Certified Park and Recreation Professional

1. Certified Park and Recreation Professional Original Presentation developed by Mike Selep & Matt Barber. Updated with IPRAs permission by Nikki Ginger, Professional Development Manager

2. CPRP Study SessionPart I: The Examination Michael Selep, CPRP, MPS Professional Services Director IPRA Lisa Pesavento, PHD, CPRP Retired Professor & Interim Dean, Chicago State University Matthew Barber, CPRP Human Resources Coordinator WSSRA Nikki Ginger, CPRP Professional Development Manager Chicago Park District Original Presentation developed by Mike Selep & Matt Barber. Updated with IPRAs permission by Nikki Ginger, Professional Development Manager

3. Section 1: Overview • CPRP Overview • Current Exam Process • Overall Exam • Section I: General Administration • Planning • Budget & Finance • Supervision • Policy Formulation & Interpretation • Customer Service & Marketing

4. What is CPRP? • Certified Park and Recreation Professional • A recognized standard in the parks & recreation field.  • Enhances the quality of our services, professionalizes our staff, & brings credibility to our organization.  According to NRPA: “CPRP certification is one of the most sought-after certifications in the park & recreation profession…the CPRP certification tells your peers & your employer that you have met the certification’s high standards of education, expertise & experience.” 

5. Why Become Certified? • Be a part of Chicago Park District’s continued growth & improvement! • Demonstrate that you have met educational & experience requirements to be a Parks & Rec Professional. • Show your commitment to self-improvement & keeping up with current issues/topics. • Bring credibility to your park & our profession.

6. Study Sessions • Unique to CPD: one of the only known agencies offering CPRP training sessions for its staff • Three study sessions • Three practice exams • Access to CPRP experts • Networking with other agencies • *Fully funded for one exam *excluding text

7. Qualifications • Bachelor’s Degree from NRPA accredited College • Bachelor’s Degree – without NRPA accreditation + 1 year experience • Bachelor’s Degree – without P&R major + 3 years experience • High School Diploma/GED/ 2-Year Degree + 5 years experience

8. Certification Steps • Purchase text • Apply for official transcripts • Complete application • Submit application & official transcripts to Nikki Ginger, Professional Development Manager • NRPA will notify you via email of your eligibility. • Sit for exam within 60 days of the last CPRP study session—May 31st!

9. THE EXAM

10. Exam • Multiple Choice! • Computerized • 3 hours long (average CPD time: 2.5 hours) • 150 Questions • 25 randomly inserted questions are used for research purposes only—not scored • Scores immediately received • Passing Score: 70% (83 correct answers)

11. Question Types • Recall Items: recall or recognize information related to job tasks • Sample: The following items are found in a management plan… • Application Items: comprehend, relate, or apply knowledge to job tasks • Analysis Items: connect information for a solution, to evaluate, or to analyze the usefulness of a solution

12. Exam • Three parts • Administration—41 questions • Planning • Budget & Finance • Supervision • Policy Formulation & Interpretation • Customer Service & Marketing • Programming—49 questions • Assessment • Planning • Implementation • Evaluation • Operations—35 questions • Planning & Management • Maintenance Management • Facility Operations • TR questions integrated throughout

13. The Test Location • Secured area • No phones • No electronic devices • No paper • No pencils • Not even gum • Locations around Chicago • H&R Block • Pearson • Wright College • DeVry • And More…

14. Secrets to Success • Use your logic! Read each question carefully & choose most reasonable answer • Think nationally, not CPD. Questions are based on national parks. • Study, study, study! • Ask your peers! Not a math wiz? Don’t know the difference between capital & operating expenses? Seek out the knowledge we have in-house! • Create note cards about challenging aspects. • Don’t spend time second guessing your answers.

15. Post Test • NRPA will send you a certificate. • Earn 2.0 CEUs (20 hrs) over 2 yrs to maintain certification. • Maintain ALL documentation & recertify with NRPA. • Recertify within 90 days of expiration or start preparing to take the test again.

16. CPRP Test Preparation:Part II: Administration Michael Selep, CPRP, MPS Professional Services Director IPRA Lisa Pesavento, PHD, CPRP Retired Professor & Interim Dean, Chicago State University Matthew Barber, CPRP Human Resources Coordinator WSSRA Nikki Ginger, CPRP Professional Development Manager Chicago Park District Original Presentation developed by Mike Selep & Matt Barber. Updated with IPRAs permission by Nikki Ginger, Professional Development Manager

17. PLANNING • Agencywide process that guides: • Decision making • Achieves values, vision & mission • Improves efficiency & effectiveness • Proactive in Change • Key to planning success? Staff involvement from every level!

18. Strategic Planning • Strategic/Comprehensive Plan • Overall plan for an agency • Includes Operations, program, marketing, facility, & natural resources • Master Plans • Marketing Plans • Program Plans • SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) Analysis • “Scorecard” –Accountability for Meeting Goals & Objectives

19. Partnerships • Written agreement that outlines: • Legal responsibilities/liabilities • Staff & program supervision details • Quality control • Partnership dissolution & review processes • Benefits include efficiency & avoiding duplication of services • Require collaboration & communication

20. Research • Evaluation vs. Research • Evaluation • Program/Event based/specific • Used to guide decision making & for organization • Research • Theory based & general • Identifies problems or

21. Research Sampling Groups • Population: Everyone in a group (community, state, campus) • Large scale • Expensive • Not efficient

22. Research Sampling Groups • Sample: A portion of the population (i.e., teens, ages 15-17, in Humboldt Park) • Smaller • More specific • Less expensive

23. Sampling Methods • Sampling • Random: Everyone has an equal chance of being selected. All names are put into a hat & names are pulled at random • Systematic: Every “nth” person (i.e., every 5th person who walks in the door) • Purposive: Represents a select group (i.e., day camp participants) • Convenience: Easy for the researcher to poll (i.e., available staff or a questionnaire left on the front desk).

