Avoid the blues in Kansas City.

Although Kansas City is well-known as home of the Blues, NRPA delegates will be all smiles when they attend the 31st Congress for Recreation and Parks there next month. More than 4,000 park, recreation and leisure professionals and citizen advocates will meet in American's heartland for four days of learning, dialogue, exchange, personal and professional growth,networking and socializing.

Fewer cities could be more American. Situated in the "Heart of America," Kansas City played a major role in the expansion of the west. Trappers and traders began to settle the town of Kansas (later known as Kansas City) on the southern banks of the Missouri River, a short distance from where it meets the Kansas River. A few years later, thousands of pioneers would disembark from river boats at this point to begin their overland journeys on the Oregon, California and Santa Fe Trails. Since its initial notoriety as the gateway for pioneers, Kansas City has grown into a jazzy city that reflects its proud heritage while moving into its prosperous future.

In addition to capturing the heart of America, Kansas City offer an excellent location for NRPA Congress delegates. The opportunities for professional growth are endless with more than 300 concurrent education sessions, pre-Congress institutes, on-site institutes, and special focus seminars. Work towards certification, re-certification or simply expand your professional knowledge with more than 200 continuing education units (CEUs). Sessions are designed for every level of experience and cover a variety of topics related to the parks, recreation and leisure field. Two dynamic keynote speakers--one from the corporate world and one from the world of professional athletics--will inspire delegates when they share their philosophies on the power of recreation.

Visit the largest display of recreation and park products and services at the NRPA Exposition. Meet manufactures and benefit from NRPA Congress discounts with on-site purchases. Visit the Active Living/Healthy Lifestyle pavilion and health fair, where you can receive health assessments and information and resources on NRPA's newest fitness program. You can even arrive early and workout on selected exercise equipment before the Exposition opens each day.

INSTITUTES

Back by popular demand this year are the NRPA Pre-Congress Institutes. Expert presenters are assembled for day-long sessions dealing with specialized topics.

NRPA Playground Safety Inspector Certification Course & Exam Monday - Tuesday, October 21-22 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission,200,000 children were treated for playground accidents in 1994. Of these, 70% occurred at public parks and schoolyards. How does your equipment measure up? How many preventable injuries occurred in your parks? Sponsored by the NRPA National Playground Safety Institute, this course is the most comprehensive training program on playground hazard identification and risk management methods offered. Advanced reading and 10 hours of training will make participants eligible to sit for the Certified Playground Safety Inspector exam at the end of the course.

Aquatic Recreation Therapy INstitute Monday & Tuesday, October 21-22 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Wednesday, October 23 8:30 am - 11:30 am

This specially developed 12-14-hour educational experience is designed for therapists who are currently practicing or interested in implementing various aquatic therapy techniques with individuals who have disabilities. Experts teach up-to-date methods of Halliwick, Sequential Swim and pain management. The Dolan method(used with individuals with autism), techniques used in psychiatric settings, program justification, and research strategies will also be included for a well-rounded institute. Class format will include lecture and hands-on practice.

Commercial Sponsorship Institute Tuesday, October 22 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

This institute will introduce techniques used to develop, implement and enhance the commercial sponsorship approach within recreation agencies of all sizes. Learn how to increase revenue, decrease expenses, enhance programs, develop partnerships, improve public relations, and much more. Instruction focuses on the practical aspects of event marketing, strategies and jargon of the trade.

Programming for Youth in High-Risk Environments Tuesday, October 22 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

As part of NRPA's efforts to provide current information on the benefits of recreation for youth, this institute is a continuation of last year's"Trends in Programming for Youth At Risk." Learn about present collaborative efforts, funding sources and tools for programming. Interact with gang members and discuss youth issues with former NFL star Jim Brown, current president of the Amer-I-Can program.

NRPA Youth Sport Director Workshop Tuesday, October 22 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

The quality of sports programs directly reflects the philosophy, knowledge and organizational skills of the directors in charge whether they be volunteers or paid professional staff. Learn how to develop a program philosophy,manage parents, risk management, and event management.

APRS Management Institute" "The Future...Ours to Create" Tuesday, October 22 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

This years's APRS Management Institute will cover four topics: 1.) Privatization--Privatization of public parks, recreation and leisure services is a hotly debated management technique today, but what impact will it have on our organizations? Discuss the pro's and con's for our departments and the future of the profession. 2.) Image--Your organization's image is vital to its survival, especially in this tight budgetary climate. By educating our public on the benefits of parks and recreation, we can demonstrate the importance of our services and enhance our image. 3.) Partnerships--Discover win-win opportunities that can be created through partnerships and cooperative agreements with local businesses, school districts, service clubs and organizations. 4.) Quality Service--Quality is more than the absence of defects, but the presence of value. Often our value is personified by our employees and customer service efforts. Learn the necessary components for delivering consistent quality service internally and externally.

