MRPA Conference and Trade Show

2009 Conference Photos

2009-02-17T20:03:00.000-08:00

Above is a slideshow of pictures from the 2009 MRPA Conference and Trade Show held in Dearborn. The album can be updated at any time, so if you have photos you'd like to share from the 2009 Conference, please email jmakolin@mrpaonline.org. In the meantime, enjoy the photos and the memories of the 2009 Conference.

Want to view the photos in a simple album or larger format? Click here. (Captions will still be viewable in album format). Once directed to album, click on individual photos to view a larger, downloadable image.

Conference Photos by JL Photo Co. Now Available

2009-02-12T12:28:00.000-08:00

The professional pictures that were taken by JL Photo Co. throughout the week of conference are now available for online viewing. Visit the MRPA section of the JL Website to view photos from social events, award ceremonies, keynotes, sessions and more. Once at the site, simply click on the day or event that you would like to view. You may order photos online from the same site.

Thank you JL!

Pictures taken by MRPA members and staff will be posted early next week.

Exhibit Hall Now Open

2009-02-05T05:09:00.000-08:00

Make sure you check out the exhibit hall today, held in the Great Lakes Center rooms. The hall opens this morning at 9a.m., with a Deluxe Snack Break taking place at 9:45. A pizza buffet will take place at 12:30 p.m. in the exhibit hall as well. More than 100 vendors are here at conference, so be sure to check out the very latest in products and services in the Park and Recreation field. Also, complete the Exhibit Hall game to be eligible for a variety of prizes. Game forms are available at the entrance of the Exhibit Hall, and are on a bright green half sheet of paper.

Photo (above): Miracle Recreation of Michigan's Cory Anderson, MRPA Board President Kendall Klingelsmith and MRPA Executive Director Dennis Schornack cut the ribbon at the Exhibit Hall Grand Opening on Wednesday night.

Take A Student to Lunch!!!

2009-02-04T06:23:00.000-08:00

The 'Take a Student to Lunch' event will begin today at 11:30 a.m. at Cheli's Chili. Board the complimentary shuttle near the 'Take a Student to Lunch' sign at the entrance of the hotel. More than 60 students are registered for the event, so please consider taking a student to lunch, and mentor a future leader in the Park and Recreation field. New transportation has been secured for the event, so the delays experienced at last night's 'Bowling for Students' event will no longer be an issue. We apologize for anyone who experienced delays last evening. Don't miss out on today's great student event at one of the area's best known and delicious eateries! The cost is $32 for two people (you and your student). See you there!

Don't Miss Tonight's Opening Awards Ceremony with Keynote Brian Holloway!

2009-02-03T09:56:00.001-08:00

Keynote speaker Brian Holloway has been called passionate, frank, hard-hitting, spot-on and engaging. A former NFL player for the New England Patriots, Holloway will deliver the keynote address at this evening's Opening Awards Ceremony. His presentations have been called intense, focused, and inspiring. Pro Football Hall of Fame Coach Bill Walsh calls Brian "a true champion and a leader that calls out the best in people."

Holloway began his football career at Stanford, where he was named an All-American. Holloway would later be named NFL All-Pro (five times!) and was an integral part of the 1985 AFC Champion Patriots team.

But Holloway's success was not limited to the football field. In 1986, Holloway was one of the principal architects for a NFL growth strategy that would produce an $18 million TV contract for the organization in 1998. Holloway has spent more than 10 years motivating great teams, from billion dollar companies to our very own MRPA. Join the more than 1 million people word-wide to be inspired by Brian Holloway, tonight's keynote speaker. Holloway will speak at 4:45 p.m. in the Great Lakes Center rooms, directly following the Opening Session Awards.

To learn more about Brian Holloway, click here.

Tonight's Opening Session Awards include the Marketing Showcase Awards, Therapeutic Recreation Awards, Site and Facility Design Awards, the Innovative Park Resources Award, the Innovative Recreation Planning Awards, the Local Elected Official Award, the State Elected Official Award. The Casual Dinner, Meet the Executive Director event and the Scholarship Raffle will follow the Opening Session and Keynote Address, beginning at 6 p.m.

Local Restaurants and Specials

2009-02-02T12:15:00.000-08:00

If you're looking to grab a bite to eat or a drink on the town, check out the nearby locations and specials listed below:

Andiamo, located at 21400 Michigan Avenue, is offering half off bottled wine on Wednesday evening.

The Bar, located at 16010 Michigan Ave, offers a daily specials. Print off a coupon for a traditional burger and a pint draft here, and click here for the full menu.

Parisian Bistro, is located at 22023 Michigan Avenue.

P.F. Changs and Bravo!, are conveniently located in the mall across the street.

Pizza Paplis, located at 22022 Michigan Avenue, Suite B, has a variety of daily specials. Click here to view their lunch specials.

El Monterrey Mexican Restaurant & Cantina is offering 25% off the total bill for all MRPA Conference delegates. Be sure to bring your MRPA badge and let waitstaff know you are here for the MRPA Annual Conference. El Monterrey is located at 18950 Ford Rd, very close to the Hyatt.

Bailey's Bar & Grille is located just west of Cheli's Chili on Michigan Avenue, on the south side of the street. Monday-Friday from 4-7pm Bailey's offers $2.50 pints with 37 different beers to choose from. On Tuesday specials include $2.00 pints. Thursday's offerings include a $4.99 Burger & Budweiser special.

Don't Miss Fran Mainella, Former Director of the National Park Service

2009-01-30T14:56:00.000-08:00

Fran Mainella, a highly accomplished Parks and Recreation professional, will speak on Thursday, February 3, about the movement called "No Child Left Inside." Mainella was the first woman director of the National Park Service, a position she held for nearly six years. Now a visiting scholar at Clemson University's Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, she has also served as the director of Florida's State Parks, the executive director of the Florida Recreation and Park Association, and the president of both the National Recreation and Park Association and the National Association of State Park Directors.

Mainella currently serves on Newsweek Magazine's Environmental Advisory Board. (To view an article Mainella penned in Newsweek regarding 'No Child Left Inside, click here) She also serves on the board of the National Society for Park Resources, the Children and Nature Network, and is an American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration fellow.

Gain valuable knowledge and insight from one of the most accomplished Park and Recreation professionals out there on Thursday's featured session, Getting Back to Nature: No Child Left Inside by Fran Mainella at 11 a.m. in the Marquis room.

Read Mainella's interview in NRPA's P&R Magazine here.

Check out these videos to get a better idea of the No Child Left Inside message:

Get 'Em Outside

No Child Left Inside: Rethinking No Child Left Behind

More information on "No Child Left Inside"can be found at nclicoalition.org.

Featured Speaker Eileen Soisson

2009-01-30T05:41:00.001-08:00

Eileen Soisson is the president of The Meeting Institute, LLC, and has holds a degree in Recreation, Park and Tourism Management from Pennsylvania State University. She has an extensive background managing recreation departments for various resorts and national hotel companies. Soisson served as the Director of Training and Development for the American Hospitality Academy for ten years before starting her own company in 2004.

Soisson started her own business to help recreation, park and hospitality organizations realize their full potential through staff development. Soisson's high energy training sessions have been attended by more than 15,000 participants from over 30 countries at national conferences, leadership events and meetings.

Eileen Soisson will present three sessions on Wednesday, February 4. The first, entitled Motivate Great Teams, will teach effective techniques and strategies for supervisors and management staff looking to motivate and energize their team of employees. Motivate Great Teams will begin at 8:30 a.m. in Regency room D.

Soisson's second session, Business Etiquette 101, will begin at 10 a.m., also in Regency D. The session will focus not only on the skills needed in the business world, but the etiquette that is required in the Park and Recreation industry in particular.

The final opportunity to catch one of Soisson's sessions will be at 2:30 p.m., entitled Training Matters- Implementing a Training Program in Your Agency. This session will go over key benefits of training, workplace examples and the A DDIE Model of Instructional Design .

Featured Speaker Michael T. Shellito

2009-01-30T05:39:00.001-08:00

Michael T. Shellito has been a leader in municipal government and the Park and Recreation profession for nearly 30 years. Currently the Assistant City Manager and Community Services Director for the City of Roseville, California, Shellito oversees the operations off the city's Park and Recreation, Libraries, Housing and Neighborhood Services Departments. Shellito's departments have received numerous national and statewide awards, including the Gold Medal Award. Shellito and the City of Roseville are known for their progressive planning and innovative approach to providing exceptional programs, facilities and services.

Shellito will present two sessions on Wednesday, February 4.

The first session, Good to Great, begins at 8:30 a.m. in Desoto Rooms A and B. This session identifies key reasons that some park professionals and agencies are more successful than others. Shellito will outline the characteristics of high performing individuals and agencies, highlighting what you can do to go from good to great.

Next, join Shellito for Wednesday's featured session Partner or Perish. As the name implies, this crucial session will help attendees make the most of existing partnerships, while learning how to foster new relationships and collaborations. In keeping with this year's conference theme, let's "Get in the Game" during this session, and together we can learn how to create meaningful partnerships that benefit our local parks and facilities. Partner or Perish will begin at 10 a.m. in the same location, Desoto rooms A and B.

To view the handouts for Shellito's sessions, click here (Good to Great) or here (Partner or Perish). You can also find the handouts under the 'Helpful Links' navigation bar on the right side of this blog.

