YOUR MONTHLY REPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT OF MPRA.

Lovell, over and out.

My first job in Parks and Recreation took the form of a challenge to me from the newly elected Mayor of Russellville, Alabama to start a Parks and Recreation Department. He doubled my pay from $6,500 per year to a whopping $13,000 per year. Big pay in 1974! To say I was unprepared for this career, however, was an under statement. Construction, finance, law, politics, human resources, natural resources management and did I mention politics have all been critical parts of my work with varying degrees of success through the years.

As I watch some of our Missouri stalwarts retire like Randy Vessell, Roscoe Righter, Richard Ash, Ron Furhken, Charlie Barr and I contemplate the same path it is without question that there is still much for all of us to do to advance this wonderful profession and the essential services we provide.

Over the next decade our nation and our communities will face enormous challenges in the areas of environment protection, infrastructure decline, demographic shifts, economic ups and downs, health challenges, and economic globalization. We have to exercise not only continuous improvements in our practice but also continuous communication to the people we serve of the essential position/role we play in addressing these challenges for the long term.

Police, fire, and public works all provide important community services. But we provide the “core” services that address community development, environment sustainability and health before they become problems. We are at the center of prevention and provide the foundation of great livable communities. We don’t join together as a community to live we join together to live a good life. We provide that difference.

Looking back over the year I have seen the Board, Executive Board and professional staff coalesce over a challenging assortment of targets and work diligently to address each one. The final tally of those successes is included in the 2011 Target Review.

We have moved from an organization with fiscal challenges to one of efficiency and effectiveness. This past year numerous services and programs were offered including the new “Did You Know” campaign and the state tournament series. We have operated in the black and were able to add over $40,000 to our fund balance. This is an important foundation that careful stewardship will provide the resources to serve our state now and into the future.

I have had the opportunity to get to know many great educators, practitioners, students, volunteers and elected officials. I have had the privilege to work with an MPRA staff that is truly dedicated as well as elected and appointed officials and volunteers that share that dedication to the betterment of our communities, our association and our profession.

In closing, we must remind ourselves to insure not only a deep understanding of the needs that exist in caring for our precious natural resources but in also connecting them to the significant benefits that they bring to our well being as a collective humanity. That connection is characterized by some of my favorite thoughts by St. Augustine; “Men go forth to wonder at the heights of mountains, the huge waves of the sea, the broad flow of the rivers, the vast compass of the ocean, the courses of the stars and they pass by themselves without wondering”. Yes, the wonderment is in all of these creations including ourselves and the challenge is in that balancing of needs and securing of the resources to allow the greatest of options to be pursued.

We struggle with these issues in Parks and Recreation every day. I appreciate and value the incredible work that has been done by this Board and all its predecessors and look forward to the many successes we will experience in the future.

So my advice to Janet and our new Board. . . . Carpe Diem – Seize the Day. Take this opportunity to make a difference, fix what is broken, enhance what works, educate the people we serve and find those new horizons of services.

Godspeed Janet Snook and MPRA.

CFM

Mike Schallon, President of the Conservation Federation of Missouri, and I convened a meeting June 1st in Jefferson City with Jan Neitzert and Dave Murphy to review the future opportunities and challenges our two organizations have and how we can work together to address our respective needs. CFM has over 73 years of history serving the conservation needs of our state and MPRA has over 50 years serving Parks and Recreation interests. Joining us for this meeting was Chad Shoemaker, Richard Ash, Abe Phillips and Ron Coleman.

Areas discussed that could provide opportunities for collaboration included conference participation with shared cost, lobbying, research, citizen advocacy, restructuring our relationship for better representation of our respective interests and cost effectiveness as well as several others. It was recommended that we continue this effort with an annual meeting each July with the leadership of the two groups to review our relationship and the state of each organization.  It was also noted that our two executive directors shall maintain a close working relationship.

I can not say enough about the quality of the volunteer and professional leadership of CFU. Their impact in our state and on parks and recreation issues dear to my heart, is significant. They are a formidable partner to have. Thanks to Mike, Richard and Dave for supporting this effort.

EDUCATION TASK FORCE

In a previous issue you heard me mention that I have noticed a decline in the involvement of our universities in the activities and leadership of our association.

I took the initiative to speak with not only the leaders of our local universities, students and practitioners but educators and practitioners in other regions. We are not unique and I believe we have an opportunity and responsibility to strengthen these relationships and increase their value to all of us.

One of my goals for this year, as your president, was to bring together educators, practitioners, recent grads/students and MPRA staff. My intent is to begin the dialogue to identify the needs of each group and the opportunities that may exist between them. Next we will need to develop strategies and actions to take advantage of these opportunities.

This initial effort was called the Education Task Force and begun the development of a new or re-engineered relationship that will strengthen all of our areas in fulfilling our various missions.

The meeting was held Friday, June 3rd at 10:00 am at the MPRA headquarters in Jeff City. The following participated in the activity:

• Joe Lovell – Professor, Lindenwood University
• Dottie Phillips – Adjunct Professor, Lindenwood University/Recreation Superintendent, Wentzville Parks and Recreation
• Dr. Keith Ernce – Professor, Missouri State University
• Michael Biedenstein -- recent graduate Southeast Missouri State University Fitness Specialist – Des Peres Parks and Recreation
• Dr. Randy Vessell – Retired Professor, University of Missouri-Columbia
• Megan Childs – recent graduate Northwest Missouri State University/Recreation Supervisor – Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation
• Dr. Terry Robertson – Professor, Northwest Missouri State University
• Jan Nietzert – Executive Director, Missouri Park and Recreation Association
• Kim Nicas – Adjunct Professor, University of Central Missouri/Recreation Superintendent – Warrensburg Parks and Recreation
• Jennifer Upah – Teaching Assistant Professor, University of Missouri-Columbia
• Janet Snook – President Elect, MPRA/Director of Parks and Recreation, Raymore
• Erika Coffman – Past President, MPRA/Recreation Services Manager, Columbia Parks and Recreation
• Tom Lovell – Adjunct Professor, University of Central Missouri/President, MPRA/ Administrator of Parks and Recreation – Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation
• Dr. Robert Slana – Professor, University of Central Missouri/Representative to MPRA Scholarship Charitable Trust
• Gary Gates – MPRA Assistant Director

Our purpose was to:

• Review the relationships of our educators, students, practitioners and MPRA
• Develop a better understanding of the needs of each
• Identify opportunities to address those needs.

The results of our work together that day were extraordinary. A full report is currently being prepared but here are a few of the “take aways”.

1. Annual Grant Fund - $6,000/year (grants for research to support practitioner needs through the university faculty and graduate students)
2. Education Section re-established
3. Simplify process for maintaining section status
4. Board representation from section
5. Job listing from MPRA members for part-time/summer for university students (special MPRA “app”)
6. Credit program through the universities for student part-time work in the field
7. Student mentor program with practitioners
8. Conference attendance enhancements
9. Annual meeting set for educators, practitioners, students and MPRA
10. Student membership (workshop credit, conference credit, others)
11. Make conference value-added for students (plan and conduct a session, room host, special room accommodations, discounts, etc.)
12. Video promoting careers in parks and recreation to be used by departments in summer training and recruitment (developed by MPRA)
13. Flyers developed for career recruitment and university programs
14. MPRA web link to university information
     

DID YOU KNOW?  Fitness programs reduce healthcare costs for employers by 20-55%.

WHY WE HAD SUCH A SUCCESSFUL YEAR!

DID YOU KNOW?  Social activities for older adults reduces health expenses by approximately 15% or over $1,200 annually for the average person over 55.