Armed Forces Recreation Society invades Twin Cities.

Minneapolis, Minnesota, "Land of Ten Thousand Lakes" was the host city for the Armed Forces Recreation Society (AFRS) Professional Training Institute (PTI), an ideal training and educational opportunity which drew nearly 400 Morale Welfare and Recreation professionals. This mini convention, held within the NRPA Congress for Recreation and Parks, is a two-day event which includes the AFRS Meritorious Awards Breakfast, AFRS Table-Top Exhibits, AFRS General Session, six military-focused education training sessions, and the AFRS President's Reception.

Award Winners

On Thursday, October 13, 1994, the PTI commenced with the AFRS Meritorious Awards Breakfast sponsored by GameTime, Inc. AFRS members and delegates alike gathered to honor award recipients in five prestigious categories: Practitioner, Fellow, Executive Fellow, Lifetime Service, and Special Citation.

The Practitioner Award is awarded to individuals who work in Armed Forces Recreation at the operational level. Recipients in this category were: Stacy Conner, Fleet Recreation Coordinator, Naval Ship Yard Puget Sound, Washington; Charles Large, Director of Community Activities, US Army Signal Center, Fort Gordon, Georgia; Mike Bond, Assistant Youth Coordinator, Recreation Department, Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia.

Awarded to installation level professional personnel (military or civilian) actively engaged in working with participants and implementing the recreation program at the operating level is the Fellow Award. The 1994 recipients were: Harry Johnson, Recreation Assistant, Outdoor Recreation, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; William Von Ohlen, Chief, Outdoor Recreation, Fort Eustis, Virginia; Janet Wehmeyer, Director, Schilling Community Activities Center, Kadena Air Base, Japan.

To be a recipient of the Executive Fellow Award one must be military or civilian personnel engaged in Armed Forces Recreation at the departmental major command, sub-command, or in a top-level installation recreation management position. This year's recipients were: Charlotte Dodson, Services Director, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California; Bruce Grenier, Quality of Life/MWR Director, Dahlgren, Virginia, and Stephen Pauli, General Manager, MWR, Camp Hasen, Japan.

The following retired individuals received the Lifetime Service Award for their admirable contributions to the field of MWR throughout their tenure: Byron Gibson, Chief Community Activities Division, Fort Monroe, Virginia; Ed Hawkins, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, Manassas, Virginia; Thomas Tronsdal, Civil Service Retired, Japan.

The Special Citation Award is given to military or civilian personnel, not necessarily a professional recreator, who has made significant contribution in the areas of leadership, pioneering, public relations, and research to Armed Forces Recreation. This special award went to Rear Admiral Kevin F. Delaney, USN, Director, Shore Installation Management Division Office of Chief of Naval Operations, Washington D.C., and Ernest Yeager, Director of Outdoor Recreation, Fort Dix, New Jersey.

Award plaques, sponsored by BSN Sports, were presented by R. Dean Tice, Executive Director, NRPA; Stephen Pratt, CLP, President, AFRS; Clarence Thornberry, GameTime, Inc., AFRS Corporate Representative; and Rick Junior, BSN Sports.

Meet the Chiefs

A time-honored AFRS PTI tradition is to provide the opportunity for delegates to "Meet the Chiefs." Each year, Service Chiefs are invited to participate in a question and answer panel during which they briefly can present their views of what is happening in their particular service.

This is followed by the chance for attendees to ask questions on issues that concern them most. This year AFRS delegates had the privilege to interact with Barbara J. Heffernan, Director, Personnel Support Policy and Services, OUSD (PNR), who represented the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Presenters representing the services included: John G. Meyer, Brig-adier General, U.S. Army Commander, U.S. Army Community and Family Support Center; W.T. Wimett, Captain, SC, U.S. Navy, Director, Morale Welfare and Recreation Division; Dale Collins, Colonel, USAF, Director of Programs, HQ Air Force Services Agency; and D. Gregory Gordon, Head, Recreation Operations Branch, MWR Support Activity, HQMC. Bill Mullins, Special Assistant for MWR Operations, BUPERS, served as the moderator.

