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President's Message
sessions that are either job required (resulting in certifications and/or fulfilling ETMS requirements) or job related. The entire conference will be POST certified.  CSPRA is providing an invaluable service to our members by offering these training opportunities and filling in gaps caused by Department training budget cuts.  I  encourage all of you to take advantage of this terrific opportunity. There are sessions to interest everyone. The registration packet and schedule will be out very soon. And the first 100 members registering will receive a $50 refund on your registration! (in addition to the discounted cost for being a CSPRA member).  Encourage your colleagues who are not CSPRA members to join when they register to take advantage of this opportunity.

2) CSPRA issued a strong letter to the Governor denouncing the budget cuts in the proposed 2012-2013 budget. The additional 11 million dollar cut would be the demise of the state park system as we know  it. CSPRA also condemned the proposed trigger cuts to reduce 20% of the ranger staff and eliminate seasonal lifeguards.

3) CSPRA spoke loud and clear at the recent Legislative hearing on the true cost of closing parks. This message must be heard and understood. The information is still very relevant today and I have included the testimony in the issues section of the website.   I gave this testimony before a joint hearing attended by members of both Assembly and Senate committees. CSPRA will be targeting strategic legislators to drive home these messages.
President Nina Gordon
CSPRA is forging ahead with actions to support our members. These actions have included testifying before the Legislature, publishing statements in newspapers statewide, meeting regularly with the Director, continuing to provide scholar- ship support,  keeping members appraised of Department actions, sponsoring the Retiree Rendezvous and tackling administrative tasks to maintain the professional status of the Association.

I want to highlight three of these actions.  
1) Providing professional training for state park employees.  
2)  Speaking up about the proposed 2012-2013 budget  
3) Being the voice for the true cost of closing parks.

1) The upcoming 2012 California Parks Training, March 5-9, offers a myriad of