Monday’s decision to award fewer ‘participant’ medals this summer wasn’t about money, Great Bend Recreation Commission board members said. The consensus was that once kids are old enough to play on teams that keep score, they don’t care much about non-championship medals.
GBRC will save about $2,000 by only awarding medals to members of first-place teams in leagues that don’t have a championship tournament. When there is a tournament, members of teams that finish first and second will get medals.
The ‘participant’ medals will still be awarded to youngsters who complete instructional programs, GBRC Sports Director Chris Umphres said.
At Monday’s board meeting, Umphres didn’t have a recommendation but asked the board members if they wanted to change the policy of medals for everyone.
“We’ve talked about the philosophy,” Umphres said. “Coaches just want the championship medals in leagues where you keep score. Do kids want that participation medal?”
Medals cost $1.50 to $2 each. Board members whose children have participated in summer sports said participant medals are more important to smaller children, who attend the instructional summer leagues such as T-Ball and Blast Ball.
In other action Monday, the board renewed a bundle of insurance polices from Conrad Insurance Inc., which includes a variety of general liability and worker’s compensation insurance, for $36,982. GBRC Executive Director Diann Henderson said the cost is $1,111 higher than a year ago, largely because of a higher payroll.
The board also renewed the health insurance policy for employees, with Blue Cross Blue Shield. It includes life insurance and short-term disability insurance as well as dental insurance. The actual final cost will depend on employee enrollment on July 1. Last year’s cost was $87,149; Henderson said the average change will be 7.6 percent more per policy.