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  • 20 Mar 2018 11:47 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The Young Professional’s Committee aims to attract and retain young professionals and students in Kansas by providing them with opportunities to enhance their personal and professional skill set through a variety of networking, educational and professional development opportunities.  The committee members will serve a 3-year term that begins in 2018.  Some responsibilities of the Young Professionals Committee are planning of the KRPA Young Professionals Summit, administration of the KRPA Mentor Program, and networking lunches and events.

    This is a great way to enhance the future of the Parks and Recreation fields in Kansas! It only takes a short time to apply!

    Apply Here

    DEADLINE is April 16, 2018.

  • 19 Mar 2018 10:16 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The 2018 KRPA-MRPA Executive Forum will be held on October 17-18 at the JCPRD Arts and Heritage Center. This dynamic leadership conference targets upper-level management professionals in key decision making positions within public agencies in Missouri and Kansas providing parks, recreation and similar community services. Registration will open later this summer.


  • 15 Mar 2018 9:32 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    A new report issued by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) demonstrates the vast economic impact of our nation’s local parks, plus a state-level analysis of local state parks and recreation agencies' operations and capital spendings in 2015. 

    Kansas local parks generated over $812 million in economic activity in 2015, and local park and recreation spending in Kansas supports 7870 jobs.  These a just a few findings from research conducted by NRPA and the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University for their Economic Impact of Local Parks Report. Policymakers and elected officials at all levels of government should take notice. Investments made to local and regional parks not only raise the standard of living in our neighborhoods, towns and cities, but they also spark activity that can ripple throughout the economy.


  • 05 Mar 2018 12:39 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    Manhattan, KS: Kansas Recreation and Park Association received a donation on Saturday, March 3, 2018 for the Powercat Health Initiative. Thank you to K-State Sports, Kansas Health Foundation and Stormont Vail Health for your support of Health and Wellness in Kansas. This is a great partnership to encourage a healthier Kansas, and KRPA is privileged to be apart of it. Visit here to learn more about this partnership.


  • 27 Feb 2018 9:16 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Could your department use an additional $500 to assist in promoting your programs or event? Sunflower State Games is offering you the opportunity to apply for the 2018 Parks and Recreation Marketing Grant.

    By taking part in this new program offered by the Sunflower State Games, your department will not only earn the opportunity to compete for a $500 Grant, but you will be assisting SSG by promoting their Olympic style sports festival. Creating awareness and reaching our target audience across the state is one of our greatest challenges. Educating your patrons about the Kansas' largest amateur sports festival will greatly aid SSG's cause!

    HOW TO APPLY?

    Easy! Just fill our the application form and submit it to our office by April 1st. All applicants must be KRPA members. Only one application may be submitted per department/community. 

    INSTRUCTIONS

    Items 1 - 3 listed below are required to be considered eligible. A minimum of four additional items (4 - 9 listed below) must be completed to be considered eligible. Documentation and proof of inclusion for your selected items must be submitted to the SSG office by July 1, 2018.

    1. 

    Distribute 2018 SSG Event Brochures to patrons and general public. Event Brochures will be mailed to your department in March. 

    2. 

    Display 2018 SSG Event Posters at Community Centers and Sports Venues. Event Posters will be mailed to your department in March. 

    3. 

    Link to SSG web site from organizational web site using the SSG

    Logo, Ad or Article provided below. 

    4. 

    Ad placement or article in printed Seasonal Program (Ad or article provided below).

    5. 

    Ad placement or article in monthly Newsletter (Ad or article provided below).

    6. 

    Event Calendar Listing on web site or printed materials. 

    7. 

    Social Media Mentions tagging SSG on at least two platforms (Facebook & Twitter).

    8. 

    Inclusion in Team or League schedules.

    9. 

    OTHER: Please include on a separate sheet to be submitted with your application additional resources that you plan to utilize in promoting the 2018 Sunflower State Games. 

