2017 VRPS Senior Resource Group - Blog Number 1!

by Adriana Carr
Senior Center Director

Arlington County Department of Parks & Recreation
2017 VRPS Senior Resource Group Chair-Elect

Welcome to the first Senior Resource Group post in the VRPS blog.  Whether you work in a recreational, residential or social service setting there are a myriad of older adult related topics and issues that connect all of us in our professional lives.  In addition to the newsletter, our annual conference and the VRPS conference we hope this blog adds another layer to the conversation of working with seniors in a recreation setting.

Some of the topics we would like to explore (and this by means not a definitive list) include:

1. Depression/Mental Illness – For example what information do we have about our participants? Which programs among our memberships do intakes? Do we try to address it through our programming?  Are we professionally equipped to take on that role?
2. Prioritizing services to Older Adults to increase funding.  At this most recent SRG conference in Virginia Beach we were inspired by several experts in the field.  The keynote speaker Denise Scruggs asked how many of us felt we were competing for funding our programs versus that of teens (for example).  Pretty much all of us raised our hands. Does this mean we need better ways of collecting data to help the decision makers we work for support our programs?  Are we telling the stories of our programs and constituents effectively enough to ensure they are included in local policies? Is that something we should think about doing?
3. Who do we serve?   Dr.E. Ayn Welleford cautioned us to think carefully about the words we use to describe our constituents.  It is a diverse demographic.  Between the boomers and the silent generation, we are already essentially doing intergenerational programming.  So what about that intergenerational programming?   I always have the intention of creating great programs that mix seniors and youngsters with limited success.  What is the best approach?
4. Finally, how do we find ways to connect outside of the usual conferences, newsletter and blogs?  One idea that has been floating around is to organize a state-wide line dance event.  Chanda Nixon, Program Leader with Hampton’s Park, Recreation & Leisure Services, has been thinking about how it would look and when she suggested it at the last conference, many of you were enthusiastic about it.  So that’s one of the projects we hope to develop over the next year.  Do you have other ideas?

That’s just a few very general topics.  What are you thinking about these days as you work with your customers?  Let me or any of the other SRG board members know and we’ll talk about it here.  

• Karen Brutsché  - SRG Chair
• Adriana Carr,  Chair-elect
• Janice Myrick, Treasurer
• Cheryl Wheeler, Secretary
• Hope Lomax-Jones. Member at large

Left to right:  Hope Lomax-Jones, Janice Myrick, Karen Brutsche, Adriana Carr, Cheryl Wheeler, Aaron Clay, June Snead

Bring on the Competition!

by Sandy Kellogg

Aquatic Operations Supervisor, Mount Vernon RECenter

Fairfax County Park Authority

VRPS Aquatics Resource Group 2016 Chair
VRPS 2016 Awards Co-Chair

There are a lot of things happening on the VRPS website.  There is a common thread that seems appropriate for an Olympic season – the Spirit of Competition!  We are a profession that thrives on teamwork, networking and cooperation, but sometimes a sense of competition can unify a team and create fun opportunities for people to aspire for first place.

First of course is the Lifeguard Cup!  The Aquatic Resource Group has been running this for several years, and last year decided to go to a Virtual Cup.  No, you don’t get to compete online, but your team gets to compete at their own site, and in their own times.  Results are sent back in and tallied.  Last year the Princess Anne Recreation Center in Virginia Beach won a pizza party and prize pack for coming in first.  Registration deadline is July 22; the VRPS website had more details.  Based on last year’s spirit videos this was a fun event at the sites that participated; there are some very creative staff members out there!

The VRPS Resource Groups and Service Areas are currently calling for nominations for the 2017 Boards, and VRPS nominations will be out soon as well.  It is wonderful to have the chance to choose between amazing applicants, but to do that we need more people running!  Please consider stepping up to nomination for a board or two.  The friendships and fun far outweigh the work.  VRPS needs all our help to extend their mission statewide, serving on a board is a great way to start.  Nominations for many of the groups are out there right now; there is more information on the VRPS website.

The Awards and Citations Committee would like to encourage everyone to submit applications for the 2015 VRPS Awards, presented at our annual conference.  As a member of that committee, it’s really fun to read and evaluate different programs and facilities.  There are so many interesting ideas, programs and projects going on out there, you all deserve to be recognized for the great things you do!  Here’s your chance for the state organization to recognize you as well.  Deadline for nomination is July 31; the VRPS website has more information.

Lastly, when I think back at my time at the VRPS Leadership Training Institute (LTI) this year, what I remember most (other than the awesome educational sessions!) are the games and challenges we did.  Our closing night there was solo cups being stacked, toilet paper being thrown, and even some booty shaking ping pong ball activity!  We all tried to be the best we could be, but in the end we all won and got some great pictures!  In the end, whether it’s with competition or collaboration, we are doing awesome things for Parks and Recreation in our state.  Come join us!