24. Survey Methods • Mail • Group Administrative: surveying at one activity (i.e., Theater goers after a production) • Focus Group: gathering people specifically to answer your questions • Telephone: called individually • Internet: done via internet link or webpage

25. BUDGET & FINANCE • Financial Management • Coordination of financial resources • Ultimate responsibility of CEO/Board, but each staff member is responsible • Finance Management Goals • Provide detail on how funds are acquired, safeguarded & allocated • Lower expenditures • Increase Return on Resources • Budget: Prepared plan that anticipate revenues/expected expenses

26. Expenses • Capital: Buildings/Equipment & Long Term expenses • Operational: Day to Day Expenses

27. Annual Budget Process

28. Fees & Charges • Programs must either make a surplus, break even or be subsidized • Forecasting is essential in price setting • Types of Costs • Fixed Costs: Do not change with the number of participants • Direct Fixed Costs: Cost of program occurring (i.e., renting a room for an activity) • Indirect/Overhead Costs: Shared fees among programs. (i.e., administrative expenses, utilities, maintenance) • Variable Costs: Costs for operating the program & based on the number of participants (i.e., t-shirts, supplies, etc.)

29. Fee Calculation • Program Cost = F + (v(N)) Fixed Costs + Variable Costs X Number of Participants = Program Cost

30. Funding/Revenue Sources • Compulsory – Taxes • Real property (Assessed Evaluation -EAV) • Personal property, Sales, Excise (Sin), Income • Gratuitous – Grants, Bequests, Sponsorship • State & federal government or private foundations • Limited time frame • Earned Income – Fees & Charges • Contractual Receipts • Investment Income

31. Cash Handling • Cash Collection/Deposit • Major source of revenue for P&R • Easiest & simplest method to expedite cash inflow: • Develop revenue collection/deposit policies • Institute procedures for revenue sources & locations • Safe Guarding of Cash: Systematic Accounting System • Post fees • Assign two employees or a cash register & rotate employees • Reconcile cash receipts & give receipts to patrons • Make daily deposits • Provide keys to authorized personnel only • Schedule unannounced audits frequently • Keep petty cash secured, with receipts & reconciled

32. Purchasing • Petty Cash-small purchases (not CPD standard) • ProcurementCard—small purchases similar to a credit card (not a CPD standard) • PurchaseOrder/Agency agreement to pay • Blanket: small continuous purchase, billed once a month (hardware, paper, etc.) • Limited/Departmental: one-time purchase directly from a vendor with a dollar limit • Regular: one-time delivery, usually requiring CEO authorization • Bids—large purchases with multiple submitters

33. Purchasing Requirements

34. Financial/Operating Data $

35. Financial Reports • Regular Reporting: • Revenues & Nonrevenue Receipts • Expenditures • Encumbrances: PO, contracts, salary commitments, etc. • Contractual Services • Capital Outlays: Expenditures for land or existing structures, improvement, construction, remodeling, etc. • Debt Services: expenditures for retirement of debt & interest payment for facilities & rec areas • Cost Controls Are Key • Pre-audit of disbursements • State & private auditing firms

36. Supervision • Provide input in job descriptions, including: • Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Other Characteristics (KSAOC) • Job title & supervision statement • Domains & competencies needed • Education, experience & special requirements • Recruit, hire & dismiss personnel • Conduct performance appraisals • Probation & Compensation • Staff Training & Improvement

37. Supervisor Tasks • Develop staff work schedules • Appropriately assign work tasks based on the 7 dimensions that motivate & impact staff retention

38. SupervisorTasks

39. Disciplinary Action • Agency should clearly define disciplinary action in personnel manual • Verbal reprimand & written reprimand • Demotion, Suspension & Discharge/Termination

40. POLICY FORMULATION & INTERPRETATION • What are policies? -Reflections of agency principles -Aids -Guides

41. Policy Development Process

42. Gathering Data • Advisory Groups • Task Forces • Public Hearings & Meetings • Referendums • Focus Groups • Surveys

43. Theory vs. Reality Policy Setting Procedures Board • Sets the policy Staff • Develop the policy • Seek board approval • Implement

44. CUSTOMER SERVICE & MARKETING • Marketing: creates a positive public perception • Four P’s • Product • Price • Place • Promotions

45. Vision & Mission Statements • Vision -What will the organization look like in the future • Mission -Who -What -How

46. Customer Service Steps

47. Marketing Plan • What’s your market? • People who represent the demand • Current vs. Latent Buyers • Marketing Mix • Product • Price • Place • Promotion

48. Market Segmentation- Part I

49. Market Segmentation-Variables

50. Target Marketing • Three approaches • Undifferentiated/Mass Market • Differentiated- Target one or more segments • Concentrated- Focus everything on one or two segments