Certification: The challenge of professionalism

More than 600 leisure professionals in Illinois are certified.

By John Beaman,
Chair, Illinois Park and Recreation Certification Board

The Illinois Park and Recreation Certification Plan was approved by the IPRA membership in 1982. Participation in the Plan is strictly voluntary.

To date, 624 leisure professionals in Illinois have received their certification. This means that approximately one out of every three IPRA members is currently certified. Although this level of participation is laudable, one has to wonder why more leisure professionals employed in Illinois have not become certified.

Defining certification

What actually is certification? Certification is basically a process in which individuals are examined to determine whether they meet or exceed certain prescribed standards. Certification of leisure professionals was developed by concerned leisure professionals who wished to improve the quality of personnel employed in the leisure services sector.

One of the strengths of the Certification Plan is that certification was developed and approved by leisure professionals. It was not forced on the profession by either employers or consumers.

Major components

The Illinois Park and Recreation Certification Plan has two main components. First, applicants must meet or exceed the prescribed education and professional experience qualifications to initially become certified. This gives employers an assurance that a new or existing employee meets or exceeds the requirements identified by leisure professionals as critical to performance in the leisure services sector.

The second major component of the Certification Plan is the requirement that certified professionals attain a prescribed number of hours of approved continuing education to maintain their certification. The developers of the Plan recognized that a professional's education does not end upon graduation from college. A continuing program of education is critical to updating current skills and acquiring new ones.

Under the Plan, certified professionals must attain two CEUs (Continuing Education Units) of continuing education every two years to maintain their certification. A CEU is the nationally recognized, standardized form of credit for continuing education used by most other professions. A CEU is defined as "10 contact hours of participation in an organized, continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction and qualified instruction."

The continuing education requirement is the same for all certified professionals. This recognizes the importance to both the veteran of 20 years, as well as the new professional, of continually educating themselves to keep abreast of the many changes that affect society.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 14 September/October 1987

CEU opportunities

Some critics of certification have suggested that they are professional and would pursue continuing education with or without certification. This may be true, but in the first two years of the plan approximately 20 percent of the certified practitioners failed to recertify.

The vast majority did not recertify because they failed to acquire the necessary CEUs. Most gave lack of time or opportunity as the reason for failing to attain their two CEUs.

Others who did recertify have stated that if it was not for the continuing education requirement in certification, they probably would not have attended as many continuing education opportunities as they did during the two-year period.

Ample opportunities for satisfying the continuing education requirement are available in Illinois. Those who use this as an excuse are avoiding the real reason they failed to attain their CEUs. If we are truly professional, we will seek out these opportunities and make the time to continue our professional development.

Answering the critics

Certification has been accepted by most professionals, but it does have some opponents. One of their major complaints is that certification does not guarantee successful job performance. This is indeed true, but certification has never been promoted as a guarantee of job performance. Certification, like educational diplomas and certificates, only guarantees that individuals have met the standards identified as increasing the likelihood of successful job performance.

Another concern about certification is that the requirements are too narrow, thereby possibly excluding some very talented individuals. There may have been some truth to this complaint, and the Plan was revised in 1986 to address this potential problem. An expanded set of options for qualifying for initial certification was developed. The revised requirements are available from the IPRA office.

Certification is a chance for us to publicly tell our employers, consumers and fellow professionals that we are concerned about the quality of leisure services in Illinois. The initial certification requirements help to insure that qualified individuals enter the leisure profession, while continuing education is critical to our continued growth, both personally and professionally. By becoming certified, we affirm this belief in quality and pledge to continue our growth as professionals.

The Illinois Park and Recreation Certification Board (IPRCB), which administers the Illinois Park and Recreation Certification Plan, challenges you to become certified and join your certified peers in making a statement about the importance of professionalism and quality in leisure services.

The following is a list of the professionals currently certified through the Illinois Park and Recreation Certification Board and included on the national roster of certified professionals. We congratulate all those on the list.

The IPRCB hopes that next year we will be able to proudly announce that 50 percent or more of IPRA's members have taken the challenge of professionalism and have become certified. Additional information about the Illinois Park and Recreation Certification Plan can be obtained by calling the IPRA office at (312) 991-2820.

