PEOPLE AND PLACES

National Gold Medal Finalists Named

The National Sporting Goods Association's (NSGA) Sports Foundation announced its finalists for the 1998 National Gold Medal and Special Recreation/State Park Awards program. These awards are presented annually to communities throughout the United States for excellence in park and recreation administration and for outstanding service to the challenged, in cooperation with NSGA and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). Illinois Finalists are:

Class I (Cities with population over 250,000)
Lake County Forest Preserve District
Nominated, by Bass Pro Shops, Gurnee

Class III (50,000 - 100,000)
Champaign Park District
Nominated by Gery & Al's Sporting Goods, Rantoul

Class IV (20,000 - 50,000)
Bolingbrook Park District
Nominated by Pahs Sports, Palos Heights

St. Charles Park District
Nominated by George's Sports Center, St. Charles

Urbana Park District
Nominated by Body N' Sole Sports, Inc., Champaign

Class V (Under 20,000)
Itasca Park District
Nominated by Creative Awards, Elk Grove

Special Recreation
Special Recreation Association of Central Lake County
Nominated by Martin Imports, Inc., Libertyville

The Grand Award Winner in each class will be selected based upon improvement, service, continuing development, extent of future planning and degree of participant involvement and acceptance by the community. Winners will be announced and honored by the NRPA Congress to be held in Miami Beach, FL, in September. NSGA's Sports Foundation is a nonprofit membership organization founded to stimulate interest in the development of new recreational activities and facilities and to encourage participation in sports. It established the National Gold Medal Awards Program for park and recreation management in 1965.

ISAE Recognizes Three IAPD Staff Members At its February meeting, the Illinois Society of Association Executives (ISAE), which represents more than 200 associations in the state, recognized three staff members of the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD). Ted Flickinger, IAPD executive director, received ISAE's Distinguished Member Award for outstanding leadership and achievement in association management. Kristen Butcher (pictured at right), lAPD's educational services director, was named ISAE's Rising Star in recognition of demonstrated leadership potential in the association management field. Ann Londrigan (pictured at left), LAPD's publication director, received ISAE's Excellence in Communication Award in recognition of the critical role communication plays in the association management profession.

Michael Murphy of Rock Island, Ill., has accepted a recreation supervisor position with the Lan-Oak Park District. He received a bachelor of science degree in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Administration from Western Illinois University in 1997. His responsibilities will include preschool, youth-teen activities, some adult sport leagues, and special events. Murphy completed an internship with the Bettendorf (Iowa) Parks and Recreation Department.

Marianne Marshall joins the Fox Valley Park District as the human resources coordinator. Her responsibilities include administering all personnel and employee programs. Marshall has a bachelor of science degree in Elementary Education from Bradley University in Peoria. She has a Professional in Human Resource (PHR) certification from the Society of Human Resource Management. She comes to Fox Valley from the Rockford Park District where she was the Human Resource Specialist since 1990.

Robin Voss of Aurora has been hired as the Fox Valley Park District's athletic field supervisor. Under the direction of the athletic coordinator, he will be responsible for preparation and maintenance of athletic fields. Voss, who has a bachelor of science in Education from Aurora University, comes to the park district with much experience in his field. His latest project was reconstructing, renovating and refurbishing eight-acre S.A. Field in Aurora.

Debbie Thompson joins the Fox Valley Park District as an administrative assistant responsible for support for the office of the executive director and the deputy director of recreation services. She has a bachelor of science degree in Education from Oral Roberts

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PEOPLE AND PLACES

University in Tulsa, Okla. Thompson worked as a secretary at the district's Prisco Community Center from 1981 to 1990. Most recently she was employed as a legal secretary for Edwards, Jordan and O'Connor Law Offices.

Lori Karole Shook has joined the Illinois Park and Recreation Association as the educational services coordinator. Her responsibilities includes Education Programing and workshops, publications, and the Cooperative Purchasing Program. Shook resides in Round Lake, Ill., where she spent the last five months as the assistant executive director for the Illinois Center for Youth Advocacy. For three years prior to that, she worked in Washington, D.C., for two different associations. Shook graduated from Sangamon State University (now University of Illinois at Springfield) with a bachelor of arts in History.

Sydney L. Sklar joins the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association (FVSRA) as therapeutic recreation specialist and program coordinator. Sklar will train a teen swim team for Special Olympics competition and lead programs such as Active Adults and Computer Capers for youth. He hopes to help FVSRA expand its outdoor program offerings. He joins FVSRA from Wilderness Inquiry, Inc., Minneapolis, an adaptive expeditionary program which enables people with disabilities to travel with their able-bodied peers on canoe and kayak trips. Sklar received a master of science degree in Outdoor Therapeutic Recreation Administration from Aurora University. His background is diverse including advising learning-disabled teens at a New Mexico school, volunteering for a kibbutz in Israel, teaching English in Eastern Europe, and radio production and print journalism. Sklar obtained a bachelor's degree in English/Communications at Albright College, Reading, Pa.

