PEOPLE AND PLACES

Sherman Receives National Honor

William F. "Bud" Sherman, Jr., commissioner of the Downers Grove Park District, received the 1996 National Citizen Board Member Service Award presented by the National Recreation and Park Association at its October 1996 Congress.

The award is presented by the Citizen Board Member Branch of NRPA which is comprised of 7,000 elected and appointed board and commission members from all 50 states and the Canadian provinces. Each year, a single award in this category is presented to a citizen member of the organization who has provide ongoing service of an advocacy nature beyond the local level to establish understanding, appreciation and support for parks, recreation and conservation.

Sherman was lauded for his 33 years of continuous service as well as his integral role in the district's many accomplishments, including intergovernmental agreements to maximize use of facilities and services to provide additional recreational opportunities for residents; the purchase and renovation of the Lincoln Community Center; the development of the multi-use McCollum Park; the acquisition and recent renovation of the district's self-sustaining Downers Grove Golf Course; the purchase of the Downers Grove Museum; the acquisition and dedication of Belmont Prairie as the county's first Illinois Nature Preserve; and the innovative tripartite purchase and preservation of Lyman Woods. Also, Sherman was instrumental in the formation of the South East Association for Special Parks And Recreation (SEASPAR), and served as its first board president from 1976 through 1991. Sherman's contributions have helped both the park district and SEASPAR earn NRPAs National Gold Medal for excellence in park and recreation management.

Schaumburg's Nature Center Recognized by Midwest Living

The Schaumburg Park District's Spring Valley Nature Sanctuary was recently awarded the prestigious Midwest Living Hometown Pride Award. Representatives from the magazine, and award sponsor Toyota Motor Sales, visited Schaumburg to present the award and a check for $1,000 to staff and volunteers at the sanctuary.

A winner in the "Beautification/Environment" category, Spring Valley staff worked with volunteers to restore over 30 acres of native plant life in the Woodfield corporate area. In addition, the volunteers do work in classes, historical research, and collections that help the sanctuary maintain ties with its prairie heritage.

Spring Valley is one of 16 winners in the magazines biennial competition honoring volunteer efforts throughout the Midwest. A record number of entries—650 volunteer projects—were submitted to this year's Hometown Pride Awards.

Susan Findling, volunteer coordinator for Spring Valley Nature Sanctuary, submitted the entry for the district. "This award is a wonderful way to recognize the hard work and dedication of our volunteers," said Findling. "Without them we couldn't do all that we do."

Spring Valley Nature Sanctuary is located at 1111 East Schaumburg Road and is open to the public year-round. Its 135 acres include forests, marshes, streams and fields, with three and a half miles of handicapped-accessible hiking trains, a museum featuring natural history displays, a log cabin, and a recreated 1880s living history farm.

Nance Retires After 36 Years

Ernest W Nance, executive director of the Oak Lawn Park District, retired on December 1, 1996, after 36 years of service in the field.

He received his bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University and masters from Indiana University. He served as director of the Mundelein, Naperville, Park Ridge and Highland Park park districts in Illinois and director of Health & Human Services for Dallas, Texas, and director in Hartford, Conn.

The communities he served received five national gold medals for excellence in park and recreation administration. Nance served as president of the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association, chair of the Great Lakes Regional Council and three terms as a trustee for the National Recreation and Park Association. He received numerous awards and recognitions at all levels of his profession and remains active with the American Academy for Parks and Recreation Administration and NRPA,

William Foley was appointed director of Outreach and Families for Illinois Special Olympics. In this newly created position, Foley will oversee outreach efforts throughout the state to attract and retain athletes in the program. For the past five years. Foley was executive director of Springfield Developmental Center,, a vocational training center. During the last two years of his tenure, he added the duties of Nursing Home Administrator at Brother James Court, an intermediate care facility managed by the same board of directors. Prior to that, he was Workshop Manager/Associate Director of Garden Center for the Handicapped in Burbank. Foley has a BA in Business Administration, and an M.B.A. from Graham School of

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Management, Saint Xavier University in Chicago. Illinois Special Olympics is a not-for-profit organization providing year-round training and competition in 18 Olympic-type sports for more than 18,000 athletes 8 years and older with mental retardation and closely related developmental disabilities.

