Armed Forces Recreation Society Invades Twin Cities

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Minneapolis, Minnesota, "Land of Ten Thousand Lakes" was the host city for the Armed Forces Recreation Society (AFRS) Professional Training Institute (PTI), an ideal training and educational opportunity which drew nearly 400 Morale Welfare and Recreation professionals. This mini convention, held within the NRPA Congress for Recreation and Parks, is a two-day event which includes the AFRS Meritorious Awards Breakfast, AFRS Table-Top Exhibits, AFRS General Session, six military-focused education training sessions, and the AFRS President's Reception.

Award Winners

On Thursday, October 13, 1994, the PTI commenced with the AFRS Meritorious Awards Breakfast sponsored by GameTime, Inc. AFRS members and delegates alike gathered to honor award recipients in five prestigious categories: Practitioner, Fellow, Executive Fellow, Lifetime Service, and Special Citation.

The Practitioner Award is awarded to individuals who work in Armed Forces Recreation at the operational level. Recipients in this category were: Stacy Conner, Fleet Recreation Coordinator, Naval Ship Yard Puget Sound, Washington; Charles Large, Director of Community Activities, US Army Signal Center, Fort Gordon, Georgia; Mike Bond, Assistant Youth Coordinator, Recreation Department, Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia.

Awarded to installation level professional personnel (military or civilian) actively engaged in working with participants and implementing the recreation program at the operating level is the Fellow Award. The 1994 recipients were: Harry Johnson, Recreation Assistant, Outdoor Recreation, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; William Von Ohlen, Chief, Outdoor Recreation, Fort Eustis, Virginia; Janet Wehmeyer, Director, Schilling Community Activities Center, Kadena Air Base, Japan.

To be a recipient of the Executive Fellow Award one must be military or civilian personnel engaged in Armed Forces Recreation at the departmental major command, sub-command, or in a top-level installation recreation management position. This year's recipients were: Charlotte Dodson, Services Director, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California; Bruce Grenier, …