President's Message
Dear Fellow Colleagues,
I hope you all had a good holiday season! Since the NRPA Conference in St. Louis, it has been a great pleasure working with the new Board of Directors and especially President-Elect Mark McHenry. Mark and I have had a number of phone conferences during this time period to discuss the Academy, its purpose and r ole and the Academy’s vision for the next few years.
One of the largest items we have been working on is committee appointments. We have been reviewing the purposes of each committee and what makes a good committee, and developing a group of Academy members who are committed to the purpose of each committee. We have also discussed the notion of the development of a yearly work plan that would ensure we are meeting the mission and vision of the Academy. The tenets of the work plan are based on the strategic plan work completed a couple of years ago while addressing the current needs of the Academy and the profession. Executive Director Jane Adams, in just a couple of short months, has provided great insight and thought on the Academy, and I know that her leadership in the ED position will pay dividends to the Academy in the long term.
Chris Nunes, President
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Dues Increase Approved for 2017
Impact. Growth. Relevance. These are words we like to hear. With these words, however, often comes a price. The price usually involves resources: people, money, partners and time.
The Academy has experienced growth of its programs and impact for the past several years. We now offer four externships, two of which are the Ernest T. Atwell Diversity Externships. The externship travel reimbursements, for young professionals under the age of 35, have increased from $750 to $1000 each. This helps the young professional attend the NRPA Annual Conference and develop strong relationships with Academy members. More....
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Thanks to the
Academy's Partners
Many of our Academy programs benefit from our relationship with key sponsors: Musco Lighting for the National Gold Medal Award Program; The National Park Foundation and The Davey Tree Expert Company for the Cornelius Amory Pugsley Award; Landscape Structures for support of our Annual Banquet and the Legends Program; and Sagamore-Venture Publishing for hosting our website and providing needed storage space. Academy members are encouraged to reach out to our partners when considering purchasing sports lighting, tree management services, play equipment or publications. If you are unfamiliar with the products and services offered, please take a moment to review their websites and/or contact your local sales representative.
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Did You Know?
The Davey Institute Brings Science to the Forefront
The Davey Institute, housed within the Davey Tree Expert Company, serves all of Davey’s North American operations with a scientific commitment to our horticultural and environmental services. The scientists and technical advisors at the Davey Institute guide field service teams in diagnosing and prescribing the best products, application procedures, and pest and disease cultural practices to be used at the client site. We staff our technical teams with experts in all aspects of plant care and geographic specificity. These experts train the company’s field technicians and serve as resources of constantly refined knowledge to address the specific needs of our clients. The greater Davey Tree Expert Company provides a variety tree care, landscape and vegetation management services to residential, commercial, utility and governmental clients.
In addition to plant pathology and related materials expertise, the Institute’s teams develop new methods to help clients measure, analyze and quantify the hidden benefits that trees provide beyond just beauty and shade. As large portions of our clients move into more active management of their natural assets, understanding the environmental benefits their tree populations provide leads to a greater appreciation of these natural assets. The Davey Institute works closely with our partners to disseminate this knowledge to everyone from home and commercial property owners to local, state and regional governments.
Integrated teams at the Institute support, prioritize and align the needs of our expanding, multi-disciplined organization:
Practical Plant Care
Company founder John Davey believed in addressing the health and maintenance of trees as a practical way to preserve our natural resources. Over the years, we added lawn and landscape care to our areas of expertise as well. Davey Institute scientists work in our industry-leading laboratories and diagnostic facilities to identify materials and treatment programs to strengthen the natural ability of trees and plants to resist the impacts of insects, diseases and environmental stresses, such as long-term droughts. More.....
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Sagamore-Venture:
A Partnership for the Future of our Field
On September 28, 2016, Sagamore Publishing and Venture Publishing joined forces and will be known as Sagamore-Venture going forward. Combining the strengths of Venture and Sagamore has been a goal of Peter Bannon’s for some time. “For more than 10 years I have been trying to find a way for Sagamore and Venture to work together,” said Bannon. “I have always had great respect for Geoff Godbey and Frank Guadagnolo and felt that together, we would be able to offer the best resources to represent our field.”
