Marilyn Walker, from synergize! was the general session speaker. Her presentation, Ten Tips to Increase Employee Engagement That Don't Cost a Dime (plus a couple that are really cheap!), was a hit!

We had a great turn out yesterday at our Fall Membership Meeting. Thanks

PRPS Trainings

Certified Playground Safety Inspector Course  

December 2-4, 2013

Greater Plymouth Community Center

Plymouth Meeting, PA

Are Your Playgrounds Safe?

This course is the most comprehensive training program on playground hazard identification and risk management methods offered.

The CPSI course trains individuals to identify hazards on public playgrounds and playground equipment, how to rank hazards according to injury potential, and how to apply that knowledge and establish a playground safety program.

Register online here or click here for the brochure.

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PA Therapeutic Recreation Society Dementia Taskforce Workshops: 

A Practical Guide for Planning and Programming for Persons with Dementia

Join PTRS for the next round of Dementia Taskforce Workshops!

The workshops will cover all aspects, starting with the disease process through programming and care planning for all phases of dementia care. This workshop is ideal for anyone dealing with dementia on a casual or a day-to-day basis. 

December 3, 2013

Masonic Village at Sewickley, Sewickley, PA 

December 12, 2013

Norcom Community Center, Philadelphia, PA

Click here for more information or click here to register online.  

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Conference Information 

  

Join the Governmental Affairs Committee on December 10th for a Legislative Breakfast at the Capitol. In an ongoing effort to educate our legislators who have been elected in the past 3 years the efforts of PRPS and the importance of the Keystone Fund, PRPS will be hosting a breakfast for new legislators. We will also be setting up meetings with local legislators after the breakfast who may have not been invited.

Please mark you calendar and join us:

December 10th at 7:30 am

Capital Building Room

East Wing

Room 60

If you have questions please contact Doug Knauss, CPRP Governmental Affairs Chairman, at dknauss@whitemarshtwp.org or at 610-828-7276.

DCNR Training 

District III Recreation Program Mini Expo

Looking to start some new programs? Want to try somewhere new for a summer camp trip? Click here to find out more information.

Friday, December 13

9:30 am - 12:00 pm

Horsham, PA

Members $10    

Non-Members: $15

After the expo, you are welcome to attend the Holiday Social at Horsham Pub from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm. The fee is $20 per person.

RT Licensure in Pennsylvania

There are over 700 "certified" Recreational Therapists (RTs) in Pennsylvania. Although certification ensures that basic competency of skills are met, it doesn't protect the public from harm. In the eyes of the law, "certification" is optional. This means that individuals who are not certified as a CTRS are still allowed to practice. In order to prohibit people who are not certified from practicing (and subsequently reducing the risk of harm to citizens), RT needs to be licensed.

Utah, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and New Hampshire have RT licensure and many other states (e.g., New York) have developed RT licensure bills that are under review. Both NCTRC and ATRA support RT licensure and are providing licensure help to states. An "RT Licensure Coordinator" has been identified in every state to lead the effort for their state. In Pennsylvania, Dr. Heather Porter at Temple University is the RT Licensure Coordinator. Under her direction, an RT Licensure Committee for PA was formed and the committee is working hard to move this agenda forward. 

What we need YOU to do:

1. Sign the petition: Go here and electronically sign the petition for RT Licensure in PA. It only takes about 30 seconds to do this. Then, send this link to all of the people on your contact lists (family, friends, co-workers, Facebook friends and colleagues) and ask them to sign the petition. Politicians will not support this bill unless they hear from the people that this is wanted. Every time someone signs this petition ALL of the PA Senators and Representatives will receive an automatic email alerting them that another person has signed the petition. WE NEED LOTS OF SIGNATURES! THIS IS IMPORTANT!
2. Send an email to Rep. Sabatina: Representative John Sabatina has already stepped up in support of RT licensure in PA and has requested a bill to be drafted. Send an email to Rep. John Sabatina simply saying "thank you for supporting RT licensure in PA" (jsabatina@pahouse.net). THIS IS IMPORTANT! The more words of "thanks" he hears, the harder he will work for us.
3. Join the RT Licensure email list: Send Dr. Porter an email at hporter@temple.edu indicating that you would like to be periodically updated about RT licensure in PA (indicate your full name and preferred email address in the body of the email). Your name will then be added to the RT Licensure Update email list.