     

    SELECTION PROCESS 

    Recipient of the $500 grant will be selected by the SSG Staff and Board of Directors based on the above criteria. Additional consideration will be given to organizations that exceed the minimum requirements listed above. Grant recipient will be notified in August. A formal presentation will be made at the 2018 SSG VIP Reception on September 25th in Topeka. Expense report to be submitted to SSG upon use of Grant Funds.

    All participating organizations will receive one complimentary entry into the 2018 Sunflower State Games. Entry may be used by staff member or participant of your programs. Entry certificates will be mailed in April.

    Questions? Call the SSG office at 785-235-2295 or email mgross@sunflowergames.com.

    Click here to download and print the 2018 Marketing Grant Application

  • 13 Feb 2018 1:40 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    You’re Invited to Apply for an Exciting Grant Opportunity for Rural Communities!

    We are pleased to announce that Kansas is 1 of 3 states chosen to receive grant funds from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the Walmart Foundation to support children’s health through park and recreation out-of-school time programs in rural communities.Grantees will receive funding to support their efforts around increasing nutritious meals served to youth through the USDA federal nutrition programs, as well as implementing nutrition education and implementing healthy eating and physical activity standards at their sites to ensure continued impacts. NRPA anticipates funding 3-4 rural communities in Kansas with $35,000 in grant funding to support programmatic expenses like marketing, transportation, large equipment purchases, nutrition education materials, staff training and more!


    This grant can help propel your park and recreation agency into the Healthy Out-of-School Time movement! Don’t miss out on this opportunity. Click here to view a list of sites that meet NRPA's rural criteria. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, March 16, 2018.

     Click Here to Apply Today!

    Eligibility  Requirements

     Applicants must:

    • Be a local government agency (e.g., municipal park and recreation department, tribal recreation department, park district, community services department, etc.)
    • Provide meals/snacks through the Summer Food Service Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program or the National School Lunch Program in 2018 (you can work with the school district or another food provider/sponsor to serve meals at your park sites)
    If you have questions about this grant opportunity please email outofschoolrfa@nrpa.org.
  • 08 Feb 2018 11:02 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The City of Yankton, SD, will host the Midwest Regional Parks and Recreation Conference on April 22-24, 2018. Registration is now open. Click here to download registration form.

    The preliminary agenda and conference information is also available here.

    Park and recreation professionals from the six state area (South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota) will attend. The Conference will be held in the world’s premier indoor archery training and competition facility, the NFAA Easton Yankton Archery Center (NEYAC). The NEYAC is currently a 47,550 square foot facility which houses a 90-meter indoor archery range. The facility also has three outdoor archery field ranges along with two Olympic ranges. An additional 20,000 square foot addition is completed and will host the World Archery Indoor Championships.

    The facility is an easy walk from the Yankton Best Western Kelly Inn, 605-665-2906, where attendees will stay.

    2018 Midwest Conference Preview

    2018 Midwest Regional Conference Delegate Registration


  • 05 Feb 2018 11:07 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Enthusiasm is growing as the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea will begin February 9, 2018. Athletes from around the world will compete in 15 different sports over the course of 17 days.

    Parks and recreation has its own Gold Medal Award Program which will kick off Wednesday, February 7, 2018, with a Live Web Chat. The Gold Medal Awards Program team (representing the American Academy for Park & Recreation Administration and the National Recreation and Park Association) will be available to answer any and all questions you have about entering the prestigious award program which is proudly sponsored by Musco Lighting. The Live Chat will be presented at 1:00 pm EST; 12 pm CST; 11 am MT; and 10 am PST. To participate in the Live Chat click HERE.

    Information about the 2018 Gold Medal Awards Program is now available on the NRPA website.

    Information available on the website include a list of the 2017 recipients, a transcript of the 2017 Live Chat, Before You Get Started, the Judging Criteria, and Innovative Program Ideas.



  • 08 Jan 2018 11:42 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Before You Head to Wichita

    Be prepared.  Make the most of your time and resources at the 2018 KRPA Conference and Trade Show by sitting down and formulating a plan first.

