Ray Morill

Ray Morrill has been elected President-Elect of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association. Morrill replaces Tom Shuster, who was scheduled to take office as President-Elect but has since left the state to assume the position of Director-Secretary of the Metro Parks of Summit County in Akron, Ohio. At a special meeting of the IPRA Board of Directors in December, Morrill was interviewed and unanimously selected to serve as Association President-Elect in 1995 and President in 1996. In accepting the position Morrill stated, "The timing is right, and I look forward to the opportunities and challenges ahead for our profession." Ray is the Superintendent of Recreation for the Wheaton Park District, a position he has held since 1972. His involvement with IPRA, Sections and committees, as well as SPRA and NRPA, has been extensive. A partial list includes: IPRA Board Member, IPRA/IAPD Coordinating Council Member, Recreation Section Director, IPR Conference Co-Chair, Bather Code Task Force Co-Chair, NRPA National Aquatic Council. and NRPA Aquatic Section Continuing Education Chair. The IPRA board looks forward to the leadership Morrill will provide in the coming years. Congratulations, Ray!

Shuster served as Executive Director of the Waukegan Park District since December 1986. Prior to his service in Waukegan, he was Director of Recreation, Parks, and Community Services in East Brunswick, New Jersey, from 1976 to 1986.

Shuster began his career with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, where he served in supervisory positions with the Division of Parks and Recreation from 1972 to 1975.

"We're happy for Tom, but sad to see him leave. He's been a great leader for the Waukegan Park District," said Joe Favero, President of the Waukegan Park District Board of Commissioners.

The Bolingbrook Park District announced the hiring of Margaret Resnick as Deputy Director. Resnick was most recently employed as Director of Parks and Recreation for the Cicero Park District. She is a 1982 graduate of Southern Illinois University and received her master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Illinois, Chicago, in 1994. Resnick will provide administrative support for the overall operation of the Bolingbrook Park District.

Karin Liszka has joined the Wood Dale Park District as a Recreation Supervisor. Liszka received her degree from the University of Illinois where she was involved with the Association of Leisure and Recreation. She recently completed her internip at the Wheaton Park District.

Steven P. Kaiser has joined The Jeff Diver Group, Glen Ellyn, as an associate member. He brings 10 years of experience to the environmental law firm. Kaiser will advise clients on wetlands issues, underground storage tank regulations, Superfund liabilities, and other environmental regulatory compliance and enforcement issues

Kaiser received his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law. Kaiser started his environmental law practice as an Assistant Regional Counsel for the USEPA. He also worked for Holleb & Coff, Chicago, for two years and served as an Assistant State's Attorney in Lake County for four years.

David Erb has been appointed Superintendent of Finance for the Morton Grove Park District. Erb was formerly employed by the Village of Bartlett as Assistant Finance Director.

Also joining the Park District is Patricia Skonberg, Fitness Supervisor; Linda Mathis, Special Events Supervisor; and Lynn Mickle, Museum Curator. Skonberg graduated from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago and has more than 20 years experience in the fitness industry. Mathis graduated from Western Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in Education and earned her master's degree in Public Administration from Roosevelt University. Mickle graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a master's degree in Historical Administration.

Carl Maniscaico was promoted to Fitness Manager with the Morton Grove Park District. Maniscaico served as the District's Athletic Supervisor for several years. He earned his master's degree in Physical Education/Exercise Science from the University of Illinois.

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Ann M. Ziolkowski has been named Public Relations/Marketing Supervisor for the Northbrook Park District, responsible for researching community needs and developing strategies for disseminating park district information. Facilitating a communication flow with the local business community will be one of her major goals. Ziolkowski's previous experience was in restaurant management/marketing/promotion. She earned a B.A. degree in English/Communications from Western Michigan University.

The Rockford Park District awarded Distinguished Service Awards to three local residents.

Jim Wigner was honored for his many years of dedicated community service as a member of the Rockford School District and a community activist. The School District and Park District have had many joint projects in the past that will continue in the future.

Marvin Palmquist was honored for his years of service to the community, especially to the arts community. He owns and operations the Midway Theatre and formerly owned Channel 39.

Sunil Puri, a local businessman and developer, was honored for his tireless devotion to the Perry ville Rec Path as well as service to the District. Advice he gave the District will help provide it with $700,000 over the next 30 years, as well as getting a 15-story radio communications tower.

The Rockford Park District also honored fourteen full-time and seasonal staff for service above and beyond.

Karen Weis was honored in the management category for arranging former Chicago Bear Mike Singletary to be in Rockford for an Illinois Park & Recreation public awareness photo shoot

Curt Rogers and Scot Nason were honored in the office and technical area. Rogers solicited District departments to create lighted ornaments for a tree display in the Sinnissippi Park Festival of Lights. Nason, a park ranger, was credited with talking a person out of suicide.

Howard Sforza was honored in the maintenance category for correcting a spelling error on a large dedication plaque.

Tom Cook and Gary Magnuson were honored in the seasonal category. Cook works in extended service programs. Magnuson, a ranger, saved a woman's life using the Heimlich method.

