The sun is setting earlier as I sit on my patio writing this message which means summer is over and Autumn is upon us. I am hopeful everyone had an enjoyable time engaging in your favorite summertime leisure pursuits.

 

 SAVE THE DATE!

47th Annual PA Therapeutic Recreation Institute

June 3-5, 2015

DoubleTree Resort, Lancaster, PA

 

Call for Proposals!

The 2015 TRI session proposal form is available under Call for Speakers. The proposal submission deadline is January 15, 2015. 

by Becky Kandrac, Recording Secretary 

 

Your Board of Directors has been working very hard over the past couple of months to build and improve the PTRS organization.

 

One of the major discussions over the past several months has been with the Board of Directors, Board descriptions and term limitations. The Board voted to eliminate the Past-President position and make it an advisor position to the Board. The PTRS Board is working with the PRPS Board to have term limitations within the Branch Guidelines. It is proposed that a board member would be allowed to be on the board for 2 consecutive terms, then would have to leave the board for at least a period of one year, before running for another board position. This will open up Board positions more frequently, allowing new members and fresh ideas to the board.

 

With that being said, the PTRS Board of Directors are now looking to fill the District 1 Representative. If you are interested in participating on the Board, please contact Kirk Rakos at 717-367-1121 x33191.

 

The Board is now hard at work developing the program for the 47th Annual Therapeutic Recreation Institute, "Getting Back to FUNdamentals", June 3-5, 2015 at the Double Tree Resort by Hilton, Lancaster, PA. We are looking for educational speakers, vendors, and sponsors for the event. If you are interested in speaking or assisting with organizing this event, please contact Rachel Guiher at (814) 946-4693.

 

As Recording Secretary, I have been working on the quarterly newsletters, making sure our membership receives quality information in a timely manner. I will also be updating the membership in an article in every newsletter, regarding the goals and progress to goal of the Board of Directors. We are encouraging all our PTRS membership to contribute articles for the newsletters. If you wish to contribute, please e-mail the article to bkandrac@masonicvillages.org. To keep the communication open among our membership, we have also started a Facebook page. Like us at "Pennsylvania Therapeutic Recreation Society".

Only 31 days till the big man in the red suit comes to make his yearly visit.

 

The new and updated PTRS merchandise with our fashionable logo is now available for purchase. Click here to view the available items for sale.

 

Holiday shopping has begun and PTRS has a fantastic Santa Special running from November 24 - December 12 (to assure delivery in time to open your gift).

 

Santa Special

 

Spend $15.00 up to $35.00 before shipping costs to receive a Free retractable PTRS badge holder (value of $3.50)

 

Spend $36.00 up to $65.00 before shipping costs to receive a Free PTRS water tumbler + badge holder. (value of $9.50)

 

Spend $66.00 or more before shipping costs to receive a Free PTRS ID guard wallet + badge holder (value of $12.50)

  

Give your favorite "Santa" a hint of what PTRS merchandise you would like to see under the tree this year.

 

Fill out the "PTRS List for Santa" and clip and tuck the form in a family member's, or friend's bag and have them mail it to: PRPS, 2131 Sandy Drive State College, PA 16803. Your order is as good as packed and on its way. One little catch they will have to do the wrapping.

"Three for a Dollar, 20 for five dollars" - Many of you have experienced hearing those words from my mouth at the annual TRI for many years. The TRI is one of the major fundraising events for the PTRS Branch of PRPS. This year we raised $1004, which will be separated into the two different Scholarship funds! I would like to thank everyone who purchases ticket or donates baskets for the "Annual Theme Basket Raffle". Without you this help this raffle would not be such a big success!

 

Every year, PTRS offers two different scholarships to its members, the Memorial Scholarship and the William P. Dayton Scholarship. The Memorial Scholarship Award is dedicated to the memory of all deceased PTRS members and their dedicated efforts to further Therapeutic Recreation as a profession. This scholarship provides full registration to the Annual Pennsylvania Therapeutic Recreation Institute, covering educational sessions. Anyone who is a member of PTRS is eligible for this scholarship.

 

The William P. Dayton Memorial Scholarship Award is set aside for an outstanding student in the field of Therapeutic Recreation. This scholarship also provides a full registration to the Annual Pennsylvania Therapeutic Recreation Institute, covering educational sessions and room for the duration of the conference. Membership to PTRS is not required for this scholarship, and a partial membership is included.

 

Next year's conference theme is "Getting Back to FUNdamentals". If you wish to assist with creating a FUN theme basket, to assist with the continued fundraising efforts, for the conference coming up in June, please feel free to contact me at (717)367-1121 x 33646 or email at bkandrac@masonicvillages.org.

 

In addition to the two scholarships, PTRS has been making an effort to help decrease the PRPS building mortgage. Over the past several years the Board of Directors has sponsored a Board "Board", which contained gift certificates and lottery tickets. The tickets for this board were sold separately, and all the proceeds go toward the PRPS Building fund. We raised $585 at the TRI this year.

 

 

To actively engage individuals committed to Therapeutic Recreation, and interested consumers, by supporting professional development, advocacy and resources.

This E-Newsletter is published quarterly. The editor is Becky Kandrac, you may submit articles to Becky at bkandrac@masonicvillages.org. Graphic Design by Emily Schnellbaugh, Communications Coordinator, PRPS. PTRS is a branch of the Pennsylvania Recreation & Park Society, Inc.