PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

National Playground Safety Institute

A record 46 NPSI courses are scheduled for the year 2000. We now have more than 6,000 Certified Playground Safety Inspectors (CPSI), and are processing trademarks for both Certified Playground Safety Inspector and CPSI.

Annual Congress & Exposition

The 1999 NRPA Nashville Congress & Exposition broke all the records, including the most attendees, the most and best educational sessions, and the biggest exposition center yet. Our Nashville Metro Parks local host team, chaired by Jim Fyke and Mary Wherry, were jest ichin' to show off their hometown -Music City, USA. From the opening gala general session, keynoted by ESPN sportscaster Robin Roberts at the world famous Grand Ole Opry, everyone knew this Congress was going to be special. The week was packed full of offsite educational outings showcasing Nashville's vast community programs, pre-Congress institutes, special focus seminars, and educational sessions. Country music star Wynonna brought the house down Thursday night, and NRPA ushered in the new millennium in style during the APRS social. For the first time, two-thirds of the Congress attendees were able to be housed under one roof: that of the Opryland Hotel.

Congress Education and Training Sessions

A total of 297 educational sessions are planned for the 2000 NRPA Congress & Exposition in Phoenix. Last year, in Nashville, Tenn., 13,400 individuals attended NRPA training programs with 20,046 continuing education units (CEUs) awarded. At the Nashville Congress, 287 educational sessions were conducted.

Job Man/Job Bulletin

The popularity of the NRPA Job Bulletin -- both electronic and hard copy -- continues. Subscriptions, mailed 22 times a year, total more than 1,100, with an average of 25 additional individual orders per volume. Fliers for the NRPA Congress & Exposition Job Mart have been distributed to likely employers. A healthy number of postings are expected in Phoenix.

Agency Accreditation

There are currently 26 agencies accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). In August, initial visitations were conducted to two agencies, the Salisbury (N.C.) Parks and Recreation Department and the East Lansing (Mich.) Recreation and Arts Department. A five-year recertification visit was also made to the Miami-Dade County Park and Recreation Department.

The Benefits Movement

There will be six educational sessions relating to the Benefits movement at the NRPA Congress & Exposition in Phoenix, plus two pre-Congress Benefits sessions. These sessions will feature Benefits Based Management, by Dr. Ellen O'Sullivan, and Benefits Based Awareness, by Jodi Rudick. There are now 22 states signed up for the profit-sharing/Benefits training program. Plans are underway for two new Benefits-related videos: a public service announcement and a mentor training guide. Dr. John Crompton's The Impact of Parks and Open Space on Property Values and the Property Tax Base was published by NRPA's Division of Professional Services in June.

Academic Accreditation

The NRPA/AALR Council on Accreditation currently lists 98 accredited institutions of higher learning. Visitation teams are being assigned for 23 re-accreditation visits between fall 2000 and spring 2001. Accreditation is valid for rive years.

Professional Certification

The National Certification Board recently changed the professional designation Certified Leisure Professional to Certified Park and Recreation Professional, and many state certification boards are now incorporating this change. In concert, the new Official Study Guide for the Certified Park and Recreation Professional Examination, by J. Robert Rossman and William R. McKinney, was published by the NRPA Division of Professional Services in July. The feasibility of computer testing for the CPRP examination through Applied Measurement Professionals Inc., which administers a number of professional examinations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, is currently being examined.

Continuing Education

More than 10,000 continuing education units (CEUs) have been awarded through regional and state-sponsored schools, endorsed programs, and videos. NRPA is now offering an online CEU program, and is in the process of applying for authorized CEU-provider status through the International Association for Continuing Education and Training.

Joseph Lee Memorial Library and Archives

A cataloging software, Concourse, has been purchased and will be implemented this fall. NRPA members will be able to search for books and articles online using author, title, subject heading, or keyword. For the first rime, the library has its own section on NRPA's Web site, ActiveParks.org. The section features condensed versions of the various collections' finding aids, a description and timeline of the Recreation and Park Hall of Fame, and a search request form that people can fill out online and either fax or e-mail to the library. The number of technical assistance questions fielded by the library has risen considerably. During the first half of the year 2000, for example, the library responded to 485 queries. The most popular inquiry topics included standards, Benefits, liability, revenue, needs assessment, and park and facility design.