52 Ways to Use Your VRPS Membership: Week 14, Legislation & Lobbying

Legislation and Lobbying
by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

In order to understand the legislation watchdog function that Virginia Recreation and Park Society performs on behalf of its members, VRPS Executive Director Jim Stutts gave me a tutorial.  Self-admittedly, I'm not much of a government person, and those lessons learned many, MANY years ago in Mr. Wilkerson's Grade 12 high school Government course are long lost.  So here goes.

--Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

The Virginia Legislation Process

The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia and is a 2-chamber body consisting of:

1. the lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates with 100 members serving 2-year terms, and
2. an upper house, the Senate of Virginia with 40 members serving 4-year terms.  

Every ten years, based on the census, legislative districts are re-divided.

The state constitution specifies that the General Assembly shall meet annually, convening on the second Wednesday in January.  Its regular session is:

• a maximum of 60 days long in even-numbered years, and
• 45 days long in odd-numbered years,

The Governor may convene a special session of the General Assembly "when, in his opinion, the interest of the Commonwealth may require".

Bills can originate in the House or the Senate, and those that are not "killed" in the General Assembly are assigned to committees.  Any member of the General Assembly may propose a bill and may also have a patron, chief patron, and co-patrons who sign on to the bill committee.  

Once a bill gets three "readings", it goes to the other chamber and the process begins again.  A reading is when the bill is heard.  It can go to committee in between readings.  Anyone can speak to a committee, if a bill gets there.

There are over 2000 bills introduced each year; most are amended, many die, and a few hundred make it through the General Assembly and on to the Governor for signature.  The Governor can veto a bill, but the General Assembly can overrule with a two-thirds majority vote when they return in April for the Reconvened "Veto" term which typically lasts one day.

Most bills are effective as of July of the same calendar year.

General Assembly committees occasionally meet during the off season (spring, summer, fall).

Also in the fall, legislators can pre-file legislation that will become a bill when it is introduced in January.

The General Assembly has an excellent, easy-to-maneuver website:  virginiageneralassembly.gov

Virginia Recreation and Park Society Lobbying

In order to be represent a client, a lobbyist must:

• apply to be a lobbyist,
• register with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and
• file a disclosure form afterwards, identifying any money spent (for example, if representing a client).

Registered lobbyists on behalf of VRPS are:

1. Eldon James,
2. Sue Rowland, and
3. Jim Stutts.

These VRPS watchdogs track legislative data and any bill relevant to Virginia parks and recreation daily.  They also collaborate with the Virginia Municipal League and the Virginia Association of Counties.

It is often necessary for VRPS members to contact their legislators to voice VRPS' position; they can identify their contacts by going to the VRPS website.

To see how VRPS has been lobbying on behalf of its members, please reference the posted annual legislative reports.

• Click HERE to see what the 2013 legislative platform includes.
• Click HERE to track the 2013 Virginia legislation.

There are many success stories, the most recent of which is that in the 2013 session, VRPS was able to influence legislators to allow VRPS and other related user groups to spend a year studying to determine and recommend safety procedures to prevent unstable soccer goals from falling and injuring the general public.

So, back to Grade 12 U.S. Government:  how did I do, Mr. Wilkerson?  It just goes to show you ... you do (eventually) use what you learn in high school.  Except trigonometry.  Trigonometry is just ridiculous.

52 Ways to Use Your VRPS Membership: Week 13, VRPS Magazine

VRPS Magazine
by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

Amy-Jo Hendrix of Town of Vienna Parks & Recreation began editing the VRPS Magazine in 2007.  She thinks.  After over six years of Spring, Summer, and Fall editions, Amy-Jo has it down to a science.  Start to finish, it takes her about 16 labor-hours total, per edition.  That's 48 hours each year.

How long does the entire process take?  According to Jim Stutts, VRPS Executive Director, the answer is about 12 weeks from concept to delivery:

1. Amy-Jo looks for topics from members and agencies that would be valuable to jurisdictions throughout the Commonwealth.
2. DAY 1:  About thirty days prior to deadline, she contacts Directors and requests articles.
3. DAY 14:  She reminds them two weeks later.
4. DAYS 15-29:  As the articles come in, she logs, reads, and proofs.
5. ARTICLE DEADLINE DAY, #30:  She sends them to the graphic designer for layout.
6. DAY 44:  The graphic designer completes the first draft.
7. DAYS 45- 51:  Proofing revisions are exchanged and the final draft eventually approved.  Multiple pairs of eyes at the VRPS Central Office assist with the proofing as well.  
8. DAYS 52-53:  The graphic designer sends the finished product to the printer.  The printer preps the electronic proof for hardcopy and sends the final to Central Office for review.
9. DAYS 54-84:  Once approved, the proof goes to print.  The printer ships the finished product to the mailing house.  The mailing house applies labels, sorts, and delivers to the USPS.
10. DAY 84:  Central Office posts the online edition using ISSUU to a member-secure portion of the website.

