President’s Message Marco A. Cisneros

A A P R A B u l l e t i n - W i n t e r 2 0 1 1

P a r t i c i pa t i o n i n t he

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Contents President’s Report

National Legislative Forum on Parks and Recreation

Committee Reports Agency Resources and Services Banquet Best Paper Award Bylaws Externship Gold Medal Award Gold Medal—2011 Legends Membership Newsletter Nominating Committee NRPA Program Committee Pugsley Award Urban Directors Council on Accreditation Task Force Technology Task Force

NRPA Pictures Retirements

Deaths

American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration

“Change Before You Have To!”

Thoughts from the President’s

Corner

Most of us are preparing ourselves for the challenges to come in 2011. With those challenges in mind, my advice to all is to seek change before you have to! It is far too easy to simply sit back, wait and see what life may throw our way. My apologies to those members who were in attendance at our General Meeting in Minneapolis in October. Unfortunately I had to breeze through my President’s Goals for 2011 due to the time constraints. With your indulgence, I want to share those goals again here in this report so you can read them at your leisure. I am also specifically seeking a volunteer for help in seeing how we can promote and facilitate Academy communications in Social Media Markets. At the Academy Banquet someone had volunteered to step up and help work with the “Outdoor Deficit Syndrome” activities I had shared in my comments as incoming President. I did not have an opportunity to jot down the individual’s name at that time, so anyone who might be interested in either of these positions should contact me at

mcisneros75@gmail.com or 979.587.1142 as soon as possible. (Sidebar - I understand that even Facebook is now looking at introducing their own email operating system even though it may seem outdated to some.) One of the neat things members passed action on at the General Membership Meeting was in respect to the Gold Medal Awards. It was decided that where possible, an Academy member would visit the Gold Medal Award winner’s governing body (City Council, Park District Board, etc.) during one of their meetings to make a formal presentation of the Gold Medal Award Plaque. This will help the winning agency gain recognition of their achievement and be a value-added effort on the part of the Academy. It is already being implemented with this year’s 2010 Gold Medal Award winners. Once again congratulations to all of those winners and our thanks to the Academy members who were and are involved in this tremendous effort. I am in touch with Rich Grodsky and Andee Chestnut at the Academy Office to see who has contacted them with requests for the various 2011 Academy committees and task forces assignments. Some of the assignments are rollovers and some require an infusion of new members and vice-chairs. The intent is to solidify these assignments as soon as possible.

Marco A. “Tony” Cisneros

GOAL = 100%

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National Legislative Forum on Parks and Recreation, March 16—18, 2011 Grand Hyatt, Washington, D.C. The National Legislative Forum on Parks and Recreation is the premier annual advocacy event and is critical to advancing our national legislative agenda for parks and recreation. Hosted annually by NRPA, the National Legislative Forum is our opportunity to come together with one strong voice to shape issues and impact the legislative process. For additional information and registration, go to www.NRPA.org/legforum COMMITTEE REPORTS

Agency Resources & Services Committee Max Ramsey, Chair Joint Session with NRPA at Congress – NRPA staff requested that the Academy provide the expertise for an Educational Session at the Minneapolis Congress on the subject of the citizen’s role in achieving our professional goals. The format was similar to the one we did last year, except this time we were listed as co-sponsor. Eleven members were selected by NRPA to participate. Three members were selected as speakers. Attendees were randomly seated at tables with a member serving as a monitor assigned to guide and oversee deliberations. The reports will be analyzed and coordinated to document concerns, experiences and recommendations. This will be done by a writer assigned by NRPA to produce a White Paper, which will be edited and released to NRPA members as a planning tool. Thanks to those who participated. This was good exposure.

Consulting Services Program – The article publicizing this service appeared in the November issue of Parks and Recreation Magazine. The service required several years and the work and perseverance of many Fellows to make it happen. Then, when it was launched, the bottom fell out of the economy, and our profession went generally into survival mode. Planning wasn’t needed as there was no money to implement. However, getting the word out about this unique offer, and the unique quality and diversity of the services, available just for expenses, should help demand. If you haven’t seen the data on this service, gathered from the talent survey updates pioneered for us by Bill McKinney, it is posted on the Academy website. You will be impressed by the capabilities of our membership.

