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On September 14, IAPD President and CEO Ted Flickinger and IAPD Chairman Scott Triphahn welcomed more than 300 guests to Wheaton Park District's Arrowhead Banquet Facility to honor the best volunteers, businesses, partners and media outlets in the state for their special contributions to, and coverage of, park districts, forest preserves, recreation and special recreation agencies. The first-ever Best of the Best Awards Gala served as an evening for elected and appointed officials, as well as professionals and friends of the field to share stories of outstanding achievement and volunteerism. The occasion was meant to be inspired and inspiring, and the award winners made it so. Lifetime achievement honoree Webbs Norman of Rockford spoke of the mandate he received from University of Illinois professors Alan V. Sapora and Charles K. Brightbill back in the 1950s and how he tried to take their personal mission of excellence in public recreation from the classroom into the communities he served. Dewey Pierroti, in fulfillment of a promise he made to his late son, has helped the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County acquire and protect more than 2,700 acres during his 15-year presidency of that agency. He was commended as a Best Friend of Illinois Parks. And representatives from the Barrington Park District and the Northern Illinois Special Recreation Foundation - winners of the Partnership Award -invited everyone to the Pepper Family Accessible Tree House. The structure features 200 feet of winding ramps leading to two open-air decks, a gazebo and an enclosed cabin with electricity. The district and the SRA raised more than $475,000 to fund the project that allows children of all ages - even those who use wheelchairs - to get off the ground and gain a higher perspective. On the evening, IAPD bestowed more than 50 awards honoring such achievements as longtime board service; agency anniversaries; outstanding media coverage; exemplary service to park, conservation, recreation and special recreation agencies; effective partnerships and intergovernmental agreements; volunteerism; and good sportsmanship. 22 Illinois Parks & Recreation www.ILipra.org The Best of the Best 2007 Board Member Service Anniversary Awards 10 Years of Service Harris Agnew, Rockford Park District Robert Conrad, City of Countryside Jeffery Craven, Itasca Park District John Forni, St. Charles Park District Loretta "Lollie" Guiney, Hoffman Estates Park District Colette Kubiesa, Elmhurst Park District Paula Lambertz, Streamwood Park District Lester Long, Dolton Park District Nathaniel Martin, Rockford Park District Rose Smilgys, Fox Valley Park District William Tatro, Joliet Park District Scott Triphahn, Hoffman Estates Park District Carnell Woodbury, Dolton Park District 15 Years of Service Wally Frasier, Mundelein Park & Recreation District 18 Years of Service David Blankenship, Wheaton Park District 20 Years of Service John Kerr, St. Charles Park District 25 Years of Service Howard "Bud" Boy, Park District of Forest Park 30 Years of Service Dennis Flanagin, Lan-Oak Park District Ann Mackin, North Berwyn Park District 40 Years of Service Bruce Larson, Urbana Park District 41 Years of Service Edward Karasek, Berwyn Park District Agency Anniversary Awards 40 Years Oak Forest Park District 50 Years Hazel Crest Park District 60 Years Fox Valley Park District 100 Years Murphysboro Park District Special Recognition for Lifetime Service to the Profession Webbs Norman, retired executive director of the Rockford Park District  Berwyn Park District Commissioner Edward Karasek relates a little of what he has learned in 41 years in office.  Forty-year board member Dr. Bruce Larson accepts congratulations from IAPD Chairman Scott Triphahn (left) and IAPD President and CEO Ted Flickinger (right). Larson was among those representing the Urbana Park District, which is celebrating its centennial.  Webbs Norman of Rockford accepts recognition of his lifetime achievement in the field of parks and recreation. www.ILparks.org November/December 2007 23 Illinois Parks' Top Journalist Awards Radio Category Brian Byers, Archway Broadcasting vice president of community affairs and host of Byers & Company talk radio program, nominated by the Decatur Park District Statewide Coverage Category Chris Young, outdoors editor of the Springfield State Journal-Register, nominated by the Springfield Park District Print Category 1st place Streamwood Examiner, nominated by the Streamwood Park District 2nd Place Arnold Grahl, Deerfield Review, nominated by the Deerfield Park District 3rd Place Sue Ter Maat, Daily Herald Newspapers, nominated by the Elk Grove Park District Best Friend of Illinois Parks - Business 1st Place (tie) Itasca Bank & Trust Company, nominated by the Itasca Park District Caterpillar Inc., nominated by the Pleasure Driveway and Park District of Peoria 2nd Place Glenview State Bank, nominated by the Glenview Park District 3rd Place Great Lakes Credit Union, nominated by the Waukegan Park District Best Friend of Illinois Parks - Governmental D. "Dewey" Pierotti Jr., president of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, nominated by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County and John Hoscheit, president of the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, nominated by The Conservation Foundation    clockwise from top left: Brian Byers of Archway Broadcasting. Chris Young of Springfield was named an Illinois Top Journalist for statewide coverage. Representatives from the Itasca Park District and the Itasca State Bank & Trust Company accept congratulations from Scott Triphahn and Ted Flickinger. Randall Petrik, president of the Streamwood Examiner, accepts an Illinois Top Journalist award on behalf of the paper. Sid Banwart of Caterpillar Inc. accepts a Best Friend of Illinois Parks -Business award. 24 Illinois Parks & Recreation www.ILipra.org  
clockwise from top left: Forest Preserve District of DuPage County President Dewey Pierotti Jr. John Hoscheit, president of the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, v/as named a Best Friend of Illinois Parks. His leadership has been instrumental in the successful efforts to pass two referendums - one in 2005 and another in 2007 - that brought $160 million to the district. IAPD Chairman Scott Triphahn and IAPD President and CEO Ted Flickinger congratulate a delegation from Glenview. An agreement that transfers the deed to the Air Station Prairie and the Evelyn Pease Tyner Interpretive Center from the village to the park district earned an Intergovernmental Cooperation Award. IAPD Chair Scott Triphahn (center) congratulates representatives from the Frankfort Park District and the Village of Frankfort, whose numerous agreements earned them an Intergovernmental Cooperation Award. Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association Director Brian Shahinian, IAPD Chairman Scott Triphahn, Barrington Park District Commissioner Christine Garry and Barrington Executive Director Teresa Jennings celebrate a partnership that literally uplifts children of all abilities - a massive wheelchair accessible tree house. Intergovernmental Cooperation Award 1st Place (tie) Glenview Park District and the Village of Glenview and Frankfort Park District and the Village of Frankfort 2nd Place Rockford Park District with the Winnebago Park District for the Roy Gayle Baseball Complex 3rd Place Woodridge Park District and the Village of Woodridge for the Woodridge Multi-Use Pathways System Partnership Award 1st Place Barrington Park District and the Northern Illinois Special Recreation Foundation 2nd Place Joliet Park District and the Provena Saint Joseph Inwood Athletic Club 3rd Place Hoffman Estates Park District with the Chicago Wolves Hockey Team and Stonegate Properties, Inc. www.ILparks.org November/December 2007 25 Outstanding Citizen Volunteer of the Year 1st Place Phil Hult and Gail Snowdon, nominated by the Champaign County Forest Preserve District 2nd Place Richard Johnson, nominated by the Fox Valley Park District 3rd Place Susan Smock, nominated by the Waukegan Park District IAPD Good Sportsmanship Award 1st Place Caryn Clothier, nominated by the Waukegan Park District 2nd Place George Shimko, nominated by the Oak Lawn Park District 3rd Place Jeff Volkman, nominated by the Fox Valley Park District  Longtime Waukegan Softball league organizer and coach Caryn Clothier took home the IAPD Good Sportsmanship Award. Remember the Evening or See What you Missed: Best of the Best Images and DVDs Available More than 300 people attended the first Illinois Association of Park Districts' Best of the Best Awards Gala for an evening of inspiration and celebration. Photos of the event are posted on the lAPD's Web site (www.ILParks.org). Look under the "Resources" tab on the left side of the front page and click on "Photo Gallery." DVDs of the entire awards show, including the phenomenal "Simply the Best" video are available at $25 each. E-mail admin@ILparks.org to order your copy today. Save the Date - Friday, September 12 The second Best of the Best Awards Gala is tentatively scheduled for Friday September 12, 2008 at the Wheeling Park District's Chevy Chase Country Club. Please watch Illinois Parks & Recreation and other IAPD communications for details on nominating and reserving tables for this event. It's never too early to start thinking about your nominations for next year's Best of the Best Awards Gala. 26 Illinois Parks & Recreation www.ILipra.org |
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