ENews December 2017

Academy ENews
December 2017

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President's Message

Dear AAPRA Members:
I am glad we were able to gather in New Orleans for another NRPA Conference and our Annual Academy Meeting and Banquet. While many of us are only able to see each other face to face once a year, it is important that we communicate throughout the year. We heard this message loud and clear in the survey conducted on Governance and Membership Services.
Thank you to the 96 Academy members who responded to the survey, slightly more than 50% of our membership. I was able to provide a brief overview of the survey results at our annual meeting and a couple weeks later, Andee sent out the survey data on the twelve (12) questions, along with our direct comments. Based on the data collected, your Board has suggested the following recommendations to move us forward.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Increase sharing of Board’s work throughout the year (transparency).
Increase effort to identify profession’s relevant needs / pursue their resolution.
Engage Board in proactive / advanced thinking for the profession.
Assign each Board member committee(s) & work plan task force(s); to assist chair and to provide regular updates to the Board of Directors and the membership.
Board to define expectations around committee service.

More ...

Seeking Members for Academy Foundation Board

The AIPE/Academy Foundation Board has two vacancies for three-year terms beginning in 2018. Letters of interest will be accepted for these positions through December 8th. More ...

Kudos to Academy Members for These
2017 Achievements!

More ...

2017 Pugsley Awards

The Pugsley Medal is the most prestigious award recognizing outstanding contributions to the promotion and development of public parks and conservation in the US. This year, three medals were awarded to these outstanding recipients:

Anita B. Gorman, Kansas City, Missouri community leader; longtime Park & Recreation Board Commissioner; highly successful fundraiser; driving force behind City of Fountains Foundation; Kansas City treasure

Lewis Ledford, North Carolina State Parks leader for nearly 40 years; executive director of National Association of State Park Directors; passionate force for conservation and preservation of special landscapes, Academy member since 2013

Peter G. Sortino (1954-2017), leader of effort to create first bi-state park and recreation districts – Great Rivers Greenway and Metro-East Parks & Recreation District; driving force behind CityArchRiver Initiative in St. Louis; longtime involvement in Forest Park Forever; founding chair of St. Louis Regional Health Commission

2017 Hall of Fame Induction

Established in 1987, the Robert W. Crawford Hall of Fame recognizes individual pioneers and leaders who have made extraordinary and lasting contributions to the advancement of parks and recreation in the US, 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.

This year's inductee was Clifton French, one of the Academy's founding members. More ...

2017 “Pottsie” Scholarship Video

View this brief video provided by Angela Hill of Memphis, TN and Carolyn Hope of Redmond, WA. As you may recall, Angela and Carolyn were the winners of the John C. Potts Leadership Development Scholarship to the 2017 NRPA Directors School. Video ...

Gold Medal Award Presentations

As you may know, one of the services the Academy provides in this program is the option of having an Academy member present the award to winners in their home agencies. Enjoy these pictures provided to us this year.
Presentation Photos

Position Openings

We have been asked to share several position vacancies with our membership. More ...

This Just In - Request for Consulting Services

We are interested in your consulting services. Our Parks & Recreation Director recently resigned, and this would be a good time for us to review the following items in our Department.
1. The structure of our Department.
2. Staffing Levels
3. The local schools may want to start their own recreation programs so should we continue to focus on sports activities for youth or concentrate on General Activities such as barbecue events and other family activities?

Please contact me at 913-856-0943 or aabramovitz@gardnerkansas.gov.

Thank you.
Alan Abramovitz
Human Resources Manager
Gardner, Kansas

Academy Members - If you wish to respond to Mr. Abramovitz, please email the Academy Office so we can keep accurate records.

News from the Academy Office

Committee Annual Reports
JPRA Annual Report
Academy Work Plan
Foundation Contributors (through 9/15)
Board of Directors Liaisons with Committees & Task Forces

Items of Interest for All Members

View these links that will be helpful to all members. More ...

American Academy for Park
and Recreation Administration

President - Mark McHenry
President Elect - Carolyn McKnight
Past President - Chris Nunes
Secretary - Amy Hurd
Treasurer - Dianne Hoover

Directors
Brett Wright (2018)*
Karla Henderson (2018)
Michael McCarty (2019)
Ernest Burkeen (2019)
Tracey Crawford (2020)
Terry Schwartz (2020)
*year term expires

Executive Director - Jane Adams
Executive Secretary/Treasurer - Andee Chestnut

Copyright © 2017 American Academy for Park & Recreation Administration, All rights reserved.

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