Fees Paid to ILCA, IPRA, Illinois Association

The Park District/employees belong to associations, such as ILCA, IPRA, Illinois Association, etc. ILCA is a trade association for landscape contractors in Illinois. IPRA is the Illinois Park & Recreation Association. NRPA is National Recreation and Park Association. The IPRA holds an annual conference in Chicago, which our Park District attends with overnights hotels and all-expensed dinners. Why are we paying IAPD/IPRA almost $7000 for one charge, and then spending many thousands to attend the conference?  What is the value of this conference that so many employees must attend? More information below for you to decide.

Also, Miller Ale House in Lombard?  Lunch or dinner? Park District Policy prohibits alcoholic purchases on the purchase card…

As mentioned, IPRA/IAPD has an annual conference that many employees attend, and the topic sessions presented are below. Are these topics worth the thousands of dollars of trip cost to attend? How do they benefit residents?