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People, Places and Things

Two new staff members have joined the Elmhurst Park District.

Sharon Donofrio is the new manager of marketing services and revenue development. She is an Elmhurst College graduate with a bachelor of science degree in business communications.

Sharon Donofrio
Sharon Donofrio

She was formerly the creative services manager at ORI Creative in Downers Grove and a marketing production manager with Slauf, Manley and Associates in Oak Brook.

Steve Cherveny
Steve Cherveny

Steve Cherveny joined the district as program manager in the Leisure Services Department, and he is responsible for arts and crafts, camps, the Extended Day Program and the Summer Concert Series. He was formerly a graduate intern at the district.

Cherveny has a bachelor of science degree in leisure studies from the University of Illinois. He is currently completing his thesis for master's degree in recreation and park administration from Western Illinois University (WIU).

His other experience includes serving as program director at Camp E.D.I, in St. Louis, MO, and as Wellness Center program director at WIU.

Cherveny is a member of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). He is currently serving a term on the NRPA board of trustees.

The Irons Oaks Environmental Learning Center in Olympia Fields has been selected as a 1987 national award winner in the Take Pride in America national award program.

The agency will be honored during a special ceremony at the White House on July 26.

Take Pride in America is a national campaign aimed at recognizing individuals and groups for outstanding stewardship or awareness activities conducted on behalf of federal, state, local, private or Indian lands, and the natural and cultural resources they hold.

Bill Koehl (left) of Western Springs and Western Springs Recreation Department Dir. Tracy Alden display an autographed jersey of Chicago Bulls basketball star Michael Jordan. Koehl won the jersey in a random drawing held by the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) in March. (Photo courtesy of the Suburban Life Citizen.)

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Illinois Parks and Recreation 17 July/August 1988


(Continued from page 17)

Charles T. Balling, Elmhurst Park District's superintendent of leisure services, has been recognized by the Eastern Illinois University Recreation Department as its 1988 Distinguished Alumni.

Balling, a 1975 graduate with a bachelor's degree in parks and recreation administration, has been employed in the field for 13 years. He joined the Elmhurst Park District in 1987.

He served as superintendent of recreation at the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District since 1981. His professional career began in 1976 with the Naperville Park District, where he served as a recreation supervisor, program manager and acting superintendent of recreation.

Scott Roberts and Blaine Owens of James Martin Associates, Inc., demonstrate proper horticultural pruning techniques during a Start-Up Safety and Maintenance workshop held at the Mount Prospect Park District in April.

Participants from eight Chicago-area park districts learned about procedures for safe equipment operation as it relates to ground maintenance, and about general tree and shrub care. (Photo by Cathy Walker.)

Balling is currently working on his graduate degree in marketing at DePaul University's School for New Learning. He has co-authored an article on the importance of community surveys in the Illinois Parks and Recreation magazine.

He has also conducted marketing and aquatic-related workshops and classes at Illinois Park and Recreation Conferences, the International Aquatics School, Eastern Illinois University, George Williams College, the Revenue Resources Management School and the National Recreation and Park Association's Marketing Forum.

Several Illinois students were honored recently by the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at Eastern Illinois University (EIU).

Maureen Cullerton, Winfield, received the William Riordan Scholarship. It is presented to the senior student in the department who gives promise of making a substantial contribution to the field of recreation and leisure.

The Gretchen Denton Memorial Scholarship Award was given to Kathy Blaha, Downers Grove, in recognition of her outstanding leadership and future potential in the recreation and leisure profession. Ms. Blaha was recognized as the top junior in her class.

Several graduating seniors were also recognized for their work in the classroom, and for their involvement and leadership in departmental and student activities. They are Patti Rue, Dundee; Debbie Damron, Kewanee; Kim Peacock, Elk Grove; Jim Tidaback, Darien, and Patricia Laiss, Schaumburg.

Follow Up

The Sterling Park District Recreational Center has been renamed the Frank R. Duis Recreational Center in recognition of Duis' almost 40 years of service to the district.

A resolution approved by the board read in part:

Be it resolved that the Park District Recreation Center be hereinafter named and known as the Frank R. Duis Recreation Center, and that it stand as a testimonial to the care, the work and the dedication that Frank Duis has given to his job and to the Sterling Park District for every minute over the past 23 years that he has been its leader.

Duis began his career with the district in 1950, when he was asked to oversee operations at the Lawrence Park Pool. In 1956 he was named park program manager; he became the district's first full-time director in 1965, a post which he held until his retirement June 3. (The March/April, 1988, IPR provides more information about Duis' career.)

pat Sims
Pat Sims

The Champaign Park District announces the death of Pat Sims, its coordinator of volunteers.

Ms. Sims served in that capacity from 1983-'88. During that time, she placed more than 6,000 volunteers in recreational opportunities throughout the district. In addition, she created and implemented such programs as Adopt A Park, Caring Kids, Adopt-A-Tree and corporate volunteerism.

Ms. Sims had various articles published in the Illinois Parks and Recreation magazine.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 26 July/August 1988


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