What happens after DAY 84?  Amy-Jo takes a break for a little over a month and then begins the cycle again.  But, of course, during that month she's got her ear to the ground, finding prospective article topics for the next edition.

Thanks Amy-Jo.

Staying Strong, Relevant, and Engaged.

52 Ways to Use Your VRPS Membership: Week 12, Certifications

Certifications
by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

CPSI.  AFO.  CPRE.  CPRP.  CTRS.

According to the National Recreation and Park Association, thousands of people who are committed to fostering the highest standards of ethical and professional practice in the delivery of park and recreation programs and services do so by means of national certification.

5 REASONS TO BECOME A CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL

1. Greater career opportunities and advancement
2. Demonstration of your commitment to the parks and recreation profession
3. Enhanced quality of parks and recreation services nationwide
4. Recognition for your accomplishments and ability to meet national standards
5. Expansion of your skills and knowledge through continuing professional development

After all that diligence and effort, VRPS assists in keeping you certified by offering classes, workshops, and events in which you can earn CEUs.

What is a CEU?  One Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction.  Certificants are all required to earn 2.0 or more CEUs during each certification period:  the number of CEUs required and the length of the certification period varies according to type of certification. 

Staying Strong, Relevant, and Engaged.

52 Ways to Use Your VRPS Membership: Week 11, Workshops

Workshops
by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

Not only is VRPS working to bring you quality training opportunities, but so are your peers in the five Service areas and six Resource Groups.  In 2012, they brought over a dozen, discounted training and networking events to the VRPS community.

Stay Strong, Relevant, and Engaged.

52 Ways to Use Your VRPS Membership: Week 10, Athletic Fields

Athletic Fields
by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

Sports turf is big business.  Schools, governments, and athletic facilities are investing funds, manpower, and acreage in order to provide their communities safe, versatile, and attractive game-day venues.

Virginia Recreation and Park Society is privileged to offer Athletic Fields 301, the third incarnation of this athletic field maintenance workshop.  Thanks to our three sponsors, Toro, Turf Equipment and Supply Company, and Smith Turf and Irrigation, experts Dale Getz and Michael Goatley will lead attendees through the ABC's of establishing, and maintaining, quality athletic fields.

VRPS members receive a $10 discount to the workshop.  Thanks to four VRPS host agencies offering the use of their facilities, registrants can choose from four locations throughout the Commonwealth:  Salem (west), Fairfax (north), Henrico (central), Chesapeake (east).

Stay Strong, Relevant, and Engaged.

52 Ways to Use Your VRPS Membership: Week 9, Forums

Forums
by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

Virginia Recreation and Park membership entitles you to subscribe to industry-related online forums on the VRPS website:

• Legislative
• Resource Group (Athletics, Aquatics, Cultural Diversity, Outdoor Recreation, Senior, Therapeutic Recreation)
• Service Areas (CSA, ESA, NSA, SWSA, WSA)
• Events (Annual Conference)
• Directors (for those Professionals who are directors of their VRPS member agencies)

An internet forum is a discussion area where members can post, as well as read and respond to other's posts, in an online conversation or "thread".  Posts/threads are also archived.

Interested?  Follow the link to subscribe.

Stay Strong, Relevant, and Engaged.

52 Ways to Use Your VRPS Membership: Week 8, CPSI

CPSI (formerly NPSI)
by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

Virginia Recreation and Park Society will sponsor the CPSI course and exam twice in 2013:

• March 13-15, Leesburg
• September 11-13, Williamsburg

VRPS Members receive a $25 discount on the course and a $50 discount on the exam, for a potential total savings of $75.  VRPS individual professional memberships are $75/year.  Do the math.  By joining VRPS, your savings for the CPSI course and exam, as a member, pays for your VRPS membership.

Register soon!  Course materials are in and being shipped to paid registrants.



Program Mission

The Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) certification is offered by the National Certification Board in coordination with the National Recreation and Park Association. The purpose of the CPSI certification is for those certified to be able to: identify hazards on public playground equipment and the playground; rank the hazards according to injury potential; and apply the knowledge to remove the hazards and establish a system of inspections and maintenance.

The National Recreation and Park Association Playground Safety Certification Courses are intended to provide training for individuals interested in becoming Certified Playground Safety Inspectors (CPSI).

NRPA is dedicated to promoting children's right to play in a safe and challenging play environment. NRPA's vision is to train and certify at least one person from every community across the United States to be a CPSI. These inspectors will share their knowledge on the public-use playground standards with people responsible for playground safety within their agencies and throughout their communities.

Stay Strong, Relevant, and Engaged.