The a publication of the Bloomingdale Park District NEWS Mission Statement The Mission of the Bloomingdale Park District is to efficiently and economically provide recreation programs, facilities and open spaces designed to provide enjoyable leisure time experiences that benefit the community. Once again, it’s time for me to bring you up to date on the activities of the Park District. In these trying economic times, newscasts are filled with dire warnings about the precarious condition of our state and the nation’s fiscal health. While the Park District Board of Commissioners can do little about the big picture, we can, and have done, everything possible to keep our local end of the bargain. After an exhaustive examination by the credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s, the Park District has been awarded the coveted “AA” rating for the second year in a row. What does that mean to you? Because of our fiscal responsibility and the unparalleled efforts of our staff, under the direction of Executive Director Carrie Fullerton, the District will save over $600,000 on interest payments over the next 11 years in re-paying bonds. That will go a long way as we continue to maintain our parks, facilities and equipment to the level that you, and we, expect while our tax rate remains one of the lowest in DuPage County. We are in the midst of preparing the Park District’s Strategic Plan. This will be an all-encompassing document that is, in effect, our blueprint for the next 3-5 years. It will be another tool to help us prepare for our needs, as well as plan for the “wants” as expressed by our guests through recently held focus groups. We will continue to maintain and upgrade our parks and facilities to the highest standard possible within tight budget constraints. Programs will be periodically reviewed to reflect the needs of the community. Underperforming ones will be eliminated and replaced with ones having greater appeal. If you have a desire to see something included, let us know. If there’s enough interest, we’ll try to accommodate the request. You may contact us in a variety of ways including: • Website (www.bloomingdaleparks.org) • Facebook (www.facebook.com/BloomingdaleParkDistrict) • Twitter (https://twitter.com/BlmngdaleParks) • E-mail ([email protected]) • Phone (630-529-3650) • And that old-fashioned one, in person at the Johnston Recreation Center, 172 S. Circle Ave. Come in! We’d love to see you! Lastly, on behalf of the staff and the Board of Commissioners, I wish each of you a happy and healthy holiday season and the best the New Year has to offer. Sincerely, Sebastian “Buzz” Puccio President Bloomingdale Park District Board of Commissioners Autumn 2012 The Board of Commissioners meets at 7 p.m. on the first and third Monday of each month. The public is invited to attend. Minutes and agendas are available online at www.bloomingdaleparks.org. Board of Commissioners Buzz Puccio ..........................................................President Karen Johns..................................................Vice President Mike Vogl ............................................................. Treasurer Andre Burke ................................................ Commissioner Michael Childress ........................................ Commissioner Buzz Puccio 50
Transcript
Thea publication of the Bloomingdale Park District
NEWS
Mission StatementThe Mission of the Bloomingdale Park District is to efficiently and economically provide recreation programs, facilities and open spaces
designed to provide enjoyable leisure time experiences that benefit the community.
a publication of the Bloomingdale Park District
Once again, it’s time for me to bring you up to date on the activities of the Park District. In these trying economic times, newscasts are filled with dire warnings about the precarious condition of our state and the nation’s fiscal health. While the Park District Board of Commissioners can do little about the big picture, we can, and have done, everything possible to keep our local end of the bargain. After an exhaustive examination by the credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s, the Park District has been awarded the coveted “AA” rating for the second year in a row.
What does that mean to you? Because of our fiscal responsibility and the unparalleled efforts of our staff, under the direction of Executive Director Carrie Fullerton, the District will save over $600,000 on interest payments over the next 11 years in re-paying bonds. That will go a long way as we continue to maintain our parks, facilities and equipment to the level that you, and we, expect while our tax rate remains one of the lowest in DuPage County.
We are in the midst of preparing the Park District’s Strategic Plan. This will be an all-encompassing document that is, in effect, our blueprint for the next 3-5 years. It will be another tool to help us prepare for our needs, as well as plan for the “wants” as expressed by our guests through recently held focus groups.
We will continue to maintain and upgrade our parks and facilities to the highest standard possible within tight budget constraints. Programs will be periodically reviewed to reflect the needs of the community. Underperforming ones will be eliminated and replaced with ones having greater appeal. If you have a desire to see something included, let us know. If there’s enough interest, we’ll try to accommodate the request.
You may contact us in a variety of ways including:
• And that old-fashioned one, in person at the Johnston Recreation Center, 172 S. Circle Ave. Come in! We’d love to see you!
Lastly, on behalf of the staff and the Board of Commissioners, I wish each of you a happy and healthy holiday season and the best the New Year has to offer.
Sincerely,
Sebastian “Buzz” PuccioPresident Bloomingdale Park District Board of Commissioners
Autumn 2012
The Board of Commissioners meets at 7 p.m. on the first and third Monday of each month. The public is
invited to attend. Minutes and agendas are available online at www.bloomingdaleparks.org.
In summation, the values seasonal staff acquire by working at the Bloomingdale Park Districts are ones that they can, in turn, instill in others, with an end result of enriching the entire community.
The Park Bench News continuedThe BPD - The No. 1 Employer of Community YouthThe Bloomingdale Park District views the employment of the community’s youth as part of its civic responsibility. In addition to its regular full-time and part-time staff, the Park District employs an additional 70+ staff between the ages of 16-24 throughout the year.
Such hiring of the community’s youth returns tax dollars back to the community and creates lifelong opportunities and relationships. The BPD helps its young employees understand the value of hard work and responsibility. Every part-time, seasonal is required to attend an introductory program, Park Works U, prior to starting.
