HISTORY/BACKGROUND

The organization was originally founded as the Baltimore Recreation Society in 1945. Hope Godwin, employed by the Baltimore City Bureau of Recreation, was the first president. In 1950, the society expanded to include recreation professionals throughout the state of Maryland and changed its name to the Maryland Recreation Society. In 1960, the society once again changed its name to better reflect its membership. The new name was the Maryland Recreation and Parks Society. The current name, The Maryland Recreation and Parks Association, Inc. was formally adopted in 1973.

STRATEGIC PLAN

Download a copy of the Strategic Plan.

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MRPA STAFF

D. Thomas Ross, Executive Director
tom@mrpanet.org

Diane Collins, Administrative Assistant
diane@mrpanet.org

Adrienne Varieur, Administrative Aide
adrienne@mrpanet.org

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2008-2009 OFFICERS

President
Jeanette M.S. Tansey
Baltimore County
Department of Recreation & Parks
105 W. Chesapeake Avenue, Suite 302
Towson, MD 21204
Work: (410) 832-3824
Fax: (410) 825-5304
jtansey@baltimorecountymd.gov

President Elect
Thomas J. Shuster, CPRP
Town of Ocean City
Recreation & Parks Dept.
200 - 125th Street
Ocean City, MD 21842
Work: (410) 250-0125
Fax: (410) 250-5409
tshuster@ococean.com

Past President
Betsy Thompson
City of Rockville
Department of Recreation & Parks
111 Maryland Ave.
Rockville, MD 20850
Work: (240) 314-8627
Fax: (240) 314-8659
bthompson@rockvillemd.gov

Vice President
Sandra L. Trent
DNR - Program Open Space
580 Taylor Avenue E-4
Annapolis, MD 21401
Work: (410) 260-8436
Fax: (410) 260-8404
strent@dnr.state.md.us

Secretary/Treasurer
Teresa M. Hilton
Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks
Glenwood Community Center
2400 Route. 97
Cooksville, MD 21723
Work: (410) 313-4845
Fax: (410) 313-4846
thilton@howardcountymd.gov

Secretary/Treasurer Elect
Alice Legare-Martinek
City of Bowie
2614 Kenhill Drive
Bowie, MD 20715
Work: (301) 262-6200
rangerdesk@cityofbowie.org

PARC Branch Chair
Patrick McDougall
Baltimore County
Dept. of Recreation & Parks
301 Washington Ave.
Towson, MD 21204
Work: (410) 887-3822
FAX: (410) 832-5304
pmcdougall@baltimorecountymd.gov

RALS Branch Chair
Matthew Madera, CPRP
Howard County
Department of Recreation & Parks
2400 Route 97
Cooksville, MD 21723
Work: (410) 313-4844
Fax: (410) 313-4846
mmadera@howardcountymd.gov

TR Branch Chair
Susan Potts, CTRS
Howard County
Department of Recreation and Parks
7120 Oakland Mills Road
columbia, MD 21046
Work: (410) 313-4628
Fax: (410) 313-4660
spotts@howardcountymd.gov

MARC Delegation
Michele Potter
City of Gaithersburg
Dept. of Parks, Recreation & Culture
506 South Frederick Ave.
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Work: (301) 258-6350 X116
FAX: (301) 948-8364
mpotter@gaithersburgmd.gov

MARC Delegation
Katrina Meadows
M-NCPPC - Prince George's Co.
Work: (301) 454-1496
FAX: (301) 454-1498
katrina.meadows@pgparks.com

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2008-2009 COMMITTEES

There are also several committees that are behind the great membership benefits that MRPA offers. There is plenty of room for involvement on each!

• Conference Committee
  The MRPA Annual Conference is a gathering of professionals, volunteers, board members and vendors from across the state and region. It is an opportunity to attend a veritable plethora of educational sessions on areas of interest to the parks and recreation profession, a chance to network with your peers and a time to acknowledge outstanding accomplishments of both departments and individuals as we recognize our annual award recipients. The conference is planned by a volunteer committee and there is plenty of room for involvement! If you are interested in working on the 2006 conference, please contact the conference chair.

