#PRPS Conference #BreakingTraditions 

by Karen Hammond, Conference Publicity Committee

Speaker Change!

Your registration guide gives you a very nice description of Sunday's Citizens & Friends Day Workshop that is provided to you by DCNR and PRPS. This symposium is always a super way to connect with citizen advisory board members, local officials and friends of recreation and parks. This year's keynote speaker is Jeffrey J. Bransford, PMP, Senior Project Manager at PROS Consulting. He has extensive experience in project management, strategic planning, financial analysis, and public policy, and has worked on the federal, state and municipal level. He has worked across the country for the National Park Service. He has developed plans for over 100 government agencies, non-profit organizations and private organizations. His firm specializes in formulating plans that incorporate community input and values, and generating recommendations that add value to current operations.

We expect he'll bring us some new perspectives on advocacy, and open our eyes to all kinds of opportunities. Don't miss it!

Also featured on Sunday are three great educational sessions:

• "How is My Board Supposed to Work?" led by Bob Good, VP Recreation Planning, Pashek Associates
• "Building, Strengthening, and Growing Your Community Through Volunteerism" presented by Robin B. Agerton, Volunteer Coordinator, Citizens for Mechanicsburg
• "Tilting at Silos/Working With Elected Officials" with Ronald J. Woodhead, CPRP, CPSI, Director, Centre Region Parks & Recreation  

Regular conference attendees and anyone else can attend this keynote and educational sessions for only $35. The general public can attend the day's events, plus enjoy dinner that night, for $60. Citizens and Friends Day registration is separate from conference registration, but you can enroll for either of both at www.prps.org.

Room Host Opportunities!

The Program Committee now has over 80 educational sessions lined up! Each session needs a room host to welcome attendees, introduce the speaker, circulate materials, sign CEU forms, monitor time, and assist with the presentation as needed (e.g., lights, A/V). It's a great way to meet people and become involved!

Prior to the conference, Room Hosts will receive a checklist of responsibilities, which will include:

•          Session assignments - dates & times
•          Speaker bios become familiar with whom you are introducing
•          Sample introduction
•          How to sign CEU sheets
•          Additional instructions - room host packets, speaker gifts, etc.  

If you're willing to help in this capacity, please contact Jessica Cirilo, Room Host Chair, at 610-344-5929 or jcirilo@chesco.org. And, as room host, you don't need to sit in the front row - - you can oblige others to do it.

 For more details on the Conference, click here.  Register online! 

(If you are a DVIT Member you can receive $100 off your registration if you are one of the first 30 DVIT registrants. See page 22 in the registration guide for more details). 

Nominate a Vendor for an Exhibit Hall Award

Penn State Extension Green Infrastructure Webinar Series

Join us for the Green Infrastructure Webinar Series as we explore how green infrastructure can put our communities and landscapes on the road to sustainability.  The first in this series will concentrate on introducing green infrastructure and explore maintenance of these structural systems.  Beginning in late summer, the webinars will discuss non-structural topics such as open space conservation, green infrastructure elements, natural resource conservation standards, and conflict resolution.

The webinars are free and begin at 12:00 pm (EST). Click here for more information.

Upcoming PRPS Trainings

March 16, 2015

Liberty Bell Trail Workshop

Bucks County Community College, Northern Bucks Campus

Perkasie, PA

For more information click here. Online registration is OPEN, click here to register.

March 22, 2015

Citizens & Friends Day Workshop

Lancaster Marriott & Convention Center

Lancaster, PA

To register online, click here.

March 24, 2015

Park Resource Maintenance Workshop

Lancaster Marriott & Convention Center

Lancaster, PA

To register online, click here.

Green Parks Award Winner

Congratulations to Lardner's Point Park in Philadelphia. This award will be presented at the PRPS Conference.

Sign up to receive the Get Outdoors PAthfinder!

Learn about new trends in outdoor activities; hear about cool events happening all across Pennsylvania; get to know more about the wonderful Get Outdoors PA partners bringing outdoor recreation to your backyard...plus much more. 

We promise we will not inundate you with tons of emails or sell your contact information to third parties. Get Outdoors PA will just provide you with helpful tips pertaining to outdoor recreation skills, programs, best practices and featured events.

So what are you waiting for?  Become a Get Outdoors PAthfinder today!

Greenways & Trails Summit

Member News

PA Therapeutic Recreation Society (PTRS)  

March 27, 2015 - Creating a Therapeutic Activity: Adapt and Analyze

Fort Roberdeau

April 8, 2015 - PTRS Day - multiple sessions

York College

April 10, 2015 -

Creating a Positive Vision for Leadership

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Raker Center

April 30, 2015 - Creating a Vision for Positive Leadership

Masonic Village at Sewickley

May 11, 2015 - No Health Without Mental Health

MossRehab Elkins Park

More information will be available by next week.