LumiGro webinar to address indoor farming.

The free 30-minute webinar, Profitable Indoor Farming, will begin at 11 a.m. PST/2 p.m. EST.

It is part of LumiGrow’s GreenAg educational series, which is designed to promote adoption of indoor and greenhouse farming practices that are both environmentally and financially sustainable. Moderated by Inside Grower Editor-in-Chief Chris Beytes, the live webinar will feature the case study of Green Winter Farms of Palmer, Alaska.

Green Winter Farms’ CEO Crystal Boze will relate her experience in establishing a controlled environment agriculture (CEA) farm that achieved financial break-even after just four months of operation.

Intended for new produce and flower growers seeking to improve crop yield and revenue, the webinar will provide tips for creating sales projections and bringing product to market.

The webinar will also address technical considerations involved in designing energy-efficient growth environments such as deciding between soil-based and hydroponic methods, regulating temperature and selecting crops, equipment and materials.

Growers responsible for managing their farms’ financial performance or driving locally grown food initiatives will come away from this webinar better equipped to:

· Create go-to-market plans
· Design sustainable indoor farms
· Identify public agency resources
· Manage business growth

“I’m sharing my basil growing experience from conception to delivery to help promote CEA farms. Locally grown produce provides green jobs to support our local economies, makes fresh food more broadly available and delivers food security,” said Boze.

“There are over 300 items in grocery store produce aisles that could be grown with CEA methods.”

“Green Winter Farms is a model of environmentally, socially and financially sustainable entrepreneurialism for the agricultural industry,” said Caroline Nordahl, vice president of marketing, LumiGrow, Inc.

She added, “Crystal demonstrates a path to profitability for community-based farmers. We’re pleased to bring attention to her story.”

To register, go to: http://bit.ly/w1fbSl.

Gluten-free pizza

But that doesn’t mean they have to miss out on yummy camp treats.

Here are some great recipes from the folks at Parenting magazine, including gluten-free pizza and granola, and wheat-free pancakes and chocolate cake: http://bit.ly/wjNqFi

Jugglers are among the acts featured in the entertainment showcase.

The Connecticut Recreation and Parks Association can help: Their 22nd annual Entertainment Showcase features lots of great acts looking for bookings.

The showcase will take place March 1 at Ocean Beach-Port N’ Starboard, 98 Neptune Ave., New London, Ct.

The daylong event offers those who book entertainers and musicians an opportunity to view a variety of quality acts.

Representatives from parks and recreation departments, senior centers, parent-teacher organizations, libraries, and community groups can preview and book both educational and general musical entertainment.

This year, performers include jugglers, four- to eight-person bands, artists, storytellers, and more.

Use this opportunity to find a new band for your summer concert series or a storyteller for events at local libraries and daycare programs.

For more information, send an email to info@crpa.com.

Diversity isn't just skin deep.

In addition to overseeing teachers and connecting them with cultural and instructional resources, I also took on the role of working with school staffs on issues of diversity among their students.

So when my camp director asked me to present a session on diversity at a staff orientation several years ago, I figured it would be a piece of cake.

Mingle camp with diversity? Mix two of my passions together? I was up for the challenge.

Although I am blessed with a phenomenal staff, there was grumbling at first.

“We don’t need diversity training,” they said.

“We know what to do with kids when they come to camp,” they said.

“We accept everyone here regardless of color or culture,” they said.

I didn’t disagree. Over the years, I had witnessed the exceptional job the staff did to include every camper in every activity.

But in retrospect, there were times when some campers didn’t quite seem to fit in to their cabin groups, or a camper or two didn’t fully participate in an activity or learning session with the same level of connection as the campers around them.

Neither a black/white nor a culture/race issue, I set myself to figuring out just what kept those campers self-segregated.

What I realized is that the traditional notion of diversity goes wide, as in race, color, ethnicity and culture–things we can see on the surface–but not always deep.

More than the diversity of the person, I became curious about the diversity of the experience.

Maybe these campers who kept to themselves had such a different experience in their daily existence that they couldn’t relate to or didn’t feel comfortable with the experiences of camp week.

Maybe they wanted to have fun, wanted to be a part of the action, but didn’t know how to bridge that gap because they lacked the skills or self-confidence.

Some diversity of experience examples we discussed were:

• Nature and how to relate to the natural world

• Age/peer group relationships

• New relationships and team-building

• Gender interaction

• Financial/socio-economic situation

• Camp experience

• Routine and set expectations

• Food and mealtimes

• Religion

Interacting with each other in an activity incorporating these examples was a lightbulb moment for many of our staff.

Veteran staff recalled experiences and were generous in sharing with others what worked to break down the camper resistance: getting to know the camper as a person, not just as a camper.

I even had one staff member who had come up through the ranks, who had begun as a camper, moved to a counselor-in-training and was now a counselor, who said she didn’t want to return after the first week of camp, but her counselor had taken the time to listen to her fears and build the trust necessary to encourage her to participate despite what she perceived as keeping her separate from the camp group as a whole.

While our limited time with campers keeps us from getting to know everything about them and their lives, remembering that diversity goes deeper than the color of skin reminds us that a little patience and building of personal relationships go a long way in helping to create the trust necessary to bridge to enjoying the full camp experience.

Beth Morrow is a teacher, author and Senior Week program director for the Central Ohio Diabetes Association’s Camp Hamwi. She has also worked as a diversity consultant and presenter at schools, community organizations and state education conferences. She can be reached at Beth@bethmorrow.com.

We should strive to have the outside complement the inside.

Many of the projects we designed included areas around buildings where people would congregate, such as patios and outdoor seating areas for community centers, model home sales centers, golf course pro shops, and community restaurants.

Almost every project we worked on required the need for drainage design. We worked very closely with the civil engineers in order to create free-flowing, natural-looking sites with retention areas that didn’t look like they had been designed and engineered once they were constructed.

Whenever we would design the landscaping for a building, we almost always tried to bring some element of the building into the landscape.

Whether it was using a building accent on a courtyard wall or covering a theme wall with a similar material found on the building, we tried to make the landscape an extension of the building and its surroundings.

One of the more popular materials used on buildings here in the Southwest is stone veneer. It is available in a multitude of styles and colors and is very versatile.

Other things that we have done to blend the landscape and building have been to copy window styles and sill design for the building and mimic that on a smaller scale when designing theme walls for the landscape.

I enjoy going back and looking at some of those early designs every now and then and evaluating some of the choices we made.

While many of our designs would be considered successful from a usability and sustainability standpoint, I look at my projects and see how they flow with all of the site components.

Oftentimes I ask myself the following questions to really understand the success of our design:

• Does the landscape fit the site?

• Was plant selection appropriate for the project?

• Does the landscape look natural and not man-made?

• Does the building look organic to the site?

• Does it look like the building has always been there and the landscape naturally grew around it or does the building look out of place and the landscape look like an afterthought?

Most of my experience in master planned communities includes the design of active adult living communities and their amenities. Most of these projects have been targeted towards a more affluent client and thus the designs are of higher quality.

When I’m designing a project, I try to incorporate some of the indoor elements into the exterior landscape in order to give the user the feeling that the building and the exterior elements are connected and flow together.

Recently, when visiting a newly constructed municipal building complex, I couldn’t help but notice the design of the floor and its surface.

The lobby of this particular building was circular and the flooring design was laid out in a radial pattern protruding from the center of the building. I thought the design element was unique, and there was adequate use of complementary patterns and textures throughout the walkway. The outer walls of this portion of the building were solid glass from the floor to the ceiling.

When standing inside and looking out, the viewer was greeted with a wonderful view of a very lush courtyard and open lawn area.

But what stuck me as odd was that the exterior hardscape pattern did not line up or even complement the interior floor pattern where they met at the glass wall. Not only were the surfaces different textures and materials, the patterns were not complementary.

This was something that could have been remedied with a brief meeting between the architect and landscape architect during the planning stages of the project.

While both designs, when viewed independently of each other, appeared to be functional and aesthetically pleasing, when viewed in conjunction with each other, they seemed to have nothing in common.

There is no doubt that hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars had been spent on the design of this building.

It could have been better. It could have been magnificent.

Have you ever noticed a design element that could have been changed to make a design better or more user friendly? If you have, I’d love to hear about it.

As always, please feel free to leave a comment below, send me a tweet, or even an email. I look forward to hearing from you.

Have a great weekend!

Boyd Coleman is a landscape architect in Phoenix, Arizona. He can be reached on Twitter at @CDGLA or email: bcoleman001@gmail.com.

It's time to break the sensational news habit.

This is yellow journalism at its best. I think even William Randolph Hearst, the father of the “man bites dog” style of reporting, would be a little overwhelmed by some of this garbage.

In the days preceding the Super Bowl, New England quarterback Tom Brady stepped to the microphone at a pep rally, thanked the crowd for the send-off and said that he planned to come back to New England to celebrate a win with these great fans.

Within an hour, the buzz on the Internet was that Brady was so confident about a win, he was already planning a victory party. They went on to say that New Yorkers were furious.

What? That’s not really what he said.

Hours later, he arrived in Indianapolis and stepped off the plane. In a press club interview, he told the journalists gathered that he wanted to thank his parents for all of their loyalty over the years.

He mentioned how they had come to every college game, home or away, and then recalled what must have been one particular trip where they stayed in a less-than-perfect hotel in Buffalo, New York.

He immediately caught himself, since he knew he must walk on eggshells with every word, but it was too late.

The press releases said that Brady slammed Buffalo and that New Yorkers were so very offended that they were going to eat him alive during the Super Bowl and again next season when New England plays Buffalo.

What?

Why is all this taunting becoming the style of modern reporting?

So the guy went out and played the big game; a game in which there must be someone who wins and someone who loses. And he came up short.

His receivers dropped some key passes at key moments. New England lost.

As Brady was being consoled by his wife, a New York fan ran by and shouted some insults at Brady. And his wife reacted.

She happens to have celebrity status as well, though, so she is expected to be beyond emotion.

But she yelled back something about how her husband couldn’t be expected to catch the ball and throw it, too.

You guessed it–minutes later the web headlines were fanning the flames and telling the world that she insulted all the receivers and “slammed” the Patriots organization. They went on to say that she won’t keep quiet about it.

What? That is not what happened!

Now here we go, entering the election season.

The amount of spin being dealt makes a centrifuge look like a placid lake. The press has become the boy who cried wolf so many times that when the wolf really came, no one believed his cries.

And the local weather people warn of “impending storms” that are so powerful and overwhelming that people flock to the stores and empty the shelves in the event that they will be snowed in for weeks.

Uh…hello? You wake up and there’s not even enough snow to cancel school.

Why the hype? Why are we as a people so hungry for sensationalistic news?

They wouldn’t be feeding it to us if we weren’t lapping it up. I mean, one show after another, one commercial after another, heck during “American Idol” season the local news does 5 to 10 minutes on it every night!

That’s not news; its drivel!

Can someone tell me how one-time Aerosmith rock star Steven Tyler has suddenly vaulted to mega-star status at the level he is currently enjoying?

He screams the National Anthem at a football playoff game and people have the nerve to be shocked? All he ever did was scream. How can you be shocked?

Guys, this is getting so out of hand. Please don’t feed this monster anymore. Shut the TV off and play Scrabble with the family.

The more we care about this stuff, the more they feed it to us. You can “vote it off the island” by simply turning it off.

Your lack of following it would remove their ability to shovel it into the money machine.

We have to stop. Think about it! Do you REALLY care about:

Who is fat

Who is skinny

Who can’t lose weight

Who refuses to eat

Who is sleeping around

Who is newly married

Who has a tattoo

Who “rocked” a new look on the red carpet

If Brad and Angelina will marry

If Oprah is gaining or losing weight

If Rosie is teetering on depression

If one of the bakers or cooks forgot the yeast and now the soufflé won’t rise

Mitt’s tax returns

Obama’s smoking habit

Newt’s closet obnoxiousness

The latest facelift

The newest overdose

ENOUGH!

Please, on the next snow day, take your kids sledding. Bring cocoa, light a fire in the firebox and laugh out loud.

Go down the hill at least once.

Create some memories with your lives and the ones you affect, for crying out loud. This stuff can only penetrate your kids if you let them remain exposed to it.

Please, America, take the higher road. We’re better than this.

Ron Ciancutti is the Purchasing Manager for Cleveland Metroparks. He is not on Facebook, but he can be reached at rdc@clevelandmetroparks.com.

The laundry is hanging out to dry in this London pothole.

If you live in London, England, you just might.

Londoners can stop and see the potholes, thanks to Steve Wheen and his miniature pothole gardening project.

He fills up the dreaded cracks, gaps and holes in the road with tiny tennis courts, little laundry lines, delicate clumps of daisies and miniature golf greens. Check out a gallery of his work at MyModernMet.com: http://bit.ly/y5QXxI.

And maybe you’ll be inspired to plant a pothole of your own this year!

Go to summer camp in a national park!

These are some of the themes for this summer’s resident and day camps in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

The Conservancy for CVNP, which runs the camps, will hold an open house from 1 to 3 p.m. May 6 at its Environmental Education Center, 3675 Oak Hill Rd., Peninsula, OH 44264. Here is a link to the camps brochure: http://bit.ly/z55zve.

The Cub Cadet Test Drive Tour hits the road.

Starting tomorrow (Feb. 17), Cub Cadet is inviting consumers to test drive a variety of the company’s riders and tractors.

The Test Drive Challenge tour will visit selected The Home Depot, Tractor Supply Company and independent Authorized Cub Cadet Dealership locations throughout the country.

In addition, Cub Cadet will offer test drives at any time via a virtual test drive and at more than 1,500 dealer locations nationwide.

“The Cub Cadet Test Drive Challenge is all about giving people the opportunity to see for themselves the advanced technology and premium quality behind Cub Cadet’s 2012 product line,” said Jeff Salamon, director of marketing.

“While many people may not consider a test drive part of the typical riding mower purchase process, we’re confident that one experience on a Cub will prove that Cub Cadet is the smartest choice in the industry.”

The Cub Cadet Test Drive Challenge tractor-trailer, leading the multi-city tour, will be stocked full of 2012 products, including the RZT S (residential zero-turn rider with four-wheel steer and steering wheel control) and the Series 1000 lawn and garden tractor featuring Electronic Power Steering (EPS).

Throughout the tour, visitors will have the chance to jump on a zero-turn rider or lawn and garden tractor and talk to experts about product features, service tips and finance options.

At all Test Drive Challenge tour events, a variety of prizes, such as exclusive CubGear, will also be available.

Customers will receive a free gift for stopping by and a free Cub Cadet Test Drive Challenge T-shirt for taking a test drive.

