ILLINOIS PARK AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION GERALD M. OAKES, President Winnetka Park District DAN NEWPORT, President-Elect Elmhurst Park District RONALD H. DODD, Past-President Park Ridge Park District GREGORY MEYER, Secretary Homewood-Flossmoor Park District RICK BEMM Dundee Twp. Park District ROBIN HALL Urbana Park District GEORGE WHITEHEAD Carbondale Park District MARY BROSIOUS Zion Park District ANGELO CAPULLI Arlington Heights Park District ARNOLD BIONDO Wheaton Park District TRISHA McNULTY HALL Elmhurst Park District DANIEL PERRINO University of Illinois DEBBIE CARLSON Wheeling Park District STEVE PLUMB Elmhurst Park District JOHN HEDGES Franklin Park Park District RAY MORRILL Wheaton Park District FREDERICA GARNETT Waukegan Developmental Center TIM SCHMIDT Elmhurst Park District LISA FORAN Western Illinois University IPRA HEADQUARTERS 600 E. Algonquin Rd. Des Plaines, Illinois 60016 phone (312) 297-6261 KAY KASTEL FOREST Executive Director CHRISTINE ORZECH Secretary

In this issue you will find a very exciting annual conference program. All of the IPRA sections working with the Annual Conference Committee have prepared an excellent variety of educational topics. Once again there will be a diversity of speakers from the worlds of business, finance and human relations along with the usual competent presenters from the areas of recreation and parks.

The Illinois Conference is the largest of its kind in the Midwest and usually boasts some of the best educational sessions nationwide. Special thanks are in order for the entire IPRA and IAPD conference committees, the Joint Committee, and especially Keith Frankland (Woodridge)—IPRA Chairman; Walley Degner (Palatine)—IAPD Chairman; and Patti Roth—Program Coordinator. Many volunteer hours are spent by these people and their committees in planning this annual event.

Special pre-conference workshops are planned by several of the IPRA sections. Separate registration forms will be sent to all members in late September. The following topics are planned: "Is Your Exercise Program in Shape?"—Recreation; "People Power—The New Golden Rule"— Administration and Finance; "The Drive Toward Fuel Conservation"— Parks and Natural Resources; "Leisure Lifestyles of Special Populations" —Therapeutic. Watch for more detailed info coming soon via the U.S. Post Office.

A highlight for IPRA in August was the special IPRA Relay from Chicago to Springfield to kick off the Illinois State Fair. A group of 30 IPRA members representing various park and recreation agencies and park districts ran the 238 mile relay in 10 mile stretches. Co-sponsored with Anheuser Busch Natural Light, the cross state relay had the official title "Its Natural to Support Illinois Parks and Recreation."

The purpose of this special event was to create an awareness of the many programs offered by park districts and park and recreation agencies throughout Illinois. The runners carried the official sheathed ceremonial scissors which Governor Thompson used to cut the ribbon to open the state fair.

This event was coordinated by the IPRA Public Relations Committee under the chairmanship of Jerry Handlon (Schaumburg). Special thanks are in order for all of the runners and the committee members, especially Jerry, Karen Correll (Naperville). Ken Kutska (Wheaton), and Rich Mays (Batavia). A follow-up article describing this event more fully will appear in a later issue.

At the conclusion of a ten mile practice run, the participants agree it is "natural" to support parks and recreation.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 28 September/October 1980