Indiana Township's Youth Day will be a high-powered, active day, similar to the township's youthful manager.
Dan Anderson said the Youth Day Committee has planned things to do at Emmerling Park jumping in with the opening ceremony at 11:30 a.m. and continuously hopping until the closing at 5:30 p.m.
The theme organized by Sgt. John King is "Daring to Make a Difference." Volunteers, township workers, and Anderson have taken up the dare especially for the annual afternoon sponsored by the municipality's Drug Abuse Resistance Education program.
"(Youth Day has) grown each year," Anderson said. "It's wonderful having all these people willing to commit time for all these projects."
The committee, along with Anderson, has been planning since the day after last year's event. Members have gathered a handful of inflatable games to tap the energy of the youngsters who attend. Starlight Dance Academy and Taekwondo will put on presentations.
In keeping with the anti-drug program's sponsorship, there will be educational and safety presentations, too. Local K-9 units, a driving-under-the-influence and a medical evacuation show are scheduled.
"Youth Day is really a community day," Anderson said.
This year's event is a rehearsal for the township's bicentennial next year. Even though he is the new kid at the township, Anderson sees "the challenges as many opportunities."
Indiana Township is a busy place and Anderson hit the deck of the Municipal Plaza running. He stepped behind the manager's desk almost two years ago when the unexpected death of Kevin Brozek left an empty chair.
Anderson was very familiar with Youth Day, however. Brozek had invited all the managers of the North Hills Council of Governments to previous events. Anderson was the manager of nearby Reserve Township. Having grown up in Hampton and residing there now put his new job in familiar territory, too. The professional move to Indiana flowed easily.
Anderson credits his staff including the Police Chief Robert Wilson, Code Enforcement and Zoning Officer Jeffrey Curti, road crew foreman John Carson and administrative staff with bringing him up to speed about Indiana's special needs and for keeping the municipality rolling. At times, Carson has come to work on his day off.
"These are people who really care about their positions," Anderson said.
For such a large municipality though, there is a need for even more effort.
"We aren't staffed with the number of employees (some municipalities are), so we're able to do it with extra effort of the volunteers," Anderson said.
Sometimes meeting with volunteers means three or four nights working. For the young manager, being with people is part of what drives him.
Anderson has been involved in government since he was 22 when he was elected to the state Legislature. When his seat was redistricted out of existence, Anderson became a municipal manager.
"Doing what I do allows me to stay involved in politics but stay out of the frame."
So Anderson stays in the frame and involved in events such as Youth Day, which should be picture perfect thanks to all the effort.
Additional Information:
Daniel Anderson.
Age: 34.Hometown: Hampton.
Family: Wife Kim; sons Ryan, 5, Brady, 2, and Eric, 6 months.
Occupation: Manager of Indiana Township.
Current Project: Youth Day.
Pets: A bird, a fish and a cat named Trouble.
Dinner guest: George W. Bush.
Stress reliever: Yellow, smiley-faced ball.
Favorite movie: 'It's a Wonderful Life' and 'Braveheart.'
