Did you miss our Mid-Year meeting at MLCT in October?
In this post, we are highlighting important moments of MTRPA’s 2022 Mid-Year meeting. Get updates about legislation, grants, our annual conference, and get action items you can take to help our Association.
Notices from MLCT & Legislative Watch
Kelly Lynch, the new Director for Montana League and Cities and Towns started our meeting with a couple announcements. First, Kelly gave updates to MTRPA about the Legislative Session that could affect Parks & Recreation.
- MACKO seeking an ownership of annex bill regarding city parks. This bill would require cities to take on parks that are annexed into a city from county parks. Kelly expressed concern how this could effect Parks and Recreation Departments.
- Sued Whitefish over “impact fee bill” meaning the state would be deciding body on what fees would be charge and what departments they will go to. This could be challenging for Parks and Recreation.
Kelly also shared she is a Certified ADA Coordinator and could hold sessions for MTRPA.
Kelly would like to have Parks and Recreation to be more involved with MLCT and have Parks and Recreation professionals be thinking about what sessions they could bring to MLCT in the fall of 2023 that bridge with municipalities, such as Parks & Recreation and Legal Departments.
Welcome New Board Members
Letters of interest for open positions were reviewed by the Board during our Mid-Year meeting.
Both Carla and Brie were voted in unanimously!
Secretary/Treasurer
Carla Belski
Community Services Coordinator
Whitefish Parks & Recreation
Student Representative
Brie Nickal
Junior at University of Montana
We are thrilled to have them both on our side. Join us in welcoming them both!
Tribal Board Representative
OPEN BOARD POSITION
In an effort to include, increase and prioritize the presence of indigenous organizations and agencies in our Association, we are inviting Tribes throughout Montana to join our Association.
At our Annual Conference in April, the membership voted to create a Tribal Board Member position. At our Mid-Year meeting in October, Resource Development Coordinator, Cassie Lasson, presented a draft for Call for Tribal Board position. She asked the board to approve or give changes to the draft and to start using in communications. The draft was approved during the midyear meeting.
We are asking you to share this call with your Tribal contacts. Your participation could strengthen our acknowledgements and allyship across parks, recreation, trails, natural resources, and conservation departments within Montana.
Download the Call for our Tribal Board Member Position.
2023 Membership Update
Launching January 1st
In the past MTRPA has opened up applications for the next year’s membership in December. With our new online software, we are changing to open 2023 membership on January 1st. Add a reminder to your calendar for after the New Year to check back and renew or apply for membership.
Monthly Member Meetups!
3rd Tuesdays of the Month
Starting December 20th @ 1 - 2 PM
Introducing MTRPA Monthly Meetups! MTRPA has been working to bring our membership casual monthly meetups that will keep membership engaged, support more networking within membership, add value to membership, and keep the conversation going around parks and rec. We are planning to meet every THIRD TUESDAY of the month and the time will alternate between 1pm and 4pm every other month in order to give options for times. These meetings will have a fun agenda. The first meetup, starting December 20th at 1 PM, will be a themed around “Membership” because we want to hear from you! What do you want to see in MTRPA membership? How can you become more involved with MTRPA? We will address all of this in our next meeting!
Zoom meeting details and agenda will be provided to members only. Not a member? Join now!
$MILLIONS Available for Trails, Recreation and Parks Projects!
Our Trials Representative, Bob Walker, included his recommendations to apply for grants and funding at our Mid-Year.
“Annually, Fish, Wildlife & Parks provides grants for an array of trails and recreation projects. This year the total amount of grants available is nearly $4 million! The grants, depending on the program, can fund trails and recreation in urban, city, community, county, reservation and backcountry and are available to public agencies, reservations and private associations and non-profits. Basically, depending on the program, any projects benefiting trails and recreation are eligible.”
– Bob Walker, MTRPA Trails Representative
MTRPA 2023 Annual Conference
April 2 - 4, 2023
Grouse Mountain Lodge
Whitefish, Montana
Our membership officially voted on our Annual Conference location for 2023 to be in Whitefish, Montana. Maria Butts shared info from the conference committee about possible schedule tracks, sessions, keynote speakers and themes.
Save the dates April 2 – 4, 2023 in Whitefish! Look out for more details including call for session proposals, exhibitor applications, conference registration in December.
The membership also voted on the location for 2024 in Billings, Montana. Dates for 2024 TBD.
Next Quarterly Board Meeting
January 11th, 2023 @ 3 PM
Add our next Quarterly Board Meeting to your calendar.
Agenda and Zoom meeting details coming soon.
Voting is reserved for members. Not a member? Join today!
