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PITTSFORD
RECREATION DEPARTMENT Summer has almost again completely passed us by. Both Day Camp and Swim Lessons are over for another season and the lifeguards are starting to discuss returning to school in few short weeks, thus meaning the beach will soon be still until next summer when the cycle will start over again. The second session of Swim Lessons have completed despite several days of cold and damp weather, two of which the Recreation Area did not open. Ms. Ashley Becker, swim instructor, continued to do a fantastic job with the kids. I base that opinion on the many positive comments I have gotten while talking with parents who children were involved in the program. Many parents spoke about how good she was with their kids and how she was able to motivate them to do what she needed them to do. The Recreation Department had 30 kids registered for the second session which made a total of 72 students for the season. I will soon be mailing out the 2004 Swim Area Survey to all the families who participated in swim lessons and will pass along the results when they are returned. The Pittsford Day Camp recently finished another summer of fun and excitement. We had 112 children register to be part of this special program. Jade Keith, Camp Director, did a fantastic job planning out the 4 one week sessions. Each week had a different theme for which the daily activities were planned around. Campers enjoyed spending days at the Recreation Area where they were able to swim, hike the trails, and use the pavilion as an outdoor classroom. Also each week the groups went on field trips. This summer’s trips included the Green Mountain Rock Climbing Center (in Rutland), Echo, Lake Champlain Aquarium & Science Ctr. (in Burlington), the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (at their new facility in Quechee), and finally the Montshire Museum (in Norwich). The field trips are a fun and educational experiences that many children look forward to each summer. One topic of discussion that has come out of camp this summer is expanding our program from 4 weeks to 6 weeks. Reasons for doing so include parents and kids alike enjoy what we have to offer and just would like to stretch out the experience a bit longer. Others have indicated that camp is a positive alternative to day care, or staying home alone, especially for the 10-12 year olds who are unhappy going to daycare situation. Over the next few weeks I will look into the possibilities of adding 2 weeks to camp and will have a recommendation ready before budgets are due. Speaking of the budget Town Manager, Michael Balch, recently asked me, as the Department Head, to create a work plan for the Recreation Department to help prepare the budget for next fiscal year. At the July Recreation Committee meeting I asked members to start thinking about projects they would like to see tackled over the next budget year. Members were asked to bring their list with them to the next Recreation Committee meeting on Tuesday, August 10, 2004 to discuss and by the end of the meeting I should have a rough outline of the work plan. One of our main focuses is going to be upgrading the bathrooms at the Recreation Area. Over the past few years we have worked hard to make the grounds themselves look nice now it’s time we work on the inside of the building, especially the restrooms. Another smaller project I’d like to get done is the pavilion needs to be clear coated or stained so that it’s protected some from the elements of the weather. Since it was built in the spring of 2002 nothing has been applied therefore the 8” x 8” pressure treated posts and the gable ends of the roof are turning dark where the weather and water can get them. Very recently some of the old and out dated computers in the Town Offices were replaced, mine was one of them. My new machine is great, it’s easy to work with, the programs are up to date and it is connected to both the network and the internet. This upgrade has improved my communication capabilities 100%, especially with the Recreation Committee who I send information often, (i.e. meeting minutes, schedules, & agendas). Before I had internet all that work had to be done by hand and sent through the mail. Also being part of the network has been beneficial in that I can track Recreation Department funds quicker and easier. Before I was connected to the network and I needed to find particular piece of information, like how much revenue did a particular program bring in, I had to go and bother the Assistant Town Clerk or the Assistant Town Manger and have them find the information. Now I can find that kind of information on my own work station without having to bother anyone. On Monday, August 2nd I attended a computer class at the Panurgy Learning Center in Burlington. It was a Microsoft Publisher 2000 Windows class that I found very informative and already useful. Publisher is a program that I have used for creating calendars, thank you cards, and award certificates. Now after attending this class I have started creating my 2004 Fall Program Brochure in this program. Publisher has made it much easier to manipulate text, cut and crop pictures, and when it’s finished the brochure will have a much more professional look. |
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