President’s Goals for 2011 1. Change the Academy to keep up with the times,

technology and society. Complete the transfer of the Academy Listserv and

other online services from Texas A&M University to the Academy’s Office ($)

Install a larger information management system server at the Academy Office for enhanced web site and other operational capabilities ($)

Assign a member to promote and facilitate Academy Communications in the Social Media markets

Consider continued implementation of the Academy Technology Task Force Recommendations and Work Plan ($)

Continue to avoid the use of paper communications whenever possible to be a “Go Green Academy!”

2. Keep up with the Academy membership’s changes in positions, retirements and deaths. Assign committee to oversee needed updates for the

Academy Directory and member bios Tag Academy Directory and bio updates with the

current date of when the latest updates were made for record purposes

Create an Academy Directory section dedicated to recognizing former members who have died and their years of service to the Academy

3. Continue to seek diversity in all aspects of the Academy operations from new members to Externship Program candidates. Investigate and implement strategies dedicated

toward increasing the diversity of membership Investigate and implement strategies dedicated

toward increasing the diversity of Externship candidates in spite of tough economic times.

4. Support programs and opportunities to help overcome “Outdoor Deficit Syndrome” for youth and adults in America Partner with NRPA to develop and promote

programs, such as the NRPA “Children in Nature Program”, directed to getting all people to experience the great outdoors in whatever manner possible

Partner with Health and Wellness initiatives at the national, state or local levels that are directed to getting people to experience the great outdoors in whatever manner possible

Note: ($) symbol denotes that there may be some expenses tied to this initiative.

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C o m m i t t e e R e p o r t s

This year’s goals include: (1) develop draft contract documents/agreements as examples of the what is needed to define what we will or won’t do and to establish legal limits on liability issues. These would also cover the responsibilities of recipients. We will need legal assistance in document preparation; (2) diversify and target promotion and marketing and methods used. Park Practices/Best Practices Program - Phil Hayward, Senior Editor of NRPA Publications, agreed to reconsider publishing a periodic column about topics we planned to address in our Park Practices revival attempt. Brett Wright of Clemson was the proposed manager of our aborted revival. He has agreed to develop a list of proposed article topics for Phil to consider. We are pleased to see it still alive. Parting Words - Thanks to Member Bill Beckner, NRPA Research Manager & Agency Services Committee member, for his help, guidance and participation in each element of this committee’s progress this year. Thank you is simply not adequate to cover his contributions toward achieving our goals! Banquet Committee Harvey Feldman

Our thanks to this year’s Banquet Sponsor, Landscape Structures! The banquet was held at Nicollet Island Pavilion in Minneapolis. Built in 1893 as the William Bros. Boiler Works, the Nicollet Island Pavilion is now part of the Minneapolis Parks Department. More than 150 people attended this year’s Academy Banquet. Best Paper Award Committee Jim Hall After reviewing survey results and an effort to partner with SPRE, it was determined there would not be a call for papers in 2010, but the award would resume in 2011. This allowed us to foster relationships with new partners and develop an action plan for moving forward. In preparation for the 2011 request for papers, the committee sent letters to colleges and universities accredited through NRPA notifying them of the 2011 Best Paper Program and schedule. A formal request for papers was sent to them in September 2010. The deadline for submission of executive summaries for the program is February 1, 2011.

Bylaws Committee Jan Geden The Bylaws Committee met twice via conference call to discuss whether the current bylaws support political and lobbying activities and potentially recommend language the Board could consider to amend the bylaws if these activities were determined to be part of the Academy’s purpose. The committee provided a full report for the Board’s consideration including: (1) Minutes from the 9/2/10 and 10/13/10 meetings; (2) A legal opinion regarding political involvement of 501

(c)(3) organizations; and (3) Suggested language for consideration to amend the

Academy’s bylaws to support political involvement pursuant to the requirements and prohibitions of the Internal Revenue Service.

