LTI Testimonial - Kristen Hamill, CPRP

by Kristen Hamill, CPRP

Recreation Program Supervisor

Newport News Parks, Recreation and Tourism

Past VRPS Leadership Training Institute (LTI) Co-Chair

2018 LTI Committee Member

In 2010 my supervisor encouraged me to attend LTI.  I decided to attend and loved every minute of my time on the mountain.  I met many new people in our field and was able to learn many different team building skills and different ways to lead.  I had so much fun I attended again in 2012 and then decided I would like to serve on the committee.  I was accepted as a member of the planning committee and have been involved in the 2014, 2016 and now the 2018 institute.  I have served as secretary and co-chair during my time on the committee.  During my time on the committee I was promoted twice at work.  If you have ever wondered if attending LTI would help you have better chances at promotions, I feel I am an example that it can.  LTI is a great opportunity to meet new people and learn about yourself and your style of leading.  If you are debating attending the 2018 institute, I highly recommend it.

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LEARN, TRANSFORM, INSPIRE

by Jacqueline M. Johnson
Facilities Manager
City of Norfolk Recreation, Parks and Open Space

VRPS 2016 Graduate

WOW!!!! LTI 2016 was the absolute best conference I’ve attended to date. It lived up to the hype – LEARN, TRANSFORM, INSPIRE! was the theme. The conference was rooted in the Myers-Briggs Personality Indicator (shout out to all the ENFJ family – sorry…I digressed) which lead to so many light bulb moments. Being with so many different personalities within our profession helped me LEARN why we do what we do and how each person has an equally positive impact in the field (it also justified my quirkiness but who’s judging).

As the conference progressed, the sessions got more and more….relevant. Man, did the planning committee hit a home run!! We discussed everything from, how authenticity inspires action, cultivating teams, clarifying roles, investing in employees, dealing with organization change, shared leadership, TRANSFORMing organizations, nose jousting (yes…just like it sounds) and we even sang!

The bottom line is, VRPS recognizes the importance of offering high quality, professional development opportunities to help local municipalities grow, INSPIRE our patrons and help them become better people. If you are considering attending LTI in 2018…DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! (in my best peer pressure voice). You won’t regret it!!

What Does LTI Stand For?

by Kat Fish
Aquatics Specialist II
Splashdown Waterpark

Prince William County Parks and Recreation
VRPS 2018 LTI Co-Chair

LTI stands for the Leadership Training Institute, VRPS’s premier retreat style institute held at the Wintergreen Resort. The institute is exclusive as it only accommodates 60 participants in its weekend full of leadership development, educational sessions, team building, and networking. The LTI Committee hit the ground running in January planning the 2018 institute. The Institute has developed an excellent reputation in our Society because of its original educational programming and our ability to continue to adapt and change the program to remain relevant and current. The institute will be held April 15-17, 2018 and the registrations will go live in March 2017. It is never too early to start discussing your 2018 training plan your supervisor. You do not want to miss out on this exclusive opportunity.

2018 LTI Committee:

Kristen Hamill, CPRP

Newport News Parks, Recreation & Tourism

khamill@nnva.gov

Matt Spruill, CPRP

Colonial Heights Recreation & Parks

spruillm@colonialheightsva.gov

Amy Woodson, CPRP

Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation

awoodson@vbgov.com

Kat Fish

Prince William County Parks & Recreation 

kfish@pwcgov.org

Cindy Roeder

Herndon Parks & Recreation

cindy.roeder@herndon-va.gov

Claire Richardson

Staunton Parks & Recreation

richardsonca@ci.staunton.va.us

James Mickle

Norfolk Parks, Recreation & Open Space

james.mickle@norfolk.gov

Kelley Herbert

James City Co. Parks & Recreation

kelley.herbert@jamescitycountyva.gov

Terry Caldwell, CPRP, AFO

Christiansburg Aquatic Center

tlcaldwell@christiansburg.org

Leadership Training Institute - It's All About You!

by Derek Stamey, CPRP

VRPS Board of Directors

Director, Goochland County Parks and Recreation

The famous Swiss psychologist Carl Jung said this about self-awareness, “everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.”  He also added, “When an inner situation is not made conscious, it happens outside, as fate.”

The recreation profession, LTI, self-awareness, and Carl Jung….what in the world does one have to do with the other? Actually, the overlap is significant!  Our personalities and how we view ourselves and interact with others greatly impacts how successful we are in our profession and in our daily lives.  Unfortunately, Carl Jung won’t be speaking at LTI in April of 2016.  He passed away in 1961.  Don’t be disappointed!  The LTI committee has been working at length to put together an amazing slate of speakers and experiences.  This year’s LTI will allow you to share, be shaped by others, and leave you with a great, career awakening experience…beginning and ending with you!

Your eye opening experience at Wintergreen will begin with a Myers-Briggs personality assessment and an opening session entitled, “That’s Just Who I Am!”  This opening session will help to equip you with a self-awareness that will constantly and consistently be revisited throughout your LTI experience.  As you learn effective leadership practices and how to manage change you will begin to understand how your personality traits impact your ability to communicate with others as well as how they affect the productive and non-productive interactions that you may experience in your day to day life. 

Capping the LTI experience will be a riveting send off by Zin White, a highly decorated civil servant and military veteran who will captivate us all and that “We Can Make a Difference and It Begins with Me!”

For those seeking to develop themselves professionally or further their careers, make your attendance at LTI a priority.  For supervisors, managers, and administrators, seek out those in your organization that strive to excel professionally and make a commitment in cultivating their talent and desires to shine in our field.  Your organization and your staff will benefit from it.  Our profession will benefit from it.  I challenge you all to learn today, lead tomorrow, and inspire forever!