Congratulations to the 2013 VRPS Annual Award Winners

by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

2013 VRPS Award Winners

Best New Program (Population 25,001-50,000)
ART ADVENTURES:  A PRE-SCHOOL OPEN STUDIO
Charlottesville Parks & Recreation

Best New Program (Population 50,001-100,000)
REC’N IT OUT!  NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH PROGRAM
James City County Parks & Recreation

Best New Program (Population greater than 100,000)
EXCELL COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM
Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation

Best New Special Event (Population under 25,000)
KIDS ADVENTURE RACE
Town of Vienna Parks and Recreation

Best New Special Event (Population 25,001-50,000)
DANVILLE’S CARDBOARD CHALLENGE
Danville Parks and Recreation

Best New Special Event (Population 50,001-100,000)
ZOMBIE 5K RUN
Roanoke County Parks, Recreation & Tourism

Best New Special Event (Population greater than 100,000)
HISTORIC CEMETERIESCAPE CONTEST & EXHIBIT
Norfolk Dept. of Parks, Recreation & Open Space

Best New Facility - Bricks & Mortar (Population greater than 100,000)
DENBIGH COMMUNITY CENTER
Newport News Parks, Recreation & Tourism

Best New Facility - Parks, Playgrounds, Blueways, Greenways, and Trails
(Population under 25,000)
LEAKES MILL PARK
Goochland County Parks, Recreation and Facilities

Best New Facility - Parks, Playgrounds, Blueways, Greenways, and Trails
(Population 25,001-50,000)
FREDERICKSBURG RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER HERITAGE TRAIL
Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation & Public Facilities

Best New Facility - Parks, Playgrounds, Blueways, Greenways, and Trails
(Population 50,001-100,000)
MID COUNTY PARK
James City County Parks & Recreation

Best New Facility - Parks, Playgrounds, Blueways, Greenways, and Trails
(Population greater than 100,000)
JAMES HUNTER PARK
Arlington County Parks and Recreation

Best New Renovation/Addition - Bricks and Mortar
(Population under 25,000)
GYPSY HILL PARK POOL RENOVATION
Staunton Parks and Recreation

Best New Renovation/Addition - Bricks and Mortar
(Population 25,001-50,000)
CARVER RECREATION CENTER
Charlottesville Parks and Recreation

Best New Renovation/Addition - Bricks and Mortar
(Population 50,001-100,000)
DOGWOOD POOL
Reston Association

Best New Renovation/Addition - Bricks and Mortar
(Population greater than 100,000)
BELLEMEADE COMMUNITY CENTER
Richmond Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities

Best New Renovation/Addition - Parks, Playgrounds, Blueways, Greenways, and Trails 
(Population under 25,000)
GOOCHLAND SPORTS COMPLEX
Goochland County Parks, Recreation and Facilities

Best New Renovation/Addition - Parks, Playgrounds, Blueways, Greenways, and Trails 
(Population 50,001-100,000)
ELMWOOD PARK
Roanoke Parks & Recreation

Best New Renovation/Addition - Parks, Playgrounds, Blueways, Greenways, and Trails 
(Population greater than 100,000)
HUNTLEY MEADOWS PARKS WETLANDS RESTORATION
Fairfax County Park Authority

Best New Environmental Sustainability
(Population 25,001-50,000)
MEADOW CREEK STREAM RESTORATION
Charlottesville Parks and Recreation

Best New Environmental Sustainability
(Population 50,001-100,000)
“THE WORLD IS NOT YOUR ASHTRAY” CAMPAIGN
Roanoke County Parks, Recreation & Tourism

Best Promotional Effort - Traditional
(Population under 25,000)
WINTER/SPRING 2013 BROCHURE
Staunton Parks and Recreation

Best Promotional Effort - Traditional
(Population 25,001-50,000)
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION POSTER
Town of Leesburg Parks and Recreation

Best Promotional Effort - Traditional
(Population 50,001-100,000)
FACILITY RENTAL GUIDE
Roanoke County Parks, Recreation & Tourism

