Resources

The VRPA newsletter, The Advocate, is published three times a year. In addition to VRPA news, the newsletter contains news from several related groups such as the VT Youth Conservation Corp, the VT Trails and Greenways Council, the VT Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, and the National Recreation and Park Association. Each issue includes a Personal Profile and a Facility Feature, and members are welcome to suggest a person or a facility to be considered for this feature. Submission of materials by members is always welcome. The newsletter is published in March, June, and in November, and the submission deadline is 15th of the prior month. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to submit materials. Click here for information about advertising in the VRPA newsletter. The newsletter is emailed to all members and available online.

Rec Check-In

The Weekly Recreation Check-In is a members-only benefit, emailed to members each Friday. The Rec Check-In includes an assortment of information including details and registration materials for upcoming events, resource materials and links to relevant websites, member requests for information, training opportunities, grant and funding opportunities, employment opportunities, etc. Members say that the Rec Check-In is a valuable member benefit. Below is a sample check-in.

Sample Recreation Check-In (4-23-10)…

The VRPA Annual Meeting is coming up on Thursday, May 13th at the Gateway Center in Newport, VT. The meeting notice and registration form is available on the VRPA website. The registration deadline is May 6th. After the Annual Meeting we will be hosting the 5th Annual Harry Corrow Memorial Golf Scramble at the Newport Country Club and we hope you will join us. Let me know if you have any questions.

Your 2010-11 membership renewals are due May 1st. Thank you very much to everyone who has already sent theirs in…much appreciated! If not, please complete the attached membership renewal application. Your attention to this is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

In last week’s check-in I mentioned the recently released NRPA GIS Parks Data Project. Check it out for yourself at http://www.nrpagisdata.org/.

The Governor’s Conference Committee is working on firming up the educational sessions for the 2010 VT Governor’s Conference on Recreation which is scheduled on September 28-29th. Mark your calendar. We have four best practices panels scheduled for the conference in the areas of Finding and Retaining Volunteers, Evaluating Recreation Programs, Outdoor Winter Recreation Facilities, and Park Vandalism. We are looking for 3-4 Vermont recreation professionals or volunteers who would be willing to share their success stories in one of these areas. Please contact me if you are willing to volunteer, thanks! This is a great opportunity to give back to the conference in a format that will not take lots of preparation time. Volunteer now…and if you don’t you may get a call anyways. Thanks in advance.

CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS - The Vermont Afterschool Conference is an annual event that brings together hundreds of afterschool programs, partners, advocates, and educators from around the state for a full day of learning, networking, and celebration. The conference is a statewide collaboration of three organizations: the Vermont School Age Care Network, Vermont’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers, and the Vermont Center for Afterschool Excellence. The 2010 Vermont Afterschool Conference will be held on October 22, 2010, at the Killington Grand Hotel in Killington, VT. The conference planning team is currently accepting proposals for workshop presentations. Workshops are 75 minutes in length and should be of an interactive nature. We are currently looking for workshops covering a wide variety of topics, including: best practices in afterschool programming, summer learning, child and youth development, program management, technology integration, advocacy and sustainability, programming and supports for older youth, staff development, health and wellness for children and youth, family engagement, and innovative programming ideas. To submit a workshop proposal, please download workshop submission form and send it to the email address indicated: Workshop Submission form. The deadline for proposals is May 14th, 2010. For more information, please visit the conference webpage.

Member Requests…

Manchester Parks and Recreation Director Amy Herrmann has a question. Those of you who have town/village/city greens and/or small parcels of public land in a “downtown” area that have amenities such as benches and are used for passive recreation, do you have signs on these lands designating them as public areas or parks? If you have parcels like this in your system, Amy would love to hear from you on whether you do or do not have signs in these parks. Thanks in advance. Amy’s email address is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Resources…

Here is another great resource. It is called The Benefits Portal for ACE (active, creative and engaged) communities and is sponsored by the Alberta (Canada) Recreation and Parks Association. Check it out when you are looking for research and language related to the benefits of parks and recreation.

May 5, 2010 – Make the Movement Day. On this day, we ask everyone to do something focused on physical activity, nutrition or personal and environmental health as a demonstration of their commitment to a healthier America. It’s easy to get involved and to be part of the Movement. Be creative and encourage your family, friends, and colleagues to join you. Visit www.makethemovementday.org and help to Make the Movement.

Funding Opportunities…

If I read this correctly, it looks like the House and Senate both voted to allocate $180,000 for the Recreation Facility Grants administered by the VT Building Services Dept for next year. This is down slightly from this year’s $200,000 but nice to see this program still supported. It has funded some great projects over the last few years!

The VT Agency of Transportation is now accepting funding applications for the 2011 Transportation Enhancement projects. The Agency anticipates awarding up to $1.5 million to municipalities, non-profits, and State and Federal agencies that can be used to enhance Vermont’s transportation system in twelve broad categories. Grant awards will be made in the $10,000 to $300,000 range. Projects require a 20 percent local match and must have a strong transportation connection, but they cannot be roadway projects or maintenance activities. Applications require that a Letter of Intent be submitted to VTrans by June 4, 2010. Actual applications are due August 20, 2010. Applicants are required to attend a training workshop on either June 22 or 23rd. Applications and instructions can be obtained by phoning Curtis Johnson at 802-828-0583 or by visiting the Agency of Transportation website.

Employment Opportunities…

The City of Bath, Maine is seeking candidates for the position of Assistant Parks & Recreation Director. This is a full time administrative and supervisory position responsible for developing recreational and leisure activities for a community of approximately 10,000 people. This position requires extensive understanding of public recreation, strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently. A strong emphasis in cooperative communications working with local schools, community groups and local media will be expected. Application deadline is 4:00pm, Friday, May 14, 2010. Please send cover letter, application and resume to Steve Balboni, Director of Parks & Recreation, 4 Sheridan Road, Bath ME 04530. Application packets are available at Bath City Clerk’s Office or here: City of Bath Employment Application, Job Description for Assistant Parks and Recreation Director. For more information email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 207-443-8360.

Grant Opportunities

Creating and implementing community plans can be a daunting task. Regardless of the size of a community, municipal staff or volunteer planning commissions are usually in need of some assistance to get projects off the ground. Obtaining grants is one important way to fund planning and implementation projects. Each grant, generally, has goals and minimum requirements and may take the form of technical assistance from a specialist or provide straight funding for a community to use on a specific project. They may be financed by private foundations or government entities. Some require matching funds while others do not. Click here to access a short list of the some of the more accessible recreation grants available to communities in Vermont. It is by no means an exhaustive list.