• To propose and promote the highest standards of professionalism, competence and ethics in the delivery of Public Park, recreation, and leisure services.
• To provide a method for the dissemination of information relating to the leisure services field and to encourage study and research on matters of professional interest.
• To improve, through mutual association, leisure programs, services, and facilities throughout Southern Illinois.
• To encourage public support and necessary legislation for the leisure services movement.
• To provide quality educational workshops and continuing education opportunities for the SIPRA membership.

SIPRA provides opportunities for its members to meet, share, network, socialize, and grow professionally through its planned meetings, CEU workshops, special projects, and member socials.

Each Recipient Receives a $1,000.00 Scholarship!!!

Ksenia Novikova, from Voronezh, Russia, currently residing in Carbondale, Illinois, is a graduate student majoring in leisure management administration with the Department of Health Education and Recreation at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and currently serves as a SIUC graduate assistant in leisure services management. Ms Novikova currently has a perfect overall 4.0 grade point average. Ksenia graduated with honors from Voronezh State University, Russia with a degree in management. During her final year of undergraduate work, Ksenia was recognized as the recipient of the Special Commendation of the Organizational Committee of the IX National Student Conference, Voronezh, Russia for the Conference Thesis. Ms Novikova shared her thoughts; "Since recreation industry in nowadays Russia is not so developed as in the United states, as well as there is no one university based program that could prepare for the managerial position in recreation, hospitality and tourism; I would like to be one of the those people who will bring attention to the importance of recreation development not only in my home town, but in the whole Russia and former USSR republics."

Lin Li, from Yongcheng, Henan Province, China, currently residing in Carbondale, Illinois, is a graduate student majoring in therapeutic recreation with the Department of Health Education and Recreation at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Mr. Li currently has an overall 3.9 grade point average. Having completed an undergraduate program at Zhengzhou University, Lin came to America and completed a Masters Program at Foreign Affairs College. Lin is now pursuing a graduate program in Therapeutic Recreation, and is serving as a therapeutic recreation graduate assistant at SIUC. His plan for the future following graduation from SIUC is to pursue a doctorate degree in recreation. He was the recipient of the 2006 Illinois Therapeutic Recreation Association Scholarship. Mr. Li shared his thoughts; "...therapeutic recreation (TR) is still a virgin territory in China. ...With the development of society, China faces more and more ... social problems. I firmly believe that leisure service has a bright future in China and I should do something to facilitate its maturing in the academic area."

• Professional Membership - Open to individuals with a degree in leisure services, and/or employed by a leisure service delivery agency, and educators in the leisure services field.
• Board, Council, or Committee Membership - Open to any elected or appointed members of park and recreation boards, councils, or committees.
• Retired Professional Membership - Any person who has retired from the leisure service field and was a member in good standing at the time of retirement.
• General Membership - Open to any person with an interest in the leisure movement as per the following categories:
  • Friends of SIPRA - Any person interested in the leisure movement.
  • Patrons of SIPRA - Any person or company/vendor who has an interest in the leisure movement and who wish to contribute to the support of SIPRA.
• Student Membership - Shall be open to any student pursuing studies in the leisure sciences.

• SIPRA Membership Application (MS Word)