Every Manager's Primer to Information Technology Tuesday, October 22 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

In a unique combination of drama, demonstration, lecture and hands-on practice, this session approaches the complicated issues of computers in today's leisure service industry. See technology that is used by agencies around the country and learn about the Internet, costs of technology, training, trends, and gadgets.

Parks and Recreation and Our Nation's Health Tuesday, October 22 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

As the health care debate remains a national issue, scientific literature continually affirms that physical inactivity and stress are two of the largest contributors to physical illness in America. Learn how the public health service is committed to reversing this growing trend of physical inactivity and why leisure time use of parks and participation in physical recreation is paramount to our nation's health.

SPECIAL FOCUS SEMINARS

For thorough intensive exploration in one area of study, try our Special Focus Seminars, The Missouri Park and Recreation Association, in conjunction with NRPA, has developed eight Special Focus Seminars offered before the NRPA Congress officially begins. All seminars have been approved for .3 CEUs and are scheduled on Wednesday, October 23, 8:30 am - 11:45 am.

Delighting Customers

As budget cuts take effect and demand for recreation services increases, it is a challenge to continue offering quality programs to our communities. This seminar is an introduction to quality customer service for the park and recreation professional. It emphasizes the skills and strategies that will encourage the public to support our programs and activities.

Hazard Tree Evaluation -- Risk Management and Liability

The risk and liability associated with hazardous trees on public lands and recreation areas is very real. Learn the risk and liability associated with hazardous trees, basic identification principals and the importance of a tree inventory.

Living with Lions: Stress Prevention and Management

Stress is a common factor for everyone and frequently has a negative impact on both our personal and professional lives. New research indicates that stress may have a more long-term, cumulative effect on us than ever before realized. This session will discuss the debilitating affects of stress on you and your organization. Learn how to prevent and manage stress.

Mediation: Dealing with Conflict

This session will use the mediation process to illustrate a creative and constructive way to handle interpersonal conflicts. Through discussions, exercises and role playing, participants will learn about the root causes of conflict, ways in which individuals approach conflict and interest-based strategies that help create a win-win resolution to many interpersonal conflicts.

Project Management for Design and Construction of Recreation Facilities

The design, construction and management of public recreation facility projects is critical to all park and recreation agencies. This session provides the most recent information in the industry to assist participants with their next project and ensure its success. A comprehensive approach to project management for capitol improvements projects will be analyzed in addition to options for design and construction.

Strategic Planning for Parks and Recreation Agencies

Today, parks and recreation professionals are challenged more than ever in their ability to meet citizen needs while planning for future community growth and changes. Strategic planning is an effective means to help meet this challenge. This session will focus on teaching a step-by-step planning process that can be used as a powerful tool in charting your organization's preferred future while building community buy-in.

The White Rabbit Syndrome... Diagnosis and Cure

Time is a finite resource that is continually difficult to manage. This session will discuss the basics of time management and is an excellent resource for learning how to manage your day. Whether this is your first time management course, or simply a refresher, your time will be spent wisely.

Think Tank Techniques form Around the World

This humorous hands-on workshop stimulates the innovative thinking that is needed to move beyond traditional management assumptions. In an effort to discover and broaden the scope of potential solutions to recreation and park problems, cutting-edge thinking skills and techniques will be utilized and explored through a series of individual and team projects.

ON-SITES

Traditional education sessions are informative, insightful ways to examine the latest in the field. However, learning takes place in many settings. On-site institutes are a great way to get out of the classroom and learn from the challenges and successes of some local agencies and institutions. NRPA offers 13 institutes that highlight special interests in the field and current trends.

Visit the 19th century villages created from historical structures that were discovered and then reassembled on park lands. These outdoor living history museums offer educational and recreational events that bring history to life. Tour several highly respected greenway trail systems around the Kansas City metropolitan area and learn about the creative interagency cooperation that went into their creation. If you're in the "swing of things," you may want to tour the historic Swope Memorial Golf Course, Kansas City Golf Academy and the Plaza Tennis Center to investigate how sports revenue can contribute to your agency's budget.

Kansas City is famous for its boulevards, parks and fountains. Stroll through the system and learn how it provides comprehensive order to the growth of the City. See some of the area's best and most utilized aquatic facilities or visit a variety of modern sports complexes, ranging from the 76-acre, 19-field youth sports complex to a new ice rink. Visit the historic and renowned Menninger Clinic, a national and international leader in the treatment of psychiatric disorders and mental illness, and see a variety of activity therapies--art, music, horticulture, and recreational--in action.