The Cub Cadet Test Drive Challenge truck will roll through the following markets:

· February 17 – 23: Charlotte, N.C.
· February 24 – 25: Greensboro, N.C.
· March 1 – 12: Knoxville, Tenn.
· March 14 – 19: Tri-Cities, Va. – Tenn.
· March 22 – 25: Lexington, Ky.
· April 6 – 10: Charleston-Huntington, W.Va.
· April 13 – 15: Clarksburg-Weston, W.Va.
· April 16: Parkersburg, W.Va.
· April 19 – 23: Youngstown, Ohio
· April 26 – May 14: Cleveland/Akron/Canton, Ohio
· May 18 – 20: Detroit, Mich.
· May 22 – 31: Flint-Saginaw-Bay City, Mich.

Visit www.CubCadet.com/tour for additional dates to be added in June.

The highlight of the Cub Cadet Test Drive Challenge will be the following innovative new products:

To follow the tour and join the conversation, follow Cub Cadet at:

www.Facebook.com/CubCadet

www.Twitter.com/Cub_Cadet (#CubTestDrive)

www.YouTube.com/CubCadetRidingMowers

Many camps offer extended wilderness trips like canoeing, hiking and whitewater rafting.

Planning those trips, and making sure they run without a hitch (or not too many hitches) is a big job.

This podcast from the folks at CampHacker gives some great tips for summer camp trips: Trip Tips

For more summer camp podcasts and blog posts, visit www.camphacker.org.

Tee up for the Synthetic Turf Council Membership Meeting.

Council members are invited to enjoy networking, the fourth annual golf tournament, educational programs and exhibits.

Landscape architects can earn continuing education credits, and the ASBA Certified Field Builder Exam will be administered.

For more information or to register, go to: http://bit.ly/yS0Pch

Tee up for the Synthetic Turf Council Membership Meeting.

Council members are invited to enjoy networking, the fourth annual golf tournament, educational programs and exhibits.

Landscape architects can earn continuing education credits, and the ASBA Certified Field Builder Exam will be administered.

For more information or to register, go to: http://bit.ly/yS0Pch

It's not too late to add your event to the Great Maine Outdoor Weekend website!

The site features a directory of events already registered and a user-friendly interface for submitting additional events.

Park-goers can search the site to find a fun winter activity anywhere in Maine.

Do you have an outdoor recreational event already scheduled for March 2, 3, or 4? If so, please post it as part of the Great Maine Outdoor Weekend.

There’s no extra work for you and your event will receive lots of free promotion.

If you do not have an event scheduled on those days, please consider organizing one as part of this statewide effort to promote outdoor recreation and exercise.

Current activities listed include snowmobile golf, ice fishing derbies, cross-country ski outings, a snowshoe race, and hikes.

Here’s a link to the website: http://greatmaineoutdoorweekend.org/.

The testing dates, in the San Diego area, will be on Friday and Saturday, March 30-31, at Cuyamaca College, 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway, El Cajon, CA in the Ornamental Horticulture Department.

This test will be one of two opportunities for California landscape contractors to complete the hands-on test to become certified in 2012.

Another hands-on test will be conducted in northern California in October, and there will also be additional opportunities to complete the written test in June, July and October.

The deadline to register for the March test is February 24, 2012.

Landscape Industry Certified is an international designation of excellence for those who have taken their experience to the next level by studying, testing and passing requirements to become certified.

Individuals who have become Landscape Industry Certified have proven they have the skills and experience needed to meet minimum job requirements and set themselves apart in the landscape industry.

Landscape Industry Certified shows a commitment to best practices by both the landscape contractor and the company that hires him or her.

Certification applicants must pass both the written and hands-on tests in order to become certified.

For the hands-on test, the applicant rotates through timed hands-on problems which are supervised by one or more judges. To pass the hands-on test, applicants are required to install or maintain sample landscape projects which must meet required quality and safety standards.

Also, after becoming certified, contractors are required to maintain certification by completing 24 continuing education units every two years.

There are a number of benefits for both the individual to become certified and for an employer to hire certified individuals. Certification increases industry professionalism, creates career advancement opportunities and validates an individual’s professional skills.

It also benefits the employer by allowing companies to meet city and municipal mandates.

The Landscape Industry Certified Technician program is conducted through PLANET and the hands-on exams are administered by state/regional/provincial association licensees and are offered once or twice a year.

PLANET, the Professional Landcare Network, is an international association serving lawn care professionals, exterior maintenance contractors, installation/design/build professionals, and interiorscapers.

The California Landscape Contractors Association is helping to provide training and advancement opportunities for today’s green industry workforce, who provide environmental solutions for difficulties caused by California’s changing climate.

For more information about a test or training, please contact Stephanie King at 916-830-2780 or stephanieking@clca.org.

For more information about certification or essential skills training opportunities, go to http://www.clca.us/certification

This year’s theme is “Building Camp Communities Through Diversity.”

There will be a host of educational sessions and speakers, as well as a Leadership Institute and an exhibit hall.

Make sure to bring your favorite shirt for Camp T-Shirt Day on Friday, March 9.

For more information or to register, go to http://www.acamidstates.org/.

This mouse has a cute acorn-cap ear!

That’s right: Let this cute mouse share the love with your Valentine this year.

This fun craft from Elizabeth Scholl and the National Wildlife Federation uses nature’s own bounty to make a cute love note.

Folded in half, it’s in the shape of a mouse. Open it up, and you have a heart–with your own heartfelt Valentine message inside.

For directions, go to http://bit.ly/xzMm7X

Look inside, and there's a sweet Valentine's Day message!

And don’t forget our feathered friends–there’s also a recipe for heart-shaped treats for all the winter love birds in your back yard!

Camp: It's all about trust.

It usually comes up in conversations I have about the reason why parents choose one camp over another.

I believe that reason is trust.

This is why it is so important for camp directors to connect with parents at camp fairs, in home shows and through electronic media (blogs, social media, email, etc.), because above selling cool programs, catchy theme week titles or progressive skill development systems, we are selling trust.

Does a parent trust her child with us (me, the camp director) for a week or more of that child’s life?

My thoughts on building trust with parents led me to start thinking about how trust allows me to effectively get things accomplished at work.

I realized that trust is the currency I use to get work done with my supervisors, those I supervise and my co-workers.

The interesting thing about trust is that we are in a constant effort of gaining and losing trust. Every day, I am either making withdrawals or deposits of trust in the banks of those with whom I work.

With a high level of trust built up between myself and others, I can get things accomplished with less pushback and disruption to timelines.

But when trust is not there, things can slow down because of questions about motivation and open skepticism about my work.

How is trust built up and torn down?

The starting point of mistrust in many situations is misunderstanding. Misunderstanding can be avoided through clear, constant and honest communication.

Another way misunderstanding is avoided is through contact. When we spend quality time with individuals, we are able to avoid many misunderstandings because we know them better.

When I interviewed for my job with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte, one of the questions they asked me was, “If you do not supervise individuals, how will you be able to get things done through them?”

It was an interesting job and an interesting question, but it is the same way you get things done through people when you do supervise them–through building trust.

I am realizing that the only way that I am going to be successful in my career is through my ability to connect with people and to build trust with the people
I work for and with.

A layer of trust allows us to work harder, forgive more easily and accomplish more.

A layer of trust also has ramifications on our efficiencies and cost structure because of time saved by not having to check up on others’ work.

Taking someone at his word takes less time and is more efficient than micromanaging a staff member.

This year (and in the years to come), I will spend more time building trust with those around me. I will work to be more trustworthy as an employee and will focus on clear communication and intentional contact with those I supervise to build trust in those relationships, also.

Please join me in using our currency of trust to build a better workplace.

Dave Bell has directed day and resident camp programs for more than 15 years. Currently, he is the Executive Director of Camping Services for the YMCA of Greater Seattle. He is a former American Camp Association Southeast Section board member, a certified Y-USA Day Camp Director Trainer and a Y-USA partner YMCA camp consultant. Reach him via e-mail at dbell@seattleymca.org.

Where are we going to put all this trash?

Do you ever wonder where that trash goes after the truck and the sanitation workers pick it up?

I do, and it concerns me.

I think parks and rec professionals can do something to help.

The average person produces about 4.5 pounds of trash per day, according to national statistics.

In a city of 37,000, that comes to about 167,000 pounds of waste, each and every day. In a week, that rate mushrooms to more than 1 million pounds.

The math beyond that is simply staggering.

The waste comes in many forms: plastic food containers and wrapping, Styrofoam, food, plastic, glass, aluminum, steel, tin, paper. Of these items, a significant percentage is recyclable.

In the stuffed plastic bag in the curbside trash can, these items are worthless and possibly harmful, destined for a landfill near you or someone else.

Some of the aforementioned items are the “acceptable” materials for landfills. Also in many of those bags are unacceptable items: paints, TVs, lightbulbs, motor oil, batteries, electronics, medicines and medical supplies.

These are the items that should not be in a landfill, and many are not even recyclable. Some, like motor oil, fluorescent bulbs, medicines and paints, must be singled out for special disposal.

But even if items are “acceptable” for landfills, how many landfills can the earth accommodate? It seems to me there will come a time when this excessive trash production will catch up to us.

Then what will we do?

Right now, some larger metropolitan areas have to truck or barge their trash to distant landfills or incinerators. Burning trash brings its own set of issues, like where are all the burned toxins floating to?

But that doesn’t really solve the excessive garbage problem; it just ships it to someone else’s back yard. And once those sources are filled, then where?

The ocean? That’s already filling up.

A 2008 article in Discover magazine gives details about the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch,” a current-driven, swirling mass of garbage estimated to be one and one-half times the size of the U.S. and 100 feet deep.

How about outer space? Lots of room there, right?

Well, consider that the few satellites we put up there occasionally fall to earth when their orbits decay.

Can you imagine floating tons of trash of all descriptions in space? Eventually, the Weather Channel could be predicting trash storms as well as the weather.

Again, it seems like a Band-Aid fix to a gaping chest wound.

It seems to me that taking care of the excessive trash issue is like shedding body weight. In most cases, it’s a matter of either reducing the intake or increasing the output. Either don’t eat as much junk, or work out more, or both.

Reducing the trash going into the equation seems like the best way of controlling how much trash is going downstream.

That’s an easy thing to say, but way harder to actually accomplish.

As humans go about their busy daily lives, saving the planet ends up far at the bottom of their priority “to do” list.

As individuals, we can recycle things like cardboard, glass, plastic, paper or tin. It is amazing how much that reduces what goes into the kitchen trash can.

But I wonder how much substantive impact that really has on a problem of this magnitude.

It comes down to economics. If there isn’t some financial benefit for someone to go into the business of recycling things, it won’t happen.

And in the meantime, the trash heap continues to grow, and become more toxic.

I guess as we move into our Friday, February 10th, 2012, we should look at the bright side. There are more people recycling; there are more people out there looking for ways to derive a living from recycling discarded items; more people are aware of the issue.

So, as parks and rec professionals dedicated to making the world a better place, what can you do?

I can suggest a couple things, but I’ll bet there are a lot smarter people reading this who have more experience than I do. Got any ideas? Sharing them here might motivate someone else to give it a try.

Here’s one to kick-start the discussion:

Do you have recycling receptacles for plastic and aluminum cans at all your sports facilities?

Do you have them out when you have big practice days or tournaments?

Can you get someone to help monitor and encourage people to use them?

It will amaze you to see the volume of bottles and cans you isolate for recycling after one of these events.

Or start in your own office. Put out containers for aluminum cans and plastic to get people into the habit.

OK, your turn … ideas anyone?

Randy Gaddo, a retired Marine, who also served until recently in municipal parks and recreation, lives in Peachtree City, Ga., and can be reached at (678) 350-8642 or email cwo4usmc@comcast.net.

We can all help give hope to people looking for jobs.

This was the third year my wife and I have helped with Laid Off Camp, and it is one of the most rewarding experiences I have every year.

The purpose of Laid Off Camp is to give those seeking employment a sense of hope, build a professional network with a sense of community, and gain exposure to skills that will help them better themselves in preparation for finding their next career.

With the economy still struggling here in the greater Phoenix area, it is always heartbreaking to see people who are out of work and struggling to make ends meet.

It is emotionally difficult for me to talk to people who have been unemployed for any length of time and see the hurt and dejection on their faces.

It amazes me how one’s sense of self-worth can and oftentimes is tied to a career. Losing one’s job–especially being laid off–can be extremely difficult, because the loss is often not attributable to performance.

I spoke with many people this weekend who had been without work for many months, some for over a year.

The opportunity to connect with other people looking for jobs and being able to empathize with others in the same situation seemed to have a profound effect on people’s morale and outlook for the future.

It was great to see people who came to Laid Off Camp in the morning with slumped shoulders and feelings of despair, leave walking tall and feeling more confident.

The great thing about Laid Off Camp is that it is run completely by volunteers and there is no charge for anyone to attend.

The speakers volunteered their time and expertise, the city of Chandler donated the use of the city council chambers for the day, and two local restaurants provided breakfast and lunch.

A local photographer also took professional headshots for each of the attendees to use on their LinkedIn profiles.

Most of the topics throughout the day pertained to the use of social media in some form.

Most everyone is aware of LinkedIn, and there were sessions that showed how to set up and get the most from your LinkedIn profile.

Twitter was another popular session topic. There are many brands that use their Twitter feeds to post links to job openings, and the social network is quickly becoming another valuable tool for job seekers.

There were also presentations by recruiters who explained what they look for in job candidates, along with a question and answer session discussing how to turn a temporary job assignment into a permanent position.

Other presentations included effective networking techniques, proper resume formatting, and information on starting your own business.

My wife’s and my role throughout the day was to videotape each of the sessions. With her help, we were able to record each of the presentations and I am now in the process of editing and uploading to vimeo.com so that they can be referenced at any time in the future by attendees.

If you’d like to view any of the sessions, feel free to view them here. There are 10 videos from this year’s session and I should have them all uploaded by the end of next week.

If you look at the other channels on my page, you will see the sessions from previous years as well.

If I had to pick one highlight for the day, I would say that it happened when I learned that one of the attendees secured an interview with a volunteer’s company because he had experience in a particular area that the business owner needed. What a wonderful opportunity for him!

If you have some time and get the opportunity to watch any of the videos, please take a few minutes and drop me a quick note and let me know if you learned anything that would be of benefit to you.

As always, please feel free to leave a comment below, send me a tweet, or even an email. I look forward to hearing from you. Have a great weekend!

Boyd Coleman is a landscape architect in Phoenix, Arizona. He can be reached on Twitter at @CDGLA or email: bcoleman001@gmail.com.

This provides certain challenges–and opportunities–that directors at privately owned camps don’t face.

This CampHacker podcast (Number 30, if you’re keeping count!) talks about what makes a great camp board and how camp directors can build a board that will help them create the very best camp.

