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2012 Institute Agenda

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Monday 27 February 2012

  • 11AM
    Registration Opens.
     
  • 1PM
    • Welcome and Opening of the Institute.
     
  • 130PM
    Workshops begin.
    In an effort to offer even more hands-on training, we have developed a variety of workshops designed to provide intensive and engaging training. Sign up for one when you arrive, and enjoy the afternoon of learning, networking, and sharing ideas! The following two are a sample of some of workshops we’re planning to offer!
    How to Hire the Right Person for the Right Job
    Ever pick through a list of candidates and think, “Gee, these aren’t the people at all that I was trying to attract to this job?” This hands-on workshop will help you get over the hiring blues and start getting you the people you want and your organization needs. We will introduce an in-depth and interactive hiring process, as well as spending time on how to find the right people for your agency.
    Electrical Conservation: Green Up Your Operation and Improve Your Bottom Line
    Being a good steward of your facility’s electrical resources means a lot more than just turning off the lights when you leave the room. Delve into electrical conservation in this illuminating workshop. We’ll be doing assessment of your facility and learning how to identify problem areas in your electrical usage, including how to consult with your utility provider. New technologies will be examined and measurement of operational savings will be discussed. Finally, we’ll examine electrical safety in installation and maintenance.
  • 630PM
    Awards Dinner.
    We will honor individuals and agencies from the Great Lakes Region for their outstanding contributions to the field. This is a great opportunity to show appreciation for excellence in parks and recreation, as well as to gather new ideas for use in your own park or agency! Wish to nominate someone? Download award applications from our website at www.glpti.org.
     

Tuesday 28 February 2012

  • 7AM
    Breakfast.

    Quick reminder to bring your own coffee mug and enjoy complimentary coffee throughout the day, provided by the Potawatomi Inn.

  • 730AM
    Registration (Open until 8PM)
     
  • 815AM-945AM
    General Session and Announcements.
    Closing the Generational Divide: Working with Different Age Groups
    Tired of that twenty-something texting instead of working? Wondering why things aren’t like they used to be? So are we! Different generations have clashed in the workplace for centuries, but as technology develops more rapidly and media changes constantly, today’s workplace is more challenging than ever. Discover how we recognize and appreciate the differences between generations in the workplace today and use these differences to make our organizations stronger.
     
  • 10AM-1130AM
    Concurrent Sessions. (90 minutes each.)
    Reduce Liability and Improve the Bottom Line
    (Repeated at 10AM on Wednesday.)
    Handling workman’s compensation can be both tedious and daunting, especially with all the other things already on your plate. Explore the difficulties and learn to tease out the tangles in this management session. We will be looking at safety, reporting, tracking claims, release statements, and reasonable accommodation.
    White-Tailed Deer Impacts in Park Forests
    Long term forest management can’t be successful without factoring in the effects of our flourishing quadruped, the white-tailed deer. Explore behaviors, impacts, and management tools through a 27-year perspective on deer management with the Cleveland Metroparks.
    Smart Phone Apps for Your Park
    Smart Phones…we love them and hate them, but we can’t live without them, it seems. Beyond email and updating your Facebook status, what can you do with them to help you do your job? Meet the apps that you can use to enhance your performance at work and dose your agency with innovation. Even if you don’t have a Smart Phone, you can come and learn about them!
    Venerable Volunteers and Values
    What does it take to lure and keep the best volunteers in your town? Every park and agency manages their volunteers differently, but many of the most successful volunteer programs have expectations and practices in common. Discover the formula one agency uses in their wildly successful volunteer program, and take away great ideas to implement in your park or organization.
     
  • 1145AM-1PM
    Lunch available in the Dining Room.

    Don’t forget that throughout the day we have snack breaks built into our program! You won’t go hungry at GLPTI!

  • 1PM-2PM
    Concurrent Sessions. (Repeated at 215PM.)
    Gadgets
    Have you developed or used a gadget lately that has revolutionized your park’s operations? Every gadget you use could come in handy for someone else! Don’t miss this show-and-tell that has been a part of GLPTI from its earliest years! (Interested in bringing a gadget? Please contact Richard Sobecki at 734 740 4140 or at rs601@yahoo.com.)
    5 Things You Need to Know Now About the ADA (1PM ONLY)
    Many regulatory changes have gone into effect over the last two years regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act. The new regs cover everything from Segways to swimming pool lifts. Compliance with the accessibility standards covering recreation facilities is just days away. Is your agency ready? This session will highlight the five things you need to know to get your accessibility management program on track and prepared to better service the guests with disabilities.
    Recycle and Reuse with Staff Support and Commitment
    What are you doing to reuse and reduce within your parks? What can you do better? How can you measure your successes and failures? Discover innovative ways to foster environmental responsibility within your organization and witness examples of these programs in actions with other organizations.
    Maintenance of Artificial Turf for Longevity
    You won’t sow, grow, or mow this turf, but you will have to maintain it! Find out how to handle your artificial turf to increase longevity. Learn types of equipment to use, grooming schedules, different kinds of turf available, and troubleshooting tips.
     