Certified Professionals	James L. Berousek	Robin J. Caravello	Peggy Ann Curtis
Alien Francis Ackennann	Thomas Joseph Blackburn	Pamela J. Carey	James T. DaRosa
Rod Aiken	Ronald W. Blemler	Debbie Carlson	Frank DeAtley
James C. Albritton	Richard M. Blust	Jan Carlson	Dennis J. DeLance
William T. Alden	Dennis Bokemeier	Jayne K. Carstens	Ronald J. Deboer
Barbara Altwies	Nancie J. Boland	Kim Cashmore	Scott R. Dell
Gerard I. Armstrong	Rick Bold	Grant A. Casleton	Debra D. Demarco
Phyllis Amtzen	Gregory B. Bott	Alien Cassady	Cheryl Loudon Deom
Wayne A. Aronson	Jeff Boubelik	Kathleen Cassens	Vito W. DiCanio
Cory Atwell	Cheri A. Bourbon	Vincent Castellanoz	Dorothea DiGuido
Mark E. Badasch	Evelynne H. Bowman	Cheryl Ann Cater	Ronald E. Diehl
Jerome Baer	D. James Brademas	Amy L. Charlesworth	Diane Dillow
Gary Baker	William A. Brauer	Andy Clark	Gayle Dixon
Chuck Balling	James O. Breen	Virginia M. Clark	Janet M. Dolan
Joseph J. Bannon	Michael E. Brezinski	Terry Clarke	Judith Dolan Mendelson
Jill Bartholomew	Mary Brosious	Edward C. Clift	Dick Dooley
Ginny Bateman	Daniel D. Brown	Joseph N. Cogley	Joe H. Doud
Reid Bateman	Jana K. Brown Kulikowski	J. Christopher Comstock	John W. Downs
John H. Beaman	George H. Bryant, Jr.	Douglas G. Congdon	Peter C. Drogos
Ned F. Bell	Ewen Bryden	Thomas E. Connolly	Denise Drucker Blinick
Larry Belknap	Gayle D. Burke	Karen Correll	Ron Dumke
Debra Bemm	Mary E. Burkee	Gene Cromwell
Rick Bemm	Gerard J. Byrne	Kathleen Cunningham	(Continued on page 16)
Danette M. Benignetti	Cynthia N. Capek
Phil Bennett	Angelo J. Capulli

