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Carey Named Audubon's Conservationist of the Year Debra A. Carey, executive director of the Dixon Park District, was named the Illinois Audubon Society's Conservationist of the Year, recognizing her leadership in the formation of the Lee County Natural Area Guardians, her activism on behalf of ecosystem management at Green River SWA, her land protection efforts at Franklin Creek State Natural Area, and her work in conservation education and volunteerism on behalf of Illinois flora and fauna. Her conservation ethic is an inspiration to co-workers, friends and all who know her. Cary started at the Dixon Park District in 1988 as park naturalist and was appointed executive director in 1997. She served under Governor Edgar on the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Advisory Board. Porter President of the Township Officials of Illinois Robert A. Porter, director of the Lemont Park District and supervisor of Lemont Township, unanimously was elected to serve as president of the Township Officials of Illinois (TOI) during the association's 95th Annual Educational Conference held in Springfield last November. The Township Officials of Illinois, the largest statewide organization of its kind, annually conducts a series of training programs and educational conferences and serves as an informational clearinghouse for member townships as well as members of the Illinois General Assembly, members of Congress, and federal and state agencies. "Members of this association and all local government officials face many challenges in the months ahead," said TOI executive director Bryan E. Smith. "Bob's leadership qualities will help all of us meet and overcome the challenges that lie ahead." Carter and Calabresa Elected to Lake County Leadership At a special meeting on December 2, the Lake County Forest Preserve board of commissioners elected Bonnie Thomson Carter of Ingleside as president and Carol Calabresa of Libertyville was re-elected vice president. Both will serve a two-year term and together they represent 22 years of public service to the residents of Lake County. President Carter has served as a county board member and forest preserve commissioner since 1996. During her six years as a forest preserve commissioner, she has been vice chair of the Finance and Administrative Committee, and member of the Land Preservation and Acquisition Committee, Development, Restoration and Planning Committee, and Revenue Facilities Committee. Vice president Calabresa has served as a county board member and forest preserve commissioner since 1986. During her 16 years as a forest preserve commissioner, she has served as president and vice president, and on many committees. IPRA Announces Newly Certified Professionals • John G. Clayton, APRP, Village of Sugar Grove • Cindy A. Dassow, CPRP, Rock Island Parks and Recreation • Mary J. Dominguez, APRP, River Forest Park District • Jill Eichholz, CPRP, Bloomington Parks and Recreation • Colleen C. Farren, CPRP, Vernon Hills Park District • Matt R. Glaser, CPRP, Geneva Park District • Lonette C. Hall, APRP, Richton Park Parks and Recreation • Gregory J. Hooper, CPRP, Medinah Park District • Heidi J. Lapin, CPRP, Glenview Park District • Rita D. Ligeikis, CPRP Western Springs Recreation Dept. • Tony M. Oligney-Estill, CPRP, Champaign Park District • Matt M. Wehby, CPRP, Crystal Lake Park District • Erin A. Winch, CTRS, CPRP, SRSNLC Elizabeth Martinez joined the Pontiac Parks and Recreation Department as recreation supervisor. She received a B.S. in Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration from Western Illinois University. She completed an internship at Maryland Heights Community Center before coming to Pontiac. Martinez is responsible for establishing new programs, recruiting and supervising staff, officials and volunteers, plus budgeting, special events and field trips. Kevin Smith was hired as recreation supervisor for the Pontiac Parks and Recreation Department. He holds a B.S. in Recreation and Park Administration from Illinois State University. His duties include selection, training and supervision of part-time staff and volunteers. Additional duties include programming for arts and drama, coordinating youth special events and excursions. Smith completed an internship with Normal Parks and Recreation.
Richard Holtam was appointed to the Dixon Park District board of commissioners to complete a term of a retiring board member. Holtam began his teaching career at Boys' Training School in Eldora, Iowa. He was a counselor and on the teaching faculty of the Sauk Valley Community College and Dean of Community Services for 16 years before retiring in 1999. Holtam received a bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of Northern Iowa and completed a January/February 2003 55
master's degree in counseling.
Steven Nagle joined the Bensenville Park District as superintendent of recreation. His responsibilities include managing the Recreation Department and directing and administering all recreation services for programs and facilities. Nagle was the superintendent of recreation at Wauconda Park District for the past four years. Previously, he worked at the Rosemont Park District as program director. Nagle graduated from Western Illinois University in 1991 with a B.S. in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Administration.