Working For A Camp Board

If you have a great landscape architecture video or more photos than you know what to do with from a recent project, please send them our way. We’ll run them in the digital edition and post them to our website for all the world to see.

For video, we prefer YouTube links or FLV files. For photos, we prefer jpgs.

If you have any questions, drop an email to editor@northstarpubs.com.

If you have a great park or recreation video or more photos than you know what to do with from a recent program, please send them our way. We’ll run them in the digital edition and post them to our website for all the world to see.

For video, we prefer YouTube links or FLV files. For photos, we prefer jpgs.

If you have any questions, drop an email to editor@northstarpubs.com.

If you have a great camp video or more photos than you know what to do with from a recent program, please send them our way. We’ll run them in the digital edition and post them to our website for all the world to see.

For video, we prefer YouTube links or FLV files. For photos, we prefer jpgs.

If you have any questions, drop an email to editor@northstarpubs.com.

CampsNReviews will be going mobile soon!

Now, imagine clicking through to one of those camps and viewing all its amenities, customer comments, ratings, pictures, videos, driving directions and more.

Thanks to Camp Business magazine, that vision will soon be a reality. And, we want you to be part of it — for FREE!

All you have to do is create your camp or conference center’s free listing on our CampsNReviews page. Parents and retreat groups already use our page and interactive map to find just the camp they are looking for.

If you want your camps to be included in our mobile application, simply log in to your Insider account (or call 866-444-4216 to get one) and create a FREE listing.

If you want to add your logo to all your listings — for FREE — simply email a copy of it and the name of your Insider account and we’ll attach it for you.

Don’t have time to do this right now? Have too many facilities to load by hand?

Simply fill out and fax back our listing form and we’ll do the work for you.

We’ll notify you via email when your listings go live, so you can log in and edit/update them however you see fit.

LAFirmsNReviews will be going mobile soon!

Now, imagine them clicking through to one of those firms and viewing all its expertise, abilities, customer comments, ratings, pictures, videos, driving directions and more.

Thanks to Landscape Architect Business magazine, that vision will soon be a reality. And, we want you to be part of it — for FREE!

All you have to do is create your firm’s free listing on our LAFirmsNReviews page. Your potential clients already use our page and interactive map to find and compare landscape architecture firms.

If you want your firm to be included in our mobile application, simply log in to your Insider account (or call 866-444-4216 to get one) and create a FREE listing for your firm.

If you want to add your logo to your listing — for FREE — simply email a copy of it and the name of your Insider account and we’ll attach it for you.

Don’t have time to do this right now? Have too many facilities to load by hand?

Simply fill out and fax back our listing form and we’ll do the work for you.

We’ll notify you via email when your listings go live, so you can log in and edit/update them however you see fit.

Our ParksNReviews page will soon be going mobile!

Now, imagine clicking through to one of those parks and viewing all its amenities, customer comments, ratings, pictures, videos, driving directions and more.

Thanks to PRB (Parks & Rec Business) magazine, that vision will soon be a reality. And, we want you to be part of it — for FREE!

All you have to do is create your park or recreation facility’s free listing on our ParksNReviews page. Park seekers already use our page and interactive map to find new or favorite recreation spots.

If you want your parks and facilities to be included in our mobile application, simply log in to your Insider account (or call 866-444-4216 to get one) and create a FREE listing for each one of your parks/facilities.

If you want to add your logo to all your listings — for FREE — simply email a copy of it and the name of your Insider account and we’ll attach it for you.

Don’t have time to do this right now? Have too many parks/facilities to load by hand?

Then, email an Excel (.xls), .csv or .txt file containing all your parks/facilities (include: Park Name, Park Contact, Park Address, and Park Amenities) and we’ll create your listings for you.

We’ll notify you via email when your listings go live, so you can log in and edit/update them however you see fit.

The right words at the right time can have a big impact.

A gentleman was retiring from our company, and when being recognized for his 30 years of service, he asked if he could introduce someone.

Typically, the retiring guys bring their wives, the ladies bring their husbands and sometimes their adult children; but this fellow introduced the man that suggested he come to work for us 30 years ago.

He told the story of how this fellow had heard they were hiring over at Metroparks back then and it sure looked like a great place to work. This soon-to-be retiree evidently followed his lead, inquired and got hired.

It was a heartfelt, sentimental moment indeed.

I thought to myself how interesting it is that people often don’t know the effect they have on other people with just a suggestion, a smile, a word, a nod of approval or even something as innocent as a gesture.

All of those signals can be read as encouraging and can virtually change the direction of someone’s life.

If someone is almost desperate or hungry for support, that little nudge can take on monumental meaning.

A few months ago, a friend of mine mentioned that his son had gotten a paid internship to a pretty solid company but was frustrated that he could not find a full-time job, as he had already completed his four-year college degree.

He took the internship as a post-graduate so it would add to his credentials, but it was to last only as long as one semester.

I told him I thought there was a lot of integrity in that move, and that likely he could make a good enough impression while serving the internship to have it turn into a full-time job.

My friend hadn’t looked at it that way, and he asked if I could pass that encouraging word onto this son.

This is what I wrote to him:

“I applaud your recent decision regarding your internship. There’s a certain appeal to an intern that is really interested in what lies ahead. There’s a sort of recklessness about such an individual and employers are anxious to hire it.

“Bill Gates once said our parents and grandparents had a different word for ‘burger-flipping.’ They called it ‘opportunity.’”

I got an email right back from the kid the next day, and he said, “It’s been a really weird past few months being jobless and constantly scrounging for some sort of income. But I suddenly feel a new confidence thanks to your words and have already identified several opportunities where I think I can provide some valuable input to some pretty influential people.

“Thanks so much for even taking the time to analyze my situation and let me benefit from your experience. My dad is fortunate to have you as a friend. I would submit the same.”

Wow! That felt pretty good and really took nothing but a few moments of my time.

I think time is something we should all be more generous with anyway, so in that spirit, I present the following.

Here are my top three ways to convey encouragement without being phony or looking condescending. These are not out of a Dale Carnegie course or anything; it is just what has worked for me over the years.

When in conversation, if you build your point off another person’s thought, always credit that person before you make your point.

Example: “You know Tom is right, we don’t need to verify the contractor’s insurance because it is already sworn to in the specification, but I think it would be wise to secure his insurance certificate anyway to have it available in the file, should the question ever arise.”

Openly ask the question if others agree, as you are building your logic and assembling your argument.

Example: “So stop me if I am wrong, but what I am hearing is that most of us agree that moving the grand opening deadline back one month would ensure we pull it off professionally and without risk. So then we agree that I should inform the Marketing Department we cannot ensure an error-free event without more time; no less than a month?”

Find merit in other’s suggestions to keep team spirit alive and participation fully engaged even if the suggestion is totally inappropriate.

Example: “Aaron, I can always count on you to see things from an angle I never considered, but I think in this instance dropping balloons when the lecture is finished might send a mixed message. Let’s store that thought for another day, though. I could see that playing very well at the next retirement party. Thanks for that idea.”

You my not always be able to make someone’s day with your words. And alternatively, you may say something in passing you didn’t even know had power or verve behind it.

But if you take responsibility of your words, your reactions, your gestures and your impact on other people, you may just make all the difference in the value others find in the things that make up you.

Ron Ciancutti is the Purchasing Manager for Cleveland Metroparks. He is not on Facebook, but he can be reached at rdc@clevelandmetroparks.com.

Look for great design in your favorite vacation spot.

Puerto Peñasco, also referred to as Rocky Point by most people in Arizona, is located about an hour south of the U.S. and Mexico border, about four hours south of Phoenix.

For us, Rocky Point is the closest beach and is a couple of hours closer by car than San Diego.

My wife’s birthday trip has become an annual tradition. We enjoy the opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and just slow down for a few days.

With limited Internet service and international cell phone rates, it is nice to leave the laptop at home, turn off the phone, and just relax.

Rocky Point may seem like a sleepy fishing village most of the time, but during Spring Break in March and April the town comes alive with thousands of college students looking to unwind for a week.

Mexico has received quite a bit of negative press in the past few years, with news of drug trafficking, kidnappings, and worse.

We have friends who question our sanity at the mere mention of Mexico, but we have found that Rocky Point is one of the safest places we’ve ever visited.

Sure, we travel during the daytime, but that has more to do with the fact that the road is scarcely traveled after dark and, should one break down, it can be quite a long hike back to civilization.

The road between the border and Rocky Point crosses many miles of desolate desert, and during the day you are more likely to see traffic than you will after dark.

Rocky Point survives on tourism dollars, but over recent years has seen a sharp decline in the number of tourists. The downturn in the U.S. economy has negatively affected the economy of Rocky Point.

As of last year, development had all but stopped.

This year, however, we noticed that there have been many infrastructure improvements since our trip last year.

The town is building a large convention center near the fishing port, many roads are being paved with either asphalt or concrete, and many of the local restaurants and shops in the Old Port have undergone renovations.

Part of the Old Port consists of shops and restaurants, but most of it is a public open space referred to as “the malecon”.

The malecon features a boardwalk along the edge of the ocean, where visitors can sit on one of the many benches and watch the shrimp boats head out to sea or view the pelicans and gulls fish for dinner in the ocean.

There is also a large, flat, open area surrounded by sculptures. Across the street is an amphitheater where outdoor concerts are held year-round.

The malecon has been a work in progress ever since we started visiting Rocky Point. This year, we noticed that a plethora of Mexican Fan Palms had been planted in the planters throughout the malecon and the Old Port.

I have to admit I have been pleasantly surprised by the design and implementation of the landscape architecture in the malecon, because most of the town, except for the resorts, is lacking any formal landscaping whatsoever.

We had a great visit this year and spent three wonderful days soaking up the sun on the beach and wandering the shops of the Old Port.

We look forward to our next opportunity to return and visit and see what progress has been made.

Have you ever found evidence of landscape architecture in unexpected places while traveling? If so, I’d love to hear about it. Feel free to leave a comment below, send me a tweet, or even an email. I look forward to hearing from you.

Have a great weekend!

Boyd Coleman is a landscape architect in Phoenix, Arizona. He can be reached on Twitter at @CDGLA or email: bcoleman001@gmail.com.

The right words at the right time can have a big impact.

A gentleman was retiring from our company, and when being recognized for his 30 years of service, he asked if he could introduce someone.

Typically, the retiring guys bring their wives, the ladies bring their husbands and sometimes their adult children; but this fellow introduced the man that suggested he come to work for us 30 years ago.

He told the story of how this fellow had heard they were hiring over at Metroparks back then and it sure looked like a great place to work. This soon-to-be retiree evidently followed his lead, inquired and got hired.

It was a heartfelt, sentimental moment indeed.

I thought to myself how interesting it is that people often don’t know the effect they have on other people with just a suggestion, a smile, a word, a nod of approval or even something as innocent as a gesture.

All of those signals can be read as encouraging and can virtually change the direction of someone’s life.

If someone is almost desperate or hungry for support, that little nudge can take on monumental meaning.

A few months ago, a friend of mine mentioned that his son had gotten a paid internship to a pretty solid company but was frustrated that he could not find a full-time job, as he had already completed his four-year college degree.

He took the internship as a post-graduate so it would add to his credentials, but it was to last only as long as one semester.

I told him I thought there was a lot of integrity in that move, and that likely he could make a good enough impression while serving the internship to have it turn into a full-time job.

My friend hadn’t looked at it that way, and he asked if I could pass that encouraging word onto this son.

This is what I wrote to him:

“I applaud your recent decision regarding your internship. There’s a certain appeal to an intern that is really interested in what lies ahead. There’s a sort of recklessness about such an individual and employers are anxious to hire it.

“Bill Gates once said our parents and grandparents had a different word for ‘burger-flipping.’ They called it ‘opportunity.’”

I got an email right back from the kid the next day, and he said, “It’s been a really weird past few months being jobless and constantly scrounging for some sort of income. But I suddenly feel a new confidence thanks to your words and have already identified several opportunities where I think I can provide some valuable input to some pretty influential people.

“Thanks so much for even taking the time to analyze my situation and let me benefit from your experience. My dad is fortunate to have you as a friend. I would submit the same.”

Wow! That felt pretty good and really took nothing but a few moments of my time.

I think time is something we should all be more generous with anyway, so in that spirit, I present the following.

Here are my top three ways to convey encouragement without being phony or looking condescending. These are not out of a Dale Carnegie course or anything; it is just what has worked for me over the years.

When in conversation, if you build your point off another person’s thought, always credit that person before you make your point.

Example: “You know Tom is right, we don’t need to verify the contractor’s insurance because it is already sworn to in the specification, but I think it would be wise to secure his insurance certificate anyway to have it available in the file, should the question ever arise.”

Openly ask the question if others agree, as you are building your logic and assembling your argument.

Example: “So stop me if I am wrong, but what I am hearing is that most of us agree that moving the grand opening deadline back one month would ensure we pull it off professionally and without risk. So then we agree that I should inform the Marketing Department we cannot ensure an error-free event without more time; no less than a month?”

Find merit in other’s suggestions to keep team spirit alive and participation fully engaged even if the suggestion is totally inappropriate.

Example: “Aaron, I can always count on you to see things from an angle I never considered, but I think in this instance dropping balloons when the lecture is finished might send a mixed message. Let’s store that thought for another day, though. I could see that playing very well at the next retirement party. Thanks for that idea.”

You my not always be able to make someone’s day with your words. And alternatively, you may say something in passing you didn’t even know had power or verve behind it.

But if you take responsibility of your words, your reactions, your gestures and your impact on other people, you may just make all the difference in the value others find in the things that make up you.

Ron Ciancutti is the Purchasing Manager for Cleveland Metroparks. He is not on Facebook, but he can be reached at rdc@clevelandmetroparks.com.

Effective May 1, 2012, Richard A. Sperber will be promoted to Chairman of the Board of ValleyCrest Landscape Companies.

This change will allow Sperber to focus on charting the vision and direction of the family of companies, while remaining involved with client and employee growth and development strategies.

As part of this transition, Roger J. Zino will be promoted to Chief Executive Officer of ValleyCrest Landscape Companies and will remain President of ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance, his current position.

Additionally, Andrew J. Brennan will re-join the company as Chief Operating Officer of ValleyCrest Landscape Companies, a newly-created position reporting to Zino.

“The driver behind these changes is to keep ValleyCrest strong and on course for the next 62 years,” Sperber said of the family of companies founded by his father, Burton S. Sperber, in 1949.

For more about ValleyCrest, visit www.valleycrest.com.

The CampDoc is making a house call to Markel Insurance Company.

Markel has expanded its safety resource offerings to include access to CampDoc’s system to help camps improve safety, reduce risk, and provide the best possible care to their campers and staff.

Markel camp policyholders will have access to the CampDoc.com Health Form, Medication Management, and Health Log.

