Four employees in the Recreation Department recently earned top recognitions for District 6 of the Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA). They were recognized for a specific event, as well as local programming and involvement in the community and with GRPA.
“It’s great to have the people serving our community be recognized for their great work by peers and colleagues from around the state,” says Recreation Director Robert Walker. “These professionals work day in and day out to make sure children and adults have a variety of quality activities and sports to participate in, and that our recreation centers are places where the neighborhoods can gather.”
Dominique Whisby, Recreation Programmer
Special Event of the Year – Dia Los Muertos Fall Festival
Brittni Fletcher, Recreation Operations Manager
Athletics / Aquatic Network Award
Shunquinese Dennis, Delores A. Brooks Recreation Center Coordinator I
Programmer Network Award
Clarence Thomas, Frank Johnson Recreation Center Supervisor
Distinguished Professional
Other members of District 6 include Baldwin County Recreation, Brookhaven Parks & Recreation Department, Butts County Parks & Recreation Department, Chamblee Parks & Recreation, Decatur Active Living, DeKalb County Parks & Recreation, Dunwoody Parks & Recreation, Greene County Recreation Department, Hancock County Parks & Recreation, Henry County Parks & Recreation, Jasper County Recreation Department, Jones County Recreation Department, Monroe County Recreation Department, Newton County Recreation Commission, Peach County Recreation Department, Perry Parks & Recreation, Putnam County Recreation Department, Rockdale County Parks & Recreation, Stonecrest Parks & Recreation Department, Tucker Parks & Recreation Department, Walton County Parks * Recreation, Warner Robins Recreation Department, and Washington-Wilkes Parks & Recreation Department.
About the Awards
Athletics / Aquatics Network Award
Recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of recreation, parks and leisure services. This is the highest award given to the network member at the district level. Eligibility: any members of GRPA in good standing who is a member of the Athletics/Aquatics Network and has not received this award in the previous 3 years.
Distinguished Professional
To recognize individuals who have made outstanding and lasting contributions to leisure services. This is the highest award GRPA can bestow on one of its members. Eligibility: A member of GRPA for at least five consecutive years. Has a minimum of five years professional service in recreation, parks or conservation and has not received this award previously
Recreation Programming
Recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of recreation, parks and leisure services. This is the highest award given to the network member at the district level. Eligibility: any members of GRPA in good standing who is a member of the Recreation Programming Network and has not received this award in the previous 3 years.
Special Event
Recognizes outstanding special events: Eligibility: Any special event directed by a current GRPA member in good standing.
About GRPA
The Georgia Recreation and Park Association was formed in 1945 as a private, non-profit institution to support and promote the recreation and park industries within the state of Georgia. It is the only state organization that serves as an advocate for quality recreation and park areas, facilities, programs and services at the local level. The Association is governed by a 34-member Board of Trustees and has a membership in excess of 1600. Membership is determined by an individual’s interest and a sliding dues scale. The state is divided into seven geographic districts.
The GRPA’s mission includes: promoting healthy life styles through the utilization of park facilities and recreation services for the well-being of each citizen individually and the community as a whole; ensuring that park and recreation services are available; and providing organized, supervised activity as a means of prevention for a number of circumstances (disease, stress, etc.) including the prevention of juvenile delinquency.
The Association membership is made up of public agencies, private businesses, educational institutions, clinical settings, and citizen advocates whose primary responsibility is to provide recreation opportunities. These professionals look to the Association for support in obtaining funding, providing technical assistance and keeping recreation issues viable for public debate.