Meet Your Neighbor: Susan Duffey Smith

Tell me about your job.

I do outdoor stuff with kids all summer and as much as possible in the winter — the Ski & Snowboard program on minimum days. I also take the seniors out to dinner, on trips and shopping. I set up classes for both ages groups, we do a big comedy show in winter, the end of January or beginning of February. It’s a major fundraiser for the teen programs.

This seems like a busy schedule. How do you keep it together?

I run fast — we all do. There’s never a slow season at the Rec Center. We like the change of season and new programs.

What is your favorite program?

The teenage Camp Radical. I loved the caving trip. We had an overnight at Moaning Caverns and swam through a cave with a river in it.

How about the seniors?

I love taking them to concerts and the learn to kayak program on the West End of Donner Lake, with longtime local Pat Northrop.

How did you get involved with the outdoor thing?

I had a Recreation Administration minor in college.

So you’ve always had an interest in the outdoor recreation?

All of my adult life. Most of my professional career has been in recreation. In college, I interned in Tucson, Ariz. with the YMCA.

Give me a bit of background about combining profession and recreation.

I ski patrolled at Squaw Valley, both on the professional and national patrol, worked there for eight years as a hostess, and handled the money. I learned a lot about the business end of the ski industry.

What is you favorite outdoor activity these days?

Ice skating and ice dancing. And I want to invite all older kids and adults to our Saturday morning ice dance class, we’ll be learning dances and steps to music.

Any interesting ice skating activities for you recently? Other than Truckee?

I went to the Bay Area Ice Dance weekend and took clinics with former Olympians and Canadian and British National Champions with my buddy Jane Miler from Truckee.

Are you good on the ice?

I would love to be better. It’s kind of like golf, there’s always something to work on.

What is the best thing about the Rec Center?

It’s interesting in the office, I talk to people from all over, out of the area, and they are always saying they can’t believe what a variety and selection we have for the size of our community.

What do you look forward to?

I am so excited about the opening of the new Rec Center. And I am excited about building partnerships with other groups, the Family Resource Center, Big Brothers and Sisters, the Truckee High Teen Advocates, especially Alder Creek Middle School. To reach a wide variety and as many people as possible.

What is one thing your neighbors don’t know about you.

I play classical violin.

— This week’s Meet Your Neighbor and photo shoot was performed by Amy Edgett. Please send suggestions to aedgett@sierrasun.com.