MRPA STRATEGIC PLAN
To view the draft of the MRPA’s updated strategic plan, click here. The plan, which was distributed at the general membership meeting in Ocean City, was updated under President Ron Schroer’s leadership and assisted by Christine Brett, Rusty Ruszin, Dave Goodwin and Tom Ross and is designed to provide the framework for the association leadership to focus on in the next few years. MRPA members are strongly encouraged to take a look at this plan and provide any comments and suggestions you have to Tom Ross, Executive Director, MRPA at tom@mrpanet.org no later than Friday, May 9.

MRPA YEAR-END REPORT
To download the 2007 - 2008 yearly report, click here

CALLING ALL PROSPECTIVE NRPA CONFERENCE VOLUNTEERS
If you are interested in volunteering at the upcoming NRPA Conference in Baltimore, please complete a revised Local Volunteer Registration Form. Unfortunately, several changes need to be made to the original form so the Volunteer Committee is asking all volunteers to kindly resubmit this updated form.

To ensure that you are placed in the area you most want to volunteer, please complete the form as soon as possible. You can download it to your computer and email it back to nrpa.volunteerinfo@baltimorecity.gov, or you can fax it or send it through mail. Fax and mailing information is on the form. You will receive an email acknowledging receipt of your revised form. Assignments will not be sent out until around one month prior to the conference. At that time, you will also receive your responsibilities in the area you are assigned. Any last minute changes can be made at that time. Please list any comments or considerations right on your registration form in the comment section.

Thank you once again for your interest in volunteering at the 2008 National Recreation and Parks Association Conference to be held in Baltimore October 14 - 18, 2008. Baltimore City is excited to be the local hosts for this year's conference and, with your support, will be offering an outstanding experience for recreation and parks professionals visiting our great City from across the nation!

GET ACTIVE MARYLAND! A PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTH
On Thursday, August 16, the Maryland Recreation and Parks Association released the findings of a recently completed survey of Maryland park and recreation agencies on programs that promote physical activity and help teach good nutritional practices. Get Active Maryland! A Prescription for Health provides information on a wide array of model programs that are being carried out by a number of Maryland county and municipal park and recreation agencies and the essential role that park and recreation agencies perform in improving health in their local communities. In addition, the survey results document a number of key policies being enacted at the community level that help promote positive health.

The release of the report took place at the Maryland Association of Counties summer conference in Ocean City at a press conference which included MACO Park and Recreation affiliate chair, Paul Dial, MRPA Executive Director, Tom Ross, Dr. Dan Levy, President of the Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Baltimore Oriole Bird. The press conference was followed by an educational session focused on the report and its findings. Presenters included Jenn Bistrack, MRPA Survey Coordinator, Dr. Dan Levy, and Hernan Padilla, Special Programs Division, Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Prince George's County. Special thanks to M-NCPPC and their staff for the production of the report and assistance with the media.

For further information, please contact Tom Ross, MRPA Executive Director at 202-329-8641.

To download a copy of the report click here.