  • 215PM-315PM
    Repeat of Tuesday 1PM Concurrent Sessions, one hour each.
    New Session
    NCA Playground Surface Study: First Year Findings
    The National Center on Accessibility at Indiana University has led the research investigation on the accessibility of playground surfaces. This session will present an overview of the first year findings from the 5-year longitudinal study underway. How accessible were the surfaces after installation? What types of deficiencies arose? How will surface maintenance be affected? What implications arise for the industry and playground owner/operators?
  • 330PM-5PM
    Announcements, General Session.
    How Many People Are Coming?
    Large group events in our communities present both overwhelming challenges and awesome opportunities to our parks. Using case studies from the Super Bowl and a PGA Tour, we’ll look at how to capitalize on visitors in town, be involved in the planning process, and how to utilize facilities for large events.
     
  • 530PM
    Dinner in the Dining Room.
     
  • 7PM
    Ice Cream Social in the Lake James Room.
     
  • 730PM
    Toboggan Run Open! Be sure to wear your warmest clothes!
     

Wednesday 29 February 2012

  • 7AM
    • Breakfast begins.
      Naturalist-led Bird Hike leaves.
      Registration opens at 730AM.
     
  • 815AM-945AM
    Announcements and General Session.
    The Role of Parks and Recreation in Public Health
    Join us in this session led by Dr. Bryan McCormick of Indiana University as we examine the idea of parks and recreation as public goods.
     
  • 10AM-1130AM
    Repeated from Tuesday, 10AM:

    Reduce Liability and Improve the Bottom Line
    New Sessions:
    A Natural Energy Source: Wind Power
    Parks and recreation agencies are natural leaders in conservation and environmental stewardship. Parkland may be ideal for siting wind turbines as an alternative source of energy and as a revenue generator.
    Splash Pad Designs and Management Solutions
    Quench your thirst for knowledge! Building a splash pad for recreation and hydration is an involved process. We’ll look at the steps a park system should take to initiate a splash pad project and follow with a discussion on water management systems.
    Emerald Ash Borer and Other Forest Pests
    Greater global mobility has ushered in a new era of nuisance organisms. What are park districts currently doing to address newly introduced forest pathogens? Learn how you can reduce them in your park and what to be prepared for sooner rather than later.
  • 1145AM
    Lunch in the Dining Hall.
     
  • 1PM-2PM
    Concurrent Sessions, repeated at 215PM
    21st Century Security and Your Parks
    In today’s ultra-mobile, super-connected, technology-obsessed world, security in our public spaces has become an even greater challenge. Explore ways to make your parks and especially your playgrounds safer through the use of preventative security technology and smart strategy.
    Managing Your Workforce for High Performance: Make Every Day Count!
    What with the daily surprises that park life brings to a workforce team, how can you manage your crew to maximize performance and turn out fantastic work continuously? By using tried and proven techniques of assessment, appropriate assignment, material management, and evaluation! Discover ways to increase productivity and enhance your role as an effective supervisor.
    Stormy Weather
    Recognize the warning signs of hazardous weather and be proactive about safety in your parks and organizations. From storm-spotting to tornadoes, floods to blizzards, thunder, lightning, and hurricanes…we’ll look at them all! Be prepared, not scared!
    Working With Difficult People
    How do you maintain a positive attitude when you are having a negative experience in the workplace? This session will give you some tools and resources for handling tough situations!
     
  • 215PM-315PM
    Repeat of Wednesday 1PM Concurrent Sessions, one hour each.
     
  • 330PM-5PM
    Announcements and General Session. (75 minutes.)
    Asian Carp: Threat to the Great Lakes
    John Goss has been appointed by the President to lead the effort to stop the spread of Asian Carp, an invasive species threatening the ecosystem of the Great Lakes. Take a closer look at the resulting biological, economic, and social impacts on the world’s largest freshwater source.
     
  • 630PM
    Dinner in the Lake James Room, followed by the Vendor Social.
     
  • Following Dinner
    Are you ready for some… Vendor Social?
    This year at the Vendor Social, come ready to Tailgate! Mingle with our sponsors in this sporty event and be sure to wear your favorite team's colors to show where your allegiances lie!
     

Thursday 1 March 2012

  • 7AM
    Breakfast
     
  • 815AM-945AM
    Gadgets Awards and General Session.
    Confessions of a Camp Counselor
    Join Scott Watson, back this year, as he shares his humor, insight, and compassion through a series of stories.
     
  • 10AM-1130AM
    Concurrent Sessions. (90 minutes each.)
    Pedal Power—Making the Connection
    Support for non-motorized transportation has never been greater than it is currently. Trails connect destinations, but more importantly, they connect people.
    Year Long Look at the Challenges and Rewards of Fishing
    Join Pokagon park manager Ted Bohman as he shares his experiences as a lifetime angler. Using personal photographs and stories, Bohman will guide you through the seasons in, on, and around the water.
    Sustainable Landscaping
    Discover trends, techniques, and tools to facilitate sustainability on a landscape level at your park! Set an example for landowners in your community.
     
  • 1145AM-2PM
    Lunch with Session and the Institute Closing.
    Join us as we share a meal and an inspiring closing session with new friends and colleagues.