Lauro Guttman was promoted to the Elmhurst Park District's director of organizational planning and human resources. She oversees district administrative operations such as long-range planning, policy and budget development, risk management and human resources. Previously, Guttman was administrative projects and safety coordinator for the district and has worked for the Chicago Public Schools Office of Management and Budget and the City of Evanston City Manager's Office. She holds bachelor of arts degrees in English and Political Science from the University of Rochester in New York and a masters in Public Administration from Indiana University's School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Julie Bruns was promoted to the Elmhurst Park District's manager of the Human Resources Division. She manages and maintains all aspects of the human resource function, including compensation and job classification administration, benefits program administration, training and employee development, employee recruitment, statistical analysis, safety and risk management, unemployment compensation, compli- January/February 2003 57 ance with state and federal personnel laws, and revision and administration of the district's employee policies and procedures. Stephen Dittemore was promoted to the Elmhurst Park District's director of information services. He will provide strategic implementation of internal and external electronic communication and technology for the district including maintenance of the Novell, NT and Windows 2000 Wide Area Network, support of more than 80 users and PCs, the district's e-mail, productivity and database applications as well as Internet and Intranet Systems. Debra J. Hills joined the Finance and Human Resources Department at the Elmhurst Park District. As the new senior accountant, her duties include training, supervising, and directing the daily activities of accounting clerical staff, assisting with the annual audit, payroll reports, budget information, and additional responsibilities. Hills previously worked for the U.S. Department of Energy in Oakland, California, and was a member of the San Francisco Bay Area Federal Financial Mangers Council. Rebecca Gengler, CPRP, joins the Marketing Department at the Elmhurst Park District as the marketing assistant. Some of Gengler's responsibilities include assisting with publicity, community relations, sponsorship opportunities, special events, and serving as a liaison with the district's volunteer base. She also works with the People for Elmhurst Parks Foundation on fund-raising events and projects. Gengler previously worked for the Oakbrook Terrace Park District as the marketing director and for the Department of the Army-Europe as a recreation specialist. Eileen Eiden joined the Marketing Department at the Elmhurst Park District, becoming the first to fill the new Park Ambassador position. This newly created program plays an essential role in implementing the district's mission of providing "lifetime enjoyment" for residents and visitors. As Park Ambassador, Eiden will provide an (continued on page 60)
58 Illinois Parks and Recreation
Dennis Flanagin
Life, liberty and pursuit of happiness! Sounds like a history lesson to me. Here we are in the year 2003. IAPD is 75 years old. WOW! Think of all the people who, through the years, have made a commitment to what we call parks and recreation. You know, they say that history repeats itself. So, I guess, in order to know where we want to go, we should take a look at where we've been. Remember the slogan, "Life.Be in It." Come on. There's got to be more to it than that. A lot more! IAPD is celebrating a milestone. Think about the look and the sense of wonder the first time a kid catches a fish, catches a ball, scores a first goal, wins a foot race. We help make that happen. Borrowing a bit here from LeeAnn Womack's song "I Hope You Dance," I hope you never lose your sense of wonder, you get your fill to eat, but always keep that hunger. For 75 years, we have been providing those wonderful opportunities, working hard, donating precious hours. Blood, sweat and tears. May you never take one single breath for granted. In the BIG PICTURE, look at the wonderful open space, greenery, blue waters. I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean. Through the years, there have been many changes. Nobody likes that. But, somehow we make it through. Nobody can make a dollar do more than the park and rec people. We have to continue to work hard for every dollar to support parks and recreation. I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance. Never settle for the path of least resistance. We do a good job. We can do better. If we can improve who we are, what we do, and TELL THE PEOPLE! Parks and recreation is life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Park and recreation people are some of the unsung heroes! I appreciate the commitment you have made. So, proudly reflect on our past. Confidently look to our future. Celebrate the 75th anniversary of'IAPD. And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance!
Elizabeth Kessler, CPRP
Orienteering for Personal and Leadership Success
Wintertime and the New Year are here, creating an excellent opportunity for us to reflect upon our personal and professional directions. All too often we put one foot in front of the other, not out of choice, but rather out of habit. As leaders, this trajectory can be problematic because it often stifles or limits vision, innovation, growth, risk taking and ultimately, personal and leadership success. As park and recreation professionals we are so often consumed with taking care of everyone else's leisure needs that we forget about our own. I have spent a good deal of time this past year reflecting upon my own overall direction in life in order to determine whether to hold steady, make corrections or plot an entirely new course. I love my career in parks and recreation and enjoy creating fun for others. When it comes to the people of Skokie, I take fun very seriously. Recently however, I realized that I was not necessarily practicing what I preached in regards to my own family. So, I made it a point to change that. The entire family—my husband Ken, two sons, Chris, 13, and Andy, 8, and I—now spend long weekends in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Northeastern Minnesota. For several days we camp, fish, hike, cross-country ski, pick wild raspberries and take in the sights and sounds of deer, loons, bears and wolves. These tranquil weekends have made me realize that it is critical to balance one's professional and personal lives. When an imbalance occurs between your personal life and your career, one of the two invariably suffers. I