In Memoriam - Ralph Birks Ralph B. Birks, 90, of Moline, long-time superintendent of parks and recreation for the city of Moline, died Saturday, Feb. 7, 1998, in Heartland Health Care Center, Moline. He graduated from Rockford High School and attended the University of Illinois with a major in Landscape Architecture and Design. He attended the Quad Cities Graduate School with studies in Plant Pathology and Ornamental Horticulture. He was licensed by the state of Illinois as a licensed tree expert and a certified swimming pool operator. He was superintendent of parks and recreation for the city of Moline for 32 years, beginning June 1, 1941, until his retirement Dec. 31, 1972. During his years as park superintendent, he conceived the idea of a parkway along the Mississippi River and was instrumental in acquiring the land now known as the Ben Butterworth Parkway. Sixteen playgrounds were supervised for summer activities during his tenure. He also helped the Dad's Clubs in developing the boys baseball program for all elementary and junior high schools. The Ralph B. Birks Bicycle Trail was dedicated in his honor on Nov. 30, 1995. Among his many affiliations, he was past president of the Illinois Recreation Association, past president of the Tri-City Men's Rose and Garden Club, an honorary lifetime member of the Illinois Park and Recreation Society, a member of the American Parks and Recreation Association, American Institute of Park Executives, International Shade Tree Conference, the Illinois State Florist's Association, the Illinois Turf Foundation and University of Illinois Extension Service.

Dan Maier was named recreation director at the Hickory Hills Park District. Maier has been employed at the district since 1991. He was hired as an athletic supervisor in 1991 and handled youth and adult athletics. He will be responsible for overseeing all the recreation programs for the district in this new capacity.

Phillip Folino joined the Hickory Hills Park District staff in March of 1998. His responsibilities include development and supervision of athletic programming for the district's youth and adult population. Folino has a bachelor of science degree in Recreation/Business Management from Elmhurst College. While attending school, he held part-time positions at the Franklin and Park Ridge park districts.

Michael Bromley joins the Bolingbrook Park District as food and beverage manager. Bromley has more than seven years experience in the food and beverage industry, including kitchen manager for Lone Star Steak House and general manager for the Olive Garden Restaurant. For Bolingbrook, he will oversee the operation of the Tenth Hole Pub at the district 's Boughton Ridge Golf Course.

Lori Knouse has been hired as the recreation coordinator for the Park Ridge Recreation and Park District, bringing seven years of experience in the field of recreation to her new position. Most recently she was with the Schaumburg Park District serving as general program supervisor. She was recreation supervisor at the Northbrook Park District and worked at the Kiawah Island Inn and Villas in Charleston, S.C. Knouse is currently working on a M.B.A. at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has a bachelor of science degree from Eastern Illinois University.

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PEOPLE AND PLACES

Rich Atkins, a former left-handed pitcher for the San Francisco Giants and a scout for the Cincinnati Reds, joins the Veterans Park District as recreation director. Atkins walked away from the game with a philosophy that steers his life: "When you are able to teach kids and adults that winning at all costs isn't everything, you have made a difference." Early in his career, Atkins was employed with the Archdiocese of Chicago as a physical education instructor and for the past two decades by the Chicago Park District in administrative and teaching capacities. There, he paved the way for a baseball program that grew to 350 youth participants; organized programs for seniors; balanced the demands of gymnastics shows with his work in Golden Gloves Boxing and basketball.

April Kleckd has been named teen supervisor for the Park Ridge Recreation and Park District. Previously, she was the recreation supervisor at the York Center Park District where she worked with all ages, but especially enjoyed the challenge of working with teens. Klecka completed a twelve-week internship at the Hanover Park Park District while she attended Illinois State University, receiving a bachelor of science degree in Recreation and Park Administration.

Heather Collier has been selected aquatics supervisor for the Park Ridge Recreation and Park District. Previously, she was the program coordinator at the Palatine Township Senior Citizens Center before joining the staff in Park Ridge. There she identified and implemented new ideas for recreation, wellness, education and intergenerational programs at the not-for-profit center. Before that, she served as assistant for student employment at the Northern Illinois University Recreation Center in DeKalb. Also, Collier was pool manager and coordinator for the Schaumburg Park District for four years. She is proficient in sign language and has a bachelor of science degree from Northern Illinois University.

Renie Schreiber joins the Park Ridge Recreation and Park District as part-time public information officer. She has spent the past 15 years reporting, editing, writing and doing public relations work. She produced company newsletters and reported for the Lerner Newspapers and Vital Times, a publication designed for seniors. Her writing has appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Parent, and a coffee-table book about Chicago. Schreiber also worked in the public relations department for a large Midwestern railroad.

Shelly Williams was hired as a certified therapeutic recreational specialist for the South Suburban Special Recreation Association. Shelly graduated from Indiana University in August of 1997 with a bachelor of science in Recreation, specialization in Therapeutic Recreation. She completed an internship at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) and has extensive experience working at the DeKalb Sycamore Association for Special Recreation and RIC's wheelchair sports programs. 

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