“Celebrate the Brilliance of Recreation and Parks” at the 60th Annual PRPS Conference
March 25th – 28th, 2007
Hershey Lodge & Convention Center
Chocolate Town, USA

“Celebrate, Celebrate, Dance to the Music!” Celebrating our parks, programs, recreational facilities, trails, and services – that’s what we’ll be doing at the 2007 PRPS Conference from March 25th – 28th, 2007. Join us in Hershey – “The Sweetest Place On Earth”, as we gather together to share our ideas, our successes and our struggles. HersheyPark will also be celebrating “100 Years of Happy” as they commemorate their 100th Anniversary!

The Conference has something for everyone with seven educational tracks covering program topics from “Building Your Own Registration Software” to “Invasives Removal”, to “Summer Staff Romances”. If you are interested Aquatics or Therapeutic Recreation Services, there are sessions just for you such as the “Pool Management Workshop” and “Diversity and Teamwork”.

Are you a Citizen Board Member? Then you won’t want to miss the Citizens Symposium scheduled for Sunday. It is all about the special challenges you face while trying to serve your residents. Are you a Student or New Professional? There are several sessions specifically designed to address your issues and concerns. How to find an internship, professional certification, and developing supervisory skills are just a few of the session topics that are part of the Student/New Professional Track.

In between all of the great educational sessions, you will want to be sure to visit the Exhibit Hall featuring the new “Diamond Court” and “Gem Stone Displays”. Be sure to bring your business cards to play “Jewels of the Aisles”. Your business card IS the game card – nothing to fill out, no stickers to collect. Simply drop your business card in the special Anniversary Boxes at participating vendors’ booths and check back often to see if your name has been drawn and posted as a winner!

We mentioned celebrating and celebrate we will! Sunday night we’ll celebrate the "PRPS March Madness". Starting the evening with the Hoop Shoot Tournament and other activities from E*L*F. Throughout the evening, the NCAA Tournament will be played on the big screen and the evening concludes with AMAJK (a magic) DJ so your feet can celebrate too!

Monday evening offers several types of celebrations. If you’re feeling lucky you can sign up for the PRPS “Bury the Mortgage Poker Tournament” or try your hand at the Casino Night complete with black jack tables, roulette wheel, craps and poker tables and of course – slot machines. If you’d rather tour the pubs of Harrisburg, sign up for the Harrisburg PUB Crawl, sponsored by Lowee’s Group Tours. Thanks also to E*L*F Entertainment for sponsoring some of the activities for the Tournament and Casino Nights.

Tuesday night is the Anniversary Celebration! The formal evening begins with the Awards Reception and the “Supreme Beings of Parks and Leisure”. After the Awards Banquet and Awards Presentations we’ll be “Dancing with the PRPS Stars”. The evening will end with dancing to tunes from a fabulous disc jockey, socializing with friends both old and new and “Celebrating the Brilliance of Recreation and Parks!” “Black tie” attire is encouraged for this formal evening.

Now that you know all about the celebration, make sure you don’t miss out on any of it and register today! The Registration Guide is available online at www.prps.org. If you have any questions, please contact the PRPS Office at 814-234-4272.

Don’t waste any time! Register today and let the celebration begin!

May 3-5, 2007
Mountain View Inn Greensburg

On behalf of the Summit partners, you are cordially invited to attend the 3rd Annual Pennsylvania Greenways and Trails Summit being held on May 3-5, 2007 in Greensburg, PA. Being held in the historic Mountain View Inn, this year’s Summit features a wide variety of quality educational programs, well-known speakers, and many networking opportunities that will highlight “Community Connections Through Greenways and Trails.” We’ll also be taking advantage of the wealth of greenways and trails in the Laurel Highlands for our off-site events.

After a welcome and update from DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis, our opening session speaker will be internationally known greenways and trails expert, Gil Penalosa, who will bring one of the featured sessions from the 2006 National Trails Symposium. At the luncheon on Friday, nationally known greenways consultant Chuck Flink will share his extensive knowledge. Both will be participating in additional breakout sessions. On Thursday evening, our Summit banquet will feature speaker, Jeff Tobe, who will expand our thinking to “Color Outside the Lines.”

Thanks to the financial support of the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources through a Recreational Trails Grant, we are able to offer the Summit at what we feel are very reasonable registration fees to enable as many persons as possible to attend.

Bob Griffith
Executive Director

Laurel Campbell Wert, daughter of Bill Wert and his wife, was born on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 at 4:18 pm weighing in at 5lbs 6 ounces, 19 inches long.
Congratulations and Enjoy!

Heather Jerry had her second child, a baby girl, Colleen Samone on December 22 weighing 8lbs 13 ounces, 21 inches long. Colleen has a brother Chance who is 7 years old. Congratulations Heather!

PRPS welcomes Andrew JG Schwartz and David Fry as our newest Life Members. Thank you for your commitment to PRPS!

The West Bradford Township Board of Supervisors has appointed Mr. Mike Euler to be our new Parks Director and representative to the Downingtown Area Recreation Commission. Mike is a retired sergeant from the West Chester Police Department and has been a long-time township resident.

Gary Schmidt, left West Bradford Township to help his brother with an expanding landscape business. Good Luck Gary!

Bill Foelsch, formerly of NJRPA, is now the Recreation Director in Morris Township, New Jersey - he is going back to his programming, aquatics, and park management roots. Good Luck Bill!

Welcome David Donnellan who is the new Director at Mt. Lebanon Recreation Department.

SYMPATHIES
Paul Olshansky the husband of Maria Olshansky's passed away in September 2006. NRPA --- Memorial contributions may be sent to the NRPA Annual Fund in memory of Paul at 22377 Belmont Ridge Rd. Ashburn, VA 20148.

Jerry Wettstone’s mother passed away on Monday, December 25th at the age of 92. A memorial service is being scheduled for her some time in January at the convenience of the family. Her husband and Jerry’s father, Gene Wettstone, survives, as well her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Jerry’s home address is 512 Ridge Avenue, State College, PA 16803, and his home phone number is 814-234-0402.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Foxdale Community Fund, 500 E. Marylyn Ave., State College PA 16801 or St. Paul’s United Methodist Good Samaritan Fund, 109 McAllister St., State College, PA 16801.