In addition to e-mailing the agenda and minutes for the upcoming ITRS Board Meeting, they will now be placed on a blog to be sure all have access to it.  Here is the agenda itrs-agenda-april-08.doc and here are the February minutes minutes-itrs-meeting-feb-08.doc.  Thank you.

The Chicago Sky has invited us out again for an SRA Day at the Sky.  Last year was a great success with over 200 SRA staff and participants attending.  Let’s make this year even better. 

The Chicago Sky have some special activities planned for us including recognition on their scoreboard while they take on their rival, the Detroit Shock.  Tickets are only $12 and the Sky has offered food and beverage coupons as well to save up to 40% on the cost of your snacks. 

Please print this attached flyer Chicago Sky Flyer and Order Form. and order form to order the tickets directly from the Sky.  Hope to see everyone out there to watch exciting WNBA action.

The ensuring medicare access to Recreation Therapy act is at risk of being lost in committee and unless we act now a vital part of our field will be in jeopardy; the next 15 days will be crucial. The only way we can pass this bill is if we work together to let our congressmen know that this bill is important to us and the people we serve.

All you have to do is write one paragraph on the first contact form letter , then write your congressman/woman’s name (information on how to find them is included in the letter), your name, voting address, and fax it to your congressman Fax numbers and addresses . If you have already written a letter but have not recieved a resonse, you can send a follow up letter to ask them again. There is also a letter for recipients of therapeutic recreation services to send if your participants wish to join the cause; TR consumer letter . The entire bill can be reviewed at the folowing link Official HR bill . Some of the key points are that: - The Center for medicare and medicaid services verbalize that TR is a covered service but it is not clear in the Medicare Benefits Policy Manual and we are asking for clarification of language to prevent misinterpretation by fiscal intermediaries and therefore ensure access to therapeutic recreation for the patients who will benefit from the service. The bill is budget neutral and we are asking that the congressman-congresswomen join the 30 other congresspeople and co-sponsor the bill. Our goal is to get 10 Illinois congressman/women in the next 15 days to co-sponsor the bill. It is a lofty goal but we can do it if we are able to put aside any differences and unite our entire profession, no matter what population we serve. After you send a letter (or a friend/family member or participant sends a letter). E-mail kriley@childrensmemorial.org so that we can track letters and follow up with the congressmen. Contact this address as well if you are willing to try to set up a face to face meeting with your congressperson.

Come out and send your camps or any other programs to the Flyers game against the Joliet Jackhammers on Wednesday, July 23.  Game time will be 12:05 p.m.  We tried to get them to start the game sooner, but 12:05 is the earliest they would start the game.  Tickets are $7 and lunch vouchers are $5.  There is also a $20 administrative fee that covers the whole order no matter how many tickets you order.  ITRS will earn a small portion of the proceeds.

SRAs will get to participate in a pre-game Banner Parade.  Also a small group of participants will sing the 7th inning stretch and finally, one lucky participant will get to throw out the first pitch.  After registration deadline, a drawing will take place to determine who the lucky individuals are.

Please register for your tickets through IPRA by June 11 by using this link: 

https://www.ilipra.org/Events/EventRegister.cfm?EventID=1000 .  Hope to see everyone there!

Under the Professional Development Division of ITRS, a new committee is forming for SRA Intern Supervisors.  The purpose is to share resources, discuss NCTRC guidelines, and conduct trainings at the State Conference.  The committee will meet approximately four times per year.  If you are interested in becoming a member of this new group, please contact Jayne Finger at NWSRA.  (Jayne is bringing snacks, so even if it is boring, you will have something to eat.)

Hello Everyone,

Just a reminder that the Annual ITRS Social Party will take place on Thursday, January 24, 2008 in Regency D from 7:30pm-10:30pm.  There will be a Baggo Tournament, music, snacks and beverages.  $5.00 cover at the door (exact change encouraged) and the theme is Mardi Gras.  We hope to see everyone there!

As the ILRTA and ITRS liason I wanted to send out an invitation to all ITRS members for the ILRTA conference which will take place on November 12th and November 13th at The DoubleTree Hotel Chicago/Alsip, 5000 W 127th St, Alsip, IL 60803. Sessions will include a Keynote address from Norma Stumbo; Managing your Life - 10 strategies from Calvin and Hobbes, Handling emotions and conflicts in the workplace; The impact of Physical Activity and Recreation on Autism; Enabling Gardens: Design methods and strategies for safe and comfortable lifelong gardening; a speed mentoring program to link seasoned professionals with students and young professionals; plus many more. The full conference costs is $215.00 for non-ILRTA members and will include a 2008 membership in ILRTA. It will be an excellent opportunity to link community TR programming with clinical TR and help improve care for our participants and patients. For more information please contact Kenny Riley at kriley@childrensmemorial.org and he can fax you a registration form and detailed description of all scheduled sessions. Don’t miss this opportunity to bridge the TR gap.

The Participant Services Division (PSD) and the Illinois Therapeutic Recreation Section (ITRS) Board will meet on Thursday, November 1 at the Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association (NEDSRA), 1770 W. Centennial Place in Addison.  Do not forget to bring a present for the Toys for Tots Campaign.  See attached information for each meeting November PSD Agenda   November ITRS Board Packet.

Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association Receives National Award for Excellence in Inclusion

The Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA) Board of Directors will receive the 2007 Jean Tague Award for Excellence in Inclusion. The award will be presented at the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)/National Institute on Recreation Inclusion (NIRI) conference held on October 24, 2007 in Reston, Virginia.

The Jean Tague Award is presented annually at the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) conference and is the most prestigious award regarding inclusion in the US. The award is given to an organization that has shown unwavering support for inclusion.

NSSRA is a pioneer in providing opportunities for people with disabilities who choose to participate in park district or recreation department programs and/or day camps with people without disabilities. Recognition on the national level demonstrates the continued commitment to excellence by NSSRA Board of Directors and staff in recreation programming to individuals with disabilities.

The NRPA/NIRI Award is designed to celebrate the people and organizations that contribute to the field of therapeutic recreation. Highlighting these individuals and organizations serves many functions. It provides a national stage to receive accolades from friends and peers for a job well done. It also shows the successes of NRPA/NIRI members and those working to achieve shared goals. More importantly, it shares new and creative ideas first-hand and up close.

For more information on the Award or NSSRA, please contact NSSRA Executive Director John McGovern at 847-509-9400.