Great Bend Recreation Commission’s Executive Director Diann Henderson received the prestigious Distinguished Fellow Award given by the Kansas Recreation and Park Association at the KRPA Awards of Excellence Luncheon at its annual State Conference held in Dodge City.
Henderson was nominated by the Great Bend Recreation Commissioners and was selected from other statewide nominations of Park and Recreational Professionals.
Henderson was also awarded an appreciation plaque from the KRPA Executive Board for her years of service on the Board of Directors and as KRPA President.
Henderson was also recognized by the GBRC at the Monday meeting for her accomplishments and awards she received from the KRPA.
New business also included the report for spring enrollment. There are 1,439 individuals enrolled in spring recreation programs and the GBRC is offering 144 programs this spring for youth and adults to participate in. This does not include the drop in activities or the Cavanaugh Wellness Center.
The GBRC also accepted a donation from Jean Cavanaugh for $8,595 to purchase soccer bubble balls for a future programming venue for GBRC.
Also approved at the meeting was an agreement with the Pecos Baseball League to bring Great Bend Boom to Great Bend this summer. Games will be played at Al Burns Baseball Field. The Facility Use Agreement was presented to the Commission for approval.
The winner of the Longest Pheasant Tail Feather Contest was Ron Chrest. The feather measured 25 1/2 inches long.
GBRC program directors report
Megan Hammeke said bowling continues to be popular with the special needs clients, with 137 participants in January.
Hammeke also reported on programs for senior citizens, January saw people participate in Fit for Life classes; they met 12 times with 327 participants. Three different levels of Tai Chi instruction that met 20 times. Gentle Yoga exercise class met 8 times with 35 participants
Chris Umphres reported on sports programs, noting that the Men’s Traditional Basketball League completed its regular season the last Sunday in January.
“The league was very competitive again this year,” Umphres said.
T-shirts were given to the regular season champions in both leagues.
The Youth Basketball Leagues finished their season Jan. 23.
Medals were handed out to kids and the coaches. They also received a framed team photo as an appreciation from the Recreation Commission.
Youth coaches filled out every player evaluation and they will be kept to assist in the draft process next season.
“We had a good group of coaches and staff again this year,” Umphres said.
The Winter Adult Volleyball Leagues completed its season at the end of January and the Spring Leagues will begin their season the second week of February.
Leagues are now playing on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights.
The women’s Monday leagues and coed Wednesday leagues are still allowed to play at the Panther Activity Center.
“This really frees up the City Auditorium and helps keep the Volleyball Leagues on schedule,” Umphres said.
Leagues are scheduled to end in April.
The youth indoor soccer leagues are ready to begin another congested season.
Walls were put up and teams are scheduled to begin practice on the Feb. 20. Practice games will begin March 5.
Garet Fitzpatrick reported on leisure programs, noting that there will be Stop N Learn sessions this winter and spring over the lunch hour.
These free educational programs include: Concealed and Carry Firearm Regulations, Feb. 10; Occasional Quantity Cooking, Feb. 18; Landscaping 101, Feb. 24; Connect Program, March 2; School of Hard Knocks, March 9; Park Elementary Drone Club, March 23; Gluten and Your Gut’s Good Health, March 30; Lazy Gardening, April 6; Walk Kansas Pep Rally, April 13; Planting Annuals, April 20; and Perennial Flowers, April 27.
In February, the GBRC is offering the following classes on days that schools are not in session or dismissed early: Thursday, Feb. 25, Afternoon Kids Day Out from Noon to 5 p.m. and on Friday, Feb. 26.
GBRC Director Diann Henderson reported that for the month of January there were 3,794 people enrolled in programs sponsored by the Recreation Commission. The total participation for the month was 5,619 of that total 1,799 were spectators.
This month the Commission offered a total of 1,222 hours of supervised activities.