A club for all sports at CCHS; other district volunteers committed to programs A“A club for all sports” is how Ron Scuteri, Churchville-Chili High School Sports Booster Club (CCHSSBC) president describes this district organization. Over the last ten years, the CCHSSBC has provided support to over 5,000 athletes and coordinated countless projects. Activities include coordinating a year-end sports banquet, giving discounted banquet tickets to student athletes, purchasing bleachers and other team equipment and food for annual events like the homecoming bonfire and family picnic. The club consists of a seven-person board along with school district advisors and team parent representatives. According to Scuteri, “These tireless individuals spend many hours scheduling concession workers as well as opening and closing the concession stand, and ensuring the concession stand shelves are stocked.” Scuteri has served the longest with the CCHSSBC; he has over 11 years of service. Funding for these activities and purchases comes mainly from membership dues, concession stand profits and clothing sales. A $15 family CCHSSBC membership fee gives families free admission to all stadium and basketball games. Clothing sales which include items such as caps, umbrellas, seat cushions, are held throughout the year. CCHSSBC meetings are held throughout the school year on Monday evenings at 7 p.m. in the Board of Education Room at Churchville-Chili Central School district office. For specific meeting dates, contact Ron Scuteri at 426-7498. Hilton Sports Booster Club Steve Hickey is the new president of the Hilton Sports Booster Club. He became involved with this booster club as “a way to keep in touch with the school as my children became involved with high school sports,” Hickey said. Hickey credits the work of long time HSBC board member Tim Kearney. “Tim has been involved with the boosters since the start. His many hours of volunteer service are what have helped keep the club around for the 30th anniversary this upcoming September,” said Hickey. Kearney began volunteering with the HSBC in 1979 when his twin daughters and son participated in high school sports at Hilton High School. “The Hilton Sports Boosters is the first group that I volunteered with. I also served on the Hilton School Board for seven years,” he said. He continues to give his time to the HSBC because, “I’ve always wanted to help people. You have to give back to your community and I enjoy being a part of this group,” he said. The HSBC has two main fundraising projects - operating the concession stand at the Hilton High School football stadium and also a concession stand at the Hilton Apple Fest. The profits made from these concession stands fund various projects and the needs of the Hilton Central School’s sports teams. “We have purchased items for the sports team and school such as trainers equipment, weight room equipment, a portable scoreboard, sound equipment, tents, nets, and a score table for basketball,” Hickey said. This past summer, the HSBC helped to offset the cost of student athletes’ participation in a six-week summer exercise-physical therapy program. “A local physical therapy facility (Westside Physical Therapy) offered an exercise program to help students get in shape and help students build their speed, agility and strength. The HSBC paid half the fee for each student, the student paid the other half,” he explained. While the HSBC paid for this summer physical therapy program, the Hilton School District pays for having a physical therapist on staff to help student athletes. “This cost is currently part of the current Hilton School District budget,” Wilcox said. This practice of having a physical therapist on staff is common practice among the area school districts. Each fall, the HSBC sponsors a soccer tournament, the Steinmetz Memorial Soccer Tournament. “This offers local teams an opportunity for preseason play as well as remembering a local soccer player who passed away unexpectedly during his junior year, Kevin Steinmetz,” said Hickey. Annual scholarships to senior student athletes with combined academic and athletic skillfulness and financial support to the Hilton Wall of Fame are some other ways the HSBC supports Hilton Central Schools student athletes. The HSBC meets the first Monday evening of every month at 7 p.m. in the Athletic Department Office. All are welcome to attend. Holley Sports Booster Club The Holley Sports Booster Club was formed in 1982. Holley Sports Booster Club member Mike Sander explained how the club came into existence. “At this time, the Holley school budget had failed and the sports program was in danger of being cut. A group of Holley parents led by John Penna came together and raised enough money to keep the sports program going for that school year,” Sander said. In the late 1980s, the Village of Holley gave the Holley School District a parcel of land. This land was undeveloped and booster club member John Rachow looked at this land as an opportunity to develop a sports complex. “John presented an idea to the Holley Sports Booster Club to develop the land into soccer, baseball and softball fields. The club presented the idea to the school board and was given permission to pursue the plan. A plan to lease the property was also approved and the board granted a seven year lease to us,” said Sander. The club began work on a 22 acre parcel of woods in 1989. Members cleared the area and over time have built a multi-purpose sports field with lights, bleachers for 1,000 people, a 40 foot pavilion, a 24 by 24 foot garage and concession stand. “We brought in every piece of heavy equipment we could to clear the woods. We cut up the trees we cleared and sold over 200 face cords. We made almost $7,000,” said Sander. The third and most recent lease agreement the Holley Boosters have with the Holley School District states that, “The boosters are responsible for the maintenance and improvements to the facility. Since this exceeds the fair market rental value of the property, no additional rent is required. The dollar value for a typical year can be $4,000,” said Patton. Sander describes this lease agreement as a “win-win situation. The school district doesn’t have the manpower to maintain the complex and we (Holley Sports Boosters) do. However, if by any chance the club dissolves, the school district would take over the facility,” he said. Over the years, the Holley Sports Boosters have funded purchase of countless pieces of sports equipment, built dugouts and laid sod in the infield for boys baseball, provided annual scholarships to outstanding senior scholar-athletes, and sponsored the Holley High School Wall of Fame and numerous community and school events. The Holley Sports Booster Club is made up of a four-person board, president, vice president, secretary and treasurer as well as a five-member executive committee that includes the board and the past president. All parents are welcome to join. “Any Holley team can come to us for assistance if they attend a meeting, present their request and it falls within our charter,” Parton said. Meetings are held the first Monday of every month at 7 p.m. in the Holley High School Library. Commitment and a sense of loyalty to one’s school community are how many of these sports booster club members feel. Sander said, “You put so much time and effort into this, it begins to feel like home.” Patton echoed Sander’s thoughts, “In the fall, with soccer and football, we all eat, sleep and practically live here. Our wives always know where to find us,” he said. Kearney, from Hilton, agreed, and said, “I have a very understanding wife.” While the differences between how area school district booster clubs operate are wide and varied, they all have a common thread: parental support. Scuteri sums it all in a few words, “We thank you. We couldn’t have done it without you!” Note: Visit the news archives for December 10, 2006 to read an article about Spencerport Sports Booster projects, www.westsidenewsonline.com. January 28, 2007 |
