PRPS Weekly News

PRPS Recognition and

Awards Program -

Deadline is Friday, January 31, 2014

If you have not submitted your nominations, please do so now.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the R&A Committee Chair, Carolyn Hanel, at 215 378-7566.

Click here to see the revised awards and criteria, as well as our new, simplified nomination form.

Student Scholarships

The Larry G. Williamson, Robert Crawford Memorial, Delores Andy, and John H. Jones Memorial Scholarships are generously contributed funds allowing four student to attend the PA Recreation & Park Society's 67th Annual State Conference free of charge.

To download the scholarship qualifications and applications, click here.

The filing deadline is February 28, 2014.

DCNR Grant Workshops - Register Now!

DCNR new logo

DCNR Grant Workshops for Recreation and Conservation Projects

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Bureau of Recreation and Conservation 2014 grant program for public recreation and conservation projects opens Jan. 15, 2014 and ends April 16, 2014. In partnership with the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society, DCNR is offering free, in-person grant workshops at six locations across Pennsylvania in February.

The workshops will provide in-depth information on projects eligible for DCNR's grant funds, how to develop a competitive "ready-to-go" application, eligible applicants, and matching fund requirements. Participants will also receive guidance and updates on the eGrants application process and have an opportunity to interact with Bureau staff.

Camp Hill - February 5 Conshocken - February 6

Nanticoke - February 19 Boalsburg - February 20

Wexford - February 25 Clarion - February 26

To register, click here.

Conference Information

March 22-26, 2014

67th Annual State Conference

Seven Springs Mountain Resort

Click here to register online!

PRPS members who register and pay by January 31st receive an Early Bird Discount ($40 off full conference).

By now you should have received your conference registration guide in the mail. If you did not receive one, you can download it here.

2014 PRPS Conference Promo

Therapeutic Recreation Workshops Rescheduled

Dementia Taskforce Workshop:

A Practical Guide for Planning and Programming for Persons with Dementia

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.

March 3, 2014

Norcom Community Center, Philadelphia, PA

March 6, 2014

Masonic Village at Sewickley, Sewickley, PA

For more details or to register online, visit our website at www.prps.org.

District Events & Other Training

DIII Ski and Snowboarding Socials/Meetings

Blue Mountain - Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Jack Frost Mountain - Tuesday, February 25, 2014

For more information or to register click here.

DII Ski Social

Roundtop Mountain - Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Click here for the flyer and to register.

Other Training

18th Annual KAFMO/PRPS Athletic Field Conference

February 21, 2014

Harrisburg/Hershey Holiday Inn, Grantville, PA

92nd Annual Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS) Educational Conference and Trade Show

April 13-16, 2014

Hershey Lodge, Hershey, PA

12th Annual Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference

May 1-3, 2014

Crowne Plaza, Reading, PA

Leadership Living

The MasterPoint™ Series for the ascendant professional

by Tim Herd, CPRE

Seven deadly sins of professional irresponsibility

On the old TV show Hogan's Heroes, whenever the reluctant prison guard Sergeant Shultz was confronted with an unpleasant responsibility, he predictably retreated. "I see nossing!" he'd declare. "I vas not here! I didn't even get UP this morning!"

I thought he was hilarious. And today's assortment of flawed comic book superheroes continue evoking delight as they get the job done, but not without a lot of immoral and deeply self-justified rule-breaking.

Despite its comical appeal in a sit-com or movie, however, professional irresponsibility in real-life is no joke. Workers who are emotionally adolescent, morally conflicted, or destructively brilliant are not only counterproductive to their own purposes; they are dangerous to the entire operation.

Competent, responsible and ascendant professionals are those who continue to hone their relational and technical skills for the benefit of themselves and their organization. Based on my own observations, they commonly avoid a number of problem behavioral patterns that I've assembled as the Seven Deadly Sins of Professional Irresponsibility. "Heed them, and prosper you will," as Yoda might say:

Click here to continue reading.

Therapeutic Recreation

from Jim Riley, Chapter Coordinator, Team River Runner - Southeast PA, Health & Healing through Paddlesports, Helping Our Wounded Veterans

Team River Runner - Southeast PA - Helping Recovering Veterans

My name is Jim Riley, a Marine Corps veteran and coordinator for the Southeast PA chapter of Team River Runner (TRR). TRR provides active duty service members and recovering veterans an opportunity to find health, healing, and new challenges through adapted, therapeutic kayaking and other paddling sports. We are a national, all volunteer, non-profit organization and offer adventure opportunities both locally and nationally.

Combining our fleet of kayaks and equipment with volunteer, certified instructors and support from local organizations like Philadelphia Canoe Club and Brandywine Valley YMCA, we continue this program biweekly throughout the winter in a heated indoor pool. There is no charge to participants for this program. For more details and photos on what we do, I urge you to browse our website at: http://TRRSoutheastPA.Wordpress.com

We would appreciate your assistance in getting the word out to disabled or recovering veterans about this program. Please call or email with your questions. Also, we welcome the opportunity to speak at any gathering of local veterans.

Thank you in advance for your help.

SAVE THE DATE - 46th Annual TRI

46th Annual TRI

Circle of Life

June 4-6, 2014

Double Tree Resort, Lancaster, PA

We are accepting speaker proposals! Click here.

For information on exhibiting at the 2014 TRI, click here.