Joliet Park District commissioner, Bill Tatro was awarded the city of Joliet Fire Department's Community Service Award. Tatro, a captain on the Joliet Department, was recognized for his service on the Joliet Park District board and his dedication to the Joliet Jaguars Youth Hockey League, where he serves in the volunteer role of executive producer of Video Operations. In this capacity for the past five years, Tatro is responsible for supervising a staff of volunteers who videotape all games for broadcast on local television. Many volunteers take their skills learned under Tatro's guidance into college career paths or develop lifelong hobbies.

Steven K. Messerli, executive director of the Lake County Forest Preserves, was appointed to serve a three-year term on the board of directors of the National Recreation and Park Association's (NRPA) Great Lakes Regional Council, an advisory council to the NRPA board of trustees. With more than 27 years of diverse experience in the park and recreation, and conservation field, Messerli has served as executive director for the Lake County Forest Preserves since 1991. Under his leadership, the district is a three-rime finalist for the prestigious NRPA Gold Medal Award in 1996,1997 and 1998. Messerli also serves on the six-member board of directors of the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. Prior to joining the Lake County Forest Preserves, Messerli served as director of Regional Parks for San Bernadino County in California.

Judy Julison, a 24-year veteran employee of the Arlington Heights Park District, accepted a position as executive director of the Del Webb Corporation's Community Association Management, Sun City, under construction in Huntley, 111. The 1,800 acre development for active adults will have 5,000 homes and recreational facilities including golf, pools, lakes, parks and trails. Julison will be responsible for the administration, operation, and maintenance of all community association facilities and programs at the Huntley location.

While still in high school, Julison worked the desk at park district's Forest View Racquet Club and was a playground leader and seasonal instructor from 1973-79. After receiving her degree from Northern Illinois University, she was hired full-time as center director at Camelot Park. In 1983, she became cultural arts and pre-school supervisor. Using her tennis background, she returned to Forest View (now Racquet & Fitness Club) in 1987 as manager of the Club. During a major reorganization in 1993, Julison was promoted to superintendent of recreation and facilities. In 1996 she rotated into the position of superintendent of administrative services.

A certified leisure professional, she's been active in many parks and recreation organizations including NRPA and SPRA. With IPRA, Julison recently served as executive board representative to the Facility Management Section. She received IPRAs Meritorious Award in 1992 and the IPRA Racquet Sports Manager of the Year in 1988. The tennis industry recognized her efforts with a Facility Manager Award for Outstanding Tennis Achievement from Chicago Tennis Patrons and Outstanding Facility Award at Forest View from the U.S. Tennis Association.

Michael Aydt joined the South Elgin Parks and Recreation Department as a recreation supervisor, responsible for athletics, teens and senior programming. Aydt graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelor's of science degree in Sport, Health, Leisure and Physical Studies with an emphasis on Recreation and Sports Management. He formerly worked for Bally s as a program director.

Craig Gulp was named superintendent of recreation at the Maine-Niles Association of Special Recreation, responsible for providing special recreation programs for more than 3,500 participants who reside in the communities of Niles, Monon Grove, Park Ridge, Golf-Maine, Skokie, Lincolnwood and Des Plaines. Previously, Gulp was the manager of inclusion at the Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association. There he was instrumental in starting a junior wheelchair basketball league which has grown to seven teams throughout Chicagoland. Culp is a coach for Team USA's Boccia Ball team for the 2000 Paralympics in Australia. He holds a bachelor of science in Recreation Administration from Illinois State University with an emphasis in Commercial Recreation.

Libby Mitchell joined the Washington Park District as community recreation coordinator. Previously, she was the activity therapist on the adolescent unit of the Zeller Mental Health Center and the health promotions assistant for the Peoria YWCA. Mitchell completed her college internship with the U.S. Army Community Recreation Program in Okinawa, Japan. She is a graduate of Illinois State University with a bachelor's degree in Recreation and Park Administration.

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Rita Bartelt was hired as program supervisor for the North Berwyn Park District. Her responsibilities include aquatics, arts and crafts, trips, adult activities, special events, a variety of general interest programs and parallel support to Head Preschool. Previously, Bartelt was employed by the Berwyn Park District. She graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a bachelor of science degree in Recreation Administration.

Kara Kinney joined the Alsip Park District as recreation supervisor, overseeing the aquatics operation and assist with special events. Kinney comes to Alsip by way of Orland Park Recreation and Parks Department where she completed her internship work and earlier performed fieldwork at Oswegoland Park District. She has a bachelor's degree in Recreation Administration from Eastern Illinois University.

