Therapeutic Recreation And Leisure Services Conference

St. Joseph’s College, the Long Island Leisure Services Association (LILSA) and the Metropolitan New York Recreation and Park Society, Inc. (METRO), in conjunction with the Therapeutic Recreation Association of Long Island (TRALI) and the Therapeutic Recreation Association of Suffolk County (TRASC), will present “Partnerships: Building a New Future; Collaborative and Cooperative Initiatives,” a conference on effectively combining many aspects of therapeutic recreation and leisure services management in the current heath care system. The conference will take place on Friday, October 14, 2011 at 8 a.m. in the McGann Conference Center on the College’s Long Island Campus.

“Partnerships: Building a New Future” was designed to bring students and professionals in the therapeutic recreation and community-based fields together to collaborate on ideas, network and participate in relevant workshops to improve the quality of the lives they serve. A dozen different workshops will be held throughout the conference by trained professionals with a panel discussion by members of LILSA, TRASC, NYSRPS, METRO and NYSTRA to discuss current trends related to therapeutic and leisure service management. During lunch, a legislative update will be given by Barbara Diesem-Zimmons, executive director of the New York State Recreation and Park Society (NYSRPS).

“St. Joseph's College provides students with opportunities to network and learn from professionals within the field of recreation and leisure studies,” said Chairperson of the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at SJC Gail Lamberta, Ph.D. “This conference not only offers students a more hands-on approach to learning the intricate aspects of planning, implementing and evaluating a professional conference, but it brings to the College a broad base of knowledge through professional presentations pertaining to the students’ academic discipline.”

The cost of this event is $5 for students (SJC students are free), $35 for LILSA, TRASC and TRALI members and $40 for professional non-members. The cost of entry without preregistration is $40 for members and $45 for non-members. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided. For more information, please email Anthony Martino at amartino@nshs.edu.