Recreation department gains new director
Thursday, March 30, 2006 12:15 PM PST
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| Julie Engel | Argus Observer
New Payette County Recreation Department Director Steve Kinzer plays on the computer in the office Wednesday. Kinzer assumed his post March 22.
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Julie Engel Argus Observer
Fruitland
Steve Kinzer said he plans to mesh his leadership skills he gained from the military, his officiating experience and his passion for working with children in his new post as the director of the Payette County Recreation Department.
Kinzer stepped into his new role March 22. Kinzer said he is excited to take over as director, and plans to implement new programs in the future. Talks between Treasure Valley Community College and Kinzer are in the works, and he said he would like to start an adult education extension program through PRCD and TVCC.
“When people think about our department, they think about kids,” Kinzer said. “I want to extend it to involve more adults.”
Kinzer said he would like to offer fly tying, pottery, photography and computer classes in partnership with TVCC. Kinzer said they would be condensed, shortened classes to let people get a taste of an activity. If people enjoy the class, they could take the longer class offered at TVCC, he said. It is also important in this day and age, he said, to teach adults how to use computer programs and the Internet.
“Once you open that door, they will take advantage of it,” Kinzer said.
Linda Simmons TVCC's director of community and continuing education said the school is always looking for community partnerships. In the future she said she will sit down with Kinzer to determine what Payette County residents want to learn about and to discuss possible class topics. It is important, she said, to offer classes that are different from the ones already offered through TVCC and ones that are interesting to the public.
Kinzer said another goal is to extend the programs already in place. He said PCRD has high participation in girls basketball, football and baseball, but he would like to see a strong boys basketball league and reinstate the adult basketball and volleyball intramural leagues that have disappeared.
Kinzer grew up in Ontario, and now lives in Fruitland. He recently retired from the military in November after 25 years. Kinzer said after his tour in Iraq he felt burned out and wanted a change of pace.
He said he has also officiated basketball and football at the high school level for about 10 years.
Kinzer said he wants the public to know that he is approachable and wants to hear feedback from parents who have children in the various programs. Kinzer said he is a people person who learned how to work well with others in the military, but he also has a thick skin from officiating. When officiating Kinzer said he was always talking with players, parents and fans when play had temporarily stalled, and wants to continue that relationship as director of PCRD.
“I want parents to know their comments and concerns are important - we work for the public, that's who we're here for,” he said.
In his spare time Kinzer said he enjoys playing online computer games. Right now he is in the process of building “a monster machine” to maximize speed while playing battle simulation games. Kinzer will be able to continue his officiating in the fall, something he said is important to him.
No Dhimmi wrote on Aug 14, 2009 9:38 PM:
And this isn't "racist," because Islam is not a race, anymore than Communism or Nazism are races, both of which killed far fewer people than Islam.
Disgusting. "