Water Technology, Inc., of Beaver Dam, Wis., announced that Kenneth Ward, P.E., joined the firm as production manager. Ward brings 10 years of aquatic industry experience, augmented by five years conducting basic experimental fluid mechanics research and development for the U.S. Navy, Johns Hopkins University and Purdue University. He has served on the design and standards boards for industry organizations including NSF, MSPI/ANSI and National Center for Accessibility Access Committee. Richard Scott, AIA, NCARB, joined the firm as a vice president, concentrating in the planning and design of competition pools. In 24 years, Scott has worked on the design of more than 100 pools for high schools, YMCAs, universities, family aquatic centers, water parks, municipal indoor leisure pools and pools for Olympic competition. He is a U.S. Swimming official and a certified pool operator. Matthew Freeby, AIA, NCARB, joined the firm as operations manager. Freeby holds master's degrees in Construction Management as well as in Architecture, demonstrating strengths accumulated over 13 years in purchasing, coordination and computer scheduling, cost coding and creating systems efficiencies. Judith Leblein, CLP, joined the firm in the area of operations and marketing, bringing more than 20 years of experience in public sector management as a director of parks and as an aquatic facility manager. Her areas of concentration include community education and consensus building; budget development; pricing/policy development; marketing and public relations; corporate sponsorship campaigns; rheming, furnishings and sight plans; overall operations; and staff training. Lawrence Raffel, ASIA, was promoted to the position of manager of the Mount Prospect-based Leisure Concepts & Design, an aquatic and park recreation planning and design firm that was purchased by the Water Technology Inc. in 1997. RafFel, a registered landscape architect, joined Leisure Concepts & design in 1990 as a designer.

Jennifer Burke joined the North Berwyn Park District as program supervisor. She will oversee the Youth and Adult Athletics, Youth and Adult Dance, Aerobics and Fitness, General Interest Programs, Special Events, and provide parallel support to the youth supervisor for the Day Camp and After-school programs. She is a member of NRPA, IPRA and the Suburban Park and Recreation Association. Burke is a graduate of Illinois State University with a bachelor's degree in Recreation and Park Administration.

Robert F. Strickler, CLA, joined the Village of Glendale Heights as the superintendent of parks. Strickler is responsible for the maintenance of more than 250 acres of park land and all sports fields within the village. Strickler credits his experience to the Bartlett Park District where he was employed for more than 18 years.

Lori Chesna is the new executive director for the Southwest Special Recreation Association (SWSRA). She assumes the duties at SWSRA after having served seven very productive years with the Oak Lawn Park District where she specialized in special recreation programming. Chesna obtained an associate degree in Therapeutic Recreation and possesses an accreditation as a certified Therapeutic Recreation Assistant (CTRA).

Lorraine Beasley has been hired by Fox Valley Park District as the manager of Blackberry Farm-Pioneer Village. Previously, she held the position of education and craft supervisor at the facility and also worked as a naturalist at the district's Red Oak Nature Center. She is a graduate of Saint Joseph Hospital School of Nursing and received a bachelor of science in Recreation Administration/ Outdoor Leadership from Aurora University in 1997.

Jane England was hired by Fox Valley Park District as manager of the Prisco Community Center. Prior to this appointment, England was a recreation supervisor with Fox Valley in charge of creative play, dance and other general programs. She is a graduate of Indiana State University with a degree in Parks and Recreation Administration.

Paul Heinkel, CLP, was promoted to the position of deputy director of Recreation Services with the Fox Valley Park District. Previously, Heinkel served as the superintendent of recreation. His new responsibilities will include supervision of the Recreation Department, Blackberry Farm-Pioneer Village, Red Oak Nature Center and the districts two aquatic facilities. Heinkel joined Fox Valley Park District in 1977. He is a graduate of Southern Illinois University.

52/ Illinois Parks and Recreation

Kristin Knutson was named facility and program manager for the Channahon Park District, responsible for overseeing the operations of four facilities. Also, Knutson is responsible for the Pre-school program and is the safety coordinator for the district. She will be the liaison between the program supervisors and the deputy director. Knutson is a graduate of Western Illinois University and received her master's degree from Aurora University.

Sue Micklevitz was named deputy executive director for the Channahon Park District. She will retain responsibility for the recreation division of the district, while assuming the responsibility of managing special projects. Micklevitz graduated from North Central College in Naperville and is receiving her master's degree from Aurora University.

