Education

National Recreation Facilities Institute a towering success in Minneapolis

Attendees touring Otto Recreation Center at Minnesota State University (Mankato)

The 2005 NIRSA National Recreation Facilities Institute was held October 19-22, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Over 124 attendees, including 15 vendors, participated. The event kicked off with a dinner that included attendees from the NIRSA Region V Conference, and a networking social with exhibitors at the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities) Recreation Center Aquatic Lobby. Attendees kept busy the remainder of the event attending educational sessions and touring surrounding schools: University of Minnesota, St. Cloud State University, Minnesota State University (Mankato), Carleton College, and St. Olaf College.

This year's program was extraordinary thanks to the efforts of the Host Committee members from the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities): Beth Asfahl, Karri Kearin, and Duane Proell; and Program Chair, Joe Kaminski, CRSS, University of Nebraska (Omaha).

Feedback from attendees:

"The NRFI helped me think of the importance of details of design and staffing, and its importance to the day-to-day operations of a college/university campus recreation center." — Tom Johnson, Inver Hills Community College

"The NIRSA NRFI is the best place to network with others about managing and maintaining recreational facilities. It's great to talk with professional people who understand the business." — Bill Melgaard, University of Minnesota (Twin Cities)

"The NIRSA NRFI is certainly a valuable tool for meeting colleagues, picking each others brains, and touring a variety of interesting facilities. There is always great comfort in knowing that others share the same experiences and challenges in constructing and operating our unique campus recreation programs, facilities and services. There truly is strength and wisdom in numbers." — Mary Chappell, CRSS, University of Kansas

Plan to attend the 2006 NIRSA National Recreation Facilities Institute, October 11-14 in Columbus, Ohio. Dave DeAngelo, CRSS, from The Ohio State University will be the Host Chair for next year's event.