    1)      Download the conference app

    The KRPA conference app contains all of the essential information that you will need while attending conference. It has the schedule, the speakers, the vendors, maps for the conference center, and more. You should have received an email inviting you to the app from Crowd Compass. If you did not, please click here to learn how to access the app. Don’t forget to allow push notifications from this app during your time at conference.

    2) Review the schedule.

    This one’s a no-brainer. Set a goal for what you’d like to learn at the conference, and use the schedule to devise a plan to meet your goal. Make sure to attend conference-wide events such as the keynote speakers. You can log into the conference app and save the agenda that you would like to personally schedule for yourself. If you prefer a hard-copy, please remember to print the schedule pdf before you arrive at conference.

    Also, make sure you are registered on the KRPA website for the park tours or social that you would like to attend.

    3) Purchase your Golden Ticket

    The 2018 KRPA Trade Show fundraiser is the Golden Ticket event. Purchase your $20 Golden Ticket here between January 2-16, from a KRPA Board member or at the conference registration table for your chance to win $400 at the Trade Show.

    4) Find out who’s going

    The people you’ll attend sessions with are as important as the sessions themselves. There’s no better time to network with your peers, connect with new KRPA members, or touch base with longtime friends than at a conference.

    You can join the Facebook conference event page or use the #KRPAConference to find friends on Twitter. The app also offers a social page and access to reach out directly to other conference attendees.

    5) Bring the right gear

    ·         Pack enough business cards. Make sure you have some business cards handy to share with new contacts.

    ·         Bring layers of clothes. Conference center rooms notoriously fluctuate in temperatures because of the location or number of session attendees, so dress in layers and you will be prepared for any situation

    ·         Throw in a few extra dollars. Don’t forget there will be a silent auction at the Trade Show. Every year it is full items from vendors, sports memorabilia, Coleman products, and more. You will probably find a treasure that you might want to take home, be prepared.

    When You Arrive

    6) Come to the registration desk

    Don’t get stuck at the registration table and miss your first session. Visit Kelli Maydew and her awesome volunteers early to pick up your nametag, your CEU form (if needed) and get any questions answered.

    7) Divide and conquer

    If you’re attending with coworkers, try and see as much as possible. Splitting up for sessions will maximize how much you’re able to learn and ensure that each of you has unique insights to take back to your company.

    On your own?  Discovering how your agency fits into the larger Kansas park and recreation field and how other agencies run, is an invaluable insight. A conference provides a unique opportunity to pick the brains of fellow members and agencies, which leads us to Tip #8.

    8) Connect with fellow KRPA Members

    Networking with other professionals in your field is a highlight of the KRPA conference and our association. Make time to connect with fellow members. Attend the branch social and meet people in your field of expertise. Exchange information--- when you have questions and need help later in the year, you’ll have the new connections to contact for support.

    When you are home and waiting for the 2019 KRPA Conference in Hutch

    9) Gather your thoughts

    All that information you gathered from sessions and new contacts from the conference and the trade show can quickly be forgotten if not organized right away. Write down your key take-aways. Enter new contacts into your address book.

    10) Keep Riding the Wings of Change at Home

    Send follow-up notes and LinkedIn requests to your new contacts while the conference is still fresh in your mind. Include a personalized message to accompany your request on LinkedIn. Remember to make yourself memorable by reminding your new contact what you discussed. 

    Schedule a team meeting for the week or two after conference. Share the insights you gained at conference that are likely to be useful to your agency. Or, write an email to document the most valuable information. There’s no better place than a conference to take stock of the state of your agency and your profession. 

  • 18 Dec 2017 10:19 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    AmazonSmiles

    Please consider supporting KRPA through AmazonSmile while you are making purchases this holiday season. It is very simple and doesn't cost you anything. Just shop through the AmazonSmile webpage, receive the same great deals and Amazon will give back to us. Click the link below to get started:

    https://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-7326834

    Using the KRPA AmazonSmile website allows you to provide a percentage of your order amount back to our members. You still get Amazon's great prices, prime shipping and more! If you are shopping for presents or great deals, don't forget to use our AmazonSmile site and help provide scholarships to fellow KRPA members to attend our Conference and other events/workshops!  

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