Both Markel and CampDoc work with a diverse group of traditional resident and day camps, including special needs, medical, adventure, tripping, and sports camps, as well as after-school and summer school programs.

“With the help of CampDoc.com, Markel policyholders will have a centralized, secure online tool in their risk management portfolio to help reduce liability and keep safety in the forefront of camp operations,” said Ian Garner, Markel’s Director of Camp & Youth Organization Relations.

“Reducing risk and helping prevent dangerous medical and medication errors is crucial to ensuring a successful camp season.”

“We are very excited that Markel chose us to provide this much needed service,” said Dr. Michael Ambrose, Owner and Director of CampDoc LLC.

“We’re committed to reducing injury and illness. Keeping kids healthy and safe while they’re at camp is our ultimate goal.”

Markel camp policyholders can connect to CampDoc.com by visiting Markel’s Camp Insurance website at campinsurance.com and logging in under Safety Resources.

To learn more about CampDoc, go to http://www.campdoc.com/index.php.

Art meets landscape in this Chicago installation.

The video and sound installation by Chicago-based artists Luftwerk will illuminate Cloud Gate in Chicago’s Millennium Park.

Family activities, live performances and dance events will complement the installation, which will transform the park into a digital canvas of light and geometrical form, with music composed by Owen Clayton Condon of Chicago’s Third Coast Percussion.

Visitors can enjoy the installation each evening (Fridays—Saturdays 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Sundays—Thursdays 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.) and take part in programs created specifically for Luminous Field on the weekends at an adjacent heated tent in Millennium Park’s Chase Promenade North.

All activities are free.

The schedule of weekend events for Luminous Field:

FAMILY ACTIVITIES
Saturdays—Mondays, February 11-13 and February 18-20; 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Warm up in the heated tent with fun family activities, including hands-on arts and craft projects and performances for all ages.

Each day kicks off with Wiggleworms instructors from the Old Town School of Music at 11 a.m. and features a variety of musical performances at 1 p.m.

Family craft activities are presented by Chicago Children’s Museum and Chicago Architecture Foundation February 11-13. Activities are presented by The Art Institute of Chicago on February 18-20.

INTERACTIVE PERFORMANCES AT AT&T PLAZA
Fridays, February 10 and 17; 7, 8 and 9 p.m.
Join local theater company Collaboraction at Cloud Gate for site-specific performances inspired by Luminous Field.

Follow along with their choreographed movements and participate in interactive games, all synchronized with Luminous Field’s video and sound.

WINTER DANCE
Saturdays, February 11 and 18; Dance Lesson: 5 – 6 p.m.; Open Dancing: 6 – 8 p.m.
Enjoy dance lessons at a dance party in the indoor heated tent before heading out to see Luminous Field.

Dancing is preceded by a one-hour lesson led by professional instructors. Doors open 30 minutes before the start of each session.

No reservations required, but space is limited.

Feb. 11: Dance Instruction by the American Tango Institute and Live Music by Tangata
Feb. 18: Dance Instruction by Big City Swing and Live Music by Sons of Susan

SUNDAY NIGHT CONCERT SERIES
Sundays, February 12 and 19; 7 p.m.
Performances take place in the heated tent. Doors open 30 minutes before the start of each show.

No reservations required, but space is limited.

Sunday, February 12: Third Coast Percussion
Sunday, February 19: Pillars and Tongues

ARTIST TALK WITH LUFTWERK
Wednesday, February 15, 7 p.m.
Learn more about Luftwerk’s process in creating Luminous Field in this conversation led by Lou Mallozzi, Adjunct Professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Executive Director of Experimental Sound Studio.

Luminous Field by Luftwerk is presented by the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture, in cooperation with the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Illinois Office of Tourism.

Food and beverages by the Park Grill restaurant will be available for purchase in the indoor heated tent.

Production for Luminous Field is by AV Chicago.

For more information about Luminous Field by Luftwerk, visit www.explorechicago.org/winter, call 312.742.1168, visit Explore Chicago on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @explorechicago.

Art meets landscape in this Chicago installation.

The video and sound installation by Chicago-based artists Luftwerk will illuminate Cloud Gate in Chicago’s Millennium Park.

Family activities, live performances and dance events will complement the installation, which will transform the park into a digital canvas of light and geometrical form, with music composed by Owen Clayton Condon of Chicago’s Third Coast Percussion.

Visitors can enjoy the installation each evening (Fridays—Saturdays 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Sundays—Thursdays 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.) and take part in programs created specifically for Luminous Field on the weekends at an adjacent heated tent in Millennium Park’s Chase Promenade North.

All activities are free.

The schedule of weekend events for Luminous Field:

FAMILY ACTIVITIES
Saturdays—Mondays, February 11-13 and February 18-20; 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Warm up in the heated tent with fun family activities, including hands-on arts and craft projects and performances for all ages.

Each day kicks off with Wiggleworms instructors from the Old Town School of Music at 11 a.m. and features a variety of musical performances at 1 p.m.

Family craft activities are presented by Chicago Children’s Museum and Chicago Architecture Foundation February 11-13. Activities are presented by The Art Institute of Chicago on February 18-20.

INTERACTIVE PERFORMANCES AT AT&T PLAZA
Fridays, February 10 and 17; 7, 8 and 9 p.m.
Join local theater company Collaboraction at Cloud Gate for site-specific performances inspired by Luminous Field.

Follow along with their choreographed movements and participate in interactive games, all synchronized with Luminous Field’s video and sound.

WINTER DANCE
Saturdays, February 11 and 18; Dance Lesson: 5 – 6 p.m.; Open Dancing: 6 – 8 p.m.
Enjoy dance lessons at a dance party in the indoor heated tent before heading out to see Luminous Field.

Dancing is preceded by a one-hour lesson led by professional instructors. Doors open 30 minutes before the start of each session.

No reservations required, but space is limited.

Feb. 11: Dance Instruction by the American Tango Institute and Live Music by Tangata
Feb. 18: Dance Instruction by Big City Swing and Live Music by Sons of Susan

SUNDAY NIGHT CONCERT SERIES
Sundays, February 12 and 19; 7 p.m.
Performances take place in the heated tent. Doors open 30 minutes before the start of each show.

No reservations required, but space is limited.

Sunday, February 12: Third Coast Percussion
Sunday, February 19: Pillars and Tongues

ARTIST TALK WITH LUFTWERK
Wednesday, February 15, 7 p.m.
Learn more about Luftwerk’s process in creating Luminous Field in this conversation led by Lou Mallozzi, Adjunct Professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Executive Director of Experimental Sound Studio.

Luminous Field by Luftwerk is presented by the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture, in cooperation with the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Illinois Office of Tourism.

Food and beverages by the Park Grill restaurant will be available for purchase in the indoor heated tent.

Production for Luminous Field is by AV Chicago.

For more information about Luminous Field by Luftwerk, visit www.explorechicago.org/winter, call 312.742.1168, visit Explore Chicago on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @explorechicago.

Sometimes a guest speaker can put a little energy into your staff training.

The box that is your office, that is.

Sure, you’re the camp director. It’s your job to make sure your staff is knowledgeable and ready for anything the summer might throw at them.

But that doesn’t mean you are the expert on everything. Or that your staff might not benefit from a breath of fresh air.

Our friend Dave Bell at CampLeadership.org says it’s a good idea to hire guest speakers for some of your staff training. He shares his thoughts on why–and has some suggestion for who–in this blog post: http://bit.ly/x4uZlY.

There's An App For Us!

You can download the app for free.

You can then download an issue of the magazine for $1.99, or you can get the whole year’s worth for $11.99.

On your iPhone, your PRB app will show up right on your screen. On the iPad, it will display in the Apple Newstand.

Here’s the link to download the iPhone app: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prb-parks-rec-business/id497369323?mt=8

And here’s the link to download the app for iPad: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prb-parks-rec-business-magazine/id496974723?mt=8

We’re also working on aps for the Android market; we’ll let you know when those are ready!

From my office window, the entire front range of the Rockies spread out before me and behind the office were the start of the great plains–a high, arid desert perfect for hiking, running or biking.

The company I worked for at the time was just hitting its growth spurt and, as a result, the management team had hired a bunch of twenty-something kids who were happy to work relatively cheap.

All of us were from somewhere else–drawn to the mountains by our desire to lead active lives–and we spent our nights and weekends skiing, hiking, running, biking, kayaking, climbing, etc.

At some point, I became interested in mountain biking, so when a buddy who worked in our production office started bringing his bike to work for lunch-time rides, I asked to join him.

The next day, we changed our clothes, grabbed our bikes and took off for a rocky trail that began at the edge of our parking lot.

Almost immediately, I knew I was in way, way over my head. My buddy–let’s call him Al–took off like a bat out of you know what, jumped the curve and pointed his bike straight down a huge, rocky, rutted incline. In an instant, he was gone.

Literally.

I reached the end of the parking lot, looked down the hill and spotted him. He was a speck down on the prairie followed closely by a huge dust cloud.

I gulped, gingerly picked my way down the hill and when I hit the flat, tried like heck to close the gap. I never did. In fact, the harder I pushed, the harder I fell–head over handlebars.

It was embarrassing–even more so when Al rode up on his way back to the office. Once again, I was on the ground trying to determine if all my pieces and parts were working.

He laughed and said, “Dude, how come every time I turned to look for you, you were on the ground?“

I chuckled and made a mental note to never ride with him again.

It’s a good thing I didn’t.

Years later, when Al and I were launching this magazine, he was riding competitively–getting so good that he contemplated turning pro. Luckily for me, he decided to stay with the magazine.

I was reminded of this little incident when I read Tania Juillerat’s article, “Gaining Ground,” which details how Indiana’s mountain bike trails went from worst to first–eventually becoming a mecca for serious bikers–like me (and Al).

It also reminded me, again, of the power of the activities and opportunities you provide for your citizens. How many lifelong friendships were made over a hike, bike-ride or softball game?

A lot. And that tidbit ought to keep you going when the budget monster or recessionary pressure gets you down.

Keep up the good work!

Till next month…

Rodney J. Auth
Publisher

Say a little prayer of thanks for the good things in your life.

“I don’t understand, Mom.”

“Someday you will. Just trust me on this, OK?”

“Yeah, well, I’ll do it, but I don’t like it. Mark is sometimes very mean to me,” I explained. “I like to beat him at games.”

“Mark can’t do all the things you and the other second-graders do, Bruz. Every day, when you run and jump and play–even when you go to school and see your friends–he doesn’t get to do any of that.”

“Yeah, but he doesn’t even have to go to school–he gets to stay home. It’s like every day is Saturday for him.”

Mom suddenly grew quiet, and then I heard her clear her throat.

“Pretty soon he won’t even be able to do that. Honey, I guess it’s time you knew. Mark is very sick and will probably not be around much longer. His mother is a close friend of mine, and you are the only friend Mark has. So you’ve been the only person he has to look forward to seeing. I know he’s moody and angry, but I bet you would be, too. Just be a good friend to him, OK?”

I sat in stunned silence. It was a lot for a 7-year-old to digest. From that point forward, I tried to be more patient.

I prayed for Mark at night before bed. I thought about him sometimes when I was doing something really fun, and the fact that he was unable to do what I was enjoying.

It humbled me in many ways.

Then we received word that Mark was in the hospital for the last time. His mom thought it would be best if I didn’t see him. She said he wouldn’t know I was there.

I really didn’t know what that meant, but a few days later my parents and I went to the funeral. I wore a tie, and when Mark’s mom saw me, she burst into tears and held me very close. Mom prayed with me that night, and we thanked God for letting me be there for Mark and his mom.

It took years for me to get the image of that little coffin out of my mind.

* * *

I had lettered in football and baseball in junior high, and been elected class president in the eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh grades.

I played drums in the school jazz and symphonic bands.

Give of yourself.

I had bought and fixed up three or four cars in my teens and enjoyed a rich group of friends that I grew up with and vacationed with every summer.

I knew I was blessed and thought often of Mark and all he had missed.

Twelve years later, I was sitting at my desk in the dormitory. The phone rang and it was my mom.

David, one of those summer buddies, had become very sick, and his brother had called our house. David wanted to see me one last time, if I could get home.

I went to the ride board in the college union and found a ride leaving at 5 a.m. the following morning. By 10 a.m., I was back in Berea and within an hour I was sitting by David’s bed, holding his hand.

The tumor had swelled his forehead as if it would burst, and it took a few minutes for me to focus on what he had to say.

He’d been fighting the illness for a while, but I never knew since we had lost touch over the years. He wanted to hear about what I was doing, and listened with rapt attention as I recounted my experiences.

“You have had a great life, Bruz,” he told me.

“I’m glad you were in it,” I told him.

We cried a bit and I said goodbye. His parents hugged me quietly at the door.

My dad drove me back to school that evening with my mom’s words ringing in my ears. “I’m sure God is smiling down on the friend you have been to David,” she said.

He only lasted two more weeks.

Memories of him wash over me when I eat apples and pears like we used to do in the summer from the fruit trees in my parents’ backyard–especially the green ones, for some reason. He was a really good friend, and we shared a lot.

* * *

“I just thought it was a sore throat,” he said. “But the biopsy wasn’t good. It’s cancer, man. I might be already dying.”

I held my hand over the receiver to hide my gasp. My secretary saw my eyes fill with tears when I glanced through the door at her.

This friend was also my age, someone I had shared much of my adult life with.

“Big deal,” I roared. “We’ll get through this!”

He rose to my enthusiasm and said, “OK, OK … but uh … stay close to me though, all right?”

I let out a hearty, obnoxious laugh. “Absolutely,” trying to sound as cavalier as possible.

I hung up and looked at my reflection in the picture glass across the room. “Here we go again,” I thought.

For the next year, I played the “so what?” guy, trying to be strong when he might be weak.

“It really hurts,” he said.

“Must be healing,” I responded.

“My kids think I look like a skinny freak,” he said.

“Well, remind them you were pretty ugly to begin with,” I retorted.

“I don’t know if I can get through this,” he said.

“You can and you will! Don’t you quit on me!”

And then one day he said, “Hey, I gained two pounds!”

“There you go, partner!”

“Doc says I turned the corner!”

“Never doubted it for a second, brother.”

“Man, thanks.”

“No charge, dude, my pleasure.”

And he did get better. And he’s still getting better and doing great. His kids are growing up to be the great people he hoped to see graduate and get married. His steadfast wife is right there–strong as ever.

And my faith in the natural wonders of life is hanging tight.

I am continuously amazed by all the privileges I have an opportunity to enjoy: my wonderful families–the ones that raised me and the ones I made and chose; the sunsets, the amazing clouds; the love in my wife’s eyes; the memories of accomplishments and honors; the lessons of good, solid parents, the love of my irreplaceable sisters; the loyalty of good animals; a warm cup of morning coffee, the relief of an ice cold beer on a summer day; a parking spot by the office door; the smell of a fire in fall, the wind through the frozen trees on a winter night; the laughter of my children–and, lest I forget, the honor of relating all of it to you.