Best Promotional Effort - Traditional
(Population greater than 100,000)
THE ATRIUM AT MEADOWLARK BOTANICAL GARDENS
Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority

Best Promotional Effort - Specialty
(Population under 25,000)
CAMP STAUNTON PROMOTION
Staunton Parks and Recreation

Best Promotional Effort - Specialty
(Population 25,001-50,000)
FLOWER & GARDEN FESTIVAL TIME LAPSE VIDEO
Town of Leesburg Parks and Recreation

Best Promotional Effort - Specialty
(Population 50,001-100,000)
GREEN RIDGE FUN FAMILY FITNESS TV AD
Roanoke County Parks, Recreation & Tourism

Best Promotional Effort - Specialty
(Population greater than 100,000)
PARK FINDER WEB APPLICATION

Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation

Fellows Award

SEAN E. GLEASON

Distinguished Service Award
BLYTHE RUSSIAN
Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority
  
Distinguished Volunteer Service Award
NORMA HOFFMAN
Fairfax County Park Authority

BRIAN KNAPP
City of Fairfax Parks and Recreation and Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority

Outstanding New Professional
JUSTIN L. BULLOCK
Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation & Public Facilities

ROBERTO RAMOS
Suffolk Parks and Recreation

Distinguished Private Sector Award
VIRGINIA PAVING
Town of Herndon Parks and Recreation

MID ATLANTIC OFF ROAD ENTHUSIASTS, INC (MORE)
Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority

Work Hard, Play Harder!

by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

Burke Premier Play Environments is a sponsor of 2014 VRPS Annual Conference.  Visit them in the Exhibit Hall Sunday and Monday, December 7 and 8, 2014.

It's the end of the year - the Foundation would love your support!

by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

IRS Scrutinizes Tax Treatment of Parks and Recreation Personnel

Foundation of the Virginia Recreation and Park Society 2014 Member List

by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

On the heels of an extraordinary year which saw us lead the effort to complete the Society’s Capital Campaign, the Foundation of VRPS followed up with an extremely successful 2014 which included multiple accomplishments.  The Foundation supported the efforts of the 2014 Leadership Training Institute through funding for speakers and scholarships, worked with Service Areas & Resource Groups to offer a combined thirty-eight scholarships to the 2014 Annual Conference, awarded a qualified professional the Jesse A. Reynolds Memorial Scholarship, and took our first steps in the creation of an Education Endowment designed to fund professional development for years to come.

Membership in the Foundation has a deeper meaning than just writing a check.  Membership supports colleagues, co-workers, future professionals and tomorrow’s leaders through providing scholarships, promoting leisure awareness, improving leisure opportunities, and strengthening the commitment to our profession. 

As the calendar turns to 2015 and the 30^th anniversary of the Foundation’s creation, please remember that your membership continues to support the principles for which the Foundation was established.

We look forward to you joining us in our mission.

Sincerely,

Greg Sager

2014 Foundation President

Virginia Senior Games: 2014 Results, 2015 Preparation

by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

Virginia Senior Games is presented by the Virginia Recreation and Park Society (VRPS).  A private, non-profit professional organization, VRPS was founded in 1953 with the purpose of uniting all professionals, students, and interested lay persons engaged in the field of recreation, parks, and other leisure services in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

