#PRPS Conference #BreakingTraditions 

by Karen Hammond, Conference Publicity Committee

Room Reservation Reminder!

The Lancaster Marriott hotel reservation deadline is 5:00 pm on Saturday, February 28.

Please make your overnight reservations before Saturday to receive the special lodging discount. Rates will increase on Sunday, March 1, 2015. Click here to make your online reservations.

Educational Session Addition

We've added another great session to the line-up: Kate Dilworth, of the National Alliance for Youth Sports, will present Four Steps to Improve Youth Sports Coaching on Tuesday at 1:45 pm. She will help you define the coaching and program philosophies that ensure beneficial - and not harmful - outcomes for children who participate in youth sports. You will discuss the roles adults play in youth sports, and you'll walk away with a four-step approach to ensure your coaches are well-prepared to create positive outcomes. Anyone who is active in planning and/or promoting youth sports should try to attend this session.

Off-Site Tour Addition

Walking Trail Tour: Explore Manor Township's Low Grade Rail Trail   

Tuesday, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm

Explore one of Pennsylvania's most picturesque rail-trails, and be prepared to be at eye-level with bald eagles! You'll walk the newly-constructed 5.2 mile rail-trail along the mighty Susquehanna River and see breath-taking views of both the Lancaster and York shorelines. View they river from the trail's elevated observation deck, which has been carved from steep riverside cliffs. This trail follows the once-famous Atglen & Susquehanna branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, which was considered an engineering marvel at the time of its construction between 1903-1905. The rail line was abandoned in 1989, and the trail replacing it was built with nearly 14,000 tons of stone base and trail mix.

Tour Fee: $8.00, includes boxed lunch

Limited to 20 participants

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). 

PRPS General Election Ballot - Vote now!

The PRPS General Election will take place during the 2015 PRPS Annual Conference at the Lancaster Marriott and Convention Center. If you are not attending the conference, you may submit an absentee ballot online by clicking the link below.  Votes must be received by noon on Monday, March 23, 2015.

Click on the nominee's name to read individual background information and platform statement. 

President Elect (2 year term, 2015-2017)

Vote for ONE

Ken Lehr, West Goshen Township

 Ryan McCleaster, Upper St. Clair Township

 Kirk Rakos, Masonic Villages

 John Spencer

Secretary (2 year term, 2015-2017)

Vote for ONE

Tammy Echevarria, Upper Dublin Township

Treasurer (2 year term, 2015-2017)

Vote for ONE

Tim Herd, timherd.com

Rob Lewis, Chester County

Click here to register your vote online.

Write-in nominations are permitted provided the nominee has given consent.

In accordance with PRPS Bylaws, the Board of Directors will vote at their meeting on March 22, 2015, to approve Jim Pashek to serve a two-year term as Citizen Director, Kim Batty to serve a two-year position as Educators' Director, Helen Griffith to serve a two-year term as Retired Professional, and Zurrell Toney to serve a one-year term as Student Director. 

Young Professional Scholarship Deadline has been extended

David Milliren, PRPS member, has made a generous contribution to establish the Outstanding Young Professional Scholarship. This award will recognize and support a young professional by covering $500 of the recipient's expenses to attend the PRPS conference.

Candidates must meet the following requirements:

To apply, submit a resume and two letters of recommendation from a professional supervisor or colleague to trobert@prps.org.

Deadline is March 6, 2015. 

• Applications will be judged and a selection made by the PRPS Community Branch Executive Committee.

• Results of the selection process will be announced by March 6, 2015.

• The recipient will be notified via phone. 

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.

District 1 Fundraising Challenge

The D-1 Texas Hold`em Poker Tournament is back!  You can buy a hand and get a chance to play for the top prizes!  The best part of this fun after-hours event is that 100% of the proceeds go to PRPS! 

Two Ways to Enter: 

1. Purchase one of the 6 available "$50 dollar buy-in" seats. Simply "Pay to Play".
2. Make one of the top 14 poker hands by purchasing cards from any of the D-1 sales people.

• Build the best poker hand that you can. Card prices are 7 cards for $5.00
• Players may purchase 2 additional cards for $5.00 to be added to their hand
• The best 5 cards will count
• All top hands will be on display in the Registration area
• The 14 best hands will be on display (and continually updated) in the Exhibit Hall
• Deadline to purchase your seat or qualify is Monday at 4:30 pm
• The entries will be finalized then and the tournament will begin at 4:45 pm in the Exhibit Hall
• Tournament will be conducted from 4:45 pm until 6:45 pm
• The chip leader or tournament winner gets first choice of the many prizes available
• Second place = second choice, right on down to the last prize
• Prizes include golf shirts, sweatshirts, t-shirts, hats, mugs, gift baskets, gift certificates, 50% off next year's conference registration, and MORE

Upcoming PRPS Trainings

March 16, 2015

Liberty Bell Trail Workshop (.5 CEUs)

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.

PA Therapeutic Recreation Society (PTRS)  

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

Fort Roberdeau, Altoona, PA 

April 8, 2015 - PTRS Day - multiple sessions

York College of PA, York, PA

April 10, 2015 -

Creating a Positive Vision for Leadership

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Raker Center

Allentown, PA

April 30, 2015 - Creating a Vision for Positive Leadership

Masonic Village, Sewickley, PA

May 11, 2015 - No Health Without Mental Health

MossRehab, Elkins Park, PA

Click here for the brochure. Online registration will be available by the end of this week.

Greenways & Trails Summit