Remember the important things and the honors you have been given, my friends. Give of yourself and watch it come back in truckloads.

And have yourself a Happy New Year.

Ron Ciancutti is the Purchasing Manager for Cleveland Metroparks. He is not on Facebook, but he can be reached at rdc@clevelandmetroparks.com.

Be a resonant leader.

No matter how many services are provided–recreation facilities, parks, bike trails and sports fields–the greatest resource for effective and successful programs is the staff.

Coordinated efforts of the front-line staff members who work with the public on a daily basis go hand in hand with the office personnel who take care of everything behind the scenes.

In order to meet the recreational needs of the public, it is necessary for administrators and supervisors to provide effective leadership for the staff.

Defining The Leader
According to Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee, co-authors of Primal Leadership: Learning to Lead with Emotional Intelligence, it is the resonant leader who is likely to create the most supportive and productive work environment.

This person promotes a culture based on emotional support and empathy. He or she is able to understand and appreciate the emotional “temperature” of the organization and lead accordingly.

A resonant leader listens carefully to the staff’s words and acknowledges what the members’ emotions are conveying. It is a deep, sensitive type of listening that sparks a connection between the top ranks and staff members and ultimately fosters a supportive work climate.

This type of leadership promotes not only a more effective and productive staff, but an emotional well-being that fosters a feeling of unity.

Those who have worked in the field for an extended period of time are aware of and appreciate the demands that can be exerted on staff members. This is especially the case when shrinking budgets call for reduced staffing and fewer resources.

There is an even greater need now for capable resonant leadership.

Staff members are influenced not only by interpersonal relationships and demands at work, but also by their personal lives and events outside of the workplace. The seemingly “separate lives” of staff personnel are intertwined with their work performance.

Consider the recreational staff member who has been outstanding in all aspects of his job. For example, he has always been on time, works well with co-workers, manages programs effectively, and receives an outstanding annual employee evaluation.

All of a sudden, his work performance drops dramatically. His obligation to duty becomes more or less non-existent. No one knows what is going on with him until word gets out that he is going through a traumatic divorce. In addition, losing custody of his child has had such a tremendous impact on his life as to negatively affect his performance at work.

An Effective Leader
Opinions as to what constitutes a good leader versus a less-effective one vary; however, many people have most likely worked for both during their career.

The less-effective leader can have tremendous impact on staff morale and productivity. Although the cost of ineffective leadership may not have a defined monetary amount, the low morale and productivity have indirect costs that are easy to measure. These indirect costs are the main reason for emphasizing effective leadership in parks and recreation departments.

As an actual example of an effective resonant leader, let’s consider the skills practiced by James, a recently hired recreation administrator of a medium-sized recreation department.

The particular facilities he manages include some dedicated and talented personnel who have suffered in the past from infighting, caused by a lack of communication, lack of teamwork, low morale and general frustration because of ineffective leadership.

James begins by visiting the facilities and getting to know the staff members. He remains patient in his attempts to bring about positive change.

Over time, as the personnel begin to open up to him, James gains a fairly good understanding of the problems. He changes some of the assignments within the department, and holds weekly meetings for staff members in each rec center and an additional weekly meeting for the recreational staff.

At these meetings, James emphasizes appropriate two-way communication. He asks the directors to identify the resources that are lacking, those that each center has on hand and how the resources can be shared among the centers.

James continues to visit the rec centers to spend time with the staff in order to monitor their morale, and to evaluate the staff’s reception of the changes.

James doesn’t expect everyone to agree with his methods and attempts to improve the department, nor does he ever think that a total unification of the department will result. However, listening to the staff, supporting them, and implementing positive changes will result in better communications, increased teamwork and the resolution of certain elements related to the lack of resources.

It is important for parks and recreation administrators and managers to establish and maintain a work environment that includes empathy and support. In these days of budget cuts and staff shortages, what administrator wouldn’t want to nurture productivity and efficiency?

Establish an effective resonant leadership for a more cohesive, productive and efficient staff.

Work cited:
Goleman, D., Boyatzis, R., and McKee, A. Primal Leadership: Learning to Lead with Emotional Intelligence. Harvard Business School Press: Watertown, Massachusetts, 2002.

N. Jonas Ohrberg is a facility coordinator for the city of Rio Rancho Parks and Recreation Department in New Mexico. Ohrberg completed a Ph.D. in Leadership from Capella University in October 2010. He can be reached via johrberg@ci.rio-rancho.nm.us.

Your community's seniors are seeking fun, fitness and companionship.

The older adult population (age 50 years and beyond as defined by AARP) also carries an attachment to historical events; these experiences carry through the remainder of their lives and affect the choices they make.

What Shapes A Senior?
Take into consideration the impact of historical events such as the Great Depression (1929), the repeal of Prohibition (1933), the attack on Pearl Harbor (1941), the Space Race (1957), the Civil Rights Movement (1965) and Women’s Movement (1966), as well as the Vietnam War (1964).

In a span of less than 40 years, the manner in which life was lived was completely altered.

Think for a moment about the older adult who was in the prime of his or her youth during the Great Depression. That person likely experienced hunger, poverty, rationing and unemployment in the family like many others at that time.

He or she also would likely have a different vantage point than someone who grew up during the Civil Rights Movement, with the notion that one voice can make a difference.

Both generations currently fall into the older-adult sector, which senior centers are to serve and serve fairly.

Does this idea sound too farfetched? Look at it this way: For the first half of your life, recreational activities are segmented according to a particular stage. Programs such as parent-tot swimming lessons, toddler-tumbling and T-ball are specially designed and administered.

Sports progress through every grade at school at the same rate as the participants. As the competition changes, skills are honed and new things are learned.

New opportunities become available with age throughout high school and college.

After a successful career and raising a family, retirement approaches–now what? For the next undetermined number of years, what are people supposed to do?

Role Of The Senior Center In A Community
This is where the local senior center comes into play. I know, I know. It’s a senior center and most people believe they are not old enough to go there.

Remember, age has nothing to do with ability and desire. A senior center is not an assisted-living facility nor is it a senior community.

Your senior population is a diverse mix of ages, interests and abilities.

Senior centers fill the gap. They cater to older adults within an area or region (i.e., city, county, district) who are still living independently. These folks are seeking opportunities to socially and intellectually engage with others, foster friendships, experience new ideas, and contribute their skills and knowledge.

And they are relying on public and private entities such as senior centers, fitness centers and whatever social groups and clubs meet to fill this need.

Recreation Programming Considerations
There is much to consider when programming for older adults. The age range is difficult to accommodate fairly, but then also to take into consideration the vast degree of differences in abilities–physical, mental and financial, the expectations of convenience, customer service, government, community and socialization.

There are varying levels of education among this older adult segment, varying ideals on gender roles and varying levels of acceptance to ethnic and social diversity; not to mention the physical, emotional, environmental and intrinsic personal needs.

Senior centers have a unique opportunity to address the needs and interests of all older adults in their community by becoming an all-inclusive provider.

The ability to serve all these adults is imperative, and requires the creativity to make the experience seamless to the participants.

A successful senior center model should include aspects of health, personal and support services; opportunities for socialization, travel and volunteering; special events, intellectual engagement, artistic expression and fitness and well-being programs.

The real key is not only to provide it, but to provide it with heart and true intention, so programming interests are made available to all older adults. This means a careful examination of the balance and diversity of programs being offered and taking into consideration the interest, affordability, skill requirement, timeliness and relevance to the participants.

So, be as careful planning senior activities as you are in planning Little League.

Seniors have an equally important place in the community and perhaps even more in recreational programming: their options are more limited, but your programming shouldn’t be.

Anne Lane, CPRP, is the Senior Center Manager for the city of McMinnville Parks & Recreation Department in McMinnville, Ore. She can be reached via e-mail at anne.lane@ci.mcminnville.or.us.

A new, synthetic-turf soccer field helps prevent harmful runoff into nearby salmon-supporting streams.

After many years as a valuable regional amenity, the park’s fields and facilities were in need of renovation.

Poor drainage affected the park’s winter-use potential, while the community was emerging with changing recreational needs that the old park could no longer satisfy.

In response, the city’s parks department and the landscape-architecture firm of Bruce Dees & Associates developed several goals to improve the park to better sustain itself in the future:

1. Address negative environmental impacts
2. Reduce maintenance costs
3. Increase revenue to support other park-maintenance operations
4. Create a site that could meet the needs of the community.

Phase I
In order to accomplish these, the renovation was planned in three separate phases.

The first phase involved converting the existing sand soccer field to synthetic turf. The original field continually flooded due to insufficient, deteriorated drainage.

The runoff dramatically degraded the water quality in the storm-sewer system, which eventually empties into the salmon-supporting Sammamish River. The 2½-percent diagonal slope across the field caused severe erosion, with runoff filling the structures to capacity with silt.

Maintenance crews spent considerable time cleaning out catch basins and other structures during rain storms and winter months, and continuously struggled to contain the silt with sand bags and other erosion-control methods.

The plan for the renovated field called for a set level around the perimeter with a ½-percent center crown and a 10-foot-wide porous rubber-coated warning track. Surfaced with a permeable material, the track allowed for infiltration of rainwater without the necessary additional detention facilities, thus minimizing the footprint of the facility.

Today, there is literally no silt runoff from the field; subsequent tests prove that there are no harmful materials in the water, which percolates through the sand/rubber infill through the crushed rock base to the field’s new sub-drain lines.

The overwhelming success of the facility–now considered one of the area’s premier soccer venues–also can be attributed to a new floodlighting system. The installation dramatically increased playing time as well as revenue for the city.

One year prior to construction, the field generated $19,857 in revenue. After construction, the same renovated field generated $59,010 in revenue. This 297-percent increase was the result of an additional 924 hours of available use for field users.

A green roof and surface rain gardens are part of the sustainable renovation.

This increase in revenue helps fund maintenance in other parts of the park, allowing the facility to better sustain itself financially.

Phase II
During the second phase, one of the three grass softball fields was converted to synthetic turf. This allowed the field to serve both softball and summer youth soccer programs.

Like the first-phase renovation, the conversion eliminated nutrient runoff, and simultaneously increased the scheduling ability for the facility, which helped generate more revenue for the city.

Six tennis courts were renovated during this phase, and built-in bleachers were installed for the ball fields as well. A specially designed hooded backstop was installed to protect spectators and passersby.

Phase III
The third phase of the project received a $500,000 Department of Ecology LID Grant to incorporate further low-impact development strategies into the park. This phase focused on the passive-use area of the park.

Stormwater management was addressed during this phase through the installation of a “green” roof on the park’s maintenance building. Rain gardens were also designed to capture and filter runoff from a new multi-use building, which was also part of the project.

Pervious asphalt paving was incorporated to replace pathways and reduce the hardscape footprint. This technique was also applied to the adjacent basketball courts.

The three phases of the Grass Lawn Park project enhanced the environmental, financial, and social sustainability of the facility, transforming a park with serious operational constraints into a well-utilized facility.

Today, the site is a successful example of how a well-loved public park can be retrofitted to conform to conscientious growth and sustainable development.

Bruce Dees, FASLA, is the principal of Bruce Dees & Associates, a landscape-architecture, urban-design, site-planning, and recreational-facilities design firm in Tacoma, Wash.

Indiana's Brown County State Park is home to some of the best mountain biking trails in the country.

So what transformation took place to being recognized as one of the premier trail systems in the world in just a few short years?

It all started in 2003 when the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) published its annual report card, rating states based on factors such as trail access, quantity, and quality. Indiana was awarded a disappointing D+.

While off-road cyclists living in the state had some legal mountain-bike trails to ride, their access was limited, and many traveled more than six hours to places like eastern Kentucky, western North Carolina, or northern Michigan.

The low rating garnered attention from local mountain-bike advocates. Representatives from the Hoosier Mountain Bike Association (HMBA) and Indiana Bicycle Coalition began meeting with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to discuss mountain-biking on Indiana state properties.

As a result of those first meetings, HMBA was granted access to two of the state’s largest and most beautiful properties–Versailles State Park in the southeast part of the state and Brown County State Park near Nashville.

Volunteers rallied, beginning the daunting task of building sustainable trails that flowed well, followed the natural contours of the land, and resisted erosion.

Within three years, volunteers at both parks completed nine miles of purpose-built trails in Versailles, and more than 14 miles at Brown County State Park.

Then in 2007, the HMBA was awarded a $150,000 Recreational Trails Program Grant, and construction began on an additional 12 miles of flowing single track at the Nashville park. With the help of local professional trail builders, who were equipped with the proper machinery, most of these trails were laid out within a year.

Recognizing The Effort
Momentum for the trails really began when Bike magazine, in its March 2009 issue, named Brown County State Park as one of the top 33 trails in North America.

Mountain-bikers began to take notice of the quality of the trails, and soon the county was becoming a Midwest mountain-bike destination, attracting riders from across the country.

The success of Brown County State Park was only the beginning, and soon led to access and additional trails in O’Bannon Woods, Versailles, Fort Harrison, and New Harmonie state parks. These purpose-built trails were funded by a $250,000 trails grant awarded to HMBA by the governor in 2008.

The Crown Jewel
However, the crown jewel is the Brown County trail system, which features five independent loops and three connector trails. The 100-percent single-track system is fun for riders of all ages and abilities. The mountain-bike trails offer something for every level of rider.

Beautiful scenery makes for a nice rest stop.

The introductory Pine Loop trail, with its wide path, traverses a large pine-tree stand, and is great for teaching kids and beginners as it meanders through ravines and across beautiful wooden bridges.

The six-mile loop of Walnut Trail (Advanced Black Diamond) and Schooner Trace Trail (Expert Double-Black Diamond) challenges even the best mountain-bikers with dips, logs, rocks, bridges, a narrow trail, and steep ravines reminiscent of North Carolina or West Virginia.

Exploding With Events
The Brown County trail system has become home to some of the most popular mountain-bike events in the country. The DINO race (www.dinoseries.com) has consistently seen over 300 participants annually.

The state park is also home to the Midwest Women’s Mountain Bike Clinic (www.midwestwomensclinic.com). The event started in 2005 and is known as one of the largest and longest-running women’s mountain-bike events in the industry, bringing in coaches and participants from across the U.S. and Canada.

The Brown County Breakdown Epic Mountain Bike Ride (www.browncountybreakdown.com) is an annual fundraising event for the HMBA. The event–held in October–draws more than 600 riders, with nearly 20 different states represented, and has raised more than $85,000 since its 2005 inception. The smooth, flowing single track is also welcoming to hikers and trail runners.

