Active Okoboji coordinates recreation
By Greg Drees Journal correspondent | Posted: Sunday, June 08, 2008
Jen Johnson has the enviable job of coordinating recreational opportunities in the Iowa Great Lakes through the non-profit group Active Okoboji. (Photo by Greg Drees, Journal correspondent)
ARNOLDS PARK, Iowa -- You might call her the "Diva of Diversion," given that fun is quite literally what her job is all about.
Jen Johnson is the recently hired executive director of Active Okoboji, a non-profit group charged with coordinating recreation in the Iowa Great Lakes area.
In the land of fun and sun -- where more than a million visitors come calling each season -- that is a big job.
Johnson returned home to her roots to take the position because well, it just seemed like too good an offer -- selling fun in the lakes area -- to turn down. The Spirit Lake native, who had been living and working in Kansas City the last 13 years, is glad to be back.
"I always kept open the option of coming back to the lakes," Johnson said, "and when this opportunity arose it just seemed like the perfect fit for me."
Johnson built her resume in Kansas City as a teacher for CUTE (Cooperative Urban Teacher Education) and a community outreach volunteer for such organizations as United Way and Special Olympics.
As a lifelong pet lover, she served as executive director of the non-profit Animal Haven. The eclectic mix of experience served Johnson well when she applied to direct Active Okoboji, the brainchild of Tom Bedell, lakes area businessman and philanthropist.
Bedell approached the Dickinson County Supervisors in March of 2007 with the concept of creating a position in the Iowa Great Lakes that would coordinate time-tested Okoboji recreational opportunities with the creation of new ones.
The Bedell World Citizenship Fund gifted $125,000 to fund the first year's operations and a task force completed Active Okoboji's mission, job description and budget. After a wide search for an executive director, Johnson was hired in April to take the enterprise forward. She hit the ground thinking outside the box.
"Active Okoboji might imply sports and outdoor activities -- and it will, of course -- but we also will partner with entities like cities, schools, churches, non-profits and other groups and organizations to promote active citizenship," Johnson said. "Active Okoboji will network to preserve and enhance a wide spectrum of sports, arts, outdoor activities and other leisure time events and opportunities in the lakes area."
The recreational collaboration has the goal of "perfecting the art of fun by making all recreational activities and volunteer opportunities in the area known to both residents and guests alike." That will mean enhancing longstanding events such as University of Okoboji athletic cards and creating new venues.
"For instance, I'm working on Boji Fest, a first-of-its-kind gathering of Boy Scouts of America troops on Aug. 22-24, with a special convening ceremony in the Preservation Plaza," Johnson said. "There are also plans in place to host a celebrity fall fishing tournament. I want Active Okoboji to be a valuable partner to existing local organizations and events, the Tourism Committee and the Chamber of Commerce."
Johnson, whose office is located at the Chamber of the Iowa Great Lakes in the Maritime Museum building in Arnolds Park, is busy building the Active Okoboji Web site at {M3www.activeokoboji.org.
She has already formed partnerships with the Pearson Lakes Art Center, Iowa Lakeside Laboratory, Dickinson County Trails Association, Bedell Family YMCA, Okoboji Yacht Club, ArtsLive and other groups, forming alliances to perfect the art of fun in Okoboji. She'll be the one smiling on the way to work.
Countdown to fun
March 2007 -- Lakes area philanthropist Tom Bedell introduces the concept of Active Okoboji to the Dickinson County Supervisors.
May 2007 -- Representatives from lakes area recreational groups hold brainstorming meeting to launch Active Okoboji.
June 2007 -- The Iowa Great Lakes Recreational Coalition forms to grow Active Okoboji.
Fall 2007 -- The coalition creates the mission, job description and budget for Active Okoboji.
Winter 2007-08 -- The search begins for Active Okoboji executive director.
April 2008 -- Jen Johnson is hired as executive director.
Spring, 2008 -- Active Okoboji is formally up and running with a first year gift of $125,000 from The Bedell World Citizenship Fund.
Jen Johnson is the recently hired executive director of Active Okoboji, a non-profit group charged with coordinating recreation in the Iowa Great Lakes area.
In the land of fun and sun -- where more than a million visitors come calling each season -- that is a big job.
Johnson returned home to her roots to take the position because well, it just seemed like too good an offer -- selling fun in the lakes area -- to turn down. The Spirit Lake native, who had been living and working in Kansas City the last 13 years, is glad to be back.
"I always kept open the option of coming back to the lakes," Johnson said, "and when this opportunity arose it just seemed like the perfect fit for me."
Johnson built her resume in Kansas City as a teacher for CUTE (Cooperative Urban Teacher Education) and a community outreach volunteer for such organizations as United Way and Special Olympics.
As a lifelong pet lover, she served as executive director of the non-profit Animal Haven. The eclectic mix of experience served Johnson well when she applied to direct Active Okoboji, the brainchild of Tom Bedell, lakes area businessman and philanthropist.
Bedell approached the Dickinson County Supervisors in March of 2007 with the concept of creating a position in the Iowa Great Lakes that would coordinate time-tested Okoboji recreational opportunities with the creation of new ones.
The Bedell World Citizenship Fund gifted $125,000 to fund the first year's operations and a task force completed Active Okoboji's mission, job description and budget. After a wide search for an executive director, Johnson was hired in April to take the enterprise forward. She hit the ground thinking outside the box.
"Active Okoboji might imply sports and outdoor activities -- and it will, of course -- but we also will partner with entities like cities, schools, churches, non-profits and other groups and organizations to promote active citizenship," Johnson said. "Active Okoboji will network to preserve and enhance a wide spectrum of sports, arts, outdoor activities and other leisure time events and opportunities in the lakes area."
The recreational collaboration has the goal of "perfecting the art of fun by making all recreational activities and volunteer opportunities in the area known to both residents and guests alike." That will mean enhancing longstanding events such as University of Okoboji athletic cards and creating new venues.
"For instance, I'm working on Boji Fest, a first-of-its-kind gathering of Boy Scouts of America troops on Aug. 22-24, with a special convening ceremony in the Preservation Plaza," Johnson said. "There are also plans in place to host a celebrity fall fishing tournament. I want Active Okoboji to be a valuable partner to existing local organizations and events, the Tourism Committee and the Chamber of Commerce."
Johnson, whose office is located at the Chamber of the Iowa Great Lakes in the Maritime Museum building in Arnolds Park, is busy building the Active Okoboji Web site at {M3www.activeokoboji.org.
She has already formed partnerships with the Pearson Lakes Art Center, Iowa Lakeside Laboratory, Dickinson County Trails Association, Bedell Family YMCA, Okoboji Yacht Club, ArtsLive and other groups, forming alliances to perfect the art of fun in Okoboji. She'll be the one smiling on the way to work.
Countdown to fun
March 2007 -- Lakes area philanthropist Tom Bedell introduces the concept of Active Okoboji to the Dickinson County Supervisors.
May 2007 -- Representatives from lakes area recreational groups hold brainstorming meeting to launch Active Okoboji.
June 2007 -- The Iowa Great Lakes Recreational Coalition forms to grow Active Okoboji.
Fall 2007 -- The coalition creates the mission, job description and budget for Active Okoboji.
Winter 2007-08 -- The search begins for Active Okoboji executive director.
April 2008 -- Jen Johnson is hired as executive director.
Spring, 2008 -- Active Okoboji is formally up and running with a first year gift of $125,000 from The Bedell World Citizenship Fund.
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