Tracey Crawford, of NSSRA, was sworn in at the 2008 Soaring to New Heights Conference in Chicago as the 2008 Chairman of the Board for the Illinois Park & Recreation Association.

“Our real problem is not our strength today, it is the vital necessity of action today, to ensure our strength tomorrow.” Dwight D. Eisenhower

In her speech at the IPRA Business Meeting, she focused on taking action as a professional and as a member of the association. She shared a goal of the Board to be true ambassadors for the association. They aim to get out in front of the membership…and have a real dialog with the members. There are a lot of exciting and great things havening with IPRA and the field of parks and recreation. It is incumbent upon the Board and staff to push that information to you…not sit back and wait for you to pull the information in.

Tracey also urged everyone to get involved on some level. What that involvement is for you still needs to be determined. Spend some time this year finding out how you will get more involved with your association. Try to leave to association and the field just a little bit better than you started with.

It’s going to be an exciting year. Tracey’s leadership and positive attitude will surely make for a year full of memorable experiences and successes. Great job and good luck!