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Show Thursday, October THE GREEN SHEET 7B 22, 1987 State 'Window' Nabs Recreation Director by Bob Mickelson Sports Editor I 4 SALT LAKE Calling it a "career change, rather than a retirement, Gary Swensen, director of the Salt Lake County Recreation, Park and e Centers division, hsd announced that he will be leaving county service, after 27 years, as of authority of the Recreation Board That, he feels, has helped avoid politicizing the department or its staff or leadership Thats one reason, he believes, there have only been three directors of Recreation and Parks since it was formed m 1947 Multi-Purpos- Dec 16 Swensen announced his intentions to the County Recreation Board on Oct 14, making a formal announcement to Lorna Matheson, board Pet Of The Week pure breed male Husky needs a growing. He has no name, but is a good traveler, very docile and friendly. He would be good around children. For more information contact the Utah Humone Society at 4613 So. 4000 West. NEEDS A HOME . . . This Home. He is a large dog and is still Green Thumb Offers Employment For Seniors SALT LAKE Persons age 55 and older w ho are in need of w ork are being invited to contact Green Thumb Inc Green Thumb is a national community service employment and training program sponsored by the National Farmers Union under contract and grant with the United States Department of Labor, and Training AdEmployment ministration Locally the program is sponsored by the Idaho-UtaFarmers Union, and funded through Title V of the Older Americans Act as amended The organization's goal is to provide part-tim- e employment to qualified elderly who have the desire and economic need to work, according to Ron Burris, area supervisor, and Frank Karman. area h leader is given those with the Priority lowest incomes, however, all qualified applicants receive consideration regardless of age. race, creed, national origin, sex or political beliefs, a spokesman noted Individual placements are made with community service agencies and Green Thumb crews may be assigned to local projects involving community betterment, beautific- chairman "I just felt it was an opportune time to make a change, Swensen said later What that will be I have no idea at this time The early retirment window, through the State Retirement Board, Swensen said it provided him with a unique opportunity to make the move, while still permitting a chance to try a new occupation Although the majority of his time spent with the county has been with recreation, Swensen started out working in the County Auditors Office in 1959 under David P Jones He was then involved in personnel managment In 1963, immediately his graduation at the following University of Utah, Swenesen moved to recreation under Superintendent Paul Rose His first assignment was in land acquistion, where, under the influence of county commissioners Marvin Jensen and Buck Brady, the county was able to provide funds for some major land purchases During this period of time, the Dimple Dell property, the Mountain View golf course site and the Withers property in Riverton were purchases or so at After a that post, Swensen related, the Recreation Board decided it wanted to improve the divisions public relations program and I was made public relations director Swensen served four years at that post and still retains many fond memories of those first years of dealing with the media He also developed skills he would continue to employ after being promoted to the directorship of the division in 1967 The EXPRESS 1$ Coming multi-purpos- grams "Fifteen or 20 years ago, he noted, who would have anticipated wed be providing it Swensen noted that the growth of the day care program only reflects how needs change Back in the there was a great need to fill spare time w ith some time of recreational activity Now, in the 80s, w ith the growing number of single parent and working families, theres a great social need for child mid-1940- two-pare- care "He take care of thousands of children, as young as three years w ho would otherw lse be unattended. V.A. HOMES FOR SALE Many balow markat valua With Payments as low as RENT Gary Swensen, after 27 years of county service, from his post as director of County Recreation and Parks, a position he's held since 1967. Swensen calls it more of a career change, noting that he's not retiring from work. MOVING ON . . will be retiring in . Linde Heads AARP Chapter John Denning, national president of the American One of my great joys has always Assn of Retired Persons (AARP), been working with the media, he has announced the formation of the noted I know a lot of people are Uest Valley Chapter No 3940 Mr fearful or withdrawn in dealing with Denning offered congratulations to the media Ive never understood the new chapter and its president, that Some of mey most positive exLeRoy Linde Local AARP chapters sponsor periences have been in dealing with the press community public service proSwensen said that his philosophy grams, work to influence the enactation, weatherization and has been that no public organizamaintenance. ment of local, state and national Green Thumb provides $3 35 per tion should keep a secret, no matlegislation of benefit to older hour for 20 to 25 hours work per ter how embarassing or painful it Americans and acquaint members week, along with an opportunity to might be That philosophy, he addand other older citizens w ith the probe of service and the potential for ed, has kept us out of trouble for the grams and services offered by the most part national organization training for regular w ork positions. One other thing that has helped the . With 26 million members, AARP is The ultimate goal is the employment of program participants in division, in Swensen's opinion, has the nations largest organization of Americans age 50 and older jobs that are not subsidized by the been placing it under the direct gov eminent, said the spokesman. percent of Green "Annually Thumb workers are placed with agencies and businesses in their communities "The purpose of Green Thumb is to assist the elderly in updating their job skills through training at a local host agency wth the goal that through such t , lining the individual will find employment For more information anyone in0 or write terested may call Green Thumb Inc , P. O Box 15787, Salt Lake City, 84115 . Only 5 down. Competitive fixed rates. You do NOT have to be a veteran to qualify. For locations and more information, check with any Real Estate Agent. 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DEER WIDOWS nm stated There have been some disappointments, sure, during his years at the helm But it was the defeat of the 1974 bond that still recreation troubles Swensen "I felt then, he said, "it would be a decision wed regret, that one of these days wed wake up and see we were out of open space Swense feels the proof of that statement was reflected in the controversy over the development of Dimple Dell Park Had the bond passed, additional land for a golf course would've been available, avoiding a lot of contention However, Swensen is pleased with the compromise proposal that was e entually worked by his staff Swensen places much of credit for whatever successes the division has enjoy ed o er the y ears w ith the support of the public, the dedication of enthe Recreation Board, the thusiasm of the County Commission and an "excellent staff I've always believed that, if you surround yourself with good people. he said, they'll make you look good " lf 18-2- 2 Training and work experience is provided in general community services and in services to the elderly community Among the highlights of his tenure, Swensen lists the growth of the adult softball program, which now caters to hundreds and hundreds of mens, womens and coed teams His lists the establishment of the Wheeler Historic Farm as the most exciting project we got into because of the publics enthusiasm, interest and support of it Other memorable moments in he clude the development of the Mountain View golf course, the birth of the e center and the introduction of child and day care pro- I2l a |