Registration is now open for the Illinois Park and Recreation Association’s Are You Ready for the Summer? workshop to be held on Tuesday, May 8 at the Park District of La Grange and on Thursday, May 10 at Illinois State University.

Who should attend?
All permanent, seasonal, full- and part-time staff who work directly or indirectly with your customers will greatly benefit from this valuable training event. This workshop is geared especially to those working on the front line and behind-the scenes. Those who hire, manage, and train front-line staff will gain valuable ideas and techniques to motivate and keep the best of the best.

Program outline:
Ready or not, here they come! How prepared are you – physically and mentally – to handle the arrival of campers, parents, swimmers, concert-goers, and other fun-seeking customers to your many summer programs, events, and activities?

Find out not only the answer to this question, but gain valuable insight and practical information to ensure that all your ducks are in a row and that your staff is ready to make this your best summer EVER!! Providing a blueprint for summer staff training is easy as Jodi and Gregg address all fundamental areas of staff development while also providing you with unique drop-off to pick-up customer service strategies. You’ll also explore marketing ideas and participate in a wide variety of fun hands-on games and activities guaranteed to fill your camp counselor’s bag of tricks. If you’ve been looking for a one-stop summer camp training solution – look no further – you just found it!

Learning outcomes:

• Assess their readiness for beginning their summer camp program through completing a reality check survey
• Recognize that success in a program begins with planning
• Understand the importance of establishing rapport and relationships with campers
• Develop an understanding of roles and the importance of rules and regulations
• Experience a wide range of games and activities in various categories that are age-appropriate that can be immediately used in programs
• Be challenged to look at games and activities in different ways to help expand the number of games and activities available for use with participants
• Recognize the four goals of children’s misbehavior and how to help staff intervene and correct these goals in a positive way
• Be provided with a variety of unique ideas and techniques to use with misbehaving children that can be shared with staff members
• Be introduced to a variety of all-inclusive games and activities and better understand their value
• Prevent customer service snafus, reduce complaints, and improve overall satisfaction
• Increase customer loyalty, repeat business, and positive word-of-mouth
• Recognize the four different customer personality types – including your own – and how to effectively communicate with each
• Transform facilities, parks, and camps into customer-friendly sites
• Listen for cues to intercept customer grievances before they erupt
• Overcome low employee morale and the bad attitude curse
• Incorporate marketing messages into programs, activities, and take-home projects
• Create an action plan to strengthen areas needed for improvement to ensure success

About the speakers:
Jodi Rudick, MAS – Advisors Marketing Group
Jodi Rudick, also known as “The Little Redhead with the Big Ideas”, is the owner of Advisors Marketing Group and has authored hundreds of articles and five books related to marketing communications, publicity, and community causes. She is one of the nation’s leading marketing experts and speakers and – for the past ten years – has dedicated her career to elevating the public’s perception of parks and recreation. In addition to creating the extremely successful “Benefits are Endless” campaign, she has spoken to park and recreation audiences in 43 states and was twice named Speaker of the Year by the Promotional Products Association International. For six years Jodi sat on the city of Oceanside, California’s Parks and Recreation Commission, Golf Committee, and Child Care Committee. As Marketing and Resource Development Officer for San Diego County’s Child Welfare Services, Jodi worked to bring an entrepreneurial approach to government fundraising.

Gregg A. Catalano, M.Ed., L.C.D.C., L.M.F.T. – Physicians of Phun
Gregg is a unique presenter whose workshops are always ”high energy,” entertaining, and informative. Recognized as one of the nation’s top educational, recreational, and motivational speakers, Gregg blends activities, humor, insight, and practical ideas into workshops that leave participants energized and truly believing in themselves. Holding a Masters Degree in Counseling Education and licensed as a Chemical Dependency Counselor and Marital and Family Therapist, Gregg utilizes his therapeutic background and skills in all his workshops to help participants better understand themselves, others, and the world around them. As the “Physician of Phun,” he is truly what the doctor ordered and is a presenter you won’t easily forget!

CEUs:
Upon successful completion of the one-day workshop, participants will be awarded .5 CEUs. An additional fee of $5 is required for those applying for CEU credit.

Registration information:
IPRA Member=$119, Non-Member=$159, CEUs = $5
IPRA Members: Use your MARC Card to save $50! Include your MARC Card information on your registration form.

Your registration fee covers:

• Workshop materials
• Light morning and afternoon refreshments
• Lunch

Location information:
May 8, 2007 from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Park District of LaGrange
536 East Avenue, LaGrange, Illinois 60525

May 10, 2007 from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Illinois State University/Professional Development Building
207 S. Main Street, Normal, Illinois 61761

Detailed location information and hotel information (if overnight accommodations are needed) will be provided with your official registration confirmation.

Download registration form or register online!