  Committee Co-Chair: Kris Mervine, CPRP
  Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks
  105 West Chesapeake Avenue, Suite 302
  Towson, MD 21204
  Phone: (410) 887-7684
  Fax: (410-252-2599
  kmervine@baltimorecountymd.gov
  
  Committee Co-Chair: Maria Bieneman
  Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks
  105 West Chesapeake Avenue, Suite 302
  Towson, MD 21204
  Phone: (410) 887-5187
  Fax: (410) 256-7141
  mbieneman@baltimorecountymd.gov

• Finance Committee
  Committee Responsibilities: Monitor the long range financial plan. Prepare periodic (minimum of annual) status reports on the association's investment funds. Work with the executive director to develop specifications for conducting the annual audit/review/compilation and where applicable, interview potential auditors. Meet with accountants to discuss the management letter of the association's fiscal practices. Act as an advisor to the executive director and executive board in financial practices, policies and procedures.

  Committee Chair: Dave Goodwin
  Harford County Department of Parks & Recreation
  702 North Tollgate Road
  Bel Air, MD 21014-2482
  Phone: (410) 638-3571
  Fax: (410) 879-5082
  djgoodwin@harfordcountymd.gov

• Interagency Committee
  This committee's charge is to foster communication and coordination between various organizations involved in the delivery of recreation and park related services. The Maryland Association of Counties, Maryland Municipal League, Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA and YWCA are examples. If you are interested in becoming involved, please contact the committee chair.

  Committee Chair: Paul D. Meadows
  Calvert County Division of Parks and Recreation
  175 Main Street, Courthouse
  Prince Frederick, MD 20678
  Phone: (410) 535-1600 x2223
  Fax: (410) 535-2233
  meadowpd@co.cal.md.us

• Legislative Committee
  Committee Responsibilities: Develop a network and procedures to track and monitor state wide legislation prior to and during the January through April Maryland General Assembly session. Develop a list of issues and concerns for the upcoming legislative session. Determine strategy for communicating the above to the appropriate parties. This may include but is not limited to a platform brochure, legislative reception and other promotional events. Develop a state wide network to seek input and request assistance of key officials representing local recreation and parks departments. This network may also involve resources from the Maryland Association of Counties, Maryland Municipal League and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Maintain a log of pending legislation which includes a brief description of each bill, its sponsor/s, committee assignment, hearing date and status. Conduct meetings on a regular basis during the session to review and respond to bills and develop a course of action. Develop and implement testimony strategy for each bill based upon committee consensus. i.e. writing testimony, organize panels, etc. Develop proactive bills when appropriate that will benefit parks and recreation. Design and implement specific strategies to seek favorable support of such bills. This may include seeking legislators who are willing to sponsor and introduce bills, seeking support from appointed local and state officials, undertaking a state wide campaign to solicit grass roots support and providing testimony before the general assembly. Monitor and provide appropriate response for national legislative issues.

  Committee Chair: Jeffrey Smith
  8604 Saxon Circle
  Nottingham, MD 21236
  Phone: (410) 933-0610
  jeffwsmith@verizon.net

• Marketing and Communications Committee
  Committee Responsibilities: Solicit articles of interest to the recreation and parks industry as well as association news for publication in the MRPA monthly newsletter. Develop and maintain content for the MRPA web site. Develop the annual MRPA Membership Directory and Buyer's Guide. Prepare and distribute news releases to promote activities of the association.