The original request made to the committee entailed not only a recommendation of whether political and lobbying activity was permissible under the current bylaws, but also to develop a process and criteria for the Academy to follow in that regard. The committee felt its jurisdiction was limited to determining whether the current bylaws supported such activities and recommending any additional language to the bylaws that might be needed should the Academy determine that such activity fit within its purpose. The Bylaws Committee recommended the following: (1) Since certain political and lobbying activities pursuant

to the requirements and prohibitions of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are permissible, the Academy Board and membership should consider whether these activities defined by the IRS are part of the purpose of the organization and be undertaken; and

(2) If it is decided these activities will be undertaken, to consider the following language to be added to the bylaws to provide additional clarity:

In carrying out its purposes, the Academy shall only engage in activities that do not impair its tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code or any other applicable law.

The committee also felt that if this type of activity is pursued by the Academy, the applicable level of involvement and the requirements the Academy must fulfill to support such involvement (financial parameters, compensated and volunteer staff resources, etc.) should be determined prior to taking any such action.

C o m m i t t e e R e p o r t s

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Externship Committee Michal Anne Lord Procedures and applications were reviewed before distribution. The committee made a slight modification to basic eligibility requirements (based on 2009 Externship Committee feedback). Therefore, for 2010 the basic eligibility requirements were: A degree in Parks and Recreation or related field; 3 or less years of experience; Currently in a position of program specialist or higher; Membership in State association and NRPA. Ten applications (5 females and 5 males representing eight states or districts/territories) were received and scored. Three completed the “Optional Question” and self-identified as diversity candidates; 11 of 13 committee members (chair abstained) scored the applicants. The scores were tallied and averaged to determine standings. There were 100 total points available.

Four externs were selected, two of which were recipients of Ernest T. Atwell Diversity Externships. Pictured with 2010 President Jim Garges are (l-r) Shane Mize, Fort Worth, TX; Brad Schmitt, Des Peres, MO; and Tiffany Johnson, Washington DC. Shaniqua Simmons, North Charleston, SC, the fourth extern, had to withdraw in early October due to health issues and did not attend Congress.) Mentors were assigned to each of the 2010 AAPRA Externs to facilitate their participation and networking while at the NRPA Congress.

Gold Medal Award Committee Chris Jarvi In 2010, we received 62 applications for the five different classes. This shows how valuable the Gold Medal is to the park and recreation community, considering that agencies still made applications a priority, even with the current state of the economy and cuts many agencies are facing. The judges evaluated the 20 finalists to determine which shined more brightly. They also evaluated the applications’ effectiveness and made changes prior to 2011. The 2010 Awards were presented in Minneapolis at the Opening General Session of Congress, with a reception the evening before to celebrate all finalist agencies. Marketing for 2011 began at Congress. DVDs of Grand Plaque Recipients were sold immediately after they were announced! Agencies were able to attend a panel session to ask past recipients how they achieved success and recognition. A postcard promoting the 2011 program was in the bags of all Congress attendees and mailed out to agencies following Congress. Thanks to Musco Lighting for their continued support! Gold Medal - 2011 The 2011 Program has launched! Applications are available at www.nrpa.org/goldmedal. This year is sure to be exciting, as states are eligible to apply. As we continue to move this program forward to match the needs of the park and recreation community, representatives from the Armed Forces are working with the Academy to evaluate the possibility of a new category for Military Bases. This would alternate with the States, to be awarded every other year. Also, to be more inclusive of different populations, we added Wounded Warriors to the special population question on the application. For any questions about this program, please contact awards@nrpa.org. Legends Committee Mark Eynatten

The committee selected three Legends for 2010 - Jane

Hodgkinson, Phil Rea and Bill Scalzo. Tapings took place October 26, 2010 in Minneapolis.

The Legends brochure was updated to reflect current information regarding the Legends Library.

Abstracts of interviews conducted in 2008 and 2009 were completed. These serve as an easy way for interested individuals to review interviews and decide which would be most appropriate for their viewing. With the completion of those abstracts, all interviews through 2009 have an abstract on file.

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C o m m i t t e e R e p o r t s

Membership Committee Marvin Billups A total of 17 nominations were received. The committee recommended and Board of Directors approved these nine individuals for induction into the Academy.