"Our minds need relaxation, and give way unless we mix with work a little play." — Moliere

Julie Morgan was hired as the Recreation Center supervisor for the Downers Grove Park District. She supervises projects at the district's two recreation facilities—Lincoln and Washington centers. Morgan comes to the district with 10 years of experience in the leisure services profession, including five years at Northeastern Illinois University where she held the positions of assistant director for Intramurals and assistant to the athletic director for intramurals. She also supervised the daily operations and management of the Physical Education Complex and served as the events center coordinator for Elgin Community College. Morgan holds a master's degree in Physical Education from Chicago State University and a bachelor's degree in Physical Education from the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater.

Matt Purdy joined the Northbrook Park District as a recreation supervisor. Purdy will oversee soccer, tennis, volleyball and youth basketball programs, and he will facilitate athletic clinics for district residents. Purdy earned a degree in Sports, Health, Leisure and Physical Studies with an emphasis in Recreation Administration from the University of Iowa He and completed an internship with Iowa City Park and Recreation Department. Purdy was a standout on the University of Iowa football team for five years. His athletic accomplishments include runner-up All American honors, three-time All BigTen and captain of the team. He competed at the highest level of the game, playing in the NFL as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. He has considerable public speaking experience relating the benefits of athletic participation to youth and adults.

Lori Alien joined the Champaign Park District as the aquatics/ sports program coordinator. She is responsible for the coordination of Spalding Pool and Sholem Pool and their concession areas as well as at Dodd's Park. During the winter months, Alien is responsible for coordinating a variety of youth programs. She received a degree in Recreation Administration from Missouri Western State College and was last employed by the City of Savannah, Mo., as a pool manager. Alien was the president of the Recreation Administration Club at her alma mater and has been active with the United Way.

Dean Hoskin was hired by the Calumet Memorial Park District as its recreation supervisor for athletics. Hoskin is a graduate of Illinois State University with a bachelor of science in Park and Recreation Administration. He previously worked for the Richport YMCA, completed an internship with the McLean County Recreation Department and was a longtime volunteer with the Bloomington Kiwanis Camp Limberlost for Disadvaniaged Youth.

Robert M. O'Shaughnessywas named executive director of the Dixon Park District, effective October 28, 1996. O'Shaughnessy holds a bachelor s degree in Recreation Administration from Eastern Illinois University and is currently completing a master's degree in Recreation and Park Administration from Western Illinois University. He was previously the director of parks and recreation for the Havana Park District and has worked for the Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association, River Trails and Morion Grove park districts. He is a certified leisure professional and a member of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association and the National Recreation and Park Association. He has served on a number ofIPRA and affiliate committees. The Dixon Park District board of commissioners utilized, the IAPD Director Search Service for this hiring.

Dean R. Bostrom, CLP, was recently hired by the Hoffman Estates Park District as its executive director. Bostrom was the executive director of the Lombard Park District from 1990 to 1996. Prior to his position at Lombard, he was superintendent of parks and recreation for Richmond Parks and Recreation Department and manager of special Rockford Park District. He earned a bachelors degree in Community/Therapeutic Recreation from Illinois State University and a master's degree in Park and Recreation Administration from the University of Illinois. He's been an active member of statewide associations in Illinois and Indiana. Currently he serves on the board of directors of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association and on the board of IPRAs Facility Management Section. The Hoffman Estates board of commissioners utilized the IAPD Director Search Service for this hiring.

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Jerry A. Sauerwein, Jr., was recently hired as director of parks and recreation for the Kingsbury Park District. From 1991 to May 1996, Sauerwein was a park ranger specializing in interpretation and public relations for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake, located in Benton. There he planned and developed special events and handled all promotions and media relations for the events. His responsibilities also included facilities and resource management for Rend Lake. He received a bachelor s degree in Zoology with a minor in Plant Biology from Southern Illinois University, where he is currently completing course work toward a master's degree in Forestry. The Kingsbury Park District board of commissioners utilized the IAPD Director Search Service for this hiring.

