News Briefs

2 Illinois Agencies Win Gold Medal Awards

Two Illinois Park districts won Gold Medal awards at the NRPA Congress for Recreation and Parks held last fall in Kansas City, Mo.

The Arlington Heights Park District was presented the Gold Medal in Class III competition. Present to receive the award were Sandra Fernstrom, president; Robert Rohleder, past president who has since moved to San Diego; and Jerry Oaks, Director of Arlington Heights Park District.

Downers Grove Park District won the Gold Medal in Class IV competition, and Ned Bell, Director of the Park District, accepted the award.

The national Gold Medal Awards program is sponsored by the Sports Foundation, a non-profit arm of the National Sporting Goods Association.

Nominations Due Soon For NRPA Awards

Nominations for the National Recreation and Park Association's National Awards program are due by April 15.

The Awards are designed to honor professional, voluntary, humanitarian and literary contributions by individuals, organizations and corporations. The awards are announced annually during the Congress for Recreation and Parks. Awards are:

National Literary Award, presented to a writer or publisher who has made a significant contribution to a better understanding of the recreation, parks and conservation movement.

National Distinguished Professional Award, bestowed on an individual who has made noteworthy contributions.

National Humanitarian Award, presented to an individual or organization.

National Corporate Humanitarian Award, reserved for private foundations or corporations.

National Voluntary Service Award, presented to a citizen or organization.

National Congressional Award, presented to U.S. Congressmen and Senators.

For National Award application forms, contact Martha Nudel, National Recreation and Park Association, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302.

Christmas At New Salem

The kind of austere Christmas Abraham Lincoln would have known during his early manhood at New Salem was re-created at New Salem State Park December 3-4. An Illinois Heritage Days event, it was sponsored by the Department of Conservation. Here, a "pioneer woman" weaves a "gizzard" egg basket inside the Miller-Kelso cabin. Many other crafts were demonstrated.

"Volks Ski" Events Set

"Volks Skis" cross-country skiing events developed by the Illinois Department of Conservation, will be conducted in February at three state parks.

The free ski outings are aimed at acquainting participants with trail facilities and systems on Illinois' public lands and to encourage wintertime outdoor recreational activities. They are patterned after the family-oriented "Volks" or "people" outings long popular in Germany and are endorsed by the Illinois Governor's Council on Health and Physical Fitness. Program dates, sites, course length, and trail difficulty ratings are as follows:

Feb. 4 - Siloam Springs State Park, on the Adams/Brown county line south of Clayton, four-mile (7 km) trail of "moderate" difficulty; and Feb. 25 - Rock Cut State Park, adjacent to Rockford in Winnebago County, choice of 6.2-mile (10 km) trail of "moderate" difficulty, or 12-mile (20 km) course rated as "difficult."

Remember State Income Tax Check-off For Wildlife

As tax time approaches, you should remember that a new Illinois law adopted this year permits citizens to contribute money for wildlife conservation by checking the appropriate box on their state income tax forms. Illinois is the 28th state to enact this type of legislation.

By marking an "X" in the proper box, the taxpayer can contribute up to $10.00 to the newly created Illinois Non-Game Wildlife Conservation Fund from any refund from his/her income tax payment. Park and recreation professionals who support this program are urged to publicize it in their community.

Conference On Education Community Development

The Illinois Community Education Association, the Illinois Chapter of the Community Development Society, the Illinois Alternative Education Association and the Illinois career Guidance Center Network will co-sponsor a major conference at the Sheraton Motor Inn in Springfield, March 1, 2, and 3, 1984. The Conference theme will be "Beyond 1984: Road Construction Ahead"

The Conference activities will focus on three important future trends— High Touch High Tech, Centralization to Decentralization, and Hierarchies to Networking. The keynote speaker, issue speakers and presenters of content workshops will emphasize the trends in each of these important areas. There will be plenty of time for participants to react and interact with the presenter of the issues.

