PRPS Weekly News

Election Time!

The 2015 Board of Directors slate is forming. Get involved! Don't hesitate - run for office this year.

The following positions on the PRPS Board of Directors are open for nominations:

President-Elect: two-year term, 4/2015 - 4/2017

Secretary: two-year term, 4/2015 - 4/2017

Treasurer: two-year term, 4/2015 - 4/2017

Retired Professional: two-year term, 4/2015 - 4/2017

Educators Director: two-year term, 4/2015 - 4/2017

Citizen Director: two-year term, 4/2015 - 4/2017

Student Director: one-year term, 4/2015 - 4/2016

Please consider stating your personal interest or nominate another individual whom you feel would be a good candidate and is able to accept the commitment.

Click here for more information.

2014-2018 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan

Your feedback is needed on the 2014-2018 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. Every five years, Pennsylvania is required to produce a new statewide recreation plan in order to receive federal Land and Water Conservation funds. The plan guides outdoor recreation programs, policies, and projects.

The plan is now ready for public review and feedback. Three meetings have been scheduled across the state next week. All sessions will begin with a brief overview at 5:30 p.m., followed by an open house with different stations where participants can learn more and provide feedback.

Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Hosted by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society at its headquarters, 100 North 20th Street, first floor town hall, Philadelphia. Register by calling (215) 988-1698.
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Hosted by Dauphin County Parks and Recreation at the Centennial Barn at Fort Hunter Park, 5300 North Front Street, Harrisburg. Register by emailing mbaratucci@dauphinc.org.
Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Hosted by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy at Schenley Park Skating Rink, Overlook Drive, Pittsburgh. Register by contacting Heather Sage at hsage@pittsburghparks.org.

You can review the draft recommendations and action items for the five priority areas of the 2014-2018 Outdoor Recreation Plan by clicking here.

Separate draft trail recommendations are being developed by the Trails Advisory Committee for a trails strategic plan, which may be reviewed here.

If you are unable to attend a meeting you can provide your feedback on the recommendations and action items from October 6 through October 31, 2014 by clicking here.

PRPS Conference Fees

Category	PRPS Member	Non-Member
Full Conference	$375*	$450
Student Full Conference	$150	$175
Retired Full Conference	$150	n/a
Commuter Full Conference	$275	$350
Spouse/Guest	$180	$220
Daily Monday	$135	$155
Daily Tuesday	$115	$135

*$325 Early Registration Savings - $50 off for Full Conference PRPS Member registration if registered and paid in full by January 31, 2015.

Exhibit Booth Fees:

$675 member

$800 non-member

Hotel:

$149 per person plus tax for single/double/triple/quad

Parking Fee: $10/day plus tax

FREE Webinar

Recruiting the Next Generation of Volunteers for Community Parks and Recreation

Thursday, October 9

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Across Pennsylvania, volunteers are providing community parks and recreation services - maintaining parks, building trails, managing swimming pools, and running recreation programs. In small, rural communities, in suburban areas, and in large, urban places, volunteers are the lifeblood of parks and recreation. Are you struggling to find new, younger volunteers? Are the same people doing all of the work...and getting burned out? Are your numbers of volunteers dwindling? Are you confident and comfortable engaging the citizens in your community before there is a crisis or issue? How do you expand your volunteer network, build citizen leadership, and engage new partners? This Webinar will provide strategies to attract and retain younger volunteers and to build sustainable support for community parks and recreation.

Topics will include the differences among generations and how that relates to volunteering, successful recruiting techniques and ideas, how to create a younger-friendly volunteer culture, and the best ways to manage younger volunteers. Younger generations have unique characteristics that affect how you recruit, motivate, and manage them as volunteers. To add younger people to your volunteer ranks, an understanding of what is important to them and valued by them is necessary.

To Register for this Webinar, click on the link below: http://www.apps.dcnr.state.pa.us/Calendar/list.asp?intDivisionID=52

District News

D3 Recreation Program Mini Expo and Holiday Social

Friday, December 12

Limerick Fire Company

Are you looking for some new program ideas? How about some creative ideas to add to your camp next summer? Then this is the perfect event for you.

After the Expo, you are invited to attend the Holiday Social at Railroad Bar and Grill from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

For registration forms and more information, click here.

D2 Fundraising Opportunity

Fall weather has arrived, which means Hersheypark is gearing up for their Halloween themed weekends...Hersheypark In The Dark. If you haven't had a chance to volunteer your time for District 2/PRPS in 2014, this will probably be your last opportunity of the year. If you enjoy theme parks, you can volunteer to earn money for District 2 and earn a voucher good for a future Hersheypark admission!

Click here for program details.

PRPS and Other Trainings

To view the PRPS Calendar, click here.

Online Registration is available for the CPSI Course and Exam and Resource Operations Workshop.

Resource Operations Workshop

October 15 - Cabela's, Hamburg

The Playground Maintenance (Track 2) is full, and we only have one space left for Vehicle and Trailering Laws of PA (Track 3).

Fall Membership Meeting

November 19 - Playworld Systems, Lewisburg

More details coming soon!

DCNR/PRPS Community Grant Workshops

Please note: To help you get a head start on your 2015 application these workshops are being offered in November this year!

November 5 - Prosser Hall, Camp Hill

November 6 - Montgomery County Fire Academy, Conshohocken

November 18 - Pine Township Recreation Center, Wexford

November 19 - Quality Inn, Franklin

November 20 - Luzerne County Community College, Nanticoke

November 21 - Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center, State College

Click here for more detailed information and to register.

Certified Playground Safety Inspector Course and Exam

December 2-4 - Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey, Harrisburg

For a list of other training and upcoming events outside PRPS, click here.