BY KEITH LIPPOLDT
klippoldt@gbtribune.com
After a long weekend and busy Monday of putting the final touches on the 28th Annual Santa’s Workshop, the Great Bend Recreation Board of Directors and staff met for its December meeting at the GB Recreation Center Monday afternoon.
Several items were on the agenda but one stood out above the rest as it was announced that Diann Henderson has been nominated for, and will be inducted into, the Kansas Recreation and Parks Association Hall of Fame.
In a statement from Great Bend Recreation Executive Director Chris Umphres, the board was made aware of the award.
The release stated, “Great Bend Recreation Commission is proud to announce that Diann Henderson will be inducted into the Kansas Recreation and Parks Association Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be held at the KRPA State Conference on Jan. 28th. Henderson had a 40-year career at GBRC. Henderson is the third person from GBRC to be inducted into the KRPA State Hall of Fame. Other GBRC Hall of Fame members include Carl Soden (1998) and Paul Keller (2007).”
Henderson, a 1975 graduate of Great Bend High School, received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Friends University. She was employed by the Great Bend Recreation Commission from 1982-2022. Her list of citizen involvement is lengthy, including: board member of the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and GB Convention and Visitors Bureau; lead member in the creation of the Hoisington Recreation Commission Foundation; Chair of the Hoisington Rec that passed a community bond of $7.8 million; consultant for Ellinwood Recreation; Grand Marshal of the 2019 Christmas Parade.
Professional accomplishments include but are not limited to development or modernization of recreation facilities including the GB Activity Center, My BackYard Playground, GB Sports Complex, Veterans Park Playground, Fit Trail Park, tennis courts, disc golf course, walking trails, Wetlands Aquatic Park, practice ball fields, Wellness Center, community murals, Imagination Playground, and creation of the GBRC Foundation in 2009.
“I wanted to make sure the public is aware that after 40 years of being here and everything she’s done with the state association, Diann is going to be one of the three from here at GBRC that’s going into the Hall of Fame,” Umphres said. “It will be held in Manhattan and we will all be there to support her.”
After Umphres read off her detailed list of accomplishments, Henderson spoke of receiving this prestigious award.
“I appreciate everyone,” she said. “No one does this work alone. It takes everyone to work together to accomplish big things. So I appreciate your support over the years. I hope I can get up there and say something and not cry.”
The induction is scheduled for Jan. 28 in Manhattan.
In other action, the board;
• Heard the Enrichment report from Enrichment/Activity Center Director Garet Fitzpatrick.
Several classes are being held in December for all ages from pre-school to adult. With help from students from Great Bend High School, Barton Community College softball players and many other volunteers, the City Auditorium was transitioned into Santa’s Workshop on Dec. 9. The Rec purchased 700 sugar cookies, along with candies to decorate them, blew up 700 helium balloons, and ordered 800 beaded necklaces, 750 fuzzy reindeer antlers, 900 fish pond prizes, 500 each of three different craft projects, 8,500 pieces of candy and had 1,300 other Christmas handouts.
The Rec sponsored an Outdoor Photo contest with subjects to include sunrises or sunsets, wildlife, bird dogs, scenery, etc. The top three choices will be revealed this week and the winners will receive GB Chamber gift certificates.
• Heard from Enrichment, Aquatic, Marketing Director Megan Hammeke as she reported on activities in November and December. Fit For Life exercise class was the most attended with 308 participants in 10 class sessions. The Rec will take a break from all classes during the holiday break. A special January session will kick off the week of January 6th.
• Received a report from Sports Director Shane Sandberg on the total number of volunteer coaches that help with programs each year. All of them either have been, or currently are, certified with the National Alliance of Youth Sports and can use the resource to help them with anything they need to coach their team. GBRC covers the certification fee for them.
Basketball had 34 coaches certified, baseball/softball 46, flag football 15, outdoor soccer 18 and indoor soccer 37. That total comes to 150, the same as 2023.
Sports have moved indoors for the winter. Because of the large number of participants between indoor soccer at the City Auditorium, instructional youth sports and travel team practice requests at the Activity Center, pickleball at both of those sites, and adult volleyball at the PAC, gyms have been packed.
• Executive Director Chris Umphres reported on attendance for activities in the month of November. For the month, there were 3,517 people enrolled in programs sponsored by GBRC. Total participation for the month was 10,120 and of that total, 4,479 were spectators. For the month, a total of 1,491 hours of supervised activities were offered. In November 2023, there were 3,891 people enrolled in programs with participation of 12,417 and included 6,372 spectators.
