Evendale Recreation Commission
February 21, 2008
Roll Call: Stiney Vonderhaar, Michele Gottschlich, David Nichols, Pam Meyers, Mary Lou Isaac, Grace Ficke, Gus Janszen. Absent: Wayne Mosley.
Called to Order at 7:43am.
Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve the January minutes made by Pam Meyers; seconded by Stiney Vonderhaar. Motion approved.
Recognition of Visitors: none
New Business:
A. Cultural Arts Update
· Public Works Department is diligently working on the building; hoping to conclude work by April 1st.
· First floor and ½ of the rooms upstairs are being renovated, and five computers are being installed.
· An open house will be held on Friday, April 4th (6-9pm) and on Saturday, April 5th (12-4pm), followed by three weeks of “splash” classes which will introduce patrons to various classes.
Currently no plans to hire, the building will be staffed by volunteers.
· Advertising will be through the newsletter and direct mailing. Classes are open to residents and non-residents, with a concentration on residents. Many of the instructors are residents.
· Both Commissions are unsure of the Recreation’s part; it may begin with just collecting fees and registrations. The Cultural Art Center and the Recreation Center working together is critical.
B. Goals & Objectives
· The playground “request for bid” has been advertised. Bids will be opened on March 7th. St. Rita will be taking the old playground equipment, which must be done by March 12th. The Department hopes to open the new playground by Memorial Day. Commission suggests keeping the tots swings with the tot area; and keeping regular swings in the older kid’s area. (Older kids may not respect the swings designed for younger kids.)
· be more inclusive, get more residents involved in our programs and using the facilities
· host input sessions
· update the department’s Five Year Master Plan, and continue to pursue the ideas within the plan
· get signage up and a brochure (with map) out to the community to show the first phase of the leisure path system
· investigate what the Recreation Department could create for the residents on part or all of the old Churchhill’s property (platform tennis courts, dog park, fountain/picnic/seating area, sledding hill, Frisbee golf course, labyrinth of shrubs, additional footage for soccer field three, etc)
Old Business
Tri-Health Report – as noted in commission packets
Director’s Report
· Steve Berke and Maureen Flavin, Swim Team Parents’ Board members, together with David Nichols interviewed two applicants for the head swim team coach. Chad Winkle was selected (and accepted) to be our coach. Chad has coached with the Cincinnati Marlins, Roger Bacon High School, and has been an assistant coach with the Sharonville Recreation swim team. A criminal background check returned clear, and a reference check found very good remarks. Two to three former assistant coaches have re-applied; so a few new people will be hired.
· Grace Ficke received her Outstanding Youth Leadership Award from OPRA on February 10th. The plaque is hanging outside of the Phi Lambda Pi room. Grace was honored the following Thursday by Evendale Council with a Proclamation.
· Updated copies of the department’s policy guideline manuals and operations manuals were distributed to commission members.
· Copies of the Recreation Commission Annual Schedule were distributed to members
Phi Lambda Pi Report
· Nine members volunteered at the Snow Much Fun Winter Festival at the recreation center.
· Wednesday nights have included the movie nights and Bunko
· Upcoming Events
March 5th – Guest speaker Brandon Tankersly - Brandon’s Story
April 19th - Award’s Night (Mix & Match is this year’s theme)
2009 (final weekend to be determined) – 50th anniversary of Phi Lambda Pi. Kim is currently locating members to be a representative from each era on the organizing committee.
Open Discussion
· Uniform Update – Gus and Kristen were able to find a good quality uniform made in the USA and at a good price (under budget)
· Subject to the levy passing, Princeton will build new schools, which may include an indoor pool. If this happens, can the recreation centers within the school district negotiate with the district to allow recreation members to use the indoor pool during the winter at times when students are not using the pool?.
· Shelter House is currently rented six months to the day in advance. Should the commission consider changing that to one year in advance? David will take this to the policy sub-committee in March.
· Phi Lambda Pi members only see their advisor’s on Wednesday evenings and the leaders are always in “green” shirt attire. The Phi members request that recreation staff wearing “green” on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday be amended, and that different colored shirts be worn on these days. Commission approved the request.
· Adult Services “Just Chillin’” dance was not well attended.
· The Mosley Benefit was a huge success. The committee thanked commission for their support and use of the Recreation Center’s multi-purpose Room.
· Should the annual Daddy Daughter Dance age level go through Jr. High or should the dance be divided into two separate events (K-5th and 6th-8th). Discussion: a kindergartener may be scared to be on the dance floor at the same time as an 8th grader. Phi members volunteer at this event, and if the dance is expanded to 8th grade, it would mean the volunteers had just stopped attending the prior year. Phi volunteers would appreciate the event (more) since they have not attended for two years. Some Jr. High girls may feel strange dancing with their dads. The two year break is a good thing.
· David will invite new swim team coach Chad Winkle to our May meeting; followed by Cary Bellyea in June.
· Our next scheduled meeting is March 20th at 7:30am.
Motion to adjourn made at 9:12am by Gus Janszen; seconded by Stiney Vonderhaar. Motion approved.
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