"99 Seconds"

Perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of the AFRS PTI is the "99 Seconds" presentation. If you are able to survive the high-pitch squeal of the air horn, you will come away with at least one good programming idea. Session highlights include: "MWR Team Trivia" presented with a catchy rap song by Barbara Seagraves and Karen Fritz of NAVSUBASE New London, Connecticut; Anita Tornyai from NAS Cecil Field, Florida, presented a version of "Holiday Block Party" that her MWR department hosts with the help of their SATO office. Jack Lepper from NTS Great Lakes, Illinois, pitched their "Dive-In Movies" program. Maria Hargrove and Kim Schawe from MCB Camp Pendleton, California showed video footage from the highly successful "Non-Alcohol New Years' Eve Party" held at the bowling center and the "10K Mud Run" which literally had people up to their ears in mud. This quick and easy style presentation is an innovative opportunity for recreators to create and incorporate programs into their own recreation efforts. If you have an idea for the 1995 "99 Seconds" presentations please contact Kimberly Schawe, Recreation Director, MCB Camp Pendleton, California. DSN 365-6196 or COMM [phone].

Six Sessions to Success

Day Two of the PTI offered six education sessions related to the six AFRS divisions: Installation Management, Youth Recreation, Community Recreation, Sports and Fitness, Marketing and Commercial Recreation, and Outdoor Recreation. This year Randy Sells, first vice president, AFRS, and his panel of program chairs put together a program so successful that there was "standing room only" for some sessions.

The Installation Management theme, chaired by Randy Sells, was "Cultural Diversity and its Effects on Recreational Demands." This presentation was structured to build cultural sensitivity and awareness in program participants. participants explored the role and demands placed on leisure service providers in culturally diverse communities.

John Prue, NTC Great Lakes, Illinois, chair of the Youth Recreation section insisted that "Volunteers Do Work in Youth Activities." Expert speakers who are known for their effective volunteer programs brought insight, knowledge, and helpful hints for developing and sustaining a quality volunteer program.

A panel of experts gathered by Don Miller, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, chair of the Community Recreation section, presented "Programmed Recreation in a Gendered Armed Forces." A discussion was held on the potential of structured recreation programming to facilitate social interaction and the blending of people with diverse characteristics. The panel focused on how recreation programming can promote integration of male and female members of the Armed Forces in the workplace.

Captain Steve Jones, U.S. Air Force Services, HQ, Washington, DC, Program chair, sports and fitness section hosted "Wellness is Your Business." York Onnen, director of programs for the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports discussed ongoing initiatives with the President's Council. A key topic of discussion was a new forum called the Military Fitness Roundtable. He described how one can promote fitness and sports programs through cooperative efforts with the President's Council, other government agencies, and private sector organizations.

Judy Luder, president and founder of the Melpomene Institute for Women's Health and Research in St. Paul, Minnesota, discussed key factors effecting women's health and fitness opportunities, along with barriers to physical activity. She provided information on how exercise can improve physical and mental health for men and women. Presenter John Urmston, vice president for research and education for the Nautilus Corporation, chairman of the fitness products council for the Sporting Goods Manufactures Association, vice president U.S. Military Sports Association, and a Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve discussed a full range of fitness activities that are required to enhance a wellness program. He also provided valuable marketing ideas that help promote fitness. Colonel Jim Dale, chief of health promotions, Office of the Air Force Surgeon General, discussed key ingredients for a total wellness program such as fitness, nutrition, stress management, substance abuse, and injury prevention.

For those who work with special events and commercial sponsorship, the Marketing and Commercial Recreation Section's "Marketing Corporate Sponsored Events" chaired by Evonne Carawan, MWR support activity, HQMC, Quantico, Virginia, was a beneficial session. Keeping sponsors happy and "coming back" takes creativity and hard work. Service success stories and techniques were shared by members of the commercial, military, and civilian recreation arenas.

Exploring how various agencies chart courses toward increased customer satisfaction, sensitivity to the environment and financial self-sufficiency in the provision of public outdoor recreation services was the key objective of the Outdoor Recreation session entitled "New Ideas in Outdoor Recreation." Jeff Temple, SUBASE Bangor, Washington, served as program chair and recruited experts in the field to discuss their experiences in these areas.