The merger was supported by everyone involved. “It is important for our field that Sagamore-Venture succeed,” said Godbey, “and we will do everything we can during the transition period and afterward to help make sure this happens.”
For more than three decades, Venture Publishing and Sagamore Publishing have published the highest quality educational materials to serve educators and professionals. Sagamore-Venture will continue this journey to help reflect and shape the field and advance its knowledge base. “We are honored and delighted to continue the tradition that Venture has developed,” Bannon added. “We will continue our commitment in the best educational materials and information to help advance our field.”
Sagamore-Venture will continue to operate out of the Sagamore facility at 1807 North Federal Drive, Urbana, IL 61801.
Sagamore-Venture Offers NEW Discount to Academy Members
Sagamore-Venture is now offering Academy members a 25% discount on any publication bought through their website. Sagamore-Venture offers educational and academic material in the form of books, ebooks, courses and journals.
Consider adding to your professional or departmental library one of these new releases: Evaluating Recreation Services, 4th Edition (Academy members Karla Henderson and Deb Bialeschki and Laurie P. Brown); Social Psychology of Leisure (Douglas A. Kleiber, Gordon J. Walker, Roger C. Mannell); Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation (Kenneth E. Mobily); or Pastimes, 6th Edition (Ruth Russell).
To receive your 25% discount as an Academy member, enter the code AAPRA when you are in the process of checking out.
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AAPRA Well Represented at NRPA 2016 in Awards, Gold Medal Program & CAPRA
“The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more.”
-- Jonas Salk
Congratulations are in order for Academy members and their agencies who were either a finalist in the Gold Medal Awards Program or who received an award bestowed by the National Recreation and Park Association or received their CAPRA accreditation at the 2016 National Conference in St. Louis, MO. More.....
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Stewart Case Inducted into Hall of Fame
Academy Charter Member Stewart Case was inducted into the Robert W. Crawford Recreation and Park Hall of Fame during the Academy Banquet in St. Louis. The Hall of Fame recognizes individual pioneers and leaders who have made extraordinary and lasting contributions to the advancement of parks and recreation in the U.S., as well as to the mission of NRPA. It is a posthumous honor that may be presented no earlier than five years following the death of inductees, in order to assure their contributions have had a long-term impact. Case joined a list of more than 40 people to have received the honor since 1987.
Case was a member of the American Recreation Society (ARS), one of the five organizations that merged to become NRPA. He was influential in decisions made to form NRPA, serving on the NRPA Board of Trustees and Board of Governors and as the first president of NRPA's American Park and Recreation Society branch.
Influential in passing a Colorado legislative bill to establish recreation districts, Case encouraged state leaders to form a Recreation Advisory Board to discuss ways to preserve and protect natural resources. His efforts were instrumental in culminating the formation of the state’s Division of Parks and Wildlife. Case was also a founding member of the Colorado Parks and Recreation Society (now CPRA), instituting Tourist Hospitality Schools, a precursor to the state tourism bureau.
Case spent his career as a Recreation and Community Development Specialist through the Colorado State University Extension Service. His primary responsibility was to inspire, support and educate community leaders to understand the value of recreation and parks and to help them find ways to provide recreational opportunities and facilities for their residents. Case served on various national boards, received numerous awards and wrote countless articles and books.
Ash and Sutter Awarded Pugsley Medals
Richard Ash, Jr. and John Sutter received the Honorable Cornelius Amory Pugsley Medals for 2016. These are the most prestigious awards that recognize outstanding contributions to the promotion and development of public parks, recreation and conservation in the United States.
 Richard Ash, Jr. (left), retired long-time director of the St. Charles, MO Department of Parks and Recreation, was a catalyst for local, regional and statewide initiatives. One of those, the St. Louis 2004 initiative, began in 1996 to develop a metropolitan renaissance to coincide with the approaching Lewis and Clark anniversary. One of its legacy accomplishments was to be the Great Rivers Greenway District (GRGD). More...