Illinois Parks and Recreation 15 September/October 1987

		Alex J. Marx	Larry Reiner
		Gerard P. McCord	Randy Reopelle
		Diane McCray	Greg Repede
		Michael McElligott	Dr. Donald Rezab
Robert Dunsmuir	Jane Hodgkinson	Liza McElroy	Keith Rich
Patricia F. Eagleton	Nancy Hohs	Dr. William R. McKinney	Thomas J. Richardson
Glen A. Ekey	Sarah P. Holcombe	Mark M. McKinnon	Richard Riecks
Matthew L. Ellmann	Mary Jayne Holley	Marypat McNicholas	Walter C. Righton
Edward Emerick	Gary Hopfinger	Jeffrey D. McClard	Don R. Ritter
Robert Ems	Heather J. Hoppe-Theiszmann	Leslie S. Merema	Rick Robbins
James B. Ensign	Cheryl N. Horvath	Vince Merenda	Alexander L. Roberts
Robert D. Espeseth	Joan S. Horvath-Kruger	Pete Merkel	James Rock
Michael P. Evans	Charles Hoscheit	Jan D. Mersmann	Robert W. Roiek
Susie K. Field	Duane S. Hosimer	Greg Meyer	Patricia Roth
George C. Fink	Jeanne Hosier	Steven Meyer	Mary Ann Rowe
Gary T. Foiles	John Hovde	Sue A. Micklevitz	Thomas E. Rowe
Thomas F. Foley	Craig D. Hubert	James W. Miller	Betty Russell
Bruno Fontana	Suzette Huckstadt	Jennifer Nolan Miller	Michael Ryiko
J. Karl Foss	Nancy Hudson	Nancy J, Miner	Gregory G. Sagen
Keith Frankland	William E. Hughes	Lynn H. Minuskin	Gene D. Sanks
Dan W. Frase	Daniel L. Hypke	Joseph D. Modrich	Sevan Sarkisian
Laurie L. Freeman	Frederick E. Jackson	David W. Mogle	Randall L. Schawel
Susan Friend	Caroline Margaret Jacobsen	Patrick B. Morley	Preston W. Schellbach
Therese M. Fritzmann	R. Jarecki	Ray Morrill	Kathleen C. Scheltens
Michael A. Fugiel	Richard E. Johns	Patrick L. Moser	Gary Schiefer
Steve Furlong	Mary Ann Johnson	Janet K. Mountcastle	Dan Schimmel
Carolyn S. Garofalo	Patty Johnson	Kathy Mulligan	Jean Schlinkmann
Deborah A. Garrett	Tanya Johnson	John C. Muno	Tim Schmidt
Ronald N. Gbur	Annie Lee Jones	Linda Brougham Naatz	James R. Schneckenburger
William C. Geihsler	Judy A. Julison	Tom Naatz	Kay J. Schneegas
Evelyn Getty	Peg Kallio	Deborah D. Nelson	Mark Schneiderman
Jack M. Giambrone	Thomas M. Kalousek	Rudy Nelson	Stephen C. Scholten
Daniel C. Gibble	Karen D. Kamradt	John Nemerovski	Jeffrey Schryver
Arthur A. Gill	Donald W. Kappel	William C. Neumann	Joe Schultz
Wendy L, Gismondi	Steven Karoliussen	Dan Newport	Terry G. Schwartz
Michael J. Glabinski	Ginny Keefe-Wiemerslage	Dave Novak	Patricia M. Sergeant
Laura Lynn Glazier	Kathleen E. Kelley	Carol O'Brien	James R. Sharp
Lori Glazik	Caroline E. Kelling	Robert J. O'Brien, Jr.	Cathy Shekleton
Cheryl Ann Gordon	Kevin T. Kendrigan	Cynthia O'Connor	Jennifer B. Shoellhom
Darlan Gordon	Roger Key	Joseph M. O'Malley	Jeanine Shotas
William M. Grady	Karen A. Kiester	Gerald M. Oakes	Mitchell Shulich
Michael Grandy	Patricia Klawitter	Ray Ochromowicz	Thomas J. Shuster
Robert K. Gray	Gary Koren	Robert Orsi	Charles J. Siegler
Ronald Greenberg	Robert Kotula	Daniel Otto	Debra L. Siler
Daniel J. Griffin	Kimberly Kovac	James A. Pacanowski	Gary Silkgitis
Steve Grimes	Jerry Krewer	Lynn Parfitt	Billy Sim Sisler
Richard Grodsky	Thomas Kruse	Margaret Partak	Connie Skibbe
Teresa Grodsky	Ronald Kubicki	Jerry E. Pask	Carole A. Sluis
James R. Grove	Colette Kubiesa	Steve Patterson	Pam Smalarz
James H. Gruenwald	Michael Kudia	Chuck Paxton	Brian T. Smith
Linda L. Gryziecki	Daria Kay Kuhs	Arlene G. Perry	Kermit J. Smith
Ronald J. Gunter	Greg Kuhs	Stephen D. Persinger	Robin Coe Soderquist
Denise Haack	Robert Kunkel	Janice P. Peterson	Donna Soltanek
Thomas E. Hacker	Betsy Kutska	Greg Petry	Sue Sp angler
Fred P. Hall	Ken Kutska	Jack F. Philbrick	Michael S. Spencer
Leane Hall	Sharon T. Labak	David F. Phillips	Robert Spencer
Robin Hall	Robert Lashbrook	Lawrence Piekarz	Diane Stanke
R. C. Hallberg	Jack Lepper	Fred Ploegman, Jr.	Dennis R. Stein
Jerry Handlon	Jan Lewis	Steven S. Plumb	Theodore R. Steiskal, Jr.
Vicki Milligan Hardey	Janice M. Linduska	Steve Pohlman	Michael Sterba
Steve Hartman	Thomas J. Lippert	Theresa Tolle Pohlman	Linda Mulkerin Strass
Carl P. Hartmann	Joann Lodine	Mick Pope	Sharon Strzelczyk
Edward Harvey	Janet Lonergan	Robert A. Porter	Kristin Ann Stuffelbeam
Alvin Hattendorf	Ken Losinski	Terrence Porter	William H. Sturgis
Patricia Hayes	Thomas G. Lovern	Joyce L. Pottinger	Paul V. Swanson
Jerry Hayner	Michael S. Lucchesi	Todd D. Pratt	Charles J. Szoke
Kerry Patrick Hays	Teena Mackey	Cathy Puchalski	Thomas Tayler
John L. Hedges	Joyce Magsamen	Bob Pushee	Frederick C. Thompson
Paul E. Heinkel	Tony Malcak	Richard Pyle	Robert F. Toalson
Patricia M. Hensley	Thomas A. Mammoser	Robert D. Quill	William S. Tookey
Bobbie Herakovich	Janet Manson	Sue Quill	Terry Tumquist
Sheri Herring	David Markworth	Randy Ralston	Lois B. Tyznik
Ann C. Hildreth	Danielle Marsico	Deborah Randazzo	Carol Unzicker
Susan Hill	Mike Martino	Reesa M. Rayford	Donald P. VanArsdale

