On Saturday, February 25, 2012 Friends of the Parks and the Chicago Park District will present the 3^rd annual Park Advocacy Conference “Lead and Inspire Your PAC…Tools for Success” at the historic South Shore Cultural Center (7059 S. South Shore Drive)

This year’s Conference will feature a Question and Answer Panel with Chicago Park District directors and area managers. Participants of the Conference have the opportunity to submit questions for discussion among the panel. The panel will feature: Aricka Jones, Assistant Director Park Services, Andre Taylor, Assistant Director Risk Management, Art Richardson, Central Region Manager, Liz Millan, South Region Manager, Dana Andrews, Community Affairs Liaison, Janis Taylor, Project Manager.

A committee made up of Park Advisory Council members, Chicago Park District staff, and Friends of the Parks staff have been planning the Conference for months. This coordinated effort will result in a conference focusing on the tools PACs need to grow and be successful. The sessions will focus on 3 key areas: Best Practices for Park Advisory Councils, Fundraising, and Park Programming. Attendees will have the opportunity to select from nine 45 minute sessions to attend.

A new and exciting feature added to the 2012 Conference is a Poster Session. Participants to the Conference can attend the bonus information networking session after the presentations to learn about the successes and programming of park advisory councils. The networking session will give participants one last opportunity to meet fellow PAC members and talk to the presenters.

In an effort to make this a greener conference participants are asked to bring their own cup or water bottle for water filling stations throughout the Conference. Also, there will be a strong emphasis on recycling and composting.

The 2012 Park Advocacy Conference is funded through a leadership grant from REI.

2012 Park Advocacy Conference “Lead and Inspire Your PAC… Tools for Success” Schedule:

 8:30am         Breakfast and Registration

9:00am – 9:15am    Welcome, Introductions, Announcement of the 2012 Seed Grants  Erma Tranter and Maria Dmyterko Stone, Friends of the Parks

9:15am- 9:45am      Q& A with Chicago Park District Panel featuring: Aricka Jones, Assistant Director Park Services, Andre Taylor, Assistant Director Risk Management,  Art Richardson, Central Region Manager, Liz Millan, South Region Manager, Dana Andrews, Community Affairs liaison

10:00am- 2:00pm Poster Session

Sessions:

10:00am- 10:45am

Room 1:       PAC 101… Best Practices Presented by: Erma Tranter, Friends of the Parks

 Room 2:       Capital Projects… How to Get Started Presented by: Claudine Malik, Chicago Park District

 Room 3:       Partnerships… A How to Guide  Presented by: Daphne Johnson, Chicago Park District

 11:00am- 11:45am

 Room 1:       Permits and Liability Insurance Presented by: Aricka Jones and Andre Taylor, Chicago Park District

 Room 2:       Grants… The Basics Presented by: Perry Dunn, North River Commission   

 Room 3:       Leave No Child Inside… Nature and Arts Programming Presented by: Peggy Stewart, Chicago Park District

12:00pm- 12:45pm

Room 1:       Volunteers… How to Recruit, Engage, and Keep Presented by: Frances Canonizado, Alliance for the Great Lakes

 Room 2:       Raising Fun-ds for Capital Campaigns Presented by: Marie Poppy, Wiesman Park

 Room 3:     Growing Sports and Fitness in Chicago’s Parks Presented by: Colleen Lammel-Harmon, Chicago Park District

 12:45- 2:00 Post Conference Networking Hour

Stay after the Conference to speak with presenters, learn about exciting programs, and mingle with your fellow attendees!