BERNARDSTON — Volunteers are sought for a family and community programming committee that will be tasked with organizing and running community events, similar to the Recreation Commission but with less of a sports focus.

Resident Samantha Bachini presented her idea to the Selectboard last week, saying she would like to see more recreation options in town other than just sports.

“I love the Rec Commission. They do great work and my kids use their programs, but I’ve noticed there’s not a lot of family or community things that are not sports-based,” Bachini said. “I have one kid that’s very into science and doesn’t want to touch sports, so I’m always looking for other things for my kids to do and a lot of times we are looking elsewhere into other towns for things to do.”

Bachini presented the board with a 16-page proposal outlining why the town needs more wide-ranging event options, ideas for different possible events and programs, and how those ideas could be implemented in town. Event ideas include a winter carnival, community clean-up days, town picnics, car shows, outdoor movie nights, a back-to-school carnival, a gingerbread house decorating event, a talent show and a community bonfire, to name a few.

She said programming does not have to be specifically geared toward children, but rather could be a mix of events for youths, families, adults and the whole community. Bachini added that she grew up in eastern Massachusetts, where larger municipalities with larger recreation committees have offered many of these suggested programs in the past as a way to strengthen community ties.

Town Administrator Karen Kelly said the proposal was presented to the Recreation Commission, which is currently focusing on winter sports programming and doesn’t have the capacity to take on anything new at this time. Still, with Kelly noting that Bachini has great event suggestions, she invited Bachini to bring her ideas to the Selectboard to see if they could get a new committee approved to take on this effort.

“Their energies and efforts are really into all the youth sports programs,” Kelly said of the Recreation Commission, “so that’s why we’re looking at this as kind of a sister organization.”

The effort would likely start by sending out a survey to residents and hosting focus group sessions to ascertain what sort of events and programming residents would be interested in having in town. The new volunteer committee would then need to fundraise and see what grant funding might be available to pay for the programming.

Selectboard members expressed support for the idea, and offered suggestions for event locations and grant opportunities. Members added that they would support putting the creation of a revolving account for the programming on the Annual Town Meeting warrant, along with budgeting for the new committee’s initial marketing and outreach work.

Kelly said anyone who is interested in serving on this new committee can call her at Town Hall at 413-648-5401.

Reach Madison Schofield at mschofield@recorder.com.