V E R M O N T

The VRPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, development, and improvement of all recreation and park services within the State of Vermont.

Dating back to our small beginnings in 1948, our history has been that of professionalism and pride in our mission: The Vermont Recreation and Parks Association provides support services and programs for the professionals and volunteers who advocate high quality recreation and park experiences for the people and visitors of Vermont.

It does this by providing conferences and workshops, publication of a newsletter called The Advocate, a weekly Recreation Check-In email, advocacy and visibility programs, an awards program, distribution of grant information, technical resource information, consultation, special events, and a variety of other services.Our members consist mostly of people who work full and part-time in parks and recreation, and citizen volunteers who serve on boards and commissions or as leaders of recreation programs and projects. We also have commercial members, college faculty, and student members.

The VRPA is an affiliate of the National Recreation and Park Association and as such takes an active role in the functioning of NRPA. Many VRPA members are also members of NRPA.

In 1997, VRPA hired its first part-time executive director to better serve its membership. The Executive Director works out of his or her home but is generally available to provide assistance during the day or evening. In 1999, VRPA adopted its first Strategic Plan. In 2009, VRPA adopted a Vision Model, Strategic Priorities and a Work Plan using the California VIP (Vision, Insight, and Planning) Project as a model.

As described in the attached two documents, Constitution and By-Laws, the association is led by a ten-member Executive Committee consisting of a president, president-elect, treasurer, secretary, past-president, four at-large members appointed by the president, and the executive director (ex-officio).

The leadership of the Vermont Recreation and Parks Association consists of a ten-member Executive Committee. The Executive Committee includes the four officer positions of President, President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer; the Past-President; four at-large members appointed by the President; and the Executive Director as an ex-officio member. The term of office is two years. Effort is made to select at-large members from different parts of the state in order to ensure geographic representation on the Executive Committee.

The VRPA President and President-Elect have seats on the New England Regional Council of the NRPA. In addition, Vermont has two additional at-large professional representative seats on the Regional Council, one citizen representative and the Executive Director is an ex-officio member.

VRPA members, who are also NRPA members, are eligible to be nominated for leadership roles with the National Recreation and Park Association. Currently, Vermont has a representative on the Board of the American Park and Recreation Society (APRS) and Chair of the New England Regional Council.

See the attachment for contact information for the current VRPA Executive Committee members and our Vermont representatives on the regional and national level.

The Vermont Recreation and Parks Association accepts that strategic planning is essential to good governance, and developed its first Strategic Plan in 1999. The purpose of the plan was to delineate the organization's vision, mission, goals, objectives and strategies for achieving the stated goals. A revised plan was adopted in 2004. Each year at an all-day retreat, the Executive Committee reviews the stated goals and timetables in the Strategic Plan, and makes minor updates to the Plan. The Strategic Plan is revised and adopted by the membership every five years.

In 2009, using the California VIP (Vision, Insight, and Planning) Project as a model, the VRPA Executive Committee developed Vision Models for Vermont Recreation and for the Vermont Recreation and Parks Association, VRPA Strategic Priorities and a VRPA Work Plan. Each year, Work Plan accomplishments will be reported at the Annual Meeting and a new Work Plan will be adopted the following September in an Executive Committee retreat. See attachments for these documents.