Convention features exhibitors, awards

A total of 2,637 delegates, exhibitors and guests attended the 1984 Illinois Park and Recreation Conference last November at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare Hotel in Rosemont.

Peter Koukos, a commissioner at the Park District of Highland Park, received IAPD's highest honor, the Alan Weissburg Award. Connie Skibbe, director of parks and recreation at the Park District of Highland Park, was honored with IPRAs Professional Recognition Award. The IPRAs 1984 Fellow Award was presented to Robert D. Espeseth (left) from the University of Illinois, and Gerry Oakes (right), director of parks and recreation at the Arlington Heights Park District. Congressman George M. O'Brien (R-IL) was the recipient of IPRA's Distinguished Service To Leisure Award. (See People, Places and Things on page 38 for additional information.)

A variety of companies in the parks and recreation field were represented in the 125 exhibit booths. They included several of the current advertisers in the Illinois Parks and Recreation magazine, who were given special recognition signs for their booths.

A joint awards luncheon was held to honor various individuals, agencies and organizations for serving the goals of IAPD and IPRA during 1984. Some of the awards were presented at the convention. Others were presented in local communities.

Seven contributing authors to IPR received awards. Monty L. Christiansen was honored for the best maintenance article. Other writers receiving awards were Pat Sims Hechenberger, best public relations article; Rita Kallman, best programming article; Judith Zopp, best economics article; Philip H. Gerner III, best management article; State Sen. Dawn Clark Netsch (D-Chicago), best educational article, and Lorraine Borman Wax, best assorted article. A list of other 1984 award winners is on page 38.

The 94 educational sessions covered various topics ranging from park district budgeting to stress management, travel for the handicapped, fund raising and the role of the press. Various pre-conference workshops, two joint banquets and a casino night were also featured.

Fred Hall, director of the Palatine Park District, and Roger Toohey, commissioner of the Wheaton Park District, co-chaired the Conference Committee.

Other members of the Joint Conference Committee were W.W. Bill Cox, Palatine; David Wiegand, Chicago Ridge; Patricia Neidigh, Sandwich; Sandra Frum, Northbrook; Jane Johnson, Glencoe; Karen Correll, Woodridge; Steve Persinger, Geneva; John Wilson, Chicago Ridge; Joe Doud, Northbrook; William Geihsler, Palatine; Ray Morrill, Wheaton, and Steve Hartman, Lisle.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 26 January/February 1985

LEISURE IS FOR EVERYONE

Illinois Park and Recreation Conference 1984

The Rockford Park District honored two public officials for their continuous cooperation and assistance. In the top photo, Joseph Sinkiawic, mayor of Loves Park (left), accepts an Individual Merit Award from Rolf Thienemann, president of the Rockford Park District Board. Rockford Mayor John McNamara (center, left) also received the Individual Merit Award from Thienemann. The City of Loves Park most recently donated funds to accelerate the development of a new neighborhood park. The City of Rockford has given $4 million of assistance to the district since 1972. This has included contributions to a new river-front planning project; the development of two playgrounds, two neighborhood parks and a three-year personnel training program, and widening of the access road to the district's Sportscore.

Sue Inskip (bottom, left) and Joann Broadbent display the Champaign Park Districts Group Merit Award for its Clark Park Adopt-A-Park program. Kris Hightshoe and Harriette Scott (not pictured) were also honored for the program.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 27 January/February 1985

1984 AWARDS

IAPD

Alan Weissburg Award
Peter Koukos, Highland Park

President's Awards
Harold C. Hawkins, Springfield
Bill G. Bodine, IAPD

Honorary Life Membership
Don G. Prindle, DuPage County Forest Preserve

Group Merit Awards
Clark Park Adopt-A-Park, Champaign
Kiwanas Club of Elmhurst
Oak Lawn Rotary Club
Rockford Cosmopolitan Service Club
Rotary Club of Westmont
Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce
Elmhurst Jaycees
Elmhurst Lions Club

Park Agency Anniversary Awards
Peoria Park District - 90 years
Park District of Highland Park - 75 years
Dixon Park District - 60 years
Harrisburg Township Park District - 50 years
Park District of Forest Park - 50 years Mokena Community Park District - 25 years
Westmont Park District - 25 years Lake County Forest Preserve District - 25 years