The Wantz Summer Playground staff were honored for their work this past summer at the Loves Park Site. They include Kirn Schmittze, Cory Hendricks, Debbie Johns, Ryan Olson, Darnel! Royal, and Karen Weis. The other special category award went to the Westside Soup Kitchen staff of Mary Steward and Ossie Standfield.

Gorman was awarded the Silver Beaver Scout Award in 1978; me Mayor Richard J. Daley Memorial Award for Outstanding Citizenship in 1978; and the Nancy K. Rector Award for Outstanding Citizenship from FDIC.

Gorman's community involvement included: Calumet Council of Boy Scouts; United Way of Midlothian/Oak Forest, having served as Budget Chairman, President, and rep- resentative to the National Organization on Disability; Oak Forest Lions Club; Gingerwood Homeowners Association; South Suburban Park & Recreation Association; Oak Forest Social Services Committee; Sfc Damians Parish; Southwest Cooperation for Special Education Foundation; and other organizations.

In lieu of flowers, the family requested memorials to Together We Cope.

Illinois Parks & Recreation • January/February 1995 • 57

During her tenure as Commissioner, she saw the Champaign Park District grow from 15 parks with 151 acres to 58 parks with 513 acres. In addition, many new recreation facilities were constructed, including the Bicentennial Recreation Center, which in 1984 was named the Leonhard Recreation Center in her honor.

In addition to her work with the Champaign Park Board, she served on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Illinois Department of Conservation Advisory Committee.

The Wauconda Park District has selected Ron Lorenzo to the position of Director of Parks and Recreation. Lorenzo was a 1974 graduate of George Williams College. He has served as Director for the Hickory Hills Park District, City of Palos Heights, and the Village of Libertyville.

Ann M. Londrigan has been promoted to Public Relations Director for the Illinois Association of Paik Districts. Londrigan joined the IAPD Staff in September 1993 with the primary responsibility for planning and marketing IAPD's educational programs, editing publications including The Park Commissioners Handbook, and assisting with IAPD public relations. She earned bachelor's degrees in English and Economics from the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota, with graduate education from the University of Denver Book Publishing Institute.

Londrigan's professional experience includes editorial, public relations and marketing positions with Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing (3M), Academy Chicago Publishers, Schindler Communications, me., and the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine Clinics. Londrigan also brings to the position a successful track record in special event marketing.

Kelly was recognized for his contributions to recreation and park research, which have significantly advanced the cause of the recreation movement.

Eugene Pomerance, Elmhurst Park District Commissioner, received the National Recreation and Park Association Voluntary Service Award. The award is presented annually to a citizen or organization whose voluntary contributions of time and effort over a period of years have improved the quality of leisure opportunities through recreation, parks and conservation programs and projects.

Pomerance has served as commissioner for three six-year terms, spread from 1959 to present

Richter also received the President's Award in recognition of outstanding contributions to the Illinois Society of Association Executives for her volunteer work as Chair of the ISAE Summer Session, the organization's annual conference.

The Rockford Park District was honored with the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Award of Excellence for hosting the 1994 ASA Boys 12,14 and 16 and under national fast pitch softball championships at the District's Sportscore. Team managers, umpire in chief and the ASA tournament officials rate the tournament. Rockford Park District Commissioner Bruce Atwood accepted the award from Chuck Lockinger, a volunteer member of Rockford Metropolitan Sports group which organizes the tournament.

58 • Illinois Parks & Recreation • January/February 1995

The Champaign Park District's Fall 1993 brochure was chosen from entries across the country with populations under 250,000.

Designed by golf course architect Dick Nugent and built by theWadsworth Golf Construction Company, Heritage Bluffs' 166 wooded and rolling acres play at a par 72, with a slope of 132 and rating of 73.9 from the 7,106 yard gold tees.

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County was awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for its comprehensive annual financial report. The Certificate is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

The Forest Preserve District was also recognized by the American Society of Landscape Architects for the development of a wetland at Springbrook Prairie (Dragon Lake) Forest Preserve in Naperville. The Illinois Chapter Public Recognition Award was presented to the District's Planning & Development Department for its innovative design and the collaborative efforts of District planners, engineers and landscape architects.

The Forest Preserve District's quarterly newsletter, The DuPage Conservationist, was awarded first place in the "Program and Events" category of the National Association for Interpretation's National Media Awards Competition. More than 150 nominations were judged on effective interpretation and communication, design, image and quality, and editorial content.

In recognition of the critical role communication plays in the association management profession, ISAE selected Illinois Parks & Recreation as the best periodical in 1994. Selection criteria included the magazine's effectiveness in meeting its objectives and target audience, article content, publication budget, and overall design (including use of white space).

Illinois Parks & Recreation serves as a showcase of the park and recreation field. All subject matter pertains to parks, recreation, conservation, and forest preserve issues. Articles submitted for publication are considered contributions to the profession and no remuneration is made.

The Excellence in Communications Award was accepted by Laura Richter, IAPD Director of Communications. Richter is the editor of Illinois Parks & Recreation.

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