Auburn Recreation District director Gordon Ainsleigh munched on Purina Cat Chow during Thursday night’s meeting in an effort to showcase the level of unhealthy food he thinks the district serves at several of its annual events.

“For the rest of the meeting I will be eating food that is healthier than the food we serve in our programs,” Ainsleigh said as he opened a fresh sack of the cat food and took a handful to his mouth like it was trail mix.

Ainsleigh said he was specifically referring to hot dogs and other “non-nutritional” food the district serves at some of its events and during seasonal programs, such as children’s summer camps.

The cat food spectacle followed an unsuccessful second attempt to add the words “and health” to the district’s mission statement, which currently reads, “The mission of the Auburn Area Recreation and Park District is to provide an excellent system of parks, recreation facilities, programs and services that enrich the lives of our citizens.”

Ainsleigh requested the words be added after the word “services.”

During an October 2006 meeting, directors sparred over whether to add the words “and health” to the district’s mission statement, but the motion failed 3-1.

“I’d like to revisit this and hope there has been a change of heart among the board,” Ainsleigh said Thursday. “By making health a priority, we are making the opportunity available to have a healthier lifestyle. Everyone involved in our programs should have the opportunity to eat healthy food.”

Ainsleigh’s motion died after the lack of a second.

“On a birthday, a cupcake is a perfectly acceptable thing,” Chairman Scott Holbrook said. “You aren’t eating it every day.”

Holbrook and directors Curt Smith and Jimmy Carroll, said they didn’t have a problem with the words “and health,” but were worried about what adding them to the district’s mission statement would mean.

“I personally believe people should follow a healthy lifestyle,” Smith said. “My concern is that if we put (these words) in our mission statement, what happens after that? I wouldn’t want this used as a hammer or tool to reprimand or censure activities of the staff as they pursue their jobs.”

Carroll agreed.

“What other positive use would this have?” Carroll asked. “Other than to twist a point?”

Ainsleigh said it was not his intention to force anyone to do anything, but that he simply wanted to make healthy food available.

Holbrook said the board came up with the district’s mission statement after careful thought and work with professional consultants.

“Our focus is recreation,” Holbrook said. “Health may be a goal, but it’s not a mission.”

In other business Monday night, Tricia Ruff, ARD program leader, was presented with the employee of the month award for March.

Ruff is the director of ARD’s Discovery Day Camp in Placer Hills. She has also been working to help coordinate the district’s Teen Night Out events.

“You are doing an awesome job,” said Sheryl Petersen, ARD recreation services manager. “Keep up the good work.”

The Journal’s Jenna Nielsen can be reached at jennan@goldcountrymedia.com or comment on this story at auburnjournal.com.