Little Red's Big Ideas

NEW Monthly Parks and Recreation WEBINAR Series Begins January 2013

If you've ever wished you had the time or money to get you, your staff (or even your boss or commissioners) to more CPRS workshops/conferences then here's some news you can use!

The California Park and Recreation Society is proud to announce a brand new monthly training delivered directly to your desktop beginning January 2013. 

Registration begins THIS Thursday, November 1; however you can add your name to the interest list by sending an email to [email protected]. Space is limited to the first 40 agencies/people.  

 

Beginning in January 2013 CPRS will offer a monthly webinar series presented by the very best parks and recreation speakers and educators. The impressive faculty includes Mike Shellito, Craig Bronzan, Andre Pichley, Marie Knight, Virginia Chavez, Jim Wheeler, Keith Fulthorp, Chris Chamberlain, BJ Grosvenor, Rosemary Cameron and others.

Topics will include: Leadership, Creativity, Stress and Time Management, Marketing Planning, Social Media Strategies, Outsourcing, , Revenue Development, Staff Motivation, Front-line Customer Service Excellence and so much more. 

The webinars will use a  "Make and Take" 60 minute format and include CEUs. Each month a different topic will be explored to elevate and keep staff skills sharp without leaving the office! The annual subscription price is for a single Internet access but allows YOU to schedule as many staff as you desire to view/attend the webinar!

The cost to CPRS members or member agencies $199 per year (Introductory Price - breaks down to around $16/month.)
CPRS nonmembers or nonmember agencies $299 per year (if space permits.)

Space is STRICTLY limited to the first 40 people OR agencies who register. CPRS Members and Member Agencies are given a priority registration window. If you are interested, please send an email to Leslie Fritz at [email protected].

 

Billionaire donates $100 Million to Central Park Conservancy

What would your park system do with a 100 million dollar donation?  In New York City, this dream has become a reality thanks to a donation from hedgefund manager, John A. Paulson.

In an aritcle posted on the New York Times website, the gift is not only the largest monetary donation in the history of New York City’s park system; it is possibly the nation's largest donation to ANY park system. 

The story explains that the donation was "decades in the making. It stretched back to the days when Mr. Paulson, now 56, hung out at the [Bethesda] fountain as a teenager, beneath the bronze statue Angel of the Waters, which was then scrawled with graffiti and bone dry. And it took shape more recently on walks with the president of the conservancy, Doug Blonsky, through the park’s North Woods.

How many more Mr. (and Ms.) Paulson's are out there in these United States who have had their childhoods and lives improved because of parks?  What can we do to let more people know that their gifts are needed more than ever to help maintain the places they loved as youth and young adults. 

Read the entire article here and prepare to be inspired to seek out your own donations. 

 

Awesome Apps and Cool Tech Tools - Corrected

Not sure why the previous post and link didn't work but thanks to those of you who let me know there was a glitch. Rather than requiring a download I'm  including the list that was used in this workshop at NRPA below.  Happy browsing.

Awesome Apps and Cool Tech Tools

 Marketing Parks and Recreation - Sites to Use

 Meetup

 Four Square

 Yelp

 Craig’s List

 Ebay

 Social Media

 Twitter/Tweet Chat

 LinkedIn

 Facebook

 Edmodo (Child Friendly)

 Random Name Picker

http://classtools.net/main_area/template_loader.php/?fruit_machine 

 Delicious

 Ever lose your cell phone? 

http://www.wheresmycellphone.com/

Marketing Communications

Videolicious – The easiest video editor!

 iBooks Author (Mac)

 Present.me – Split screen presentations

 Smore.com – Beautiful flyers

 Communication Tools

Polls Anywhere

 Mentimeter.com

 Scribble.com

 Speakpipe

 Simple Meet Me

 Remind 101

 Graphics and Presentation Assistance

Animoto - __http://animoto.com/__

Example:__http://animoto.com/play/xdXRM30TnPQ4RHhgK99hcw__

Prezi - __http://prezi.com/__

Wordle – The original world cloud maker

http://wordle.com

 Tagxedo 
- Word Cloud Maker in YOUR any shape

http://www.tagxedo.com

 Free play music - http://freeplaymusic.com/

 Free Certificate Maker

http://www.certificatestreet.com/index.html

QR Codes:

 QRStuff,com - All things related to QR codes in
one place

 http://www.mobile-barcodes.com/qr-code-software/

 Generate a QR code

http://qrcode.kaywa.com/

http://goo.gl

 QR Voice – Audio files via qr codes

 QR Code Info - Part 1 

QR Code Info - Part 2 

Professional Development/Training Tools

TED.com – Technology, Entertainment, Design.  Ideas Worth Spreading

 Coursera – FREE college courses from universities and colleges

 Course Hero – Keyword search Certificate style courses, flashcards

 Screenr.com

 Skitch (Mac) / Jing (Mac/Windows)

http://skitch.com 

http://www.techsmith.com/jing/ 

 Favorite Quick-Information Tools:

 Qwiki

http://www.qwiki.com/

 Wolfram Alpha

http://www.wolframalpha.com/

Only 2 Clicks - http://www.only2clicks.com/__

Example: __http://www.only2clicks.com/pages/blutz01__

Go GaGa for Google – An Overview

 Google Products all in one place

http://www.google.com/intl/en/about/products/

 iGoogle

www.google.com/ig 

 Google Reader

http://www.google.com/reader/

 Google Apps

Filter by Reading Level

Go to www.google.com and click the “Advanced
Search” link.

 Image Search

Upload an image into the browser

 Voice Search

Speak into your computer mic and have Google do
the rest

 Google Translate

Favorite Productivity Tools In-the-Cloud:

 Pealtrees
- __http://www.pearltrees.com/__

Example: __http://pear.ly/P8QD__

 Springpad

 Delicious

http://www.delicious.com 

 Evernote

http://www.evernote.com/ 

 Dropbox

https://www.dropbox.com 

 Fun Kids Tools:

 Avatar Editor

http://myavatareditor.com/

 Jam Studio

http://www.jamstudio.com

 Odosketch

http://sketch.odopod.com/

 Trip It

http://www.tripit.com 

60 in 60 2012 by Brandon Lutz

Here is a link to one of my very favorite lists of Awesome Apps by Brandon Lutz, author of the original 60 in 60 Presentation. Brandon's entire universe of resources is at his Wikispace page.  Try setting aside 15 minutes each week to explore these links.  Some will only take a second, others might suck you in and keep you there for a while.  So set a timer on your phone to make sure you don't get carried away.  You can always visit your favorites later.  

NRPA 2012 - Awesome Apps and Cool Tech Tools - 2012 Edition

As I get ready to head off to the blissfully close 2012 NRPA Congress in Anaheim, I wanted to take a few minutes to post handouts from this year's workshop.  On Monday I will be doing an expanded (YIPPEE -- there's never enough time for this one) version of Awesome Apps and Cool Tech Tools - The 2012 Edition.  I have 100+ hours updating my list of incredible online apps that promise to make you look, feel and act like a star.  Whether you need help with graphic design, productivity, stress reduction, communication or fitness -- you are sure to be blown away by this every-growing list.  

This year I'm presenting a pre-conference half-day workshop as well as one session each on Tuesday and Wednesday.  The handouts are especially useful and contain all the sites and templates mentioned in these sessions.  If you want to discuss bringing these or any of my other 70 or so workshops to your group -- please get in touch! My contact info is on all handouts.

Download Awesome Apps 2012

Download Make and Take 2012

Download 30 Days to Better Branding

If you download the handouts please leave a comment below! Thanks.

TODAY ONLY - Pre-order Your Parks Make Life Better! Shirt for NRPA in Anaheim

Ladies designer tee, 3/4 length sleeves. Available in White or black Sizes xs - xxl - $29 With basic silk screen, With gemstone blingy imprint $39

Ladies Burnout tee short sleeve. Available in white or black. Sizes xs-xxl With basic silk screen imprint $29 With Gemstone blingy imprint $39

Get Your Bling on and Celebrate Parks Make Life Better! Day at NRPA 

It's as easy as 1-2-3

1.  PRE-ORDER YOUR blingy, t's, golf shirts or any style in our huge catalog by Wed only! All orders MUST be placed by October 3. Sorry, NO EXCEPTIONS. Call Andy at 800-423-8478 to learn more and place your order. 

(Hundreds of other shirt styles can be pre-ordered.  Click here to see more styles.)

2. Pick up your shirts at the NRPA Expo in Anaheim at ADvisors Marketing Booth 1332 Double

3. Wear your shirt at NRPA and win great prizes!

 

I love Kaboom's Newsletter!

If you don't already subscribe to Kaboom's newletter, take a minute to sign up for this fun, informative look at the Power of Play.  Take a look and make sure to share with your park and recreation board or commission.  Better yet -- send the entire newsletter to your city manager or mayor.

This month Kaboom's newsletter features:

• Increadible treehouses that would make even Robin Carusoe drool,
• Get a sneak peak at a trailer for an upcoming documentary, Seriously, The Movie which will explore the benefits of play around the world!  
• The lead story, however, which really caught my attention tells the story of three moms who were arrested for sending their children outside to play without adult supervision.  Rather than give you all the details, read the entire story for yourself and let me know what YOU think.

Do you have a favorite online newsletter you'd like to share?