Rick Bemm, who had been with the Dundee Township Park District since 1969, resigned his post in February as Director of Parks and Recreation. Bemm has moved to Portland, Oregon, where he has been appointed the Director of Parks for Longview, Washington.

Robert Whitehouse also resigned as Dundee Township Park District Board of Commissioners President. He served on the board from 1981, as president since 1989. Whitehouse resigned as he has moved out of the township.

During their tenure, the district grew to include a recreation and fitness center, the Dolphin Cove Family Aquatic Center, the acquisition of Bonnie Dundee Golf Club, a new clubhouse and banquet facility at Randall Oaks Golf Course, and the acquisition of Raceway Woods open space.

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The Mount Prospect Park District has named PGA golf professional Brett Barcel operations manager for the golf/community center. Barcel brings 10 years of experience from Village Links of Glen Ellyn and Seven Bridges Golf Club.

Barcel will be responsible for overseeing all golf operations, including hiring and supervising course staff, financial procedures, group lessons and clinics, special events and tournaments at the Mt. Prospect Golf Club. He will also be responsible for managing the community center facility and winter sports activities at the golf course.

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darlene lynam has been appointed to the position of Parks & Recreation Director for the Lincolnwood Parks & Recreation Department. She is succeeding Ray Williams, who retired after 14 years with the department.

Ms. lynam is responsible for all operations of the department, including the Parks Improvement Plan already in progress. When completed, 11 of the Village's 13 parks will have been renovated.

Editors Note: Ms. lynam requests her name be printed in lower case.

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Lee Osborn, currently residing in Lubbock, Texas, will return to Illinois to replace Alton Parks Director Tom Weathers, who retires in April 1995.

Osborn will serve as Weathers' assistant and be assigned the duties of recreation director until Weathers' retirement.

Osborn has served as director of parks and recreation in Lubbock, Texas; parks director in Quincy, Rockford, Rock Island and Troy, Michigan; and district land manager for the Illinois Department of Conservation.

• • •

Richard J. Reynolds was recently appointed to the position of Recreation Specialist by the South East Association for Special Parks and Recreation (SEASPAR).

Reynolds is responsible for team sports, senior programming and multi-agency special events. He was previously employed by the Northwest Special Recreation Association and is a graduate of Western Illinois University.

• • •

In January, Franz Arthur Strong stepped into the position of Executive Director for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. He replaces H.C. "Chuck" Johnson, who held the position for the last 32 years. Strong said he will concentrate on managing the 22,000 acres owned by the District through teamwork with the staff, the community and the Forest Preserve Commission.

Strong formerly served as director of the Department of Parks and Recreation for the City of Indianapolis for eleven years. He first joined that agency in 1969 as superintendent of recreation and worked as deputy director and administrator.

• • •

Jim Rogers has joined the Elmhurst Park District as Administrative Assistant. In this capacity, he will undertake work assignments from Executive Director Mick Pope, as well as from all department heads to assist with their work load. He will be responsible for staff training and development, fixed asset verification, inventory audits, grant writing and a variety of other projects.

Rogers, a resident of Aurora, was formerly a recreation supervisor with the Downers Grove Park District.

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46 • Illinois Parks & Recreation • March/April 1994

In Memoriam — Norman L. Hampe Norman L. Hampe, 60, a commissioner of the Carol Stream Park District died unexpectedly at his home on February 13. Mr. Hampe was first elected to the Park Board in 1971 and served until 1977. He again served as a member of the Board from 1985 until 1987 and was elected again in 1989 and served until his death. Mr. Hampe served a total of more than 13 years with the District. Mr. Hampe was an active member in the community and was a strong force in projects for the youth of the District. He was a charter member of the Carol Stream Lions Club, past president of the carol Stream Youth Baseball Association, and a lifetime member of the Carol Stream Historical Society.

Bill Tookey, Director of Addison Park District (left) and Don Jessen, Addison Park District Commissioner and IAPD Past President (right), make a special presentation to Illinois Congressman Henry Hyde (R-6) during theNRPA Midyear Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Special Recognition

The prestigious Government Finance Officers Association's 1994 Excellence in Accounting Practices Award was given to the Rockford Park District for its accounting work. The award is the highest form of recognition for excellence in state and local government financial reporting.

John Percell, accounting manager for the Park District, accepted the award on behalf of the accounting department. Fewer than 10 park districts and only about 600 of the more than 8,000 governmental units in the state receive this award.

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The Rockford Park District recently recognized Paul's Crane Service for the last 14 years of volunteering its service in removing and placing the community holiday tree at Sinnissippi Park.

The Park District also honored Fred Gardner, Jody Houser, Paul Larsen and Gary Miles for the 1994 U.S. Snow Sculpting Competition championship award they won in Frankenmuth, MI, February 5. They are the first Illinois team to win the national title.

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The Park Ridge Recreation and Park District have recognized Schroeder's Nursery and Williamson Nursery for their generous tree donations, and Hendricksen, the Care of Trees for their efforts in coordinating the Maine Park Development Project.

The project consists of an accessible fishing pier and a Universal Playground which provides play opportunities for children with varying capabilities. It was made possible through community participation and funds of $72,5000 raised by the Rotary Club and the Twentieth Century Juniors, as well as $54,800 through the State's Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant program. The project was completed this fall.

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Mail your People in the News articles to Editor, Illinois Parks and Recreation, 211 East Monroe Street, Springfield, IL 62701, or fax, (217) 523-4273.

Illinois Parks & Recreation • March/April 1994 • 47

AMP, Inc. Appointed New Ad Sales Representatives

The Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association are pleased to announce the appointment of AMP, Inc. as advertising sales representatives for their joint publications. The principals of AMP, Inc., Thomas F. Renk and David L. Stumph, bring years of publishing and advertising sales experience to the table.

The new representatives will work with the association staff to expand advertising sales support for the joint publications. They will be in contact with manufacturers, suppliers and service organizations that support Illinois park districts, forest preserves and recreation agencies. Interested advertisers can contact: