Western region - Regional Reports - National Recreation and Park Association

Parks & Recreation, Jan, 2003

So you send out a program guide, have displays in your facilities and have pamphlets at the counter. Are they meeting your communication needs? More importantly, do your staff, customers and elected leadership understand what's going on? Do your communication efforts truly "click" with the people, or do you just feel you're cranking it out and wondering why no one really get its? "Organizational Values and Communications: Are You on Message" is a session scheduled for the 26th NRPA Rocky Mountain Revenue and Management School on Feb. 1-5. Fritz Sprague, assistant town manager of Castle Rock, Colo., will explore a values-based approach to communication and why developing this understanding and culture in your organization is the basis for leadership, community involvement and effective communication. For more information about this worthwhile school, held at the Lake Shore Lodge in Estes Park, Colo., go to www.nrpa.org, or contact the NRPA Western Service Center at 719-632-7031 or nrpawest@qwest.net.

The NRPA Western Service Center has announced its 2002 Southwest Regional Award winners. They include Fellow Award: Debbie Jo Almager, Los Alamos, N.M.; Outstanding Young Professional Award: Tina Fellows, Little Rock, Ark.; Individual Citation: Victor Discoll, Bellaire, Texas; Organization/Group Citation: Leader's Core of Spring Hill High School, Longview, Texas, and Sertoma Club, Roswell, N.M., Arts and Humanities Award Class I: Fiesta Caliente, City of El Paso Texas, Park and Recreation Department; Arts and Humanities Award Class III: Chavez County Community Youth Band Camp, Roswell Recreation Department, Roswell, N.M.; and Arts and Humanities Award Class IV: Art Ventures Program, Rockwall, (Tex.) Parks and Recreation Department.

The NRPA combined MW/SW Regional Leadership and Professional Training Institute, held at the Pueblo (Colo.) Marriott and Convention Center April 11-14 will host both Midwest and Southwest Regional Council meetings. Pre-Institute Workshops will be held on diversity, aquatics and youth sports. Sports legend, Rick Upchurch, a wide receiver and dynamic punt returner for the Denver Broncos with roots to the Pueblo area will be speaking; he heads up the Rare Breed Sports and Leadership Foundation and was recently inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.

Four thousand people including 8,000 skateboarders and in-line skaters--turned out on November 23 for the grand opening of the new Skatewave skatepark at the Sports Complex in Rio Rancho, N.M.. Hosted by the Rio Rancho Department of Parks and Recreation, the event featured live bands, an on-site broadcast by one of Albuquerque's largest radio stations, food booths and a chance to skate with 7-time X-Games gold medalist, Andy Macdonald. "We make an effort to celebrate our accomplishments," says Carrie Moritomo, communications director for the Parks and Recreation Department. "Events like this allow us to thank all the people who make great recreational facilities possible in Rio Rancho. This event also creates a sense of ownership among the kids who will use the skatepark, and that reduces vandalism and lowers maintenance costs.".

Western Service Center
Maria Stamats, CPRP
Regional Director
619 Prospect Lake Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80910
Phone: 719-632-7031
Fax: 719-632-0709

nrpa.west@concentric.net