Lorry A. DeGraaf, CLP, was hired as director of the Vernon Hills Park District. He was director of the Golf Maine Park District for the past four years. He earned bachelor's degree in Physical Education and a master's in Education Administration from Purdue University. He served three years of active duty in the navy and 25 years as a Naval Reserve commissioned officer, specializing in cryptology. For the military, he was the director of morale, welfare and recreation at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Glenview. He has also been director of parks and recreation for the Indiana communities of West Lafayette and New Albany. The Vemon Hills Park District board of commissioners utilized the IAPD Director Search Service for this hiring.

Andrea Kelinson was hired by the Parks/Forestry & Recreation Department of the City of Evanston as program coordinator of the Evanston Arts Council. Kelinson will be responsible for a variety of programs and special events, Including Arts Camp, a popular summer camp for children, and the Lakeshore Arts Festival. She will also serve as staff to the Arts Council s Art-in-Education Committee. Kelinsons most recent professional experience is with the Skokie Park District where, as cultural arts supervisor, she managed summer art camps, an arts festival and a performance series. She has also taught in several local schools and at Kohl Children's Museum in Wilmette. Kelinson has an M.A. in Art Therapy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a B.S. in Psychology with an emphasis on art from the University of Illinois.

Aaron Airhart joined the Illinois Park and Recreation Association recently as its educational services coordinator. He recently finished an internship with the National Recreation and Park Association, where he served as Annual Congress intern in the Professional Services Department. For NPRA he was involved with the design and editing of the 1997 National Training Calendar as well as many aspects of conference educational session planning, agency accreditation, and the Benefits of Park and Recreation program. During his time in Arlington, Va., Airhart also interned for Representative Dennis Hasten. He received a bachelors degree in Leisure Studies from the University of Illinois with an emphasis in special event management. While in school he volunteered for the Champaign Park District (Volunteer of the Month, April 1996) and Head Start in Aurora. Airhart will serve as coordinator for the Cooperative Purchase Program, educational workshops and training, and the sale and distribution of IPRA publications. He will also oversee the video and technical assistance library, the NRPA Tour Program and will act as staff liaison to the Awards Committee, Joint Publications Committee, and College and University Relations Committee.

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Speak Out!

We need a law that will prohibit conditions comparable to cruel and unusual punishment. A law that will prevent stress and provide relief for seniors on Lasix or similar blood pressure control medication, as well as for anxious expectant mothers, thereby preventing embarrassing accidents by people of all ages who presently are compelled to suffer. This law would increase the interest and participation of parents, grandparents and other adults in the organized sports activities of their children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.

We need a law requiring necessity facilities at all parks hosting soccer, baseball, football and/or volleyball games!

It is a god-awful feeling to be stricken by pangs demanding immediate relief while at a beautiful open field park in the middle of some development and become aware of the fact that the nearest gas station or other business with a relief facility is blocks, or even miles, away.

Outhouses with quarter moons cut into the doors would suffice. They could be made of wood, brick and even plastic, as some of the modern units that can be seen at construction sites and special events. Objectors might state that such units may be vandalized or defaced with graffiti. For areas where such problems exist, portable units mounted on trailer wheels could be put in place and then returned to a safe storage area after the sporting events are over. Such mobile units could be designed to avoid spillage and prevent dumping while being towed in traffic by the park district representative driving the towing vehicle, particularly if the motorist immediately behind in congested traffic keeps blowing his or her horn.

To assure that necessity facility units aesthetically complement surrounding areas, high schools and architecture departments of local colleges could compete for awards for the most unique and practical plans submitted, following the theme "When You Gotta Go, You Gotta Go." I feel certain many never-before conceived ideas would surface, including acceptable forms of camouflage.

Marvin O. "Syke" Horcher
Wheeling, Illinois

This letter to the editor appeared in the June 20, 1996, edition of the Pioneer Press newspaper. It is reprinted here with the permission of Mr. Horcher, a retired police chief from Wheeling, who also wrote to Representative Lauren Beth Gash regarding this issue. IP&R magazine reprints it here to foster thought and discussion on the topic of toilet facilities in public parks

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