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From the Executive Director
Dear PRPS Members & Friends,
Greetings! If you haven't learned how to swim this month, I am going to guess you haven't been in Pennsylvania most of the month of May! I am amazed at the amount of rain we have gotten here in Happy Valley. Amazed, but thankful as we needed it for the new trees that we planted in April! I'm sure it has created some headaches in the recreation world with field scheduling, regulating of pool chemicals and your outdoor events that you had scheduled. Let's hope June will have more pleasant experiences for all.
PRPS is winding down its fiscal year and with that we are in budget mode. Not just for the organization but for state parks, forestry, and recreation and conservation for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. On June 14th, Flag Day celebrating for most, will be our Legislative Day in Harrisburg. The Governmental Affairs Committee and the Renew Growing Greener Coalition will join forces and speak on behalf of funding and grants, the Pennsylvania Conservation Corps and other issues. If you are able to join us on the 14th, please let me know. If not, we ask that you consider writing to your state senator or representative to not let the Pennsylvania Conservation Corp be eliminated from funding by the state. It offers job opportunities for youth who complete conservation, recreation or historical preservation projects. Trails, nature centers, picnic facilities and playgrounds are some of the projects that state parks, county parks, and others have benefited.
June 8 -10, 2011 will be our annual Therapeutic Recreation Institute in Grantville. We are working hard to finalize the details and are looking forward to some great networking and educational sessions! If you haven't registered, contact the PRPS office and we'll give you a hand. Plans are still being finalized for the Fall Mini-Conference. We'll let you know in another week the exact location and dates. If you have any suggestions for full day workshops you would like to see at the conference please contact Jeremy Bean (jbean@prps.org). We're also knee deep in planning for the Greenways & Trails Summit, being held September 11-13 at the Yorktowne Hotel in York. Session Proposals are still being accepted for this summit - just contact Emily Gates (egates@prps.org) if you have speaker ideas or would like additional information.
As some of you may know, we had a change in staff at the PRPS office and have been without a bookkeeper this entire month. Anne Thomas, our Grant Financial Administrator has been doing a phenomenal job stepping in. We recently held interviews for a replacement bookkeeper and hope to have someone in place soon.
Despite the heat, I hope you are all able to get outside (while it's dry!) and enjoy the beauty of nature. Take a walk on a trail, visit a state park and go camping, fishing, or birdwatching. Over the holiday weekend my family saw the wonders of nature come alive in our home! My son has a butterfly habitat and there was a Praying Mantis egg inside along with some caterpillar cocoons and greens. The egg hatched and there were at least a hundred baby Praying Mantises born. Amazing creatures that provided us with a unique nature experience that my children will never forget. Take some time and enjoy what our beautiful country has to offer, you never know what you'll experience!
Sincerely,
Kim
Kimberly M. Woodward, CPRP
Executive Director |
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LEAD Program
by Jeremy Bean, PRPS Training Coordinator
2nd Annual PRPS Leadership Enhancement and Development Program (LEAD) Re-cap
 | | from left to right, Niki Tourscher, Cristine Maser, Cheyenne Youell, Melissa Mattucci Lindberg, Beth Lee, and Robert Davenport (Bobby D). |
May 5th and 6th marked the dates of the 2nd Annual Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society LEAD Program. The LEAD program is designed to identify and train future leaders within the profession and potential future PRPS leaders. This year's group of exceptional candidates came to the program from around the state and in varying stages of their careers. The diversity of job functions and experience made for an incredible two days of learning and conversation. 
This year's class focused on Strengths Based Leadership, a concept and book developed by Tom Rath and Barry Conchie utilizing Gallup research on the topic of leadership collected over 25 years. Utilizing an online assessment tool participants were able to identify their top 5 strengths and analyze how they make them effective leaders in their own work environments. Also, using some experiential based activities led by Shaver's Creek Environmental Center, participants could examine their own interactions with others and how to best put into play their own strengths.
 Participants also got to experience how things operate in the PRPS office and in particular got to help with our consignment ticket sale program. In the spirit of community and giving back the LEAD participants also organized a group of 7th and 8th graders from a local charter school to help with a service project here at the PRPS office. They were able to accomplish some amazing things in a very short amount of time. 
Overall, many great conversations and friendships were started over the course of the 2 day program. Participants left with an eager desire to get involved with PRPS and also implement some of the new things they had learned while in the LEAD program. Many thanks to all those who participated and helped to make this program a success!
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Annual Conference
March 18th -22nd, 2012
"Recreation Powers Unite"
Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Seven Springs, PA
Session Proposals are being accepted through mid-July. For the proposal form, please go to our website at www.prps.org. If you have any questions please contact Daphne Klahr (dsebelist@westreadingborough.org) and Karen Regenfuse (karen@muhlenbergtwp.com) 2012 Education Co-Chairs.
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Member News
Sympathy
The father of Karl Lukens passed away on April 30, 2011. Our thoughts and prayers are with Karl at this time. |
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 43rd Annual PA Therapeutic Recreation Institute
June 8th -10th, 2011
Harrisburg-Hershey Holiday Inn, Grantville, PA
"Inspiring to become LEGENDS"
Registration Fees:
Full Package
Member - $325
Non-member - $375
Students/Retiree/Spouse - $225
Commuter
Member - $225
Non-member - $245
The Registration Guide is available on the PRPS & PTRS website! You can also register online. Click on the link (Click here to Register Online) on the PRPS website in the New Corner, then you will need to put in your primary email address and password. The default password is Password1. Then go to the event you would like to register and click Select.
Silent Auction
We will, again, have baskets available at our vendor area for the Silent Auction! Susan Newell has donated a set of her books for this event. The Board of Directors and TRI Committee will also have the 2nd Annual Basket of Cheer. We will have 70 tickets this year. Who will take the cheer away from last years winner, Lynne Pomietlarz?
We will accept basket donations from you all, too. Show off your facility, your hometown, favorite sports team, or favorite activity in a basket. Who knows...you may win it back! If you are interested in contributing, contact Becky Kandrac at bkandrac@masonicvillagespa.org.
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Trail News
SEPTEMBER 11th NATIONAL MEMORIAL TRAIL™
Join us in building a new national trail
This year as America approaches the tenth anniversary of September 11th, 2001, when the United States and the world were shocked by an act of terrorism beyond imagination, our citizens throughout the country have an opportunity to be part of a national trail to be called the September 11th National Memorial Trail; built as a tribute to all those who perished in America's single worst terrorist attack. The establishment of a hiking, biking and driving trail will provide a physical linkage connecting the three memorials commemorating the tragic events that occurred at the Flight 93 National Memorial, the World Trade Center, and the Pentagon.
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Branch & District News
PA Therapeutic Recreation Society
Next board meeting June 8th, 2011 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Interested in being on the board? Contact Jenn Koehler, Past President at jennifer.koehler@va.gov.
DISTRICT II
Hersheypark Volunteer Program for June!
Click here for the dates!
DISTRICT III
NEW Shawnee Mountain Mud Run
August 20th, 2011 - Benefits Girls on the Run
For those of you who don't know what a Mud Run is, check out their website: http://www.shawneemt.com/s_shawneemountainmudrun.html
PA STATE PARKS SOCIETY
Clothing For Sale
The Society has PA State Park jackets, fleece vests, hooded sweatshirts, t-shirts and caps available for sale and immediate delivery.
Click here to view or to order! |
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Other News
iConservePA Minute...
iConservePA is reborn. iConservePA.org has beencompletely overhauledwith a vibrant, new look, updated content, and special features like:
- The Coolidges, a family focused on low-carbon living. Get tips and ideas from this fun family through their quirky videos.
- CSI: Pennsylvania, a program designed to draw attention to the interesting world of citizen science, from counting birds to observing plant bloom times, and much more.
- Create your own "GreenHouse Effect" by implementing new -- and perhaps a little out of the ordinary -- green features into your living. How about solar tubes and chickens?