Endless Possibilities
In November 2011, the county was named an IMBA Epic location, a distinction given to only 57 of the most premier trails and rides around the world in the last 10 years (www.imba.com/epics/brown-county).

The story doesn’t end there, though. HMBA leaders are working hard to build an additional 25 miles of trails. These trails will give more options to riders and connect key locations within the state park; also provided will be an extensive “back-country” trail, allowing mountain bikers to make a day trip to Story, Ind., and easily link up with the Hoosier National Forest, where another 50+ miles of trails are available.

Indiana now offers enough riding opportunities to keep local mountain-bikers closer to home and give out-of-state riders a destination to add to their list.

For more information, visit www.browncountymountainbiking.com.

Tania Juillerat is from Brownsburg, Ind., and has been dedicated to the local mountain-bike community since 2005. Tania and her husband Jonathan run a grassroots company, promoting the sport of mountain-biking by fun and unique events throughout the Midwest. More information can be found at www.sub-9.com.

Consider starting a recycling program at your workplace.

It sure sounds sensible to get started on a recycling program, doesn’t it?

There are several important steps to create a “greener” park district or agency:

1. Determine whether the district or agency will financially support a commercial-recycling effort.
2. Create a “green team” and gain employee support, including the janitorial staff.
3. Contact the waste hauler for special instructions.
4. Track results and record your success.
5. Consider miscellaneous materials.
6. Get started today!

Financial Support
The first step is to investigate whether the agency will help. It takes a little extra time, sometimes a little extra money and more often than not, more than a little extra money. Find out who will be contributing to the project.

Employee Support
Next, gather a small group of employees who are enthusiastic about the program. You probably know some fellow “greenies,” so a good start might be creating a “green team” to investigate recycling and the costs involved.

If both the agency and the team agree to proceed, you will need to nominate a champion … a recycling coordinator.

If you hold that role at home, you may be a good candidate. If so, understand that the same patience needed to educate employees is the same it took to train your children and spouse about recycling.

Arm the team with information about the importance of preventing recyclable materials from entering a landfill. Help fellow employees understand these materials are resources. Ask questions like, “What if we couldn’t make any more paper, soft drink bottles or plastic peanut-butter jars?” This will make the issue more realistic to them.

Be sure to gain the cooperation of the janitorial staff. Once materials are in the respective containers, the staff will be responsible for ensuring the materials get to the right dumpster or storage area.

The Waste Hauler
Contact the waste hauler to learn about its basic recycling program. Ask about “commingled or single-stream recycling,” in which recyclable materials are mixed as opposed to sorted in separate containers.

Ask what is accepted and whether recycling containers can (or will) be provided. There may also be specifics on the use of clear garbage bags so materials can be identified for recycling or trash.

If you are lucky, the municipality will have a Solid Waste Recycling specialist to assist in this process.

About 40 percent of all waste is generated at work.

Determine what is recyclable, as it varies across the country. Ask the waste hauler if you can “trust the triangle” (anything with a triangle on it goes in the recycling bin). Inside that triangle (or underneath), there is a number or letters identifying the type of material used to create it. However, the lid of the container may or may not be made of the same material, so examine the product carefully.

Some people think it is easier just to add all items with triangles to the recycling bin, but in some parts of the country, this makes the “sorting” take longer, and eliminates profitability for the hauler.

Also, find out how clean the items need to be. Is it OK if excess food is left in the containers, or does anything used for food need to go into waste?

Blue Bins–Select The Proper Containers
Containers help determine success. One of the easiest ways to identify recycling containers is to use the color blue. You may have noticed containers painted “recycling blue” at roadside travel stops, festivals, etc.

If the hauler does not provide containers, use what you have, but consider adding blue duct tape or blue labels to reinforce the color. There are hundreds–or maybe even thousands–of different recycling containers.

Be sure to ask the waste hauler if the company will provide bins, and if not, search for what will work the best, yet fit the requirements of the project.

Be sure that all of the containers have the three-arrow logo, and develop a way to show users precisely what is allowable in the recycling bins. Use words, icons and/or special instructions, such as “remove staples, empty, rinse, and remove lids from soft drink bottles,” etc.

Check with the waste hauler for these necessary special instructions. Post the list on a wall near every container. Circulate the list to all employees via e-mail, and send the information out frequently.

It sounds simple, but always put a recycling container next to (or at least very near) a trash bin. Otherwise, you risk contaminating the materials in the recycling bin and/or everything going into the trash.

Encourage more recycling by the size of the container. By examining the trash, you may discover there are more recyclable materials than trash. Many of us think of the recycling container as smaller than the trash cans, but nowadays thinking the other way is more applicable.

Recycle more, throw away less!

In fact, there is a program where a trashcan is actually a container (5-1/2 inches by 5-1/2 inches) that sits on a desk and includes the message, “This is all the garbage I make.” With this program (or something similar), the recycling container then becomes a bin about the size of an office wastebasket. (Learn more about the “Mini-Bin” at www.midpoint-int.com/recycling_programs_and_education/mini_bin_program/mini_bin_faq.aspx.)

Track Results And Record Your Success
Estimate the amount of space the materials take up in a special dumpster designated for recyclables. Look in the dumpster just before the waste hauler picks up the load, and guess how much space is used (and therefore the cubic yards of recyclable materials). Share this information with the staff so the members know of the program’s progress.

Monitoring must also be a part of the plan. Oh, yes, look in wastebaskets and dumpsters along the way. Remember that employees will forget.

As with homework, you have to “check their work” and occasionally make subtle–or not so subtle–reminders about containers that belong in the recycling bin rather than the trash.

Be prepared for new employees. Will they be trained individually? Based on the size of the company, can you train using e-mail? Alternatively, will you need something to become a permanent part of the orientation procedure?

You might be able simply to tell family members, but at work you will need to convince and cajole, applaud good behavior, and be on the lookout for opportunities to reinforce the message of why the company recycles and, therefore, why it is important to individual employees. “Because the boss says so” will not always produce the best result.

Decide how far you want to go. Paper, plastic and aluminum are obvious recycling choices.

If you have a fleet of vehicles, properly dispose of auto batteries and oil.

What about printer cartridges?

Perhaps the department uses large quantities of small batteries. At the Rockford Park District, small battery recycling became part of the program when one department saved up its coffee containers (which just happened to be blue), and then asked the art department to design a label for the containers.

Reinforcing the “reuse” idea, the “green team” distributed the containers to the various departments at a full staff meeting.

Consider what is unique to the operation and what to prevent from entering the landfill. Have you saved all one-sided printed materials and used them for scratch pads?

You may even want to save certain materials for “special recycling days.” An organization called Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful has metals drives, electronics days and even clothing days. For more information, visit www.knib.org.

If a similar organization exists near you, consider stockpiling specific items and then waiting for those days. In any case, plan on how these items will be transported easily.

Miscellaneous Materials
Do you have materials that you’re not sure are recyclable and, if so, where to take them? Visit www.earth911.com to find out what to do with them.

If you become addicted to recycling, get more information at www.resourceventure.org/free-resources/get-started/recycling-publications.

Jan Herbert is the project coordinator for the Rockford Park District in Rockford, Ill. She can be reached via e-mail at JanHerbert@rockfordparkdistrict.org.

Miste Adams

Is this true in the parks and recreation industry, too? Of course it is.

Over the years, I have admired many recreation professionals who fit in this 10-percent group. These are the people who go above and beyond in their efforts to make their communities better places, especially for the youngsters who play organized sports in public facilities.

Miste Adams, the recreation superintendent at the National Trail Parks and Recreation District in Ohio, is, without question, a 10-percenter.

Over the next few months, this column will focus on great leaders who shine in parks and recreation, particularly when it comes to kids playing sports.

Take a look at what Miste has to say:

Why are you so passionate about sports and youth programming?

Miste: I grew up playing youth sports, and I played sports all through high school and college. It is how I met my best friend and my husband.

Looking back at my childhood, many of the great memories involved some type of youth sport or activity.

I worked at a volleyball camp while in college, and my team wrote me a poem at the end of the week about what a great time they had and what a wonderful counselor I was. I still get it out and read it from time to time.

I just love working with kids in a fun atmosphere. What better job than to go out on a beautiful Ohio Saturday morning and watch 900 of “my” kids play soccer with their friends? It is a great feeling.

There are always going to be children playing sports who have a miserable experience and maybe even have their confidence and self-esteem crushed in the process. How do you deal with that?

Miste: Not every child is going to love sports, and not every coach is going to be coach of the year. It took me a few years to realize this and not take it personally.

One good thing about our department is that we do offer other things than just youth sports. So we try to get kids involved with other positive activities until they find something they like.

It goes back to my sporting philosophy, “You can’t win them all,” but when kids come back year after year until they are too old for the program and then they want to work for you, that is always a great feeling!

Most outsiders think a recreation professional’s job is 9 to 5 and has little stress or headaches. Is this true?

Miste: Being a recreation professional is not all just fun and games. People will see me out at the fields watching the games and will tell me what a great job I have. I always tell them the games are the easy part.

What people don’t see is that I have already put in 40-plus hours in the office on the phone ordering T-shirts and equipment, making last-minute staffing changes when someone calls in sick, praying it doesn’t rain or snow until after the games are over, or dealing with the parents who are not getting their way or think it should be done some other way to better suit their child.

I often have to explain to people that I understand they want what they think is best for their child, but I have to do what is best for all the kids, not just a select few. That doesn’t always go over so well, but that is what I have been trained to do!

Share one story that has made the profession you have chosen worthwhile.

Miste: I have one young man who played in my soccer leagues for years. Then he worked his way through college officiating soccer. This past school year, he worked in our after-school program, and then went on to take a summer internship at a local park system.

It has been great to watch him grow and mature. He still refs soccer for me when he can.

I also have kids working for me now that I had in a program when they were 3 years old. No, I am not getting older; the kids are just quickly catching up with me!

Do you think recreation professionals are as important to children outside the classroom as teachers are to them inside the classroom?

Miste: Absolutely! I think teachers have such a responsibility to provide the best education possible, but with all the standardized tests, they no longer have the flexibility to have fun. That is where the recreation professional comes into play.

Youth sports teach teamwork, discipline, physical activity, and so much more that you might not learn in the classroom. We need to make sure as professionals we are providing a safe, fun learning experience for all kids and realize the impact we have on their lives.

Fred Engh is founder and CEO of the National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) in West Palm Beach, Fla. He can be reached via e-mail at fengh@nays.org. To join more than 3,000 communities by starting a NAYS chapter, visit www.nays.org or contact Emmy Martinez at emartinez@nays.org or (800) 729-2057.

Park and recreation departments need to adopt some sound business practices.

For decades many “old timers” have heard community members, politicians, and business men and women say, “Government should be run like a business.”

Well, they are right–and wrong.

The word “business” implies an organization that exists solely for the purpose of earning a profit.

So, in this sense, running a government or public service–such as a park and recreation agency–“like a business” is wrong. Governmental agencies should never, ever make a profit.

However, our well-meaning friends are completely correct when the comment is altered to say, “Use more business-like practices.” This is exceptionally true in regard to public parks and recreation.

What makes these agencies different from all other government or public services (save a few) is that the services are the only retail governmental services. Where most people live, there is only one option for water, police protection, roads, fire protection, etc.

But there are countless options for recreation and choices for spending leisure time.

Even areas where some consider the agency to be the “sole source” are not.

Not that long ago, a seminar participant said, “When it comes to swimming, we are the only game in town.”

Maybe, but people don’t have to swim in the town in which they live. For example, within 15 minutes of my house in the Chicago suburbs, there are at least four other public pools, and at least two private pools. Clearly, residents don’t have to swim at the hometown pool!

The same can be said for golf, dance, gymnastics, etc.

Because we want residents to spend their leisure time and money “at home,” public park and recreation folks should employ many business practices.

This is significantly different than “running like a business.”

Hence, the question should be, “What business practices and strategies should we (public parks and recreation) employ? What can we borrow and adapt from business to successfully and satisfactorily meet the leisure needs of residents?”

The May article offers a statement from Kim Uhlik: “Ideally (in the good old days), public recreation was ‘by the people, for the people.’ People paid taxes, so they all could partake in services offered. Because taxes were paid up front, anyone could participate for ‘free.’”

This may have been the case in some places, cities (mostly large), where recreation was seen as part of a collection of welfare-like services. However, because public parks and recreation services are retail in nature, people want to choose their activities, and are willing to pay accordingly.

Yes, people are willing to pay for some of the recreation opportunities and park amenities with their taxes. They do not care to have their taxes create a situation where all recreation is “free.”

There are two reasons for this. First, they think they are paying enough in taxes.

Second, I believe people realize that if recreation services are confined to what can be funded through taxes, we will return to the good old days and realize they were not so good.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the free recreation options were limited: summer playground at school sites; Saturday afternoon “recreation” at some schools; a basic public swimming pool; and an ice rink in the winter, when it was cold enough to make ice. That’s about all that local park and recreation agencies could do with taxes.

In 2011, there are few, pure public-service environments where revenue is a secondary consideration.

As evidence, NRPA/North Carolina State University Revenue School has been teaching revenue generation and revenue enhancement since 1975. Professionals from all types of agencies around the country and Canada have been attending by the hundreds every year for some 35 years.

Even large cities like Indianapolis operate or own revenue-generating facilities like golf courses, marinas, stadiums, ice rinks, etc.

Over the years, I have worked for four park districts–two cities and two private companies–in various areas of parks and recreation. The reason Illinois park districts are so successful in delivering high-quality services to their constituents is they are not bound by the typical, limiting bureaucracy found in most cities and villages.

These localities are exceptional vehicles for providing police, fire, utilities, and roads … all monopolistic-type services. But when it comes to parks and recreation, most villages and cities have trouble creating the flexibility and innovative atmosphere to allow for a business-like approach.

How does a public park and recreation agency successfully employ business practices and strategies? The answers probably number in the dozens, but let’s consider some basics:

• Deliver deliberate, sincere, and never-ending customer-service orientation. Realize–as a business does–that people have options, and if they are not treated well, they will go elsewhere.

• Conduct market research. Programs, opportunities, features, etc., have to be designed and offered the way people want them, when they want them, and at a price they are willing to pay. Put time and money into finding out.

• Understand the link between revenue and expenses. If the money’s not coming in, then the expenses have to be trimmed.

• Take calculated risks.

• Plan your strategy and re-plan every 3 years.

• Eliminate deadwood. Public-service agencies are notorious for not terminating poor employees. There seems to be a notion that a public job becomes a right once it is landed. If an employee does not produce, or even if the revenue in an area is dropping, the person or the job should go away.

• Pay attention to the product/service life cycle, assessing and adjusting. Recreation interests are too dynamic to assume they’ll always be popular. Change has to be constant.

