620 E. Riverside Ave. • Decatur, IL 62521 • 217-422-5911 • www.decatur-parks.orgJanuary 2012

Customer Service Tip

Volunteer Appreciation Brunch

The Decatur Park District provides numerous activities and programs throughout the year, none of which would be possible without the help of volunteers. On Sunday, December 4, volunteers from all corners of the Greater Decatur area joined together at Scovill Banquet for the Decatur Park District’s Volun-teer Appreciation Brunch. This event gives the Park District the opportunity to thank the hundreds of volunteers who help make our programs a success. Whether it is Boo at the Zoo, the IHSA Girls State Golf Tournament, MidState Soccer or summer baseball, volunteers allow the Park District to continue offering programs and activities that help benefit the community. This year we had more than 800 volunteers give their time in some form or another to our organization. If you have the opportunity, please thank your department volunteers for all that they do. They are greatly appreci-ated and the Park District would not be what it is today without them.

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION EVENT

EMPLOYEE UPDATE

FIT TIP

by Emily Fitzgerald, Marketing

January 20 - 22Greater Decatur ChoraleIt’s About TimeDecatur Civic Center

January 28Father/Daughter Dance5 - 9 p.m.Hickory Point Banquet

In the world of work we are constantly interacting with others: fellow employees, customers, and patrons. By contributing to a pleas-ant work environment, employees are more likely to communicate positively and work together more ef-ficiently and happily...which will make our customers take notice! Sometimes it’s difficult, but try not to let things upset you and remember that moods are contagious. Try to “infect” others with an upbeat out-look and others will do the same!

Mark Your Calendars!

Greater Decatur Chorale - It’s About TimeEnjoy many genres of music in “It’s About Time” presented by our Greater Decatur Chorale!

Show Times Special Guests Friday, January 20, 7:30 p.m. Eric Burgett Saturday, January 21, 7:30 p.m. ENIGMA Sunday, January 22, 2 p.m. Holy Family School Choir

All seats are reserved at the Decatur Civic Center Theater. Employee tickets are available for just $5 a person and include a pre-show reception. Purchase your tickets by calling 422-5911.

Here’s to You...Park Notes January 2012Fit Tip with Samantha: Resolutions to KeepEvery year it’s the same thing…I need to lose weight! It’s hard to stay motivat-ed because life happens whether you plan for it or not. Here are some tips on staying motivat-ed to exercise:

• Set a fitness goal-Start small with something you can reach soon. By starting small you avoid set-ting yourself up for failure by not reaching your goal.

• Making it a habit-Everything takes 21-28 days to create a habit. Hit up the gym or do any sort of physical activity everyday for 3-4 weeks and you have made it a habit.

• Listen to music-Studies have shown that listening to motivating

music during cardio will make you feel less fatigued.• Get a workout buddy-Having someone to keep you accountable is the best motivation. You can push each other while working out and be each other’s big-

gest cheerleader when the work-outs get tough!

• Journal-Journal everyday! Writing down your exercise is the perfect way to measure success. It shows you how far you have come in your workout journey and helps make sure that you never take a step back!

Customer Service NomineesThe customer service nominee for November was Julie Shorey.The “Pride of the Park Winner” for the month of November is Julie Shorey! Julie went above and beyond her duties for several days while working at the Scovill Golf Course grill room. Working alone, she managed to take care of all of her customers as well as perform other duties during a very busy lunch hour. Julie will receive a $25 gift certificate for her customer service efforts. Thank you Julie for going above and beyond to help our customers!

Adult IndoorSoccer Open PlayEnjoy casual soccer matches dur-ing this friendly, open play session at the DISC. Matches are played on Mondays from 9 - 10 p.m. starting January 16. No pre-registration needed and the fee is only $6 per week!

AnniversariesEmployee anniversaries during the month of January include Joe Attwood, Airport (5 years), Orson Bean, Airport (7 years),Steve Boldini, Airport (12 years), Colin Bonner, DISC (1 year), Annette Carie, DISC (5 years), Barb Chapman, DISC (8 years), Matt Christman, DISC (2 years), Jamie Davis, DISC (11 years), Henry Denton, Mechanic (15 years), Tadd Faith, Airport Fire (3 years), Jim Gentry, Airport (24 years), Bill Hunt, Fairview (21 years), Barb Kessinger, Admin (4 years), and Chuck Weigel, Golf (10 years). Congratulations!

Birthdays01/05 Elisabeth Green, DISC01/11 Bill Clevenger, Admin01/17 Jeff Rounds, DISC01/18 Larry Bond, Park Ranger01/19 Tom Mooney, Scovill Golf Maintenance01/22 Aron Wisley, Red Tail Run Maintenance01/30 Amanda Hall, Zoo

Employee UpdateCongratulations to Ken Frye for receiving a $1,500 Community Foundation Good Works Grant, which will be used for an AZA conference in Wheeling, West Virgina in February.

Fridays5 - 6 p.m. onWSOY-AM

Thank you to the Customer Service Committee and all who helped make the 2011 Employee Christmas Party a success!

Job Well Done

It’s a boy! Congratulations to Marc Black and his wife Mary who welcomed their first child Conner Malcolm Black on December 18.

Congratulations!