February 2014 - Parks & Recreation - 65

Member Spotlight: Jim Lemke

isitors to Columbus, Indiana's Donner Aquatics Center enjoy pristine
pools, comprehensive swimming lessons and the attention of welltrained staff and lifeguards, all thanks to Aquatics Manager Jim Lemke. The 46-year-old father of three is a dedicated member of NRPA and has
been with the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department for 11 years. These
days, he's an active and engaged member, often taking to Twitter to highlight
the benefits of aquatics safety as well as all the fun that can be had when we get
out and enjoy the park and recreation facilities our communities have to offer.

Lemke came to his career somewhat
circuitously, ending up in the industry
after years of volunteering his talents
to area sports leagues. " My oldest son,
who was 4 at the time, was taking 'intro
to hockey' lessons, " he explains. " I became a volunteer coach. I also taught
swim lessons and was a baseball coach
and a soccer coach. At some point, I
realized, 'Wait, I'm spending an awful
lot of time in parks and recreation,' "
Lemke says, laughing.
" There was an assistant manager position open at the ice rink, and
they asked me if I wanted to do it. I
said sure, and [two years later] when
the aquatics position opened up, I
said I really want to go over there, so
they moved me, " he continues. That
was in 2005, and shortly thereafter
Lemke participated in NRPA's AFO
training course. " Indiana state health
code requires either an AFO or CPO
at their facilities, so it was a job prerequisite that I take the course, "
Lemke says. " [Being AFO certified]
gives me more confidence that our

Staff Spotlight:
Oscar Galan

facility is being maintained to proper
aquatic standards and that our water
is healthy and safe for our patrons.
Also, [it provides assurance] that our
lifeguards and staff are well-trained. "
Lemke clearly takes pride in his
professional role and appreciates the
access to educational opportunities
and information about his field that
NRPA membership provides. " I really enjoy being able to communicate
with other professionals in the recreation field, " Lemke says.
" I can read articles in Parks & Recreation Magazine or follow online to
see what other professionals are doing as well as other park departments.
Attending Congress every year, going
to educational sessions, and seeing
what's trending in parks and recreation makes me feel more confident
we're offering the best programs and
facilities to benefit our community. "
When asked to single out the best
aspect of being a recreation professional, Lemke can't decide. " Everything is my favorite, " he says.
" I love educating the community and
my staff, being involved in the community and seeing people enjoy our facilities,
whether it be aquatics, baseball, soccer
- I love watching those other programs
and watching people have a good time
while being healthy and safe. "

f you've ever
visited NRPA's
headquarters,
you likely noted
how
immaculately clean and
well-maintained the
building is. That's
largely thanks to
Oscar Galan, NRPA's facility maintenance engineer.
Hired in August 2001, Galan has become " a fixture of the organization, "
says his supervisor, Ted Mattingly.
Galan moved to the U.S. from El Salvador in 1989, and he began his career
in facility maintenance with NRPA
after responding to a newspaper ad.
On any given day, his job ranges from
event support duties to custodial work
to light maintenance and repair, and
he also provides support in the mail
room and with a variety of odd jobs.
When asked how the organization has
changed over the years and what he
likes most about working for NRPA,
Galan replied, " A lot has changed. We
are more organized now and work better as a team to fix problems. Everyone
respects each other - we are like a
family. I am very thankful for my job. "
This mindset is apparent through
his work every day, according to his
fellow NRPA staffers. Says Mattingly,
" He takes pride in the building and delivers consistent service with a smile. "
Galan lives in Leesburg, Virginia,
with his wife, Marisol, and he is also
the proud father of two teenage sons
and a 5-year-old daughter.

- Samantha Bartram, Associate Editor of Parks & Recreation Magazine

- Danielle Taylor, Senior Editor of
Parks & Recreation Magazine

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