• Treat money (allocations) as if it were your own. Don’t be penny-wise and pound foolish, but make sure you spend in accordance with what residents expect in the way of quantity and quality. Don’t spend merely because it was allocated.

• Continuously evaluate procedures and processes for better cost-effectiveness, and more importantly, for user-friendliness!

• Create enterprise funds and accounting systems. Too many park and recreation (and other public service) agencies are stifled and forced into systems that create waste. A properly administered and audited enterprise fund can allow for much less costly parks and recreation while establishing the link between revenue and expenses.

When–or perhaps because–public park and recreation agencies follow the bureaucratic examples of other monopolistic services, their budgets are cut first. When agencies adopt, modify, and apply business practices, their value increases and their perceived cost decreases.

When individuals and communities see that their recreation is high quality and high value, and delivered in a business-like manner, they won’t tolerate service cutbacks.

It’s going to take some “wake-up calls” and “whacks upside some heads,” but agencies must see their service as retail government services, and organize and conduct business accordingly.

Arnie Biondo is the Executive Director of the gold medal-winning Carol Stream Park District in Carol Stream, Ill. He has served in that post for 16 years. Prior experience has been with the city of Indianapolis, NESMA Recreation Services, Co. of Saudi Arabia; the City of Kettering, Ohio; and Wheeling, Wheaton, and Oak Brook Terrace (Illinois) Park Districts. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Recreation and Park Management from the University of Oregon, and a Masters of Arts Degree in Service Marketing and Management from DePaul University.

Learning to become a team.

Once the drill instructors impressed upon us the importance of listening to every word they said and complying immediately with every order, the real training started.

We quickly learned that there is no “I” in team. Referring to oneself in the first person is a big-time no-no. Recruits must refer to themselves in the third person, i.e., “Sir, this recruit requests to go to the head [Marine and Navy term for bathroom], sir!”

Whenever addressing a drill instructor or any other person other than another recruit, the first or last word out of one’s mouth is “sir,” or “ma’am.”

There are dozens of similar rules to learn, and failure by one person in the platoon can often lead to appropriate punishment for the entire group.That punishment always includes some form of physical exertion, which may consist of push-ups, sit-ups, mountain climbers, or “bends and thrusts,” which is a perverted form of a push-up, and others.

The punishment actually serves two purposes. First, it pushes a person beyond normal limits, and ultimately makes him or her stronger. Pain, as Marines say, is weakness leaving the body.

Second, it emphasizes the meaning of team. The first reaction to this punishment by teammates is to be angry at whoever messed up. But at some point, it begins to dawn on them that they need to help team members improve in order to benefit the entire team.

Becoming A Team
I remember the first really grueling punishment session we had, on the second or third day of training. A few of my teammates hadn’t paid proper attention to detail in shining their brass belt buckles and black leather boots–two cardinal rules in the Marine Corps.

The drill instructor paced up and down the squad bay as platoon members sat on their foot lockers that evening, shining away. I can still remember the conversation that led to our group demise.

“I am seeing some mighty ugly brass,” the DI said in a loud voice to nobody in particular. “I am seeing boots that look like they have been shined with a Hershey bar!”

There was an unmistakable hint of threat in his voice. He was obviously unhappy. I doubled my rate of shine and kept my eyes glued to my work. Eye contact sometimes provoked these creatures called DI’s.

Then he stopped in front of a recruit a couple of foot lockers away, picked up one of the recruit’s boots and said, “Recruit, do you call this shined?”

My heart sank when I heard his response because I knew what was coming.

The recruit jumped to his feet and stammered, “Sssir, I did the best I could, sir!”

“’I’?” bellowed the DI. “Did you just use the word ‘I’? You must not be part of this team because there is no ‘I’ in team. Well, the rest of this team will pay for your mistake. Everybody assume the push-up position!”

Then, for what seemed an eternity, we did every form of push-up ever devised. But as we were doing them, the DI was explaining why we were doing them and how to avoid having to do them again.

“This team has failed to assist teammates who needed help,” he said slowly, as he made us hold the “up” position.

“Down and hold,” he said, prompting us to go to a holding position with chests 6 inches off the ground.

“You will learn that being on a team doesn’t mean you do your thing and not worry how your teammates are doing. You take care of your teammates because someday you may need help and you want to rely on your teammates to be there … up!”

This went on for what seemed like hours, but was probably only about 20 minutes. Then he said, “On your feet. I am going to my office for 30 minutes. When I come back, I expect to see every set of brass and boots shined to a high Marine Corps shine.”

As he walked out of the squad bay, he shouted “Carry on” over his shoulder.

Getting The Message
Some of us did get the message and began asking who needed help, then we rendered assistance to those who needed it. At the end of 30 minutes, the DI strolled back into the squad bay and began his inspection.

We all held our breath.

About halfway down the line he said, “I am becoming happier. I am seeing good things.”

We still held our breath.

At the end of the line, he turned on his heel and said, “It is still marginal, but it shows improvement. Be advised, further demonstrations of non-team attitudes will result in further, and more severe, punishment.”

He was true to his word. There were many times during that first phase of training when someone messed up and we all paid for it. But we soon learned to anticipate who needed help and gave help before it was too late.

Odd as it may seem, a training platoon in boot camp is similar to a sports team. In both cases, as long as players listen to the coach, keep their minds focused on the game, and work hard with each other, success is within their grasp. Teamwork is the common denominator.

In the Marine Corps, teammates must be prepared to support and rely on each other, literally for their lives.

And to take it a step further–boot camp can be compared to spring training. Everybody has made the initial cut to be there, and this is the final cut to see who will make the team.

In boot camp, the goal is to see if one can earn the title “Marine.”

Stress is part of the elimination criteria. If one can’t handle the stress of boot camp, the odds are one won’t be prepared for the rigors of combat.

A Life-Changing Injury
In my third week in boot camp, I suffered a hernia–popped it while we were doing side-benders with a telephone pole and made it worse when I pulled off my muddy boots.

That evening, at the daily “health and comfort check,” the DI marched in front of each of us, asking how we were. Unless something was wrong, we would normally answer, “Sir, the private has no physical or mental injuries or defects, sir.”

On this night, though, when asked, I responded, “Sir, the private doesn’t have any mental problems but believes he has a physical injury, sir.”

The DI stopped and grimaced at me, saying, “What is your problem, recruit?”

When I showed him the bulging area on my abdomen, his face lost all ferocity, and he said with concern, “Dang [not really the word he used], how long have you had that?”

“Sir, just today, sir,” I responded.

“You need to go to the hospital right now,” he said, grabbing my arm and propelling me toward his office. Within an hour, I was at the nearby Navy hospital, being checked in. I didn’t know exactly what was going to happen.

Early on the morning of the second day at the hospital, I received a personal visit from a Marine Corps major, who offered me two options that would change my life.

Next Month: Second Chances.

Randy Gaddo, a retired Marine, who also served until recently in municipal parks and recreation, lives in Peachtree City, Ga., and can be reached at (678) 350-8642 or email cwo4usmc@comcast.net.

Toilet bowls may be the least of your disinfectant worries.

But why are these issues so important?

We now know that many surfaces that have long been thought to be “hot beds” of contamination may actually need less attention simply because no one ever touches them.

On the other hand, other areas that may be overlooked or neglected may actually be much more likely to prove dangerous to human health.

As a result, many cleaning professionals are now calling for some old-fashioned common sense when it comes to hygienic cleaning and disinfection.

For instance, how much attention really needs to be paid to the inside of a toilet bowl? It is true that a number of pathogens–many of which are health-threatening–can be present inside toilet bowls, and that they therefore must be cleaned and disinfected regularly for both safety and appearance.

But since the only individuals who touch such areas are generally custodial workers using bowl-cleaning tools or wearing gloves, the risk of cross-contamination from a toilet bowl–especially to visitors to a park and recreation facility–is actually quite minimal.

For these situations, using a large number of powerful, costly, and potentially environmentally damaging chemicals and disinfectants may not be necessary.

On the other hand, some areas that usually receive only minimal cleaning and disinfecting attention–but which probably need considerably more due to the frequency with which they are touched–are chairs, tables, and high chairs used by children and other facility visitors.

These items may be used by scores of people in the course of a day, and can therefore become true “hot beds” for contamination.

They can often be a source of cross-contamination as well, since people touch these surfaces and then touch their eyes, nose, mouth, or other surfaces, spreading contaminants from one point of contact to another.

Unfortunately, custodial workers are often unaware of how seriously contaminated chairs, tables, and similar surface areas can become. The result is these items are typically cleaned sporadically and without proper cleaning systems, chemicals, or procedures necessary for effective hygiene.

Why It Matters
Why are these issues receiving so much attention now?

The use of conventional cleaning chemicals–specifically disinfectants–is coming under greater scrutiny at this time. Disinfectants, although they have served us well, are powerful chemicals that can be harmful to the health of cleaning workers, building users, and the environment.

Although Green disinfectants are available in some parts of the world, this is not the case in the U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tightly regulates disinfectants, classifying them as pesticides, and will not allow disinfectants sold in the U.S. to be marketed as Green, indicating a reduced impact on the environment.

Disinfectants are evaluated by the EPA based solely on their effectiveness at killing specific pathogens and not the potential risk of harm to the user or the environment.

Some professionals believe that if we use common sense when choosing those areas that most need cleaning attention, we can limit disinfectant use and clean in a more environmentally responsible manner that still protects human health.

This issue has come to a head in many medical facilities, where custodial workers have been found to clean all areas with disinfectants on a frequent basis, even when they have been specifically instructed to clean only certain areas.

Disinfecting Without Chemicals
Although the EPA is currently revisiting its position on disinfectants–in and of itself an important breakthrough–it could take months or even years before Green disinfectants can be marketed in the U.S.

In the meantime, park and recreation administrators and their custodial workers have at least three other options when it comes to disinfecting surfaces without the use of chemical disinfectants.

The first is vapor technology. Steam vapor systems use no chemicals, but instead heat water to an extremely high temperature–from 150° F to as much as 300° F–which studies indicate is enough to kill quickly a variety of pathogens, including fungi, viruses, and even antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Vapor systems can be used on all types of surfaces, from tables and chairs to countertops and restroom fixtures.

For example, gymnasiums often use these systems to deep-clean workout equipment, specifically the vinyl coverings of the machines.

Sadly, however, these systems can be slow to work with and, with the current budget cutbacks and financial constraints facing many municipalities, some facilities can only afford to use these systems when there are specific public-health concerns impacting a facility or community.

Another option is the use of spray-and-vac, or “no-touch” cleaning systems.

Unlike vapor cleaning, these systems are very fast; in addition, recent tests conducted by an EPA-approved laboratory report that, when used properly, some systems can effectively sanitize surfaces (meaning they reduce the bacteria count by at least 99.9 percent) with water alone. (See sidebar.)

This is done by effectively removing contaminants from surfaces, usually requiring a machine with 500 pounds per square inch (psi).*

The third option is a new type of cleaning technology referred to as a flat-surface cleaning system. These systems combine a chemical-injection system, microfiber, and a window squeegee to wipe surfaces.

Although chemical cleaning agents can be used with these systems, studies by an EPA-approved lab also indicate they can be classified as sanitizing devices when used as directed, even when only water is used.

The Bottom Line
To protect both the environment and human health, park and recreation facility administrators and custodial workers must focus their cleaning energies on particular disease-transmission points.

However, this does not mean skipping the cleaning of toilet bowls just because they aren’t touched. What it does mean is giving more attention to those high-touch areas that can become disease-spreading transmission points.

Further, although disinfectants play a significant role in keeping facilities clean and healthy, alternatives that use no chemicals are now available. Since these options are far safer for both people and the environment, they should be explored whenever possible.

* According to EPA regulations, in order to qualify as a sanitizing device, the no-touch system must be able to sanitize without chemicals, produce 500 psi (powerful enough to loosen and remove contaminants), and have a three-stage vacuum motor.

John Richter is the Technical Director for Kaivac, Inc. He is an author and presenter, discussing hygienic cleaning issues and related topics. Richter has both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio, his emphasis being thermal sciences and fluid dynamics.

—————————–Sidebar———————————–

Disinfecting And Sanitizing: What’s the Difference?
A disinfectant is a chemical agent that completely destroys all organisms on a surface within a set period of time, usually 5 to 10 minutes.

A sanitizer is a chemical or system that reduces the number of microorganisms on a surface to a safe level within about 30 seconds.

Sanitizing devices must be proven to reduce microbes on a test surface by 99.9 percent or more. This is typically accomplished by either removing the contaminants or killing them without chemicals.

Here are some tips on preparing Requests For Proposals.

After the flight, he said, “It’s a very sobering feeling to be up in space and realize that one’s safety factor was determined by the lowest bidder on a government contract.” Shepard’s statement is no surprise, as some people have preconceived notions that selecting the lowest bidder will not yield a favorable result.

However, the American space program was an overall success in spite of typically using the lowest bidder, which demonstrates that qualifications and an understanding of the client’s needs far outweigh cost.

In reality, the success of a project has less to do with using the lowest bidder and more to do with the company’s qualifications and, importantly, how it arrived at its fee.

To best determine who can provide the highest quality service at a fair price, one must take a close look at the selection process and the most effective way to write a Request for Proposal (RFP). Writing an RFP provides a comparable review of competing firms.

Design consultants have seen everything from well-written, concise RFPs that produce great results to those that lack the organization and detail necessary to gain comparable proposals from responding consultants.

The process of writing and issuing RFPs has changed significantly over the years, becoming much more complex.

Add the continued pressure to be transparent in the selection process, while being responsible with the buying power, and it’s no wonder that writing, deciphering, and responding to RFPs has become an art in itself.

If you’re new to the game, it can seem quite daunting at first.

Following are several key steps to writing an effective RFP and gaining the results you want:

Step 1. Decide whether to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a Request for Qualifications (RFQ).
An RFP and an RFQ each has its own pros and cons, depending on whether they are issued to a pre-selected list of consultants, or are made available to all interested consultants.

The RFP typically asks the consultant to provide a scope of services and fees based on the content of the request. The RFP may yield a larger pool of consultants to select from but may not be the most efficient process in all cases.

The RFQ narrows the field to a short list of qualified consultants but typically does not request a design-fee estimate. Professional fees are negotiated after the selection has been made.

Step 2. Be prepared to meet with consultants who are interested in submitting a proposal or a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ).
An initial face-to-face meeting and an informative site walk are critical to a consultant’s accurate preparation of a proposal or SOQ.

Properly preparing an RFP can make the interview process go much more smoothly.

While this requires additional time and effort, it can be very beneficial for both parties. The consultant gains a clearer picture of what you are looking for, and you are able to gain a perspective and develop a rapport with the potential consultant.

Successful projects are almost always based on good communication, and these initial meetings can help both you and the consultant have a better feel for each other’s style, expertise, and personality.