Pre-registration fees are $35.00

Illinois Parks and Recreation 43 January/February

which include a luncheon, a social hour and a brunch. For more information contact George Pintar, 107 Carefree Lane, Chatham, Illinois 62629 or phone 217-782-5235 or 217-483-3677.

WaveTek Announces New Water Attraction Product

Gary Zuercher, president of WaveTek, recently announced the introduction of a new low cost water attraction product called RainDrop. "It's a water play center that adds visual excitement, color and the cool sound of falling rain to a water recreation facility," said Zuercher.

Placed in children's play pools, adult activity pools, water playgrounds, wading pools, activity coves, leisure pools or entrance way ponds, the RainDrop is enjoyed by kids of all ages. They look at it, listen to it, sit in it, cool off in it, relax in it, hide in it and imagine all sorts of things in it.

It includes the colorful fiberglass cap, seven gauge stainless steel stem, eighteen gauge stainless steel skirt, anchor bolts and rubber fittings.

Farm City Days Draw Large Crowds at Zoo

Chicago area youngsters got a taste of farm life at the Lincoln Park Zoo's "Farm City Days" held this past fall. Here a farm worker shears a sheep as a large crowd looks on.

"Most city people have little understanding of farm life," Zoo Director Lester E. Fisher said. "Farm City Days provided an opportunity to observe a real, working farm and its many functions without having to leave the city."

Approximately 50 students from the U. of I. demonstrated the care and feeding of livestock, cow milking, operation of farm machinery, crop harvesting, and other tasks.

The two-day event was co-sponsored by the Zoo, the Chicago Park District and the U. of I. Cooperative Extension Service.

Energy Manual For Parks is the topic of a new book published by the National Recreation and Park Association. The manual gives park officials a run-down on energy issues, a look at some "natural" energy systems, a summary of the energy systems created by man, and data on where energy consumption is the least efficient. The manual is available for $10 to non-members or $8 for NRPA members. Write to: NRPA, 3101 Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302.

(Cont. p. 46)

Illinois Parks and Recreation 44 January/February

(Cont. from p.44)

Research Symposium Papers Are Due April 13

April 13 is the deadline for submission of basic and applied research papers for the Symposium on Leisure Research during the 1984 Congress for Recreation and Parks.

Submitted papers will be judged anonymously. Papers must be two to three pages, typed single-spaced with an IBM Prestige Elite #72, 10-pitch element.

Authors can submit only one paper in each research category.

In the basic leisure research category, papers regarding leisure behavior will be accepted in the areas of: psychological/social psychological aspects; sociological aspects; philosophical, historical, cultural and economic aspects; environment and leisure behavior; human development; and methodology and statistics.

Those papers should be submitted to Dr. Peter A. Witt, associate vice president for research. North Texas University, P.O. Box 5447, Denton, TX 76203.

In the applied research area, papers will be accepted in the areas of management of leisure services; resource planning and management; leisure programs and services for the aged; tourism and commercial recreation; evaluation, leisure programs and services; and recreation services and counseling for special population.

Applied research papers should be submitted to Dr. Richard MacNeil, University of Iowa, Recreation Education Program, W618 Seashore Hall, Iowa City, Iowa 52242.

All papers must be accompanied by three self-addressed, stamped business envelopes and two self-addressed, stamped postcards.

Any questions regarding the Symposium on Leisure Research should be addressed to Don Henkel of the National Recreation and Park Association, (703) 820-4940.

The 1984 Congress for Recreation and Parks will be held Oct. 21-24 in Orlando, FL.

Great Lakes Golf Forum Slated for February 8-9

Municipal golf administrators from the Great Lakes region states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky are invited to attend the Third Annual Golf Administrators Forum, sponsored by the National Golf Foundation, February 8-9, 1984 at the Rodeway Inn in Indianapolis. For more information about the forum, contact the Foundation office, 1017 N. Euclid Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 (Phone 312/386-4960).

LIFE. BE IN IT.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 46 January/February