METRO Annual Conference to be Held on Brooklyn Campus

March 24, 2014 BK

BROOKLYN, N.Y. March 25, 2014 The Therapeutic Recreation Department at St. Josephs College (SJC) is pleased to announce that it will host the Metropolitan New York Recreation & Park Society, Inc. (METRO) Annual Conference on Friday, March 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in McEntegart Hall located on SJCs Brooklyn Campus.

This conference will feature six workshops on various contemporary issues in therapeutic recreation and wellness. Commissioner for the New York City Mayors Office for People with Disabilities Victor Calise will keynote the event and discuss his own personal experiences as an athlete who became disabled. During his talk, Calise will address the challenges he encountered along the way as well as what he used to further his career and work as an advocate for accessible sports and fitness facilities and programs for the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation.

"Were excited to host this years annual METRO Conference at St. Josephs College, said Jeremy Cash, assistant professor in the Department of Therapeutic Recreation at SJC. "This event provides an opportunity for leaders in the field to discuss the newest trends, best practices and latest developments with both their fellow practitioners and students in the ever-changing world of therapeutic recreation.

Conference fees for METRO members are $65; nonmembers $75; and students $15. Registration is available on the day of the event, but will incur an additional $20 fee. For more information or to register, contact Eileen Wheeler at 718.368.5831.

ABOUT METRO
Metropolitan New York Recreation & Park Society, Inc. "METRO was founded in 1970 by Professor Lester Rhoads who taught Recreation courses at Kingsborough Community College. Prof. Rhoads was a strong advocate for all professional recreation associations, but recognized that both national and state professional organizations were too expensive for students and their conferences were too far away to travel to. He realized the value of starting a local professional organization and thus METRO was "born. METRO continues to work in achieving its founding objectives to unite all persons engaged in the Recreation and Park movement, to promote principles and standards for the improvement of Recreation and Park programs, services and personnel and to encourage the development and education of all persons interested in working in the field of Recreation and Parks in New York City.