Learn about the recruiting and training of a large seasonal staff, marketing, group sales, general operations, and grounds care of theme parks by visiting two successful and nationally respected theme parks and meeting with their staff. Take a tour that will give you a detailed and in-depth look at the history, development, operations, and maintenance of Kansas City's world-famous fountains. Visit three dramatically different nature centers around the Kansas City area; learn wildlife management practices used in the forest and a privately owned nature sanctuary.

In 1995, Kansas City opened its new Africa exhibit with over 350 animals in 95 acres of natural habitat enclosures, a $75 million-dollar renovation. See why the zoo is a major source of pride for local residents and learn about the imaginative techniques employed to finance these major improvements. Visit several new, state-of-the-art community centers in urban Kansas City and neighboring areas. Explore the variety of innovative recreational activities and programs. Experience garden delights by visiting an urban arboretum and library. Walk through the grounds--home to 150 species of unusual trees--and learn about research and educational programs, maintenance, funding and operational issues.

SPEAKERS

In addition to the education sessions and institutes, delegates will have an opportunity to see in tangible terms the impact that recreation and parks has on the general public. Both professional athletes and corporate executives recognize the benefits of parks and recreation to communities and society. Our two Keynote speakers have very different backgrounds, but share a palpable respect for our profession.

Former NFL star and actor Jim Brown will address the First All Congress General Session on Wednesday, October 23 at 4:00 pm. As president and founder of the Amer-I-Can Program, Inc., Mr. Brown will explain his organization's life management skills training curriculum, the Responsibility of Self-Determination, which enhances the ability of the individual to become a more productive member of society. Much like the philosophies of public parks and recreation, the Amer-I-Can Program transcends race, gender, religion, and socio-economic status and allows all participants to grow to their potential. Mr. Brown will explore ways to collaborate on gang intervention and youth development efforts.

The Second All Congress General Session on Saturday, October 26 at 10 am, will be highlighted by a keynote presentation on corporate/public partnerships by keynote speaker Skip LeFauve, Chairman of the Saturn Corporation. Saturn's philosophy as "a different kind of car company" is demonstrated by their Kid's Kingdom Program, where Saturn, in partnership with Saturn retailers, builds playgrounds for children in cities across the country. Mr. LeFauve will address the "why's," "what's" and "how's" of working with corporations--why community relations and partnerships are important; what corporations look for in a partnership; and how you can develop partnerships with corporations in your region. Don't miss this chance to hear "a different type of presentation."

SOCIALS

Situated in the "Heart of America," Kansas City reflects a smattering of all that is American. As you stroll along the City's boulevards, soak up its fountains and hear the jazzy echoes of its musical heritage, you will discover that Kansas City is an ideal place to socialize with colleagues and friends. NRPA has planned three major events to give you a taste of Kansas City.

Wednesday, October 23 All that Jazz

Some of history's greatest jazz musicians got their start in the clubs of Kansas City. Join us for a delightful and relaxing interlude featuring the legendary sounds of Kansas City Jazz, all in an atmosphere that will let you choose either a tranquil evening, or a hot and lively session of the best improvisational sounds in the world.

Immediately following--and across the street from--the First All Congress General Session, this event will give you the opportunity to convene in a social setting and gather information on the other sights and sounds of Kansas City after dark. Later that night, join the high steppers across the street to the park for a welcome-to-town fireworks display.

Friday, October 25 African Safari

Travel to Africa and enjoy all of its mystery, magic and majesty. The sights and sounds of the Sarengetti will come to life when you visit the world-class Kansas City Zoo and the new Imax The-alter. The American Park and Recreation Society has planned a social and educational event that will fill your senses and capture your imagination.

The safari begins in the Deramus Education Pavilion with a unique journey. Walk through a series of passages that tell the story of humankind's relationship with nature through the past, present and future. Explore the social nature of humankind with food, beverages, special entertainment, dancing, shopping and much more.

A short tram ride will deliver you to the Nanyuki Market, where you can enjoy the song and dance that are traditions of this African market. Food, beverages and dancing will highlight this Safari location, as well.

Saturday, October 26 Into the Magical Batcave

See what it is like to truly be "inside" Kansas City at the first-ever underground All Congress Social. Creative Missourians mined 100 feet into a 270-million-year-old limestone deposit to create SubTropolis, the world's largest underground business complex. This subsurface development, with a constant temperature of 65-72 degrees, is now home to local, national and international business

For your entertainment, a portion of the massive underground caves will be transformed into Batman's secret control center. Marvel at the Joker, Riddler, Penguin, and other comic book characters as they come alive and POW, BIFF, ZONK, and BLAM your evening.

Special Thanks to the Convetion and Visitors Bureau of Greater Kansas City and the NRPA Convention Services Department for their assistance in preparing this article.