Community Involvement
AFAD 2011
The 51st Annual Air Force Appreciation Day was a great success with records crowds. Once again, the Recreation District participated with our booth at Carl Miller Park. From 10:00 to 4:30, our Directors, staff and volunteers were there to answer questions from the Community, pass out our flyers, e-newsletters, and healthy pamphlets. Our three Directors and volunteer Teri used their artistic skills to do face-painting for the kids and adults. We estimated that we face-painted over 100 people. Check out our Powerpoint slide-show on our home page for pictures.
2011 CHILDREN’S HEALTH FAIR
Elmore Medical Center hosted their annual Children’s Health Fair on Saturday, June 25th on the lawn bordering the hospital. There was good representation from the community businesses and agencies with dozens of booths and vendors. The WECRD once again participated with our booth. Marsha Sellers and Mollie Marsh, two of our Directors, did facepainting for the kids while several volunteers were on hand to pass out flyers and answer questions from the community.
WECRD Community Involvement
Since the WECRD’s inception in 2001, the District has been involved in helping the Mountain Home community through donating money or time to various community projects, events etc. From 2004 – 2007 the WECRD had a Public Relations volunteer (who later became an employee), who organized numerous activities for the local area youth. Some of our Public Relations Coordinator’s accomplishments:
- Organized many Field Trips for the local youth and provided transportation through WECRD funds. Some of these Field Trips included trips to the Treasure Valley YMCA, Idaho Ice World, and Boise Roller Skating Rink.
- Partnered with Parks & Rec. to provide Judo classes. When these classes ended, the Rec. District foundation donated the judo mats ($5,000 value) to Parks and Rec. which are still used today.
- Provided volunteers to pass out flyers and other support for the annual Gunfighter Skies Air Show.
- Provided volunteers to organize games and recreation activities for annual Fourth of July Festivals in the Park.
- Partnered with Elmore Medical Center to hosts two Fitness Walks every year.
- Partnered with Mtn Home Junior High Parent Committee to host annual Spring Fling Fundraisers.
- Organized and lead the Mtn Home chapter of the Freedom Walkers and Idaho on the Move Walking Programs.
- Organized WECRD “Game Nights for Families” at the Junior High.
- The WECRD did not hire another Public Relations employee after 2007 because we wanted to keep a “bare bones” office staff and save for our recreation center. Despite being without a PR person, the WECRD has stayed involved in efforts to help our community. Some of our more recent accomplishments include:
- WECRD Facepainting and information booths at Health Fairs and Parks & Rec Halloween Carnival
- Annual “Youth Walks” in conjunction with Health Fairs
- Sponsors for Parks & Rec. Teen Pool Parties
- Funding “Let’s Play” grant iniative for area youth sports groups ($12,000 for 2010; $15,000 for 2011)
- Donation of $500.00 in 2010 to Elmore Medical Center’s “Extreme Challenge” program
- Donation of $250 to Mtn Home Arts Council
- Donation of $80 to Mtn Home Council Summer Concert Series
- Donation of $50 gift baskets and “Catch the Freedom” tapestries to Domestic Violence Council
- Allowing numerous local clubs and organizations the use of our building for their meetings and events. Some of the organizations that have used our building are the Youth Baseball and Soccer Club, Let’s Play Committee, Mtn Home Arts Council, Sagebrush Shufflers Dance Club, several Quilters’ Clubs, several Gardening Groups, several Red Hat Ladies Clubs.
2011 YOUTH WALK
The WECRD held their annual Youth Walk on June 25th in conjunction with Elmore Medical Center’s Children’s Health Fair. We had outstanding participation from the kid’s in our community. We had 63 kids and their parents registered for the event, with around 45 actually participating. Kids could either walk or run the two mile course, which was set up around Aguirre Park.
The warm-up exercises were led by the Mtn Home High School cheerleaders and Tiger Mascot. The kids were off and running at 9:00 on a beautiful Saturday morning with not a cloud in sight. The Air St. Lukes helicopter go-cart led the Walk. Security along the route was provided by the Mtn Home COPS. After the last walker crossed the finish line, WECRD volunteers passed out refreshments of yogurt and milk provided by the Idaho Dairy Council, granola and cereal bars, and fruit.
Businesses from both Mountain Home and Boise generously donated prizes and gift certificates, which were awarded to the kids after the Walk. The top three finishers won lift tickets to Bogus Basin Ski Resort. Every kids walked away with either a prize or free coupons. Businesses either donating to our event or volunteering their help were:
Mountain Home COPS
Mountain Home High School Cheerleaders and Tiger Mascot
Mtn Home Subway Sandwiches
Mtn Home Pizza Hut
Mtn Home Jackson Street Sweets
Mtn Home TCBY Yogurt
Bogus Basin Ski Area (Boise)
Wahooz! Family Fun Zone (Boise)
Pojos Fun Center (Boise)
Roaring Springs Water Park (Boise)
Shu’s Running Company
Air St. Lukes Network
AFAD – Sept 11, 2010
This year’s Air Force Appreciation Day was, we’re sure everyone would agree, a huge success. With another great weekend of southern Idaho fall weather, huge crowds turned out to see the parade ; then to Carl Miller park to enjoy a sumptuous barbecue, visit community booths,and hear great music from local bands.