Illinois Parks and Recreation 16 September/October 1987

Mary E. VanArsdale

John M. Vann

Robert Vaughan

Marilee Verdu

Ralph J. Voipe

Ralph D. Voris

Gary M. Watson

Linda Watts

David Edward Weiss

Marvin S. Weiss

Mark L. Weller

Charles E. Westphal

Laurajean B. Whalen

Larry R. Wheeler

Thomas C. White

George Whitehead

Sandra Whitmore

Ann Wilkins

Kerry Willey

Keith D. Williams

Raymond G. Williams

John W. Wilson

Linda Wiltberger

Donald J. Wirth

Jim Wiseman

Marvin Wolf

Max L. Woods

Patricia Yeager

Sandra Young Bahlenhorst

Raul Zaidivar

Richard J. Zarr

James M. Zawlocki

Edward A. Zeienka

Roger L. Zimmerman

Jo An M. Zimmermann

Ann S. Zito

Anthony J. Zito

Judith Zopp

Certified Provisional Professionals

Bruce E. Baum

Patti Jo Boehm

Laura J. Brown

Eric Lee Christensen

David E. Cooley

Kathryn P. Danielson

Diane E. Eustis

Jayne R. Glade

David W. Haring

Robert T. Holcombe

Joni A. Jordt

Heather Ann Krupke

Dawn E. Lemme

Mary J. Loos

Shari McCarty

Inez S. McGachey

Maureen McNicholas

Robert M. O'Shaughnessy

Randwick L. Osbom

Linda Pietrini

Freddy A. Porps

Joan M. Prazuch

Christine M. Purpura

Nancy Jo Radtke

Eugene A. Rathje

Denise R. Riederer

Cynthia Ruff

Mary Kaufman Sagen

Laura Seri

Karen Shannon

Cindy A. Snyder

Certified Technicians Mary Jo Bailey

Mary E. Beaver

Beverly Jean Carlson

Denis Craig Chapan

Tracy Dalton

Mary Beth Flagg

Diane D. Grais

Bob Green

Marie H. Inzcauskis

Pat Jacobs

Ronald Jenkins

Elizabeth Kasper

Margaret O. Kinkade

Peggy Krauch

Phyllis M. Kunke

Charlotte McGregory

Jan Monroe

Sharon O'Connell

Barbara O'Rahilly

Virginia M. Pizzotti

Kirk Reimer

Margaret M. Schak

Debra J. Scinto

Donna Jean Strum

John Henry Thiele, Jr.

Kathleen M. Trenhaile

James R. Walker

Ed Wille

Vivienne C. Williams

Danelle Wonderlick

Certified Professionals With Therapeutic Specialty

Barbara Alldridge

Susan K. Balling

Charlene Kay Basham

Mary Berman

Myma Haimowitz Besley

Marianne Birko

Fred Boch

Louis Carpino

Lynne Cimino

Esther Jean Davis

Vera Hesse

Ruth Ann Iwanski

Shelley A. Johnson

Martha T. Judge

Julia A. Karnstedt

Bonnie Brouwer Laudick

Mar Leblanc

Donna McCauley

Twyla M. Misselhom

Carolyn Mallaney Nagle

Dr. Carol Ann Peterson

Robert B. Pindar

William J. Popelar

Mari Patricia Schafer

Shelley S. Schultz

Deborah A. Shanahan

Dr. Barbara Sirvis

Shelley Thurston

Marilyn F. Vogus

People, Places and Things

Obituaries

Gloria McCleary, president of the Geneva Park District, died on August 3. She was 62.

Ms. McCleary served on the district's board of commissioners for 10 years, serving as president the last four years.

She was employed by A.L. Alien and Sons, Century 21 Real Estate, in Geneva. Her civic participation included the Congregational Church of Geneva, the Geneva Garden Club, the League of Women Voters, the Women's Auxiliary of Community Hospital and the Playmakers. The Geneva Chamber of Commerce honored her earlier this year with its William Wood Community Service Award.

Events

The IPRA Health and Fitness Committee will host a Concepts in Fitness Workshop on Saturday, October 3, at the American Institute of Sport Movement in Naperville.

The morning workshop sessions will be geared toward administrators and supervisors, focusing on marketing fitness facilities and programs, as well as methods to hire competent fitness program staff.

Fitness instructors will benefit the most from the afternoon workshop program concentrating on tension band exercises, fitness routines tailored to music and a panel discussion on proper exercise techniques.

For more information contact the IPRA office at (312) 991-2820.

This year's Illinois Senior Olympic Games will open on September 24 in Springfield, with competition scheduled for September 25-27.

Athletes, age 55 and older, will compete for gold, silver and bronze medals in 45 different events. These include track and field, a walk race, bike races, a 10K run, tennis, golf, bowling, horseshoes, shuffleboard, casting, table tennis, archery, trapshoot and swimming.

In addition, three new swimming events, along with air rifle and air pistol competition, have been added to this year's Olympic Games.

Additional information is available from Annette Fuchs at the Springfield Recreation Department, 1415 N. Grand Ave. East, Springfield, IL 62702. Phone (217) 789-2284.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 17 September/October 1987