by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Member Services Coordinator
75 minutes. After countless hours and input from many
sources, VRPS webinars typically come down to 75 minutes of
"showtime".
As an example, this discussion will spotlight "What You
Need to Know About Tobacco" which was conducted and recorded on Tuesday,
April 12, 2016.
 |
| Rita Miller, VDH |
November, 2015
Rita Miller, VRPS Board Lay Member and Virginia Department
of Health Cessation Services Coordinator for the Tobacco Use Control Program,
collaborated with Janit Llewellyn Allen, Virginia Department of
Conservation and Recreation Project Manager, on conducting a webinar for VRPS
membership in which they inform attendees on (1) the dangers of tobacco use,
and (b) limiting tobacco use within parks.
Timing is everything, and as they compared notes and planned
at 2015 VRPS Annual Conference in Virginia Beach, Rita and Janit were also able
to reign-in Annual Conference Keynote Speaker Tom O'Rourke, Executive
Director Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission, to provide insight
into their project.
January, 2016
Janit met with VRPS Member Services Coordinator Nancy
Turnage to schedule the webinar and identify the nuts and bolts.
Rita and Janit worked independently compiling slideshows to showcase content,
with Rita focusing on:
- History of Tobacco
- Target Marketing to Youth
- Introduction of New Tobaccco Products
- The Toll and Perils of Tobacco
- How to Take Action
- The Facts About Cigarette Butt Pollution
 |
| Janit Llewellyn Allen, DCR |
while Janit explored how three Virginia localities are
addressing tobacco control and prevention. Janit solicited the input of
VRPS members Sarah Baldwin (Deputy Director, Fairfax County Park
Authority), and Jim Perdue (Parks District Manager, Chesterfield
County Parks and Recreation) to share their experiences of tobacco use
restriction in parks within their localities.
On a separate but related effort, Rita and Janit are also
collaborating on an article for the June edition of VRPS' Parks and
Recreation magazine.
February, 2016
 |
| Courtesy Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation |
When Rita and Janit felt they had final drafts, they
solicited the assistance from peers at their respective Virginia agencies for
feedback.
VRPS Central Office began marketing the webinar via the
weekly E-update member newsletter, E-blasts, and Social Media posts.
Webinar registration and information was made available on the VRPS
website. Typically, VRPS webinars are free to VRPS members only.
Due to the nature of the critical content of "What You Need to Know
About Tobacco", and in keeping with its goals, VRPS made the decision to make
the webinar free to the general public.
- Provide and encourage continuous training opportunities for
members;
- Improve recreation, parks, and leisure services to the
public;
- Update members on current trends and opportunities in the
profession;
- Disseminate information to the public through use of
publications and media;
- Maintain current academic curriculum;
- Involve interested citizens in advisory, participatory, and
volunteer efforts supportive of parks, recreation, and leisure services
programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia;
- Maintain a professional register of qualified recreation and
park personnel.
March, 2016
While the slides were being created, edited, re-edited, and
shared, the VRPS Certification
Education Board was reviewing the webinar application to be eligible
for .1 CEU by attendees who request to purchase and earn the CEU.
The CEU
Board is comprised of:
- Chair, Shannon Moore, CPRP, Virginia Beach Parks &
Recreation
- Ed Matthews, CPRP, City of Norfolk Recreation, Parks, &
Open Space
- Vic Garber, CPRP, Charlottesville Parks & Recreation
Department
- Ashley Greene, CPRP, Maryland-National Capital Park and
Planning Commission
- Arlana Fauntleroy, CPRP, James City County Parks &
Recreation
The board reviews CEU applications to assure that the
educational opportunity meets all criteria as defined by VRPS and NRPA:
- Activity is planned in response to educational needs that
have been identified for a target audience.
- Activity has clear, concise, and measurable written
statements of intended learning outcomes.
- Qualified instructional personnel are involved in planning
and conducting each activity.
- Content and instructional methods are appropriate for the
intended learning outcomes of each activity.
- Participants must demonstrate their attainment of the
learning outcomes.
- The participants evaluate each learning activity.
April, 2016
 |
| Jim Perdue, Janit Llewellyn Allen, Rita Miller finalize details prior to the webinar. Sara Baldwin was able to contribute remotely. |
- VRPS scheduled a connectivity webinar test for all persons
to be speaking during the course of the 75-minute webinar.
- The webinar was held and recorded.
- CEU certificates were distributed to those attendees who
purchased and earned the .1 CEU.
- The webinar
recording was made available via emails to registrants, the VRPS
website, social media, and E-update.
 |
| Courtesy Fairfax County Park Authority |
Many thanks to all the professionals who made this webinar, and all VRPS
webinars, possible!