Featured Speaker Juliene Hefter

2009-01-30T05:37:00.000-08:00

Julienne Hefter is the founder of Safety First Aquatics, LLC and serves as the Deputy Director of the Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association. A highly experienced aquatics consultant and Park and Recreation professional, Hefter brings her knowledge to MRPA members on Wednesday, February 4.

Hefter's first session, Presenting Agency Benefits to Your Community and Board, could not come at a better time. In our current economic climate, it's even more pressing that Park and Recreation agencies prove their importance within their communities. Hefter will highlight what information agencies must bring to their board and commissions to convey the essential services that parks and facilities provide. This session begins at 8:30 a.m. in Regency room A.

Hefter's next session is entitled Lifeguarding: How Do We Want the Public to Perceive Us? will take place at 10 a.m. in Regency room A. This session will discuss the different ways in which a lifeguard's actions could be perceived, or even misinterpreted, by the public.

Featured Speaker Dr. Joel Fish

2009-01-30T05:30:00.000-08:00

Dr. Joel Fish is a nationally recognized expert in sport psychology. In his 20 years of experience, Dr. Fish has worked with athletes of all ages a skill levels, from youth athletes to Olympians. Dr. Fish has been a consultant for the Philadelphia Flyers, 76ers, Phillies and the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team. Currently serving as the director of the Center for Sport Psychology in Philadelphia, Dr. Fish also recently published a book entitled 101 Ways to be a Terrific Sports Parent.

Join Dr. Fish as he explains how to deal with unruly sports parents, fans athletes and even staff, on and off the field. His session, How to Work Best With Difficult Staff, Parents, Coaches and Athletes, will be held Thursday, February 5 at 2 p.m. in Regency D.

Dr. Fish is frequently quoted in both local and national media. He has been featured on ABC, CNN, ESPN, FOX, HBO and NBC. In addition, Dr. Fish has been featured on shows such as NBC's Today, HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, ESPN'S Sports Center and Outside The Lines.

For more information about Dr. Joel Fish, visit http://www.psychologyofsport.com/

Introducing the 2009 Scholarship Socials

2009-01-27T18:26:00.001-08:00

The Scholarship Committee is hosting two great socials this year. The events raise money for student scholarships while providing post-session events for Conference delegates. What could be better than fun activities that benefit the Park and Recreation leaders of tomorrow? Read on for details about this year's socials.

Bowling for Students

The Bowling for Students social event will be held at the Ford Lanes Bowling Alley on Tuesday, February 3. Wear your favorite college apparel, and enjoy two games of bowling, one "crazy" and one normal. Be sure to check out the billiards or darts while eating unlimited chips and salsa. An exclusive bar area will be open only to social attendees, with 2 rounds of drinks on the house! This social is only $15, or you may also buy tickets to both social events for a package rate of $25. Complimentary shuttle buses will transport delegates to and from the Hyatt throughout the evening, beginning at 8 p.m.

Practicing What We Preach

On Wednesday, February 4, all Conference delegates are invited to the Dearborn Recreation Center to "Practice What We Preach" as Recreation professionals. Delegates will have the opportunity to participate in variety of activities including an inflatable obstacle course, DJ's and dancing, a giant twister tournament and interactive games. Also, don't miss the 2nd Annual MRPA Conference Dodgeball Tournament, starting at 10 p.m. during the social. Interested parties may sign up teams in advance, but walk-in participation encouraged as well! The cost is $25/5 person team in advance, $30/team at the door. Independents are also welcome and will be placed on teams. Winning teams will receive prizes, and all players will receive a team photo. A complimentary shuttle will run between the Hyatt and the social throughout the evening, beginning at 8 p.m. and drinks and snacks will be provided. As with Bowling for students, the price of this social is $15, but tickets for both socials can be purchased for $25 total.

Thank you to the "Practicing What We Preach" Sponsors:

Northwest Parks and Recreation Association

Allen Entertainment

Central Michigan University Student Recreation Association

Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission

About the MRPA Conference and Trade Show

2009-01-23T07:13:00.001-08:00

The MRPA Annual Conference and Trade Show is an essential event for Michigan's Parks and Recreation professionals. The conference, hosted by the Michigan Recreation and Park Association, comes to Dearborn, Michigan on February 3-6, 2009. The Michigan Recreation and Park Association is a statewide association of nearly 2,000 professionals dedicated to creating community through people, parks and programs. At the annual conference, MRPA members are able to network with other parks professionals while also learning about the latest trends in the Parks and Recreation field. The conference is a great resource for municipal administrators, school personnel, students and local elected officials who have a vested interest in creating quality recreation and leisure opportunities within their community. With over 80 educational sessions, multiple networking events and an exhibit hall with the latest products and services, there is truly something for everyone. Register for the MRPA Annual Conference and Trade Show today!

For additional information, call 517-485-9888 or email info@mrpaonline.org