IAPD Launches "Friends" to Involve More Citizens A new nonprofit organization, Friends of Illinois Parks, has been established by the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) to work for the preservation of land for parks and recreation to give citizens an opportunity to have a stronger voice in the future of their communities. Speaking at a press conference on Nov. 9 at the State Capitol, IAPD president-elect Judith Locke, commissioner for the Decatur Park District, said that citizens are invited to join Friends of Illinois Parks to help the acquisition and beautification of parks, open spaces, greenways, trails and bike paths; find solutions for teenagers and preteens in at-risk environments; support recreation programs, and affect legislation. For more information about Friends, call toll-free 1-877.523.4558 or see the web site at www.als.uiuc.edu/iapd.

Stephanie Simpson was hired as program supervisor responsible for early childhood, youth, teen, adult, and senior programs for Channahon Park District. She will also be in charge of the special events. Simpson brings a strong background in tot tumbling. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois with a bachelor's degree in Leisure Studies Administration.

Bill Donnell, CLP, was promoted to the position of superintendent of parks with the Fox Valley Park District. Prior to his promodon, Donnell served as the planner/landscape architect for Fox Valley. He will supervise the full-time park staff who oversee 2,000 acres of park land and the grounds at the facilities owned and operated by the Fox Valley Park District. Donnell has been with Fox Valley for 17 years and is a graduate of Purdue University.

Tom Rowe was promoted to manager of recreation for the Fox Valley Park District. Rowe has been with Fox Valley since 1979 and has held the positions of recreation supervisor, athletic coordinator, plus program and facility coordinator for the district. Rowe's new responsibilities include overseeing the Prisco and Eola Community Centers as well as the supervision of six full-time recreation staff. He is a graduate of George Williams College.

Nicholas Jones was named maintenance supervisor I for the Arlington Heights Park District. He worked part-time for the park district before graduating from Western Illinois University last June

Teemu Marjalaakso was hired as an MIS technician for the Arlington Heights Park District. He earned an associates degree in system design in his native Finland. He's working on a bachelor's degree in Computer Science at Northeastern Illinois University.

Sarah Vetter was hired as assistant aquatic supervisor for the Arlington Heights Park District. Previously, she worked for the Bloomingdale Park District.

Mary McGllire was named accounting supervisor for the Arlington Heights Park District. She will oversee the districts day-to-day accounting operations. Previously, she worked for the village of Arlington Heights.

Max L. Woods manager for the Lockport Township Park District since 1977, retired on October 30, 1998. Woods, 57, began working for the district in 1972 and has been actively involved in his community and IPRA over the past years. Woods was credited by the park district board for guiding many building projects, including the Prairie Bluff Public Golf Course which opened in July 1998. Other projects have included the Heritage Falls Water Park, acquisition of Dellwood West Park, and renovation of Central Square, a historic building operated cooperatively by the park district, Lockport Township, and City of Lockport. Services

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and programs were greatly increased to the Crest Hill and Romeoville areas of the district, which serves more than 50,000 residents.

Frank DeAtley was appointed executive manager of the Lockport Township Park District. DeAdey, 44, has served as director of parks and recreation for Highland, Ind., for the last 12 years. A graduate of the University of Illinois, he has previously worked for the Bloomington (111.) Parks and Recreation Department as program director and Galesburg (111.) Parks and Recreation Department as a recreation supervisor. He is a member of IPRA and has served on both the Illinois and Indiana Amateur Softball Association executive boards.

Michelle R. Story has been named director of parks and planning for the Lockport Township Park District. She has most recently been the director of golf for the park district, having coordinated the construction and operation of the new Prairie Bluff Public Golf Course and Clubhouse. During her six years with the Lockport Township Park District, Story has also served as a recreation supervisor and special projects manager. She has a master's in Business Administration from Lewis University and an undergraduate degree in business and marketing from the University of Illinois.

Dave Haring has been named director of recreation for the Lockport Township Park District. He has worked for the Elmhurst Park District since 1985 and has held the position of facilities program manager since 1991. He is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University. A member of IPRA, he has been marketing co-chair for the Facilities Management School from 1997-98.

Scott Lunde has joined the staff of the Lockport Township Park District as the new head golf professional at Prairie Bluff Public Gold Club. Lunde is a PGA Class A professional with nearly 15 years of golf experience. He has worked for the Naperville Park District since 1986 and is a graduate of the University ofWisconsin-Stevens Point.

Jennifer DeKing of Aurora was recently promoted to the newly created position of senior coordinator at Fox Valley Park District. She will be in charge of programs and special events for residents ages 55 and better and the Friendly Center Club. DeKing received her bachelor of science degree in Recreation Administration from Aurora University in August. She has been employed by the Fox Valley Park District since 1994 as a secretary for Prisco Community Center.

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