believe that success is found during life's journeys, not simply upon reaching its destinations. By rushing from one task or obligation to another, we almost always miss once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and lessons that can be learned along the way. It is imperative, from time to time, to stop and ask yourself: "Am I truly taking time to attend to my own leisure needs?" As leaders, we must maintain an awareness of the course we are setting for others to follow and constantly reposition ourselves for success. The key to both personal and leadership success is to actively seek out opportunities for their growth and development. According to Gerald Bell, Ph.D., of the Bell Leadership Institute, there are six basic human needs: mastery of success; feeling of self-worth/respect; fun/freedom; self-control; love; and inner peace/security. January/February 2003 59 The manner in which we seek to fulfill these basic needs determines our leadership style. Dr. Bell believes that successful leaders, or "achievers," have six competency traits that need to be balanced. These core leadership competency traits are those of the: entrepreneur; competitor; producer; stabilizer; team builder; and creator. When any one of these leadership competency traits is taken to an extreme, they can become detrimental to one's personal and leadership success. For example, an excess of entrepreneurial tendencies often produces an individual who is overly ambitious, takes too many risks, and promises more than can be delivered. An excess of the team builder tendency may result in an individual who is often too nice, avoids conflict, backs down from competition and is easily taken advantage of. It is important to be introspective and to solicit feedback from others in order to truly understand imbalances that can lead to such weaknesses. Are you making time for such self-evaluation and are you truly listening to what others are saying? As chairman of the board of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association, I look forward to leading the association with the above in mind. The IPRA staff, board of directors and I, have strategically mapped a vision for the successful future of the association. We will focus our attention on membership services, partnerships, legislative advocacy, communication, promotion of the profession, and fiscal planning. I look forward to hearing from you regarding any concerns or ideas you may have to improve our professional association. Make a difference! (continued from page 58) IPRA PATRON MEMBERS employee presence at district parks and facilities and serve as a resource for the general public, providing information about regulations, programs, facilities, and special events. She previously worked for the Buffalo Grove Park District as the assistant recreation supervisor and for the Walt Disney World Company as a Youth Education Series facilitator. Robert Ekhard joined the Parks and Recreation Department at the Elmhurst Park District as a Grounds Maintenance Worker in horticulture. Ekhard's responsibilities include maintaining garden and floral areas and trees and shrubs through trimming, mowing, aerating, fertilizing, pruning, weeding, planting, mulching, and watering. Ekhard is also involved with care of the structure and plants within the park district's Conservatory. Cynthia Szkolka, CPRP, joins the Parks and Recreation Department at the Elmhurst Park District as division manager of recreation. Szkolka is responsible for planning and managing the district's broad and diversified program of recreation activities and services for the preschool through senior citizen populations. She also serves as a park district liaison to various community groups, affiliated organizations, and governmental units. Before joining Elmhurst, Szkolka worked at the Naperville Park District since 1986, most recently as program manager. Geoff Penman, CPRP, joins the Parks and Recreation Department at the Elmhurst Park District as division manager of parks. Penman's responsibilities include maintaining and improving park district grounds by prioritizing and directing park maintenance, capital improvements, and contract maintenance activities. Penman also coordinates the planning, design, layout, and construction of new and renovated parks. He previously worked as director of parks, recreation, and forestry for the city of Berlin, Wisconsin. Katie Stoner was hired as a recreation specialist for the Special Recreation Association of Central Lake County (SRACLC). Stoner oversees Special Olympics and volunteers for the agency. She was a recent therapeutic recreation intern at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and has vast volunteer and work experience in the therapeutic recreation field. Stoner earned a B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation from Southern Illinois University. Heather Stark was promoted to regional coordinator by the Special Recreation Association of Central Lake County. Stark is in charge of part-time staff, inclusion and facilities for SRACLC participants from Grayslake, Liberryville and Mundelein. Stark has a B.S. in Recreation Administration, Therapeutic Recreation Option from Eastern Illinois University. She started with SRACLC in May of 2001.
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JoAnn Snyder was named manager of special recreation for the Northwest Special Recreation Association. Snyder joined the staff in 1989 as a program specialist and is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University, majoring in Music Therapy. Her responsibilities include supervising four full-time staff, coordinating special events and the Adventure Activity Day Camp program.
Friends of Illinois Parks is a nonprofit organization that strives to involve more citizens statewide as friends in these ways and others, such as legislative advocacy. To learn more about Friends of Illinois Parks, call toll-free 1-877-523-4558 or see www.ILparks.org.
Michelle Swissa was named Area II Coordinator for the Northwest Special Recreation Association. She is a 1996 graduate ofWinona State University, majoring in Recreation. Her responsibilities include coordinating facilities and developing programs for NWSRA programs in the member park districts of Bartlett, Hoffman Estates, Hanover Park, Schaumburg and Streamwood.
Megan Jones joined Homewood-Flossmoor Park District's Recreation Department as a recreation supervisor. Jones is responsible for the district's before- and after-school care programs, summer day camps, adult trips, ski trips and toddler/preschool programs. She is a 2002 graduate of Western Illinois University with a degree in Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration.
