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From the city’s press release:

Sierra Madre Community Services Commission Awarded Community Service Award by California Park and Recreation Society District XIII

The California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) District XIII hosted its annual Awards and Installation at Mountain Meadows Golf Course in Pomona on the evening of Thursday, April 19, 2007. CPRS provides park, recreation, leisure and community service professionals and interested citizens with the knowledge and resources to enhance their leadership role in creating community through people, parks and programs. CPRS is a nonprofit, professional and public interest organization with more than 4,000 members working to create community. District XIII is the local district which hosts programs and trainings for professionals in the San Gabriel Valley.

In additional to installing the 2007-2008 District XIII Board of Directors, over $3,000 in scholarship were awarded along with Community Service Awards and Professional Services Awards.

The Community Services Commission was awarded for the Community Service Award, which recognizes a group or individual that has demonstrated outstanding service in the field of parks and recreation in District XIII.

The nominating statement for the Community Services Commission states:

This seven member group of dynamic volunteers jumps into all community activities head-first, providing a shinning example for all commissioners. The City of Sierra Madre Community Services Commission sits on each and every event committee, often leading the event planning and implementation process.

A perfect example of the commission’s perseverance came about a year and a half ago as concern for the growing trend of youth obesity continued to rise. The commission decided to spear-head a Healthy Family Fun program on the last Saturday of every month to encourage families to “Get Out and Get Active.” Research has shown that active parents have active kids and that active kids do well is school and so the goal was to appeal to the whole family to exercise in a fun, non-threatening environment. Not only have the commissioner planned each activity ranging from games of kickball and capture the flag to hikes in the local mountains and community bike rides, but the commissioners work the events themselves, only asking city staff for a little assistance in publicizing the program (in fact, a commissioner even delivers the flyers to the school as her contribution to the event).

In addition to volunteering in Sierra Madre, our Commissioners believe so strongly in sharing their professional knowledge and experiences that they have been keynote speakers at CPRS and Chi Kappa Rho – Women in Leisure Services events throughout Southern California in the past couple of years…

…The Sierra Madre Community Service Commission is made up of residents who believe in walking the walk and not just talking the talk. Current commissioners have worked on revising the Youth and Senior Master Plans, implementing a Parks Master Plan and subsequent scorecard, creating a Cultural Arts Master Plan, and were the driving force for a Transit Master Plan. These same commissioners took these plans and paved the way for the City to build a new Youth Activity Center, and the development of open space for a new pocket park.

Additionally, the City of Sierra Madre’s Deputy Director of Community & Personnel Services Deputy Director, Elisa Weaver, was awarded the Professional Service Award for her work both in the City of Sierra Madre and as a member of the CPRS Board of Directors from 2005-2007. While on the Board, Weaver most notably helped the District move into the 21^st century and the electronic era by initiating the District’s website at www.cprsdistrict13.org.

CPRS District XIII incoming President John Aguirre from the City of Glendora stated, “The residents and city staff of Sierra Madre are blessed to have such a vibrant group of people determined to create a healthy community through people, parks, and programs.”