Here we are in the heat of the summer providing the best parks and recreation services for our communities that we can provide. Right now many of you are making your appeals to your commissioners, councils, managers and communities for the resources necessary to make your parks green, landscapes manicured, fields safe to play, facilities spotless and efficient and your many customers satisfied with your daily services. Now is the time to also allow your staff and peers to participate in continuing education, networking, sharing ideas, and to create fellowship, cooperation and spirit within your team. THAT MEANS YOU NEED TO REGISTER FOR THE SEPTEMBER SEATTLE INSTITUTE. Take advantage of the discounts and sign up early and send your crew. Seattle has a great education program planned with many tours and activities ready for your crew to enjoy.
I am pleased to announce that INPRA has partnered with the University of Oregon and developed our first Web page.

It continues to be a work in progress and we will improve over time. However if you type in http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~gwalker/ you will connect and find INPRA. The easiest way right now is to call up www.google.com and type in INTERNATIONAL NORTHWEST PARKS AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION. It will be one of the first to come up in your search. Try it out and let me know your thoughts and how we can improve. We have included the information on the Academy, Awards program; scholarship program, Board of Directors and we are posting the newsletter. Trust me we will get better as we become a bit more computer literate.

We need to continue to build our membership as it has declined some over the last several years. I hope you will renew your membership and if your agency is not a member see that they become a member so all of your staff can take advantage of the discounts. The fees are affordable and we hope that we will design a program that meets your needs.

Please email me Kenheany@aol.com with your suggestions and we will strive to provide those services.

We do need volunteers to assist with the association and if you have an interest in helping please let us know. We need articles for the newsletter, Directors for the board, Sites for the training opportunities, and Institute hosts, etc. etc.

Remember this is your organization and you can make a difference if you step up lend a helping hand. See you all in September.

Yours for better parks and recreation- hoping you all have an exciting summer season.

Ken

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