The Future Business Leaders Association at Great Bend High School has offered to build a website for the Great Bend Recreation Commission in a program called "Tech the Rec."

GBRC Executive Director Diann Henderson told her board of directors about the partnership at Monday’s board meeting. "We’ve met with them ... (and) we feel it’s a nice project for them," Henderson said. The website will have mobile capabilities so it can be viewed on a smartphone. When the project is completed next May, the FBLA students will turn it over to the Recreation Commission and train the staff on how to maintain it.

In action items Monday, the GBRC Board voted to buy a white, 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan from Marmie’s in Great Bend, who submitted the low bid of $24,581. A Wichita vender also submitted a bid.

Henderson reported she was elected to the executive board of the Kansas Recreation and Parks Association, and along with that was named a branch chairman for the new KRPA Administrative Branch being formed in 2012.

Program Coordinator Chis Umphres said Henderson has also been selected for the KRPA 2011 Distinguished Professional award, to be given at the association’s annual luncheon in Topeka on Jan. 26, 2012.

All GBRC facilities will be closed from Thursday, Nov. 24, through Sunday, Nov. 27 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Meanwhile, the Rec is preparing for the annual Santa’s Workshop on Monday, Dec. 5. Program Coordinator Garet Fitzpatrick said 13,000 pieces of candy have been purchased for the event.

The October attendance report showed 3,355 people enrolled in programs, compared to 3,127 a year ago. There were 16,068 participants, of which 6,940 were spectators, and the Recreation Commission offered 1,610 hours of supervised activities.

Henderson attributed some of the increase in enrollments to the growing number of people who use the Cavanaugh Wellness Center. Enrollment also grew because 150 people attended MACK Field Day, a day of model airplane flying, co-sponsored with the Model Association of Central Kansas.