Program proposals are being accepted for the 1995 AFRS PTI. For more information please contact Bruce Grenier, First Vice President, Armed Forces Recreation Society, MWR Director, Quality of Life Department- C25, Building 183, Room 225, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren, Virginia 22448. DSN 249-7777 or COMM [phone].

AFRS Table--Top Exhibits

To provide a "one stop" shopping opportunity is the purpose of the AFRS Table-Top Exhibits. This year a record high was reached of 23 companies whose products and services are geared toward the MWR field. Company representatives set up their table-top exhibits at the AFRS PTI headquarters hotel. A special thanks to the following companies for their participation and contribution to the success of the 1994 AFRS PTI: American Sport Education Program, Champaign, Illinois; American Youth Soccer Organization, Hawthorne, California; Anchor Audio, Inc., Torrance, California; Body Masters Sports Industries, Inc., Rayne, Louisiana; BSN Sports, Dallas, Texas; Earle Kinlaw Associates, Inc., Decatur, Georgia; Executive Business Media, Inc., Westbury, New York; Gopher Sport, Owatonna, Minnesota; Gulbenkian Swim Inc., Pleasantville, New York; Hollywood Bases, Inc., Marysville, California; J & B foam, Ludington, Michigan; Life Fitness, Franklin Park, Illinois; ModuForm, Crystal Lake, Illinois; National Employee Services and Recreation Association, Oak Brook, Illinois; PMA Promotions, Inc. Chicago, Illinois; ProTainer, Inc., Alexandria, Minnesota; SatoTravel, Willow Springs, California; Specialty Recreation Equipment, Santa Barbara, California; Sound Pacific, Inc., Irvine, California; StairMaster Sports Medical Products, Inc., Kirkland, Washington; Ultra Fitness by Bridgeway, Macomb, Illinois; Universal Gym Equipment, Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Water Safety Products, Inc., Melbourne Beach, Florida.

ViewPoints from Capitol Hill

Sharing their perspectives at the AFRS General Session, Thursday, October 13, 1994, were Carolyn Becraft, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Personnel Support, Families and Education; Rear Admiral Kevin F. Delaney, Director, Shore Installation Management Division Office of Chief of Naval Operations, Washington D.C.; and Barry Tindall, director of public policy, NRPA. Hearing their viewpoints on the issues effecting the quality managment and delivery of programmed recreation and the vital role recreation has in supporting the military empowered attendees to seek a rejuvenation of MWR goals and to inspire others to support the MWR mission. (Video tapes of this session may be purchased by contacting MAC Productions, Inc. P.O. Box 17105, Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky 41017, [phone].)

Getting Crazy at the Zoo

As they say "All good things must come to an end...", but not before the AFRS President's Social. This year delegates migrated to the Minnesota Zoo. On entering through the patriotic red, white, and blue balloon archway, attendees were greeted by a menagerie of animals, including a scorpion, chinchilla, and Edward the Iguana. These creatures were not hosting the event, however, they were inhabitants accompanied by the friendly zoo staff who gave brief biographies on each of the fascinating animals and allowed attendees to see and feel their unique characteristics. Believe it or not an Iguana's skin really does feel like the surface of a basketball. Did you know that a chinchilla has 60 follicles per hair, whereas a human has maybe two or three?

After the beneficial yet grueling two days of education sessions, it definitely was time to relax. After a wonderful gourmet meal Minnesota style and venturing through the tropical rainforest, attendees gathered amongst the helium palms and danced the night away to the magnificent tunes of George Faber and the Icons playing music from the '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s.

The Armed Forces Professional Training Institute is a training opportunity that should be experienced by anyone in support of the MWR mission. Mark your calendars now for October, 1995 in San Antonio, Texas. Not only is San Antonio an ideal city for a conference with its diverse community, cultural heritage, beautiful Riverwalk, and of course, the Alamo, but it is also going to be the site for the commemorative celebration of the 50th Anniversary of World War II. Members of the AFRS Board of Directors are actively working to incorporate this celebration into the NRPA Opening General Session, a glorious event that you surely won't want to miss.

So put on your spurs and pack up your wagon--AFRS is headed southwest!