Announcements

Bert Neal Honored by NRPA

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    Bert Neal, retired Director of Recreation for the Recreation and Park Commission for East Baton Rouge (BREC), Louisiana, was recently awarded the prestigious 2012 Ralph C. Wilson award at the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Congress in Anaheim, California. This award is presented annually to an individual whose long-term service and dedication to the National Recreation and Park Association’s boards, committees, and volunteer initiatives have been exemplary and have advanced the cause of parks, recreation, and conservation. He was also recognized with the Distinguished Professional Award for the NRPA Administrators Network.
    Bert has been a long-time NRPA member, served on the NRPA Board of Trustees from 2002-2008 and is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP). He continues to serve as a Visitation Member for the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agency (CAPRA).
Bert started his career as Director of Recreation for Natchitoches Parish in 1974. He went on to work for BREC in 1979, serving as Center Supervisor, Area Supervisor, Assistant Director of Recreation, and retired as the Director of Recreation. As Director of Recreation at BREC (2004-2006), he managed the Recreation Department with 60 full-time and over 500 seasonal employees, 62 recreation centers, swimming pools, tennis, seniors, day camps, summer playgrounds, and golf courses. He also served as a liaison between BREC and community agencies, and successfully lobbied community and civic groups for BREC tax elections. After retirement, he also served as an appointed Commissioner for BREC.
    Bert graduated from Northwestern State University in Louisiana, with a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Recreation Administration.
   Throughout the years, he has been active with the Louisiana Recreation and Park Association (LRPA). He served as President of LRPA, and received the LRPA Fellow Award in 2003 and the LRPA Professional Citation Award in 1996 and 2007.
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