(pictured left to right) Robert Armistead, Travis County Parks, TX; Renee Bahl, Arizona State Parks; Bob Bierscheid, St. Paul, MN; Arnie Biondo, Carol Stream, IL; Dirk Richwine, Henderson, NV, Mary Beth Thaman, Kettering, OH; Bettie Yahn-Kramer, St. Charles County, MO; Jim Busser, UNLV; and Randy Virden, San Jose State University. Congratulations and welcome to our 2010 new members! Newsletter Susan Trautman/Patsy Houston, Editors Three newsletters were published in 2010. Susan Trautman started the year as editor, and then Patsy Houston from Jim Garges’ office assumed editor duties. All are posted on the Academy website (www.aapra.org. )

Nominating Committee Steve Messerli The Nominating Committee met and submitted an exceptional slate of officers and directors to the Board in July. It was approved, and the election was held. Starting their terms after the Annual Meeting in Minneapolis on October 28, 2010 are Lori Daniel, President Elect; Susan Trautman, Secretary; Andy Kimmel, Treasurer; and Tom Lovell and Ray Ochromowicz, Board Members.

NRPA Program Committee Ray Ochromowicz NRPA accepted program proposals for the 2011

Congress in Atlanta electronically via NRPA’s web site (www.nrpa.org). The deadline for proposals was November 19, 2010.

Approximately two dozen educational sessions were presented by Academy members during the Congress in Minneapolis.

NRPA is streamlining the structure of the Congress Program Committee. At the July 15, 2010 meeting of the NRPA Board of Directors, the Board approved the elimination of the Branches, Regions, and Sections as an operating structure for NRPA and created a network structure as the primary form of operating and communicating with the membership. These changes were in part necessitated by the cost of that structure. In addition, the Board approved a reduced 2011 budget for all committees in the budget approved in May of 2010.

The changes directly affect the structure of the Congress Program Committee. NRPA is working to align the new structure with the Board’s direction for the organization while enabling the Program Committee to maintain its primary goal of providing relevant, high quality, education programs at Congress.

The recommended structure for the Congress Program Committee reduces committee membership from 40 to 25 to 30. Educational sessions will no longer be an allocation based on region, branch or section, but rather on networks or topical areas. Therefore in the future, the Academy, which in the past was guaranteed two sessions per Congress, will not have such a guarantee.

Technology Task Force Kathy Spangler & Kathy Perales Following a conference call meeting, a survey was drafted to determine Academy member interests, backgrounds and needs regarding technology. Work on the survey and review of potential uses of technology will continue.

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C o m m i t t e e R e p o r t s

Pugsley Award Committee Vern Hartenburg

We’re pleased to honor these 2010 Cornelius Pugsley Medal recipients:

▪ Mr. Martin Rosen, past president of The Trust for Public Land and advocacy/leadership to numerous boards and nonprofit organizations related to parks and conservation.

▪ Dr. Charles Hartsoe, for leadership contributions to the National Recreation and Park Association, National Recreation Association, and National Recreation Foundation, author, educator, and passionate advocate.

▪ Mr. Harry (Hal) Haskell, Jr., for leadership to the NRPA and staunch advocate for local parks.

Awards were presented at the Thursday evening banquet in Minneapolis. Our thanks to Davey Tree Expert Company for their second year of sponsoring this prestigious award.

Pat Covey of Davey Tree Expert Company (right) poses with this year’s Pugsley recipients: (l-r) Charlie Hartsoe, Hal Haskell and Martin Rosen

Urban Directors Committee Joe Wynns No potential members were considered in 2010. The committee will review the involvement of the current urban and large agency directors to facilitate their participation.

Council on Accreditation Task Force Gary Ellis Task Force – Learning Outcomes for Partnership

with Council on Accreditation for Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions

Charge - Produce a set of learning outcomes for students pursuing higher education specialization in recreation and park administration. These will become standards by which programs seeking specialization accreditation in recreation and park administration will be judged when they are considered for accreditation by the Council on Accreditation for Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT).

