. O'Shaughnessy
|
Randwick L. Osbom
|
Linda Pietrini
|
Freddy A. Porps
|
Joan M. Prazuch
|
Christine M. Purpura
|
Nancy Jo Radtke
|
Eugene A. Rathje
|
Denise R. Riederer
|
Cynthia Ruff
|
Mary Kaufman Sagen
|
Laura Seri
|
Karen Shannon
|
Cindy A. Snyder
|
Certified Technicians
Mary Jo Bailey
|
Mary E. Beaver
|
Beverly Jean Carlson
|
Denis Craig Chapan
|
Tracy Dalton
|
Mary Beth Flagg
|
Diane D. Grais
|
Bob Green
|
Marie H. Inzcauskis
|
Pat Jacobs
|
Ronald Jenkins
|
Elizabeth Kasper
|
Margaret O. Kinkade
|
Peggy Krauch
|
Phyllis M. Kunke
|
Charlotte McGregory
|
Jan Monroe
|
Sharon O'Connell
|
Barbara O'Rahilly
|
Virginia M. Pizzotti
|
Kirk Reimer
|
Margaret M. Schak
|
Debra J. Scinto
|
Donna Jean Strum
|
John Henry Thiele, Jr.
|
Kathleen M. Trenhaile
|
James R. Walker
|
Ed Wille
|
Vivienne C. Williams
|
Danelle Wonderlick
|
Certified Professionals With Therapeutic Specialty
|
Barbara Alldridge
|
Susan K. Balling
|
Charlene Kay Basham
|
Mary Berman
|
Myma Haimowitz Besley
|
Marianne Birko
|
Fred Boch
|
Louis Carpino
|
Lynne Cimino
|
Esther Jean Davis
|
Vera Hesse
|
Ruth Ann Iwanski
|
Shelley A. Johnson
|
Martha T. Judge
|
Julia A. Karnstedt
|
Bonnie Brouwer Laudick
|
Mar Leblanc
|
Donna McCauley
|
Twyla M. Misselhom
|
Carolyn Mallaney Nagle
|
Dr. Carol Ann Peterson
|
Robert B. Pindar
|
William J. Popelar
|
Mari Patricia Schafer
|
Shelley S. Schultz
|
Deborah A. Shanahan
|
Dr. Barbara Sirvis
|
Shelley Thurston
|
Marilyn F. Vogus
|
People, Places and Things
Obituaries
Gloria McCleary, president of the Geneva Park District, died on August 3. She was 62.
Ms. McCleary served on the district's board of commissioners for 10 years, serving as president the last four years.
She was employed by A.L. Alien and Sons, Century 21 Real Estate, in Geneva. Her civic participation included the Congregational Church of Geneva, the Geneva Garden Club, the League of Women Voters, the Women's Auxiliary of Community Hospital and the Playmakers. The Geneva Chamber of Commerce honored her earlier this year with its William Wood Community Service Award.
Events
The IPRA Health and Fitness Committee will host a Concepts in Fitness Workshop on Saturday, October 3, at the American Institute of Sport Movement in Naperville.
The morning workshop sessions will be geared toward administrators and supervisors, focusing on marketing fitness facilities and programs, as well as methods to hire competent fitness program staff.
Fitness instructors will benefit the most from the afternoon workshop program concentrating on tension band exercises, fitness routines tailored to music and a panel discussion on proper exercise techniques.
For more information contact the IPRA office at (312) 991-2820.
This year's Illinois Senior Olympic Games will open on September 24 in Springfield, with competition scheduled for September 25-27.
Athletes, age 55 and older, will compete for gold, silver and bronze medals in 45 different events. These include track and field, a walk race, bike races, a 10K run, tennis, golf, bowling, horseshoes, shuffleboard, casting, table tennis, archery, trapshoot and swimming.
In addition, three new swimming events, along with air rifle and air pistol competition, have been added to this year's Olympic Games.
Additional information is available from Annette Fuchs at the Springfield Recreation Department, 1415 N. Grand Ave. East, Springfield, IL 62702. Phone (217) 789-2284.
Illinois Parks and Recreation 17 September/October 1987
|