Thursday, October 16th has been designated as “Citizen Day” at NRPA’s 2008 Congress and Exposition! Citizen board members, commissioners, and advocates from across the country are invited to join fellow citizens for a day of education sessions and networking opportunities. This one day symposium will include:
    • Educational sessions on inclusion, environmental stewardship and repositioning
    • Networking breakfast with citizen leaders
    • Exhibit Hall Lunch and Learn
    • Access to the Exhibit Hall
    • Awards reception

Citizen Day Schedule at a Glance

Citizen Day Breakfast
Thursday, October 16, 8 – 8:30 a.m.
Location: Baltimore Convention Center

What better way to start Citizen Day than to meet fellow citizen leaders for our networking breakfast! Rally together for an exciting day focused on inclusion, environmental stewardship and repositioning.

Citizen Branch Awards Reception
Thursday, October 16, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Location: Baltimore Convention Center
Citizen advocates are critical to keeping parks and recreation a priority among elected officials, community leaders and local populations. Recognize these efforts and enjoy a warm reception at this year’s Citizen Branch Awards Reception.

Citizen Governance Meetings
Location: Hilton Baltimore

Citizen Branch Executive Committee:
Wednesday, October 15 ~ 12:30 – 2 p.m.

Citizen Branch General Membership and Board of Directors Meeting:
Wednesday, October 15 ~ 2 – 3:30 p.m.

Citizen Branch New Committee Meetings:
Friday, October 17 ~ Noon – 1:30 p.m.

Citizen Education Sessions
There is more citizen-focused education planned for this year’s Congress!

CITIZEN FOCUS:
The Role of Citizen Leaders in Creating Inclusive Communities
Thursday, October 16
8:30 – 9:45 a.m.
0.1 CEUs

Speaker:
Tracey Crawford, CPRP,
CTRS, Superintendent of Development of the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association, Northbrook, Ill.

This session will help citizen leaders gain an understanding of the American’s with Disabilities Act and the important role they play in supporting inclusive programming within their agencies. Participants will gain an understanding of what inclusion of individuals with disabilities in recreation programs is and what it is not; and why it is so important.

CITIZEN FOCUS:
Sustainable South Bronx,
Community Visioning for a Sustainable Future
Thursday, October 16
10:15 – 11:30 a.m.
0.1 CEUs

Speaker: 
Majora Carter,
Executive Director, Sustainable South Bronx, Bronx, N.Y.

Communities often have the solutions to
address their local problems. However, poor communities rarely have the resources to revitalize their neighborhoods in the vision they desire. In the case of the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx in New York City, a successful $1.25 million federal grant written by Majora Carter, founder and
Executive Director of Sustainable South Bronx, brought critical resources to conduct a community visioning process that has lead
to the creation of the South Bronx Greenway plan. Come learn about the success story of Sustainable South Bronx in creating riverfront parks, fighting to demolish underused expressways, and their
involvement in growing the national “green collar” jobs movement.

Thursday, October 16
2 – 5:15 p.m.
0.3 CEUs

Speaker: John Crompton,
Distinguished Professor, Texas A&M University, Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences.

Learn about the contemporary expansion of the park and recreation mission from meeting the needs of particular user groups to delivering economic, environmental and social benefits to the whole community.

Crompton will review his research findings on the 19 ways parks and recreation services add economic value to communities and suggest implications for the future.