Briarcliffe Athletic Association asking for volunteers to help

To the Times:

Since 1957, Briarcliffe Athletic Association has been a nonprofit youth athletic club which was started by a handful of passionate Briarcliffe residents. I was lucky enough to have the privilege of knowing some of those men and having the experience to work by their sides. Not to mention, my father played a large part in this organization during my childhood years as well.

Growing up and seeing his devotion for this organization and the good it brought to the community has led me to thrive to keep the spirit of it alive. I have always been a part of this organization in one way or another. When I was a young child, I played softball and basketball. As a teenager, I worked at the weekly bingo. When I was old enough to drive, I drove the sound car in their opening day parade.

Opening Day was always my favorite day of the year, it was when all the players would parade through the Briarcliffe streets letting the neighborhood know it’s the beginning of spring sports. How exciting and memorable is that for our children?

Over the past few years during my involvement on the Board at Briarcliffe, I have noticed a dramatic change. Parents seem to not want to get involved the way they used to. We are desperately lacking help. We are blessed to have some devoted members, which have volunteered, coached, and been on the board for the last five years or more. In that group, some of our children aren’t involved anymore in the sports and some have moved to other towns. Yet out of the passion for what this organization brings to the community they have stayed.

We are there for the kids of Briarcliffe. We want to see our organization thrive, not suffer. Because when this organization thrives, our community thrives and our children benefit. Now, with this ongoing pandemic, we have really struggled. While we typically field 12+ teams, this year we can only field one team. With the lack of help and volunteers, we do not even have a coach for that team.

As a board we are stuck with what to do and where to go to get the word out about this great sports club. We have tried recruiting people via word of mouth and social media sites, but not one person took initiative.

So here I am reaching out, pleading for some help to spread the word out about our situation. Myself and the other members of the board would hate to see our children, and our community, lose a place to not only play sports but to make friends, memories and grow.

I want our children to be able to experience this great club and have the memories that I have today.

Myself and the other members of the board would hate to see our children, and our community, lose a place to not only play sports but to make friends, memories and grow.