Log on today at www.iConservePA.org, and don't forget to friend us on Facebook! We are just shy of 1,000 friends, so spread the word to your friends and family.
Thanks Teddy.If you are a student of conservation, you may know that this day 103 years ago holds great conservation value. On May 13, 1908 President Theodore Roosevelt kicked off a three-day gathering of the nation's governors at the Conference on the Conservation of Natural Resources. In his "Conservation as a National Duty" speech, Roosevelt warned: "the natural resources of our country are in danger of exhaustion if we permit the old wasteful methods of exploiting them ... to continue." The conference, spearheaded by Gifford Pinchot, helped propel conservation issues into the mainstream and spur a conservation movement. Chief forester of the United States at the time, Pinchot went on to serve two terms as Pennsylvania's governor and is known for his indelible mark on conservation.
Put a stamp on green. Next time you choose the snail-mail route, slap a green stamp on it. The U.S. Postal Service is selling Go Green stamps. The series of 16 stamps each promote earth friendly tips -things we all know, but are always good to reinforce with others. Get your green stamps today and learn about other ways the Postal Service is going green at www.usps.com/green.
Exciting Tree Donation by Allied Beverage
Order Your Seedlings Today
PRPS is proud to announce a donation of 650-700 native tree seedlings by Allied Beverage Company to be planted in member parks around the state. Member organizations may be the recipients of Allied's generosity by ordering seedlings to be planted in their parks. We will start with a maximum of 20 seedlings per organization until we see how our supply holds up. It is our hope that organizations around the state will take advantage of this supply of native tree's. Ordered trees will be shipped directly from our supplier to your location. Please contact Jeremy Bean at PRPS via email at Jbean@prps.org or by calling 814-234-4272 to order trees or if you have any further questions.
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Building Fund Contributions
Michael Coakley
Lynne Pomietlarz
PA State Park Society
Monica Hoffman
Thank you! |
Upcoming Workshops
PA Therapeutic Recreation Institute
June 8th-10th, 2011
Harrisburg/Hershey Holiday Inn
Grantville, PA
Lancaster County Sustainable Landscapes Bus Tour
June 23rd, 2011
This one-day tour will show township officials, park managers, school administrators and faculty, landscape architects and others how to improve the natural world while saving money and other resources.
The bus tour registration material is now online, click here.
60 spots are left for the bus tour. The deadline is set at June 10. There are new continuing education credits to offer... thanks to Gregg Robertson, 2.5 recertification credits for certified horticulturalist and landscape industry certified technicians through the PA Landscape and Nursery Association, in addition to the credits offered by the PA chapter of the American Society for Landscape Architects.
Sports Field Construction Conference
June 28th, 2011
Berks County Ag Center
Leesport, PA
KAFMO Field Day
June 29th, 2011
9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
First Energy Stadium
Reading, PA
Save the Date!
Greenways & Trails Summit
September 11th - 13th, 2011
Yorktowne Hotel, York
Fall Mini-Conference - "The Great Ideas Mini-Conference"
Location & Date TBD (It will be centrally located in the State and only one location.) |
NRPA News
 The PA Room block for the NRPA Annual Congress & Exposition, held this year in Atlanta from November 1st - 4th, 2011, is now available. If you will be attending the congress and prefer to be with others from Pennsylvania, we will be at the Omni CNN. This is a very nice hotel with a lot of amenities and the convention center is across the street.
To book rooms online into your State Block, please follow the below steps:
-Go online to http://www.wynjade.com/nrpa11/states
-Click on "click here" to reserve your hotel room for NRPA 2011
-You will be instructed to provide a USER NAME and PASSWORD. Please ensure ALL attendees booking rooms into your block have the following USER NAME and PASSWORD:
USER NAME: penn PASSWORD: poconos
ALL individual names must be reserved into your block prior to July 29th, 2011 EOB. Any rooms remaining in your block after July 29th, 2011 will be released for general sale. |
| PA Recreation and Park Society
2131 Sandy Drive
State College, Pennsylvania 16803-2283
PA Recreation and Park Society
814-234-4272
Fax: 814-234-5276
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