IAPD and IPRA honor their own

The IAPD and IPRA are proud to honor the 2006 recipients of the associations' major awards. Presentations were made at the annual awards luncheon on January 26 at the Hyatt-Regence-Chicago.

Rick Main - IAPD Rising Star

Medinah Park District Commissioner Rick Main was presented with the lAPD's Rising Star award, which recognizes a newly elected board member who has demonstrated excellence in performing the duties and responsibilities of the office.

"Our rising star forged partnerships with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County and other groups

to preserve about ninety acres of wetlands. He helped write Conservation 2000 grant applications, which led to $200,000 for wetland acquisitions. He partnered with a developer to bring several acres of degraded wetlands back to pristine condition. The developer paid 100 percent of the project's cost, estimated at more than $300,000," said Ted Flickinger, lAPD's president and CEO.

Outgoing IAPD Chairman Dave Mason added that Main brings a "voice of the people" to board discussions. "He promotes park district services at every opportunity," said Mason.

Beverly Millard - IPRA Citizen Volunteer of the Year

Beverly Millard received the 2006 IPRA Citizen Volunteer of the Year award. The award recognizes an ordinary citizen volunteer within a community who has demonstrated exemplary service and contributions without asking for honor or recognition.

For nearly 20 years, Millard has been a consistent volunteer for the Waukegan Park District and the Waukegan Historical Society, giving an estimated 15,000 hours of her time. As a historical librarian, she catalogs books, newsletters, scrapbooks, photographs, post cards and maps that help genealogists and people interested in the history of their homes. Recently, Waukegan-born author Ray Bradbury telephoned her to ask for historical documentation for a story he was writing.

In the summers of 2005 and 2006, she worked with a group of high school students to develop museum displays for use during the community's cemetery walk. At that annual event, she assists with room set-ups, greets the visitors, explains the cemetery walk, maintains the mailing list, hands out tickets and even helps people board the busses.

Outgoing IPRA Chairman Bill McAdam said, "The recipient of this year's IPRA Citizen Volunteer of the Year award is an incredible person who believes in making a difference in people's lives. She helps to ensure that our mission as leisure providers is second to none."

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Jeff Nehila - IAPD Honored Professional

The Honored Professional award recognizes a professional in the field of parks and recreation who has demonstrated remarkable talents in encouraging board members to excel as citizen advocates in advancing the field of parks and recreation. The recipient must believe in the IAPD mission and have a history of supporting its endeavors. The 2006 Honored Professional was Round Lake Area Park District Executive Director Jeff Nehila.

After becoming executive director in 2001, Nehila immediately implemented a five-year master plan to solidify the support of the four communities and eleven school districts in the area that his park district serves. He has drafted shared-use agreements with several districts, and he has led his district in:

•  Planning and coordinating construction of a 50,000-square-foot sports center, under budget and on time.

•  Completing a teen center renovation.

• Adding a 5,500-square-foot addition to the Rolek Community Center.

•  Acquiring 16 acres for sports fields.

•  Winning numerous grants.

Nehila also served as the chair of the Joint Distinguished Agency Committee and coauthored that program's standards manual. He encourages staff and commissioners to attend such IAPD events as Parks Day at the Capitol. He introduced his district to the Eagle Eye Program and encourages his agency's participation in the "Flying 4 Kids" kite fly, which promotes the park district youth plate. His agency supported Friends of Illinois Parks by hosting an IAPD Summer Golf Tour outing.

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Nicole Boer-Chesak - IPRA Young Professional of the Year

The IPRA brought the Young Professional of the Year award out of a short hiatus to present it to Nicole Boer-Chesak, recreation supervisor for the Village of Glendale Heights Recreation Department. The award is given to an individual with less than 10 years of experience, but who shows a great deal of promise in becoming a future leader in the field.

Boer-Chesak's involvement in the recreation section and the teen committee led to the creation of the statewide battle-of-the-bands competition. She has expanded her agency's indoor soccer league to approximately 120 teams and has initiated several teen-related programs to provide young adults in her community with a safe and fun place to go. One of her latest achievements was the award-winning "park parties" event, which she organized.

Susan Balling - IPRA Fellow Award

Susan Balling, assistant to the director of the Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association, earned the 2006 IPRA Fellow Award, which recognizes a past or present park and recreation professional who has shown excellence in promoting the parks and recreation movement on a statewide basis.

Balling has been in the parks and recreation field for more than 30 years. She is a former IPRA board member and served as director of the Therapeutic Recreation Section. She has written many articles on recreation and the disabled community.

Along the way, Balling has earned several personal awards - including the Young Professional of the Year award, the Outstanding Professional award, the Meritorious Service to Leisure award, and the Illinois Therapeutic Recreation Section Distinguished Service award.

Mary Garrison - IAPD Mike Cassidy Commissioner Community Service Award

Winnetka Park District President Mary Garrison was presented with the Mike Cassidy Commissioner Community Service award, which recognizes commissioners who have demonstrated the highest example of community service, personal integrity and ingenuity.