Process - Learning outcomes were developed through a three-hour meeting at the Salt Lake City public library, followed by a series of email exchanges among committee members. The outcomes were submitted to President Garges in December of 2009, and were subsequently revised based on his input, to include two additional learning outcomes. The final document was submitted in January of 2010.

The task force also advanced the recommendation that Jamie Sabbach be appointed to serve as the AAPRA representative to the COAPRT. The task force noted Ms. Sabbach is eminently qualified to represent the Academy on matters related to park and recreation administration, and she is also currently serving as a member of the COAPRT. Through her appointment, the Academy would put in place an exceptional representative who understands parks and recreation administration, who served as a member of the learning outcomes task force, and who fully understands the policies and procedures of COAPRT. Significant cost-savings would also result, as Ms. Sabbach's travel expenses to COAPRT meetings are paid as a result of her status as a member of COAPRT.

Status - Recommended learning outcomes were submitted in December, 2009, and were revised based on input from President Garges in January, 2010. The task force also recommends that Jamie Sabbach be appointed to serve as the AAPRA representative to the COAPRT. Pending no additional requests for revisions, we consider the work of the task force to be complete.

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Retirement Announcements! Chuck Wilt Chuck Wilt will retire June 1 as Director of the Columbus, IN Parks and Recreation Department. He has been Director since April 1, 1977. He started his career with Toledo, OH Recreation Division in 1965 after graduating with a B.S. in Recreation from Indiana University. He later was Director of Recreation in Kent, OH and Recreation Director and Personnel Manager with Cummins Engine Company in Columbus, IN. Dale Larsen Dale Larsen, City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department Director, retired in December and moved into a full-time faculty position with Arizona State University as a Professor of Practice. He will teach classes and help raise private funds for the school and student scholarships. Dale was with Phoenix since 1984 and prior to that with Milwaukee County Parks. 2011 marks his 40th anniversary in public parks & recreation. Nancy MacCartney Nancy MacCartney retired from University City, MO and will serve as a grants consultant through March. Starting in April she will be a consultant with Washington University on neighborhood sustainability. She has been Director in University City for seven years and has worked in the profession since 1974. Foundation Academy Foundation Scholarship Winners Congratulations to the first recipients of the John C. Potts Leadership Development Scholarship which awards tuition to two individuals attending the NRPA Directors School. Pictured here (l-r) are Shamar Young, Cleveland Metroparks; Dan Olson, Champaign County (IL) Forest Preserve District; and the man for whom the “Pottsie” is named, John C. Potts.

William Riley Bird (1927-2010)

John Crompton wrote, upon learning of the passing of Academy Member Bill Bird: “Bill was a legendary figure, innovative, challenging the status quo, demanding, generous to a fault, and loved by all of us who were privileged to interact with him. A character, with a colorful life style, he always made sure life was fun. At the same time, there never was a more committed individual to the field of parks and recreation. He was an extraordinary, larger-than-life inspiration and teacher to so many of us.” Graham Skea then sent this: “Bill Bird’s illustrious career as a visionary and innovator was perfectly described by John Crompton. I would like to add a couple of the comical and creative side of Bill’s ventures. In the early 1980s, we attended the National Association of Counties Park & Recreation Section conference in Washington, DC. Ralph Cryder, Bill and I strolled into a small Airport Operators Conference social and posed as airport managers, while enjoying their gracious hospitality. One of Bill’s most memorable events was achieved when Metro Dade P&R hosted the NRPA Board of Trustees spring meeting. With the able assistance of Dottie Abrams, Bill and staff created a scene from the TV series “LOST” before it was on our local stations. We were sent to an“Island” by boat to find native staffers with Polynesian costumes, music, and serving of other tempting dishes, including snake fries. The climax was the serving of pina coladas in half coconut shells!! NY & NJ societies tried to duplicate his unique hospitality for the Trustees’ spring meeting at West Point, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Three dinner parties on the Hudson could not rival Bill’s ingenuity in transforming a remote section of a golf course into an island paradise. Bill was always delightful to be with and offered a leadership style to win the support of Dade’s business leaders and elected officials to expand the recreation opportunities. Bill Bird was a giant in the field and earned our total respect and admiration.”

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