SAVE THE DATES! 2015 VSG Games May 13-16, 2015 Newport News, VA Athlete's Bulletin Board Become a Friend FAQ's Past Results Sponsor Volunteer  Post your photos and your press -  on theVSG Facebook page   Additional photos are available on the Newport News Active Lifestyles page VRPS Quick Links         www.virginiaseniorgames.org www.vrps.com www.nsga.com   Thanks to our 2014 Venue Sponsors   2014 Virginia Senior Games Results 2014 results are availableonline 2014 Results Congratulations to all 2014 participants. Online results are available HERE. Online results book is available HERE. Check your name for 2015 National Senior Games qualification! 2014 Virginia results have been reported to National Senior Games. Photos are available on the VSG Facebook pageHERE. More photos are available on the Newport News Active Lifestyles page HERE. New for 2015 Registration will be available early 2015. In order to more efficiently serve you, volunteers, hosts, and event staff, registration will be online only. New festivities at the Athlete's Wellness Fair and Party will include an open fun walk and mini-golf.   Save the Dates!   2015 Friday 7/3 - Thurs 7/16 Bloomington / Minneapolis / St. Paul, Minnesota Interested in past results?  Click HERE.  What's YOUR story?    Share your "press with us: Post to the VSG Facebook page. Contact us via email. Virginia Senior Games - a Little History Seniors preparing for Virginia Senior Games pickleball competition in Newport News ~ Hampton Roads Daily Press, April 7, 2014   Richard Ernst, Springfield Dr. Samuel Morton, Newport News Thanks to our 2014 GOLD MEDAL Sponsors!

Virginia Senior Games  6372 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Suite 109  Mechanicsville, Virginia 23111  (804) 730-9447   www.virginiaseniorgames.org

2014 Foundation of VRPS Jesse A. Reynolds Memorial Scholarship Winner

by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

Jesse A. Reynolds was a parks and recreation director for the City of Richmond. He was instrumental in establishing professional parks and recreation "registration", which was the predecessor to Virginia's CPRP program. Upon his passing, Jesse's family, including son Ron Reynolds, a former director in Campbell County and a former VRPS Foundation Board member, established a scholarship in his name.

Designed to assist professionals currently employed in leisure services (preferably public recreation), this $1500 scholarship is granted to assist in graduate level education, either on a part-time or full-time basis, and is awarded every other year.  The 2014 scholarship applicant pool was extremely admirable; the Foundation Scholarship Committee was more than impressed with their accolades, initiative, and potential.  This year's winner is Rebecca Flaherty of Lovettsville, Virginia.

Rebecca is employed by Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority and is a working towards her Master of Science in Sport and Recreation Studies at George Mason University, with an expected graduation in Spring, 2016.  Specifically, she is the Assistant Manager of the Upper Potomac Regional Park Golf Pro Shop, to include operations, staff supervision, retail, and more, as well as assisting with managing all other operations of the park, such as facility rentals, boating operations, waterpark functions, and much more.  In a former role with NVRPA, Rebecca assisted with management of the Upper Potomac Regional Parks, to include Temple Hall Farm, Balls Bluff Battlefield, Red Rock Wilderness, Whites Ford, and Seneca Regional Parks.  And, to round things out even more, she is a former National Park Service Ranger.

"My graduate program at George Mason University has allowed me the opportunity to realize and develop my long term goal of fostering civic development within the community. My thesis will focus directly on this idea, and my study will be based on the outdoor programming that Adventure Links, based out of Hemlock Overlook Regional Park, offers.

Adventure Links offers similar recreational opportunities as Outward Bound and National Outdoor Leadership School, only on a smaller scale. There has never been a study done on their programming, and I believe the results will benefit them, as well as the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. I would love to be able to help promote both agencies more, as well as provide evidence of the need for more programs like Adventure Links."

Lots on the Menu

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  Aquatic Risk Management Series (ARMS) 

Herndon Community Center,
October 17, 2014

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Certified Playground Safety Inspector Course

Rockingham Co/Harrisonburg:  October 22-24, 2014
Newport News:  April 1-3, 2015
Leesburg:  September 23-25, 2015

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2014 CSA Fall Workshop

Henrico, VA
November 13, 2014

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 2014 VRPS Annual Conference 

Omni Homestead
December 6-9, 2014

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 2014 NSA Holiday Social

December 16, 2014

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 VRPS/DCR Webinar Series

January 27, 2015:  Economics of Outdoor Recreation

FREE to VRPS Members; CEU's available for fee

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2015 VRPS Management Conference 

Hilton Garden Inn Riverfront, Suffolk
February 22-24, 2015

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Athletic Fields 501

March 23, 2015:  Salem
March 24, 2015:  Chesapeake
March 25, 2015:  Henrico
March 26, 2015:  Fairfax

Virginia Senior Games - a Little History ...

by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

Virginians, like the rest of America, are riding the age wave:

• Roughly 10,000 Baby Boomers will turn 65 today, and this will continue every day through 2030 (Pew Research Center).
• An American turns 50 every 7 seconds – that’s more than 12,500 people every day (US Census).
• The senior age group is now, for the first time, the largest in terms of size and percent of the population in the U.S. By 2015, those aged 50 and older will represent 45 percent of the U.S. population (AARP).