At the awards luncheon, outgoing IAPD Chairman Dave Mason highlighted Garrison's service to with the IAPD and the National Recreation Parks Association. Among her accomplishments:

•  She is a past IAPD president and eight-year board member.

•  She has devoted her time and talents to: the Illinois Park District

Liquid Asset Fund, the NRPA Citizen Branch, the NRPA Great Lakes Regional Council and the NRPA Board of Trustees.

•  She lobbied relentlessly for the passage of the measure that restored bonding authority to her park district and 15 others.

•  Under her leadership, her agency received more than $1.5 million in grants.

•  She was a force behind the construction of her districts' administrative offices, the beautification of community parks and the creation of the district's strategic and master plans.

Garrison is the longest-sitting public board member in her community's history. In addition to the park board, she has served two terms on the village's planning commission and is active with the park foundation, the North Suburban Special Recreation Association, the yacht club and the women's golf club.

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Dan Schimmel - IPRA Professional Recognition Award

Dan Schimmel, director of recreation and facilities at the Buffalo Grove Park District, earned IPRA's 2006 Professional Recognition award. The award goes to an individual with more than ten years of full-time service, a person who has shown excellence in promoting parks and recreation on a local and regional level.

More than 16 years ago, Schimmel established a before- and after-school program that provides area children with a safe place to play. He serves as the point person for managing the intergovernmental agreements with various school districts and park districts and has helped plan and execute the construction of many of the facilities he now oversees, including a 70,000-square-foot fitness center, a golf and sports center, a new safety town for children and a museum.

From his desire to improve the quality of services for his community grew the agency's "smile" program, which seeks to assure that every interaction with guests is focused on safety, courtesy, cleanliness and efficiency.

IAPD CHAIRMAN SCOTT TRIPHAHN

IPRA CHAIRMAN AMY CHARLESWORTH

Passing the Gavel

For IAPD, January 25-28 marked the end of David Mason's term as the 2006 chairman of the Board of Trustees. Mason, president of the DeKalb Park District, turned the reigns over to Scott Triphahn, who is in his third term as a commissioner for the Hoffman Estates Park District. Triphahn will lead the IAPD for 2007. The IPRA held a similar changing of the guard at its annual business meeting on January 26. Amy Charlesworth, director of parks and recreation at the Rolling Meadows Park District, is the new IPRA Chairman. She succeeds 2006 IPRA Chairman Bill McAdam, who is the executive director of the Oswegoland Park District.

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Tim Cassidy - IAPD Commissioner of the Year

The Commissioner of the Year award is given annually to a commissioner who shows outstanding qualities in support of the promotion of parks, recreation and conservation in his or her community and throughout the state. The recipient must also be involved with IAPD. The honoree for 2006 was Peoria Park District President Tim Cassidy.

Since 1995, Peoria-area citizens have elected Cassidy at-large as president of the park board. He is an advocate for recreation opportunities for those with physical and developmental challenges, spearheading the creation of the Heart of Illinois Special Recreation Association, a collaborative project with another park district that serves more than 645 people. He was instrumental in forming the Riverplex Recreation and Wellness Center, a state-of-the-art recreation complex built in partnership with a local hospital to offer a holistic approach to wellness. He has overseen the development of parks, the overhaul of pools and the expansion of the park district zoo. Yet taxpayers in his community have seen a more than 23 percent decrease in their tax rate during his tenure as board president.

He was an IAPD board member for six years, serving as vice-president. He was recognized for outstanding service as joint chairman of the IAPD/IPRA Legislative Committee.

Debbie Carlson - IPRA Robert Artz Distinguished Service Award

The 2006 IPRA Robert Artz Distinguished Service Award went to Debbie Carlson, director of parks and recreation at the River Trails Park District. The award is named in honor of Robert Artz who tragically lost his life in a plane crash in 1979. The Artz award goes to a person whose efforts have a lasting value.

Carlson began her career in parks and recreation in 1975. During her tenure as director, River Trails has gone from a budget of $2 million to approximately $6 million. The district's assessed valuation has increased from $260 million to more than $460 million.

She led the agency to a successful referendum in 2000 to prevent the loss of tax revenues; and this was at a time when tax referenda were widely being despised and defeated. The revenue influx led to several needed updates on current facilities, garnering the district continued strong support and praise from the community.

Since she came to the district, River Trails built a golf driving range and a 24,000-square-foot community center; completely renovated a pool facility; purchased new administration offices; converted an existing building into a second community center; purchased and rehabbed a building to serve as a third community center; acquired a golf course and then built a clubhouse and banquet facility on site; and, most recently, developed a new skate park.

During her term, district property ownership has increased and all parks and playgrounds were redeveloped to current standards. One park earned an award of excellence in 1997. Full time staff has increased from six to 25.

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