Step 3. Write clear project descriptions.
The importance of writing a clear, concise project description cannot be overstated.

Define the project scope upfront, including a logical project sequence and expectations, and identify specific deliverables. These are key steps in obtaining comparable proposals that have been prepared by consultants who have a similar understanding and close interpretation of the request for scope and fees.

An RFP that does not clearly articulate the project’s scope and anticipated deliverables may trigger endless phone calls and requests for additional information, or it may simply prevent consultants from responding. An unclear scope may also result in change orders after the project has been awarded.

A pitfall to avoid is writing an RFP with unrealistic expectations, including services and deliverables that cannot be completed within a desired schedule and budget. This can be a red flag for consultants, and again, has the potential to produce proposals that cannot be fairly compared.

When preparing an RFP or RFQ, it may be beneficial to research similar projects and compare the scope of services with the design and construction costs. Look for similar projects that have been completed in other communities in the region, and contact colleagues who managed those projects. They may be able to offer some insight on the level of effort and the outcome.

Step 4. Make sure you are not paying for more or less than what is needed for a successful outcome.
In today’s challenging economy, shrinking budgets and close financial scrutiny are expected.

However, a well-written, clearly defined RFP can ensure the project deliverable meets your specific needs and you are not paying for more or less than what is needed for a successful outcome. A well-thought-out RFP also avoids the possibility of additional time and expense for activities that should have been anticipated at the project’s onset.

Selections are often made based on a price that is justified by perceived experience. Consultants know that many of the selections for a project are ultimately made by committees that we have never had the opportunity to meet, but that are obligated to spend money wisely and make the best choice.

They recognize the increasing emphasis placed on price, and therefore, focus their efforts on how to deliver the desired scope for a reasonable fee.

Step 5. Prepare consultants for the interview process.
Communicating specific expectations to consultants in advance of an interview ensures they will be well-prepared to answer your questions so you will be able to make a sound decision.

Providing consultants with a list of questions and the presentation format in advance of the interview can help facilitate the process.

The interview gives all participants the opportunity to clarify scope, define the roles of the team, establish communication protocols, and reiterate the approach so the project gets off on the right foot.

Step 6. Provide honest feedback to rejected consultants.
A rejection provides an invaluable opportunity for the consultant to contact you and obtain honest feedback on how the selection was made and where the consultant’s proposal fell short.

If you can make the time to offer honest, constructive feedback, it can be mutually beneficial as the consultant will be better prepared the next time you issue an RFP or RFQ.

While the steps outlined in this article may seem fairly obvious, and you may already have a solid, concise approach that has worked well in the past, this article may give you some ideas for improving your internal processes the next time you issue an RFP or an RFQ.

Tom Mortensen is a registered landscape architect with R.A. Smith National, Inc. (civil engineers and surveyors) in Brookfield, Wis. His expertise includes site planning, sustainable design, urban design, large-scale park and public open-space planning, retail developments, hardscape design, native landscapes, garden and planting design, horticulture, arboriculture, project management, and construction methods and administration. He can be reached at tom.mortensen@rasmithnational.com.

Green roofs are growing in popularity.

Rooftop-garden systems help mitigate problems traditionally associated with roofs, such as heat gain and loss as well as stormwater runoff.

During the summer months, for example, a rooftop absorbs and radiates heat from the sun, creating higher air-conditioning costs. In winter, heat escapes through the roof.

The plantings of a green roof act as an insulating barrier while absorbing stormwater and providing wildlife habitat.

“Green roofs were developed as a stormwater-management practice in Germany and then extended throughout much of Europe before being imported to the United States,” says Charlie Miller, owner of Roofmeadow, a design firm specializing in green-roof designs and strategies.

“Green roofs were developed as a way of forestalling improvements or enlargements to existing stormwater facilities. However, the ancillary benefit of creating a green roof is transforming the look of the environment.”

A green roof can be anything from a simple garden that produces fruits and vegetables to a full-scale operation with low-lying sedums and prairie-grass gardens.

Mastering Stormwater
In the Performing Arts District of Kansas City, Mo., one green roof project includes more than 2.5 acres of lush gardens atop a four-story parking garage. The parking areas are maintained by the city, and the parks and recreation department maintains the green roof.

During the planning phase, the decision was made to capture or reduce the amount of rainwater flowing into the stormwater infrastructure. One of the ways to accomplish this was to install two 44,000-gallon underground cisterns. The water collected is used to irrigate the rooftop plantings during the drier seasons.

“We worked with a plumbing engineer to design a green roof that captures all the rainwater that falls on the roof,” says Brian Davis, senior project landscape architect with Jeffrey L. Bruce and Company, the architectural firm that worked on the Kansas City project.

“The green roof, combined with the rainwater-collection abilities of the cisterns, makes this a huge stormwater-reduction project.”

Davis projects that the cistern system will pay for itself in about eight years due to the savings in not having to purchase domestic water for irrigation needs.

Of course, controlling water is one of the concerns with a green roof; this includes preventing leaks.

A rooftop landscape can help with stormwater runoff.

“We needed to make sure that the spaces beneath the green roof aren’t affected negatively in any way from the green roof,” Davis says. “We did this by having the best waterproofing that we could afford.”

What Makes Green Roofs Different?
One consideration of green-roof design is the creation of a landscape environment open to the broad expanse of sky. With a green roof, one can manipulate and do plantings differently than on the ground.

Since access can be allowed, denied, limited to specific areas, or limited to specific times, there is more flexibility in plant materials because the durability of the plantings is mitigated, allowing for the creation of a truly unique environment.

A green roof has specific soil depths depending on the type of plantings. Attention must be given to how the water moves through the green-roof landscape. How does the water pass through the plants, through the soils, and into the drainage pattern to eventually make its way to the drain?

Once the answers are known with a good understanding of the requirements for specific types of eco-plantings, there is then an opportunity to paint a green roof with a variety of different habitats.

“This gives you the ability to put a wetland right next to a dry meadow because you are creating the landscape from scratch,” Miller says.

“Green roofs give you the possibilities of mixing incredibly different ecological environments and blending them together to create a unique and inviting green-roof design.”

Already Built
For applications on buildings that already exist, knowing the load limitations is crucial. At the University of Virginia, a green roof has been installed as part of a historical-restoration project.

“During the design-development part of the project, we decided to go with LEED certification and use the flat rooftop area by adding a planting area for stormwater retention and filtration,” says Gerald Starsia, senior associate dean of administration.

“It was important to send a message to our students and alumni that sustainable design was important in the process of capital improvements and moving forward.”

Usage
Another consideration is whether the green roof is to be used in an active or passive manner; this will affect how the gardens are designed. For active-use areas, plan on pathways, alcoves, and seating areas to allow visitors to enjoy the view.

“Whether active or passive, there must be regular maintenance,” says Davis.

“There is a higher level of maintenance that needs to happen on a turf green roof than you would normally have to do on a ground location.”

Plantings maintained at the Kansas City site include ornamental shade trees such as red buds, honey locusts, and red maples. Grass plantings include Shenandoah switchgrass to tie in with the Performing Arts Center, as well as low-maintenance grasses such as fescue sod and Reveille bluegrass, which is also a low-water grass.

Regardless of the type selected, both require an alternative water supply to avoid spending the money for domestic water to keep the plants alive.

Green-Roof Experience
“Parks are about creating a refuge for people to be someplace else, and to be able to focus on the small details of life. To be surrounded by green and have their attention drawn to unique things,” Miller says.

“In parks, you’re not creating a green roof for the stormwater benefits. You are creating it for the aesthetic and human benefits, such as the simple pleasure of being in a beautiful space.”

“Green roofs have a softening effect. We underestimate the benefit of that,” Starsia adds.

“If I had to do it over again, I would have done more of the roof in planted areas with a greater variety of eco-plantings.”

What Do You Want To See?
Saying you want a green roof is analogous to saying you want a house. It is important to know exactly what you want and for what purpose before you begin the design process.

Experts in the field recommend assembling a design team that has experience creating green roofs. The team should include an architect, structural engineer, plumber, landscape architect, and contractor.

“You want to work with a company that constructs and maintains green roofs, and can help with maintenance and troubleshooting. It is important that the company has a record of taking care of their clients over promoting a particular green-roof product,” says Miller.

“Unfortunately, there are a lot of companies that offer green-roof packages rather than starting from the point of helping their clients think, ‘I want to walk out and see…’”

Tammy York is a professional public relations consultant to outdoor recreation related businesses and parks. Her book 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Cincinnati is available via Amazon.com. She can be reached via email at tammy@landsharkcommunications.com.

Are your baseball and softball fields ready for spring training?

And what about you? As a parks manager, if you’ve done all your work ahead of time, you’re probably out dealing with another facility or field–at least for now.

The great American pastime–particularly on the rec level–became what it is because of the hard work of people like you. And without you to lay the groundwork … well, people probably would be trotting off to watch another sport entirely.

Admittedly, in some regions, ball fields are used all year long. In others, the spring tune-up is on the horizon.

But no matter where you are geographically, a thorough review of fields and facilities is always a good idea.

The Grass Is Always Greener
Natural-turf fields, found at a majority of municipal facilities, require special care in order to preserve the best playing conditions.

Walk each field looking for areas that need work; these might include dead grass, holes dug by dogs or other animals, signs of insect infestation, muddy areas, bare areas, and more. Address these problems so each field has a uniform surface.

Part of that surface renewal, say field builders, includes grading. The goal is to move water off the field entirely so the whole facility dries more quickly after a rain.

“One of the biggest problems I see on natural-grass facilities are fields not being graded to drain off the water efficiently,” says Dan Wright of SportsTurf Company Inc. in Whitesburg, Ga.

“Fields should be graded as to move water off the field the shortest distance. In many instances, I see fields graded from the outfield through home plate, meaning the water moves from the outfield across and through the infield.

“For baseball and softball infields, the highest point of the infield should be the pitcher’s circle. The infield arc should be the start for grading the outfield with a slope of at least 1-percent to 1.75-percent sloping toward the outfield fence.”

For those fields that are currently not able to be mowed, they will be soon. To safeguard fields, limit mowing when temperatures soar, since grass can be burned.

Frequent mowing will keep the grass about 2 inches high, and that is far better for the field than “scalping” the turf, where more than one-third of the height of the grass blade is cut off. Cutting too short also leads to growth of undesirable vegetation, and can ruin the quality of the fields.

A well-maintained field means fewer in-season headaches for you.

Remember the soil beneath the grass too, says Wright, and avoid excessive compaction.

“Fields can become too hard, and then grass struggles to grow, especially if fields are extensively used. Periodic deep-tine aeration and topdressing with a root-zone material is required.”

In a perfect world (which few, if any, of us inhabit), fields would be closed to all traffic (players and maintenance equipment) after rains, or between periods of heavy use in order to help the grass rest and the field come back to normal.

Unfortunately, with maintenance budgets taking a back seat to the need of municipalities to make money by renting out fields whenever possible, few park managers have the opportunity to give fields the rest they need.

Artificial-Turf Fields
Some cities have installed synthetic-turf sports fields, including those for baseball and softball facilities. Many cities have chosen this option to save money on mowing, fertilizing, etc., and to reduce the downtime caused by fields that were muddy or too wet to play on without damaging the surface.

No system–natural or synthetic–is maintenance-free, however. Synthetic-turf manufacturers provide recommendations for maintenance of their specific system; make sure to follow these instructions.

If problems occur, consult the contractor or the manufacturer. Don’t undertake any work that might damage the turf or void any warranty.

In The Infield Areas
Foot traffic, maintenance, wind, and weather cause infield material to migrate throughout the season, and as managers know, it is particularly prone to building up in various places on the playing surface.

“Buildup of infield material along the infield arc is also a problem,” says Wright.

“This is created from dragging the infields and leaving a deposit of infield material at the arc. Routine maintenance is required to keep this buildup from occurring. This buildup of the arc does not allow water to drain off the infield, thus water stands on the skinned area.”

Take some time after dragging to hand-rake any built-up material, and move it away from the fields.

Be sure to rake base paths perpendicular to the direction base runners will take, and make sure those paths are smooth and straight, and free of anything that might trip an athlete.

Equipment Check
With the fields well in hand, it’s time to turn your attention to the other aspects of the facilities:

Fencing
If your baseball or softball field is surrounded by fencing, walk the periphery–inside and outside. Look for areas where the fabric of the fence is rusting, sagging, or bulging. Check for loose or detached rails, crooked or fallen posts and, if necessary, call your maintenance personnel or a fence contractor.

If there are gates, check whether they can swing freely, or whether any equipment needs repair.

If your fence has some type of padded cap on the top so athletes running for a ball can attempt challenging plays, make sure the cap is securely fastened.

It takes only a few minutes to check these items, but much longer to regret not doing it.

Check the backstop too (looking for problems the same way you examined the fence), and make sure it is structurally sound.

Bases
Various types of bases are available on the market. Whichever type the facility has, make sure they are in good repair. Spending the money on a new piece of equipment that ensures player safety will pay dividends.

Equipment Cages
If there is a separate fenced area for players to store extra equipment, personal belongings, or street clothing while they are playing, check this area for security.

Dugouts, Player Benches, And Spectator Facilities
If any structures are made of wood, make sure they are kept sanded and either painted or stained to avoid splinters. Look for cracks in the wood.

Many seats are made of aluminum or another metal; check for burrs, sharp edges, exposed hardware, and more.

Lighting
If the facility has lighting, be sure all fixtures are operating and have not burned out, or developed problems. Remember that good lighting will illuminate the field evenly and allow players to see what is happening, even from a distance.

Sufficient lighting will also keep players safe, not only by allowing them to see clearly what is on the field, but by keeping the facility brightly lit as a deterrent to vandals and other mischief-makers.

Promptly address small problems–weeds here, a burned-out light there, a sagging fence rail somewhere else–before they have the opportunity to turn into big problems. It makes a facility better overall, and keeps athletes happy.

And that’s one in the win column for you.

Note: The American Sports Builders Association (ASBA) is a non-profit association helping designers, builders, owners, operators, and users understand quality sports-facility construction. The ASBA sponsors informative meetings and publishes newsletters, books, and technical construction guidelines for athletic facilities, including sports fields. It also offers voluntary certification programs in sports-facility construction and maintenance, including sports fields. Available at no charge is a listing of all publications offered by the Association, as well as the ASBA’s Membership Directory. Info: 866-501-ASBA (2722) or www.sportsbuilders.org

Mary Helen Sprecher has been a technical writer for more than 20 years with the American Sports Builders Association. She has written on various topics relating to sports-facility design, construction, and supply, as well as sports medicine, education, and health and industrial issues. She is an avid racquetball and squash player, and a full-time newspaper reporter in Baltimore, Md.

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