Wednesday, June 26, 2013

52 Ways to Use Your VRPS Membership: Week 26, PIE

"We must have a pie.  Stress cannot exist in the presence of a pie."
― David MametBoston Marriage

by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office


Pie for birthdays.
Pie for going-aways.
Pie just because.



Wednesday, June 19, 2013

52 Ways to Use Your VRPS Membership: Week 25, Awards

Difficult decisions ahead ....
by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office


Hundreds of parks and recreation delegates from around Virginia gather annually for the Virginia Recreation and Park Society Conference.  This tradition has been strong for 58 years; conference is education focused and provides an opportunity for recreation and park professionals to discuss areas of common interest.

Highlighting each year’s conference is a formal presentation of awards.  This prestigious state-wide program honors individuals, agencies, and organizations throughout Virginia who have demonstrated excellence in any of several areas during the previous year.  Hundreds of applications are submitted, vying for awards in 17 different categories, and are judged by a jury of nominee peers.

The Society is honored to pay tribute to its accomplished membership.  The excellence of the award winning projects and their outstanding contributions to the profession and communities served is evident not only by winners, but also by all nominees.  Entries in every population category, from around the state, allow VRPS to recognize the best in the business while raising the standards and quality of programs, facilities and events in every region.


Wednesday, June 12, 2013

52 Ways to Use Your VRPS Membership: Week 24, Volunteerism

"Research has shown that people who volunteer often live longer."  -Allen Klein
by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office


vol·un·teer

  [vol-uhn-teer]
noun
1.
a person who voluntarily offers himself or herself for a service or undertaking.
2.
a person who performs a service willingly and without pay.







Tuesday, June 4, 2013

52 Ways to Use Your VRPS Membership: Week 23, Dealing with Swarmageddon*

* credit to:  http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/05/2013-cicada-swarm-guide/65101/

Cicadidae
by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

In May, 1987 I was working my first job in a high-rise office building in Roslyn, Virginia - a mini-concrete spillover across the Potomac River from Georgetown (region X on the map below).  Trees and greenery were scarce, but even so, by mid-summer, they were everywhere.  And I mean EVERYWHERE.  My friend Lori and I innocently (or ignorantly) decided to lunch outside.  Mistake.  We gingerly side-stepped and crunched our way to the outdoor food court, made our purchases, and settled down to eat and chat.




One flew up her skirt, which she resolved by trapping it in the folds and smushing it.  She was mortified.  She released the fabric and the carcass dropped to the ground, leaving a stained spot on her skirt.  To this day, we send each other Facebook messages each time one of us sees the impending onslaught.

Here in Central Virginia, I haven't noticed much, if anything.  I've since been told that if you live east of I95 (i.e. the Coastal Plain), the soil is too sandy to foster the buggers.  West of I95 is a different story:  the eerie spaceship sound (the males trumpeting their availability); the windshield smacking with the kamikaze frenzy as they fling themselves around in dive bombing missions; the exoskeleton shells clinging to trees, garage doors, and siding.



This weekend is Free Fishing Days in Virginia.  Back in 1987, I recall trying to fish, but nothing was biting.  The fish were full to the gills (no pun intended) with the feast presented them in the 17-year cicada onslaught.  My question is this:  how has the invasion affected recreation activities in other parts of the state?  The beaches?  The mountains?  The in-betweens?  What's your story?