7.0. PRSR 12-13-1995 4 .
11/13/95
Community Recreation Board
Staff Report
October/ November 1995
Programming:
- Current Activities: Mens VB, Women's VB, Sr. High Intramural VB, Open Gyms, Indoor Walking, Fall
Scavenger Hunt, Hayride, Open Weight Room, Special open gyms on non-school days, youth
gymnastics.
Participation overall is quite good. This fall has been difficult to recruit gymnastic and open gym staff.
Planning for Winter and Spring is rapidly approaching. The Winter/Spring brochure goes to print on
Dec. 6th. A sampling of activities planned are : skating lessons, gymnastics, open gyms, numerous
special events, non school day activities, intramural basketball (for Jr. & Sr. High ), adult volleyball,
adult basketball, youth volleyball, cheerleading clinic, youth down hill skiing. We are also working on
implementing some new youth recreation programs that have never been offered.
We also supervise skating rink warming house staff for the following communities: Otsego, Elk River,
and possibly Dayton this winter.
Miscellaneous Updates:
- Community Recreation & Community Education staff representatives have recently organized a
• Marketing Committee to work together with various aspects of marketing related to our organizations
programs, etc.
- Business Expo '95: is scheduled for Sunday October 29th. from 10 - 4 pm at the Sr. High School.
Community Recreation will have a booth. We have an exciting booth planned for this year, with
several token "give aways" that promote or program.
- Youth Needs: For several months I have been working with Rita Johnson and the Community Youth
Task Force at finding solutions to youth related concerns. The CYTF believes that the Community
Recreation Board is an important organization to what they believe can be part of the solutions. I
would like to invite Rita to attend one of our future meetings.
Also related to this same issue is the Mayor of Elk Rivers' interest in supporting initiatives that
support youth. There is some support out there and pressure for a youth center. Myself along with the
CYTF and numerous others, believe that one day a youth center will be a significant aspect of a
Community/ Family Center but at this time there remains to be plenty of opportunity for programming
that has never been available and that funding towards more programming efforts would be money
better spent thap on brick and mortar. Considering the likelihood of funding for additional programs
from the city of Elk River, the Mayor is looking to the Community Recreation office to develop and
administer those activities.
- Youth Association Co-op: This group involves representatives from Youth Baseball, Youth Soccer,
and Girls Youth Softball ( outdoor programs ). JA has been working with this group to assure
• coordinated use of fields. The issues are: Additional field needs ( according to past scheduling ) , lack
of organized system for practice scheduling ( biggest problem is in the Spring before their regular
season begins ),
Coordinating and managing these concerns is complicated by different systems within the region.
JA is also working with the Elk River Park Commission and the Associations' at determining field
needs as Elk River has some development pending.
The recreation office also assists them with their program registration /advertising.
- Oak Knoll Maintenance agreement: Oak Knoll athletic complex was developed in cooperation by
ISD 728 and the city of Elk River. Maintenance responsibilities have been unclear and have lead to
some frustration. JA has been asked to work with Mike Hanlon ( ISD Athletic Director) at establishing
a formal agreement related to maintenance. M. Hanlon is also pursuing construction of some batting
cages and has asked for support from the City of Elk River. JA is working w/ M. Hanlon and Elk River
on this matter.
- Public Relations: Community Recreation staff have been paying close attention to all PR
opportunities. In the coming weeks we will be participating in the Down Town of Elk Rivers Scarecrow
contest. We are also working towards improved means of getting information on our programs to
area newsprint as often as possible. A slide show presentation is also near completion. Recreation
staff are also planning for development of a video presentation.
- MRPA Conference: Attended by JA and Michele, Nov. 1-3. JA was on the Conference Organization
Committee. This conference is held annually. Provides excellent networking and educational
opportunities.
JA was asked to serve on the Associations Legislative Committee. See the attached information
relative to this Committee and the mission.
-Office Changes: The move of our offices to the lower level is complete. Some work still remains wi
computer set-up, etc.
- Technoloay Update: Over the past several months CE, ECFE and Recreation have been
investigating new software to enhance our efficiency. Recently a decision was made to upgrade our
current system with the newest addition of the same program ( Panorama ). Our long range intention
is to move towards a system that will enable 24 hour phone registration. The supposed ( state of the
art )program that we looked at that accomplished this and several other features relative to our
operation has not performed ( according to those communities that we researched ). This software
provider is now aware of the needed improvements. WE will monitor these changes.
- Misc. Projects:
- Resident racking system
- Employee manual/orientation guide
- Update Joint Powers Agreement
- Inventory of area playfields and planned developments
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