We were pretty proud of our float, festooned with patriotic colored ribbons, balloons, and banners. Jana Borgholthaus, WECRD Director, and dozens of kids on the float passed out healthy snacks as the YMCA theme song played in the background. After the parade, the Directors and staff manned the WECRD booth in the park. While the staff passed out our flyers, exercise and nutrition pamphlets, and answered questions from the public about the Recreation District, WECRD President Marsha Sellers, Jana Borgholthaus and other volunteers tapped into their inner artist to paint faces. The most popular logos of the day were Spiderman and the Mtn Home High School tiger. The results looked pretty darn professional – at least the kids thought so. We thank the community for their interest and spot-on questions concerning the Recreation District.
2010 YOUTH WALK
On Saturday, June 19th, the WECRD held their annual Kid’s Fun Run/Walk, in conjunction with Elmore Medical Center’s Children’s Health Fair. The weather this year, unlike last year, was fantastic. Not a cloud in the sky with temperatures hovering in the 80s. The turnout was great - we had 31 kids participate along with several parents. After the event was over, all the kids left with big smiles on their faces. And, why not? The event was free, the kids got to get out in the sunshine and get some good exercise in along with their friends – maybe even met some new friends . And everyone walked away loaded down with gift bags and free coupons from area businesses.
THE RUN/WALK COURSE: We started out at the Richard Aguirre Park pavilion. The course was a two mile route that circled the park. Route security and traffic detail were handled by our always reliable Mountain Home Citizens on Patrol. We started out with warm-ups, led by the Mtn Home cheerleaders and Tiger Mascot. After the cheerleaders did their thing, the kids were pumped up and ready to go. AND AWAY THEY WENT! Everyone tried to do a personal best – especially when the Mountain Home News photographer was taking shots of them. After the last runner and walker crossed the finish line, we rewarded the thirsty bunch with refreshments provided by the Idaho Dairy Council and the WECRD.
PRIZES! PRIZES! PRIZES! All the kids stuck around for the drawings that were held for the many gifts we awarded that day. Everyone who participated in the run/walk was eligible to win. Everyone received a gift, gift bag or free tickets donated by Mountain Home and Boise businesses. We loaded the kids down with donations from Wondertrail, Subway, Smoky Mountain Pizza and Pasta, Pizza Hut, and McDonalds – all Mountain Home businesses. Boise businesses that contributed were: Pojo’s Family Fun Center, Roaring Springs Water Park, Wahooz Family Fun Zone, Bogus Basin Ski Area, and Shu’s Running Company.
JOIN US NEXT YEAR! Thanks to all the kids and parents who participated. With your support, we hope to make this an even better event next year.
The Children's Health Fair
The Elmore Medical Center’s Children’s Health Fair on June 19th was a great success. Unlike last year when the Health Fair had to be canceled due to rain and high winds, the weather cooperated this year with glorious sunshine and temperatures in the 80s. People turned out in droves to enjoy a day of looking at all the displays from community businesses , clubs and organizations. As we have done in year’s past, the WECRD had a booth for passing out WECRD information, gift bags and being available to answer questions about the progress of the WECRD. Board President Marsha Sellers manned the booth the booth from 10:00 am until the Fair closed at 2:00. In addition to passing out information and gift bags, our artist-in-residence delighted the kids with her face painting skills. Children lined up single-file and waited patiently for their turn to have Marsha adorn their faces with various logos and other objects that interested them. Marsha painted favorite animals, sports logos, little trains and just about anything the kids could come up with. We think Marsha enjoyed this as much as the kids!
In 2010, the WECRD hosted a Musical Revue presented by the ACT OUT Theatre Company of Mountain Home Jr. High directed by Pam Zielke In January the ACT OUT Theatre Company was working on ways to raise money for the purchase of a portable stage for the presentation of their annual musical. The WECRD volunteer Betty Ashcraft suggested a performance fund raiser in the new location of the WECRD offices which has a large hall for just such events.
Pam Zielke has worked tirelessly for the past five years to present musicals with the talent of the students in grades 7, 8, and 9. These high energy musicals with casts of 50 or more students had been presented either on the floor of the MHJH Commons or on the antiquated portable stage of the school district. Mrs. Zielke began working on raising the $6,000 needed for a new portable stage. With extraordinary parent support and enthusiastic students who had been in the previous musicals as well as those cast in the current production of "Lil Abner", a show was born. For two nights 60+ students presented songs and dances from all of the previous shows to a packed house. Cakes, punch and coffee were served and donations accepted. In the end almost $3,000 was collected!
The WECRD is committed to helping the community. Providing a place for the Musical Revue was just one way that the WECRD not only helps but also gives a recreational experience that will long be remembered by these students and their audiences. The WECRD welcomes applications for use of the space for non profit recreation.