Happy 26th Anniversary Parkvine! |
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Congratulations to Matt on being chosen as the Employee of the Month for April 2023!
The Waukegan Park District is grateful to have Matt on our team with his willingness to go above and beyond to achieve great success for our community.
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Matt Trujillo started at the Waukegan Park District in September 2022 and has done a great job as Recreation Supervisor in General Recreation.
Matt brings an enthusiastic, open-minded approach to his position. He has excellent communication skills and demonstrates a friendly and welcoming customer service approach. If something needs to be done, he does not hesitate to get it completed. Matt took on the role of reestablishing facility rentals at the Belvidere Recreation Center and Jane Addams Center, dove into learning about events, created a new Balloon Animal program, and has established great working relationships with his staff and co-workers in the short time he has been with the District.
Department Coordinator Elizabeth Fallon stated Matt has quickly gotten up to speed on administrative tasks and due dates, and with his previous experience coordinating volunteers, has helped to jump start our volunteer program for special events. Matt has a can-do attitude and creativity that make him a pleasure to work with.
Jennifer Dumas, Manager of General and Special Recreation says, “Matt’s positive attitude and willingness to do a great job is much appreciated. I look forward to the many new programs that will be developed under his direction.”
Director of Recreation, Errick Beverly stated “Matt has come in and hit the ground running, he has brought new creative programming ideas, as well great leadership in the Recreation department.”
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This month's kudos go to everyone who was a part of the Eggstravaganza Trail! The event was wildly successful, with lines wrapping around the entire trail. The weather was perfect and there were many laughs to be heard and smiles to be seen. Congratulations, Waukegan Park District!
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Angela Marcum received the 2022 Commissioners' Award. Angela has been a loyal and productive employee of the Waukegan Park District since January 18, 2022, and when she was hired as the Recreation Specialist of Arts Programs and Services. She consistently has the best interest of the customer in mind and conscientiously strives to provide exceptional service and experiences. Angela helped to revitalize the Cultural Arts, especially in regards to youth theatre, private music, and dance. She displays a positive, energetic, and enthusiastic attitude toward all tasks and challenges creating a great work environment for her colleagues.
Congratulations, Angela!
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Rafael Murillo has been named the 2022 Employee of the Year. Rafael has been with the Park District team since 2018 as a Full-Time Mowing Crew Leader and previously worked at Bonnie Brook Golf Course for 16 years. He is recognized for his tremendous work ethic and willingness to consistently go above and beyond. In the past year, he was instrumental on numerous projects such as Grosche Field improvements, Graham Park playground site restoration, installing new split rail fence at Callahan Park, and has supported our community with various community events.
Quincy Bejster, Superintendent of Parks, stated “Rafael certainly deserves this Employee of the Year recognition. He is well respected by his peers and has done an excellent job sharing his skills and knowledge with new staff who have recently joined the department. He earned this prestigious honor.”
Congratulations, Rafael!
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Dayna Wick has been instrumental in maintaining District employees compliant with Paycom trainings and certificate renewal reminders. She has also been a huge help with CPR trainer instruction and inspections. She brings a wealth of knowledge from previously working in the Recreation Department to make our processes better. We are excited to welcome her back to the Waukegan Park District! |
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Shannon Smith has been the stabilizing force that has helped in the growth of our private music offerings. Aside from the RecTrac and scheduling aspects of private music, Shannon has excelled at getting to know our students and their families as well as our instructors. She helped to create a very welcoming and friendly environment and planned last summer’s Arts Park program. She facilitated each project’s implementation at each Arts Park in the role of our resident artist/teacher. We feel that last summer’s Arts Park was our best yet. |
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Congratulations to Dayna and Shannon! |
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Mike Jesse, Manager of Operations, was recently elected as a Member of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America. Mike completed an educational program designed for individuals who are involved in the golf industry. The Professional Golfers’ Association of America was founded in 1916 to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.
Congratulations, Mike!
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The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), notified the Waukegan Park District that they have been selected as a finalist for the 2023 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management, the nation's highest honor for park and recreation agencies. The District is a finalist in Class III, the category for park and recreation agencies serving a population of 75,001 to 150,000. The Waukegan Park District won the prestigious award in 2013 and was named a finalist in 2012, 2013, 2019, 2021 and 2022.
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Thousands of Daily Herald readers took part in a three-week Readers’ Choice promotional campaign and identified the “Top Picks” in the Chicago area in over 200 categories. The top vote-getters in each category were selected, and The Field House Sports, Fitness & Aquatics Center was among them. A complete list of Top Picks will be highlighted in a Daily Herald Readers’ Choice special edition newspaper on Sunday, June 4, 2023.
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Julia Sanchez is currently watching American Idol! Julia is excited to see the live rounds, where Americans can now vote for their favorite contestants. She enjoys watching what the public thinks about the top 26 contestants. Next time you see Julia, ask her who her favorite singer is!
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May 10: Jason Dominguez
May 13: Ashley Barrera
May 17: Jose Hernandez
May 17: Amanda Florip
May 17: Timothy Girmscheid
May 17: Ismael Cruz Jr.
May 19: Xitlali Salinas
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May 20: Juan Becerra
May 21: Marvin Hickman
May 23: Margarita Lugo
May 25: Charlene Miller
May 26: Sally Sandine
May 26: Oscar Rodriguez Jr.
May 28: Matt Trujillo
May 28: Kameron Rojas Schueneman
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Did you see our programs and events in the news? The Waukegan Park District was featured in three articles in April! |
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Tick Bite Prevention
Ticks can strike at any time of the year, but their most active season is during the warmer months (April through September).
The black legged (or deer) tick is the one most commonly known for carrying Lyme Disease, and can be found in wooded areas and along trails with high densities of brush or grass. They can also be right in your local park or backyard! A few simple tips can help prevent you or your pets from getting a tick bite.
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Session 1 Training is DUE April 30!
Please complete all Session Training by April 30th to qualify your team for Team Treat!
Sign in to your Paycom Learning to view any remaining training or check with your Supervisor.
Bonus Puzzle Winner
Session 1 Bonus Puzzle had over 50 entries! The three “Wordle” solutions were CRISIS, FIRES, & PDRMA.
Alexis Colin is the winner of the bonus puzzle drawing this session! She won a set of heat resistant grilling and baking gloves! Great job to everyone who took some time out of their day to challenge your brain, exercise your mind, and have a little safety fun while doing it!
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Session 3 Training : Team Treat Awards
The Parks Team celebrated their Team Treats by enjoying a pizza and ceviche party on April 7 at PMF.
The Administration Team combined their Session 3 team treat awards with a belated holiday gathering at Sunset Bowl on April 19. It was a fun outing that included pizza, bowling, and some friendly competition.
Safety Suggestion
Do you have a safety suggestion to help make the Waukegan Park District a safer place to work and play?
Your input will be shared at Safety Committee and could be selected for a Safety Star of Excellence award!
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To submit content for Parkvine, email Cynthia Bull at cbull@waukeganparks.org |
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