The Honorable John Sutter (pictured below with Pugsley Chair Ron Dodd on right) has been a persistent, dedicated champion for open space, public access, and environmental initiati ves for his entire adult life, which he has spent advocating for the preservation of the environment and environmental justice for the public’s access to valuable open spaces and San Francisco Bay shoreline. His 60 years of public service, leadership and contributions to Oakland and to the East Bay in particular have benefited generations who enjoy the recreational amenities and beautiful parkland advocated for by Mr. Sutter. More.....
Two President's Awards Presented in 2016
At the 2016 Academy Banquet, then-President Becky Benna presented two President's Awards. These are given by the Academy President for those who have provided exceptional contributions over the past year.
Linda Kotowski was honored for her six years of service on the Academy Foundation Board, including the past two years as president. One of the highlights Linda was credited with was leading two record-breaking years of contributions. 2015 was record-breaking with $9,695.00 raised, and in 2016, that was surpassed with a new high of $13,613.11! Congratulations to Linda for her very accomplished service.
As you may remember, long-time NRPA staffer Brenda Beales retired this past summer. She was vital to the success of the Gold Medal Award program and the Hall of Fame. Her award was sent to her, and shortly afterward, she sent us this note:
“I received the President's Award today. This is very special to me. I am humbled by this recognition. I have enjoyed working on joint NRPA and Academy projects and especially with the Academy. I cherish my memories of working with and time spent with you all. Please pass on my heartfelt appreciation to the Academy members.”
2017 NRPA Advocacy Program
Mark Young
As a member of NRPA's Public Policy Committee, I wanted to share the 2017 legislative advocacy platform with Academy members. Parks, recreation and conservation fared well in the 114th Congress of 2015/2016. In the reauthorized multi-year federal education bill called the Every Student Succeeds Act, environmental education was included as a fundable subject for the first time ever. When partnering with schools, parks and recreation agencies are eligible for grants for environmental/outdoor education programs. The Land & Water Conservation Fund was reauthorized for three years, and the State/Local Assistance Program was funded at a higher level than in recent years. The multi-year reauthorized federal surface transportation bill called the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) recognizes biking and walking infrastructure as part of our multi-modal transportation system. Funding for Transportation Alternatives Set Aside ($800 million+) and the Recreational Trails Program ($85 million) is stable.
The recently seated 115th Congress will present new challenges and opportunities for parks and recreation advocates. The 2017 Advocacy Platform is built on NRPA's three organizational pillars...health & wellness, conservation and social equity. More information will be provided on policies, programs and appropriations as the New Year unfolds.
Notes from the Academy Office
- You haven't missed the dues notices and requests for directory updates. They will be going out soon.
- If you want to send anything to the membership, please note the current listserve address is: academy-listserve@googlegroups.com. Although similar, the old address (aapra-listserv@googlegroups.com) does not reach everyone and should not be used.
- Make sure all mail goes to the Huntley, IL mailing address - PO Box 802, Huntley, IL 60142. Please notify your financial offices as well.
- You are welcome to update your website bios and pictures at any time. All updates should be sent to Andee Chestnut at achestnut@aol.com.
- The best way for members to reach the Academy Office is through email (achestnut@aol.com or info@aapra.org) or by calling Andee's cell at (217) 840-2009.
- Your help in keeping your contact information updated is greatly appreciated!
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American Academy for Park
and Recreation Administration
President - Chris Nunes
President Elect - Mark McHenry
Past President - Becky Benna
Secretary - Amy Hurd
Treasurer - Dianne Hoover
Directors
Gary Ellis (2017)*
Brett Wright (2017)
Karla Henderson (2018)
Carolyn McKnight (2018)
Michael McCarty (2019)
Ernest Burkeen (2019)
*year term expires
Executive Director - Jane H. Adams
Executive Secretary/Treasurer - Andee Chestnut
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