The program welcomes part-timers, provides an overview of the BPD, familiarizes them with important policies and procedures, shares the BPD’s customer service philosophy, allows them to meet co-workers and answers any questions. It also introduces workers to Character Counts!, the nation’s most widely used character development framework. It is based on shared beliefs and consensus values called the Six Pillars of Character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship.
Having a job teaches teenagers and young adults that to earn money they need to do hard work, such as cleaning toilets at The Oasis or clearing brush at Springfield Park wetlands. As a result, they are more likely to be responsible with the money they get and to spend it on items they really want or need.
Although children often start to learn to work with others in school and sports, a job at the BPD furthers their abilities to work as a team. The work that seasonal staff perform at the Park District often involves customers, residents and people in general. Such customer-service skills serve them well in the future in any number of careers, including computer services, marketing and advertising.
Teenagers who have had part-time jobs may be more marketable to colleges, as well. BPD seasonal staff can show they’ve already demonstrated independence and responsibility through their positions held. The presence of a job on a college application shows that the applicant is able to work with others or alone, is able to show up on time, possess many of the values that colleges are looking for, and is able to manage more than one activity.
Having a job in the summer can be especially important for teenagers and young adults because they have so much free time. Most colleges and high schools are not year-long institutions, so having a part-time or full-time job in the summer at the BPD gives them something productive to do.
51
The Park Bench News continuedWhat Is A Community Bank?Community banking begins with the customer and his or her wants and needs. It sounds simple, but most banks just don’t get it.
People want a bank where they’re known by name and made to feel welcome as soon as they come in the door. When one of our staff says, “May I help you?” they really want to help you.
People want the kind of bank that will service them for life. Where parents can take their kids to learn about banking and saving, and maybe meet the bank’s president. Where older kids can get help all the way through college. Where all of a family’s financial events from the household checking account to trust and estate planning
will be as important to the bank as they are to the family. It is where our senior generations can find security and comfort in specially-tailored senior products and services that meet their unique needs.
People want to keep it local. A bank’s management should live a local phone call away and be involved with community events. The bank should become an important part of the community, help it solve its problems and plan for its future. A bank should be a good neighbor – friendly, helpful and generous.
Hometown Banking At Its BestThere are several factors that distinguish us as a real community bank. First, we are locally run. Decisions are made by people who know you and care about your needs. As a result, you gain from our responsive service and true understanding of what this community needs.
Second, there is on-site control over all services, products, loan approvals, and interest rates. Because we’re locally managed, we can set our rates right here. We don’t have to get them approved by a corporate office somewhere else. And we don’t have the overhead that big banks do, so we can pass the savings on to you.
Third, deposits of the bank are invested back into the community in the form of business and residential loans. So in a way, you can help enhance your hometown, just by being a part of community banking.
Finally, we are dedicated to the financial support of the local community in order to make it a better place to live.
Innovative Products and a Friendly Smile Set Us Apart From the CompetitionWe are big enough to handle $50 million loans to businesses in the area, yet small enough to hand out lollipops to kids, cookies and coffee to all and even dog biscuits to “man’s best friend.” We’re large enough to handle the most complex trust and wealth management issues or able to provide you a simple FREE checking account, and when you call, we’ll answer the phone and know you by name. Whether your business needs to refinance its office building or your daughter needs a mortgage for her first home, we’ll get it done for you. We have the resources of the big banks (at least the same, if not better solutions) paired with the best customer service. We’re never too busy to sit down with you and talk over a cup of coffee. So stop by and find out how great hometown banking can really be. You’ll be glad you did!
Corporate Partners/Sponsors
52
The Park Bench News continued
Sunrise Chevrolet 5K ShuffleThe Sunrise Chevrolet 5K Shuffle unveiled its new course to great success Oct. 21 at Stratford Square Mall. The USATF-certified course started and finished at Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant, where participants enjoyed raffle prizes, complimentary food, discounted drinks and a festive atmosphere following the race.
Proceeds from the run benefited the Bloomingdale Parks Foundation, which is dedicated to helping the Bloomingdale Park District provide great recreation programs and open space while also assisting individuals gain access to programs, enhancing current programs and making improvements to all of BPD’s parks.
The Foundation thanks the following sponsors and in-kind contributors:
About Sunrise ChevroletIn addition to serving as the title sponsor of the Sunrise Chevy 5K Shuffle, Sunrise Chevrolet is proud to serve the Bloomingdale and Chicagoland area with high quality Chevrolet vehicles. With models like the 2013 Sonic, Cruze, Malibu, Impala, Equinox and Camaro, we have something for every taste and need. Come visit us at 414 East North Avenue, Glendale Heights to see our vehicles and take one for a test drive.
If you’re looking for a used car for sale, we can assist you there as well. Visit our used car inventory page at www.sunrisechevrolet.com to see our large collection of pre-owned and certified used vehicles for sale.
Sunrise Chevrolet is not just your local Chevrolet dealership, we also provide a full line of services dedicated to all of our Illinois customers. From all GM model car repairs performed by expert mechanics, to GM factory auto parts and accessories to car loans, Sunrise Chevrolet is the smart choice for your automotive needs.
Come in and say hi!
Sunrise Chevrolet 414 E. North Ave.Glendale Heights, IL 60139Phone: (800) 493-5148
Service HoursMonday 7am-8pmTuesday 7am-8pmWednesday 7am-8pmThursday 7am-8pmFriday 7am-8pmSaturday 7am-3pmSunday Closed
53
The Park Bench News continued
Support the Bloomingdale Parks Foundation this holiday season by getting all of your gifts wrapped at Stratford Square Mall! Visit www.bloomingdaleparks.org for times and locations or to volunteer!