The Virginia Recreation and Park Society (VRPS) is a private, non-profit professional organization, founded in 1953. Its purpose is to unite all professionals, students, and interested lay persons engaged in the field of recreation, parks, and other leisure services in the Commonwealth of Virginia. VRPS is affiliated with the National Recreation and Park Association.

In keeping with its mission to promote parks and recreation to the benefit of Virginians, VRPS produces the Virginia Senior Games (VSG), an annual athletic event offering competition in over 21 sports over the course of 4 days for participants aged 50 and older. The first Virginia Senior Games were held in 1978 in Richmond and presented contests in 14 sports. The Games move around the state and are typically hosted in the same locality for four years before moving on. Athletes today can compete in upwards of 21 sports, ranging from Archery to Volleyball and most everything in between. Recent, popular additions include Pickleball, Cycling, and Disc Golf.

The Virginia Senior Games is a qualifying competition for the National Senior Games, which take place every other year. VSG is also an open event, so that no scores or times are required for entry. Athletes can compete in multiple sports, and out-of-state sportspersons are welcome. Competition adheres to National Senior Games rules, and medals are awarded in each age category (5-year increments). Additionally, athletes and their guests are treated to an annual Athletes’ Party and Wellness Fair, based on a new festive theme each year and offering activities, musical entertainment, and snacks, all in keeping with a showcase for services and resources for healthy lifestyles in Virginia.

Clearly, the benefits to VSG athletes are monumental – the physical demands of competition encourage participants to train year-round, in many cases. This preparation also lends itself both to greater daily structure and socializing. And, needless to say, winning, losing, and teamwork are their own reward. However, one might wonder if the true winners are the volunteers and spectators.

• To witness a 101-year-young swimmer complete in both 50m and 100m freestyle swimming races, and thereby set World Records, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
• To watch a 77-year-young Vietnam War veteran tossing horseshoes and bowling balls from his wheelchair, where he has sat since 1963 as the only survivor of his combat helicopter flight, is a privilege.
• To meet a 50-something-year-young road racer who competes wearing a fluffy pink tutu is a lesson in what matters.

For some, especially the women, VSG is the first time in their lives that they have the opportunity to learn and experience the value of sport competition. Every athlete has a story – and it begins back home, during the course of their training and their decision to compete in the Virginia Senior Games. For example, that 101-year old swimmer drove herself to the pool every morning at 5am to train. That “horseshoer” was an advocate for ADA and spent most of his life working with autistic individuals. The road racer … well she’s simply a knockout ….

Virginia Senior Games fun facts:

• Competition is offered in: Archery, Badminton, Basketball, Billiards, Bowling, Canasta, Cycling, Disc Golf, Golf, Horseshoes, Mini Golf, Pickleball, Pinochle, Racquetball, Road Race, Shuffleboard, Softball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball.
• Athletes must be 50 on or before December 31 of the competition year in order to participate.
• Team competition is offered in both Basketball and Volleyball.
• Partners and teams compete in the age group of the youngest participant.
• Registration for the games begins at the beginning of the year, and the games take place mid-May.
• Newport News Parks, Recreation and Tourism will be hosting the 2015 games for a third consecutive year.
• To learn more about Virginia Senior Games, visit www.virginiaseniorgames.org
• To enjoy photos and more, visit www.facebook.com/Virginia.Senior.Games

In memory of Samuel “Doc” Morton (September 20, 1937 – July 8, 2014) and all the others who will not return to the Games in 2015. Thank you for your years of exemplary athletic dedication and competition.