Individual Merit Awards
Herbert Anderson, Park Ridge
Al Johnson, Tinley Park
Mayor John F. McNamara, Rockford
Mayor Joseph F. Sinkiawic, Loves Park
Jean Moore, Carol Stream
Bruce Bradley, Elmhurst
Robert Bremner, Lisle
Paul DeWitt, Elmhurst
John S. Gensler, Naperville
Tom Gerst, Lisle
Robert Glogowsky, Elmhurst
David Jonas, Elmhurst
Elliot Kaufman, Elmhurst
Joseph Luby, Sr., Barrington
Lewis Smith, Elk Grove

Service Anniversaries
JoAnne Wagner, Elmhurst - 25 years
Paul Briese, Joliet - 20 years
Edmond L. Kelly, Chicago - 20 years
George Kostopoulos, Carol Stream - 20 years
Robert P. Simkus, Carol Stream - 20 years
Walden 0. Degner, Palatine - 15 years
Anthony Tyznik, Lisle - 15 years Henry Van Kampen,
Lisle - 15 years Robert Bernas, Westmont - 10 years
Edwin W. Carolson, jr., Rockford -10 years
David Johnson, Schaumburg - 10 years
Patricia Kampwirth, Darien - 10 years
Otto Mertz, Westmont - 10 years
Francis H. Pitt, Roxana - 10 years
Janet Swanson, Oak Lawn - 10 years
Robert D. Espeseth, Champaign - 10 years

Arbor Day Awards
Downers Grove Park District
Oak Lawn Park District
Sterling Park District

Certificates of Appreciation to Outgoing IAPD Board Members
John S. Gensler, Naperville
Harold C. Hawkins, Springfield
Jane Johnson, Glencoe
Morgan C. Powell, Champaign
Robert Procter, Northbrook
Naomi Walters, Streamwood

IPRA

Distinguished Service To Leisure Award
Cong. George M. O'Brien (R-IL)

Fellow Award
Gerry Oakes, Arlington Heights
Bob Espeseth, University of Illinois

Professional Recognition Award
Connie Skibbe, Highland Park

Robert Artz Distinguished Serivce Award
Robin Hall, Urbana

President's Awards
Steve Plumb, Elmhurst Park District
Springfield Recreation Department
Crystal Lake Park District

Section Awards

Park Professional of the Year
Tom Kalousek, Rockford Park District

Illinois Therapeutic Recreation
Outstanding Volunteer
Organization Award
Suburban Handicapped Service League of United Cerebral Palsy

Community Service Awards

Individual Resident
Lawrence Block - Park District of Highland Park
Donald Breier - Darien Park District
Darryl Elbe - Belleville Parks and Recreation Department
Sven Flodstrom - Deerfield Park District
Harry Grover - Deerfield Park District
Harry Kenny - Darien Park District
Roger Matile - Oswegoland Park District
Ron McKenzie - Orland Park Recreation Department
Sandy Meo - Schaumburg Park District
Carol Waller - Orland Park Recreation Department
Stan Young - Oswegoland Park District

Service Groups
American Legion Skokie Post #320, Skokie Park District
Belleville Jaycees, Belleville Parks and Recreation Department
Darien Lions Club, Darien Park District
Deerfield Youth Baseball Association,Deerfield Park District
Downtown Belleville Optimist Club, Belleville Parks and Recreation Department
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #13, Orland Park Recreation Department
Freeport Kiwanas Club, Freeport Park District
Kiwanas Club of Skokie Valley, Skokie Park District
Lions Club of Deerfield, Deerfield Park District
Optimist Club of Deerfield, Deerfield Park District
Rotary Club of Rolling Meadows, Rolling Meadows Park District
Telephone Pioneers, Belleville Parks and Recreation Department
Theater in the Rough, Deerfield Park District
Wheaton Jaycees, Wheaton Park District
Wheaton Rotary Club, Wheaton Park District

Commercial Businesses
Carriage Park Apartments, Oswegoland
First National Bank of Wood River, Roxana
Illinois Bell Telephone, Belleville
Kenny Construction Co., Wheeling
Kingsport Village North II, Wheeling
Midwest Utilities Company, Inc., Oswegoland
First National Bank of Northbrook, Northbrook
Oswego Community Bank, Oswegoland
P.O. Knuth's Sports and Office Outfitters, Woodstock
Paul F. Beich Company, Bloomington

Elected/Appointed Bodies and Individuals
William D. Ahrens, Mayor, Rolling Meadows
Belleville Trades and Labor Assembly, Belleville
Robert Franz, Deerfield
Lake Summerset Association Board of Directors, Lake Summerset Association Adam Perminas
Recreation Advisory Board Members, Orland Park Skokie School District 68, Skokie

Illinois Parks and Recreation 28 January/February 1985