  Committee Chair: Abby Gruber
  Carroll County Department of Recreation & Parks
  225 North Center Street
  Westminster, MD 21157
  Phone: (410) 386-2100
  Fax: (410) 876-8284
  agruber@ccg.carr.org
  
  Awards Sub-Committee Chair: Wendy Donley
  M-NCPPC - Prince George's County
  Wells/Linson Complex
  5211 Paint Branch Parkway
  College Park, MD 20740
  Phone: (301) 277-3717
  Fax: (301) 277-3186
  wendy.donley@pgparks.com

• Membership Committee
  Committee Responsibilities: Develop an annual marketing plan, to include a timeline, for membership retention and new member recruitment. This plan should include specific recruitment campaigns and promotions. Define, evaluate and promote existing membership benefits. Evaluate, on an annual basis, the membership fees and make any recommended changes to the board of directors. Research and develop new member benefits. Review and make any necessary revisions to the membership application, letters and membership brochure. Changes in the membership application should be coordinated with the administrative office. Develop and implement research tools, i.e. surveys, focus groups, etc. to solicit input from the membership regarding the direction of the association. Coordinate with the administrative office the distribution and processing of all membership forms.

  Committee Chair: Barbara Lages
  Carroll County
  Department of Recreation & Parks
  300 South Center Street
  Westminster, MD 21157
  Phone: (410) 386-2604
  Fax: (410) 876-8284
  blages@ccg.carr.org

• Professional Standards Committee
  Committee Responsibilities: Promote and encourage professional certification among the membership by educating agencies and individuals. Develop an annual marketing plan, to include certification (CPRP, APRP, PPRP, RPRP) recruitment. Plan should include specific campaigns and promotions. Promote active continuing education by recreation and park professionals, volunteers and citizen advocates.

• Fundraising Committee
  The Fundraising Committee shall be responsible for the raising of funds for the operation of the Association, including scholarships and he employment of paid personnel which may be appointed by the Board of Directors. The Scholarship Sub-committee shall receive applications, investigate the merits of each application and select those persons they feel should receive scholarships.

  Committee Co-Chair: Philip L. Bryan, CPRP
  Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks
  7120 Oakland Mills Road
  Columbia, MD 21046-1677
  Phone: (410) 313-1668
  pbryan@howardcountymd.gov
  
  Commtitee Co-Chair: Rose Colby
  M-NCPPC - Prince George's Co.
  6600 Kenilworth Avenue
  Riverdale, MD 20737
  Phone: (301) 699-2420
  Fax: (301) 390-9294
  rose.colby@pgparks.com

STRATEGIC PLAN

Mission

The purpose of the Maryland Recreation and Parks Association, Inc. is to unite recreation and park professionals and citizen advocates to advance park, recreation and environmental conservation efforts through networking, development and training, and advocacy to enhance the quality of life for all Marylanders.

Goals and Objectives

       Development and Training

• Goal #1: Educate recreation and park professionals, lay persons and volunteers regarding future trends and current issues reflective of the recreation and park movement to enable them to provide the best service to the user and the best management of the resource.
• Goal #2: Provide a high quality level of instruction to recreation and park professionals, lay persons and volunteers at locations easily and strategically accessible to the members of the profession throughout the state.
• Goal #3: Promote programs that insure new professionals coming into the profession are trained and prepared to meet the needs of the different agencies.

       Networking

• Goal #1: Provide opportunities for park professionals, lay persons and volunteers to share common interests, concerns and ideas through organized activities.
• Goal #2: Create effective multiple communications lines whereby all individuals, organizations and groups involved in the business of recreation and parks have opportunities to share common interests, concerns and ideas.

       Advocacy

• Goal #1: Promote to the general public and the elected representatives the multiple benefits and quality of life that recreation and parks provides within the state of Maryland.
• Goal #2: Actively lobby federal, state and elected officials for the recreation and parks movement and it's resulting multiple benefits.
• Goal #3: Develop partnerships with organizations that support in whole or in part the mission of the association.

       Member Services

• Goal #1: Provide an efficient, trained, courteous, and responsive staff to meet the member's needs.
• Goal #2: Promote sponsorship and alternative funding means to reduce costs to members to attend and participate in Association activities.
• Goal #3: Promote and increase a membership that is reflective of the users and providers of the programs, properties and facilities provided by and managed by the recreation and parks profession.