Winter classes are in full swing at the Great Bend Recreation Commission, and the staff is already getting ready for spring and summer, Executive Director Diann Henderson told the Board of Directors on Monday.
Volunteers are needed for the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) softball and baseball tournament, which Great Bend will host for the first time from April 28 through May 4. For more information on volunteering as an ambassador at the tournament, contact City Coordinator Christina Hayes, 792-4111 or email chayes@greatbend.net.
“It runs on the heels of our Hap Dumont tournament,” Henderson commented.
“We were very busy in January,” the director added. Last month, there were 4,705 enrollments in 1,259.75 hours of supervised activities offered. This resulted in 9,496 participants, of which 3,695 were spectators.
Program directors reported on recent and upcoming activities offered to senior citizens and those with special needs, as well as sports and leisure programs. Director Megan Hammeke said one of the most popular activities for special needs is bowling, which had 117 participations in January and 46 spectators. (Each time a person participates is counted.) This month, they will also have a couple of craft classes and an Easy Cooking lesson about making soup. The special needs Valentine’s dance was held last Friday.
Seniors enjoy exercise classes such as Fit For Life, which met 13 times in January for 304 participations. Tai Chi met nine times with 113 participants, and has become so popular that GBRC is starting another beginner’s class on Wednesdays, Hammeke said. Upcoming activities include today’s Valentine’s party at the Great Bend Senior Center. A king and queen will be crowned at noon, and the party starts after lunch at 1 p.m., with students from Park School singing. Coming up are a Defensive Driving class and a program on credit scores.
Sports Director Chris Umphres said basketball is now finished and volleyball started Monday night. Indoor soccer is also going on, and 12 soccer coaches are needed.
Leisure Director Garet Fitzpatrick said the Valentine’s Day Entertaining Meals program that was originally set for last week will be held this Wednesday. (This program was by preregistration only.)
Fitzpatrick noted that attendance at the GBRC’s last Great Bend Middle School dance was down, but 117 students attended.
In action items Monday, the board approved a resolution to waive the Generally Accepted Accounting Practices and approved the annual revision of the Employee Handbook.
Henderson said GBRC adopts a GAAP waiver annually; it eliminates some paperwork and reporting while meeting municipal standards for accounting. She said changes to the handbook followed changes in state laws or federal mandates. For example, there is now a section on texting and driving. Another example: Employees must be informed on their rights under the health-care act.