CHAIRMAN’S LETTER
The Importance of Volunteers
As I write this, we have just begun our Fall season. We survived (barely) an unusually chaotic field permit process with the Department of Parks and Rec (that is, even more chaotic than the usual train wreck!), and our volunteer Fields Commissioner, Charlie Myers, deserves great credit for yet again managing this process. Our volunteer Commissioners, coaches, and Travel Managers were able to get fields set up, uniforms distributed, and players onto the fields. So, as a result, games are being played for another season — our sixty-something season in 30+ years of DC Stoddert Soccer.
I understand, appreciate, and applaud the contributions that so many of our busy and talented volunteers make to get games on the field. But there is so much more that must be done, or at least could be done, to help this organization thrive and grow, to help it meet the needs of our members and the needs of a broader portion of our metropolitan community. Sports remain a wonderful prescription for children living in a culture that is hosting a child obesity epidemic. Sports can pose challenges that in reality are opportunities for our kids to build true self esteem. Soccer, in particular, provides an equal opportunity for girls to play and learn in a team environment. To do all of the things that we as an organization would like to do, we need volunteers — our existing volunteers and hopefully many new volunteers.
Beyond our coaches, Commissioners and Travel Managers (all huge, and hugely important, jobs) what are our most pressing needs? First, we need help with our communications — both internally and externally — to keep us organized, to explain our programs, to increase knowledge of the game, and to promote our interest in field access and improvement. Our website can be improved, for example. We know what we want; we just need help getting it done!
Second, we need help with our scholarship program. Our recreational programs are open to all who want to play. For Travel soccer, where the costs can be steep, we raise and allocate almost $50,000 per year to allow players to play. And we offer broad support for DC Scores, an after school soccer and reading program started in DC and now of national renown. We conduct only the most modest of fundraising efforts — a line item for volunteer contributions in the registration process. We won’t be able to sustain or increase our scholarship program without a more organized and thoughtful campaign.
And finally, there is our chronic field dilemma. This issue combines elements of the two issues above — it will take communications plus financial commitments. We are very pleased this fall with the opening of the new all weather field at Palisades Rec Center — this beautiful new facility brought on-line by the Department of Parks and Rec. But we still need more fields and more field maintenance, and it will take support from the government, the schools, DC Stoddert Soccer, as well as financial contributors still unknown.
So, DC Stoddert needs volunteers to help in these areas. Please let us know if you want to help.
On this topic, I recently received a kind e-mail from Bill Willis, former Chairman of DC Stoddert Soccer and long-time volunteer Travel team Manager for the highly successful DC Stoddert Internationals — who ended their run in NCSL Division 1 after their U17 season in the spring. Bill finds himself this fall in the position of non-soccer volunteer for the first time in 15 years. He writes (in part):
Thank you all for your support for the many years we have been colleagues in youth soccer. DC Stoddert is a great organization, a stable organization that kids and parents can rely upon for fun and training. I have made many friends and memories over the last decade and a half with the organization. . . .
You all have taken the organization into the 21st century and are doing a great job. May the organization grow and continually elevate the level of competition and the quality of players that it trains. . . .
This is the first time in 15 years that I have not been involved with recreational soccer & travel soccer as a manager, commissioner, board member, VYSA fields’ coordinator or non profit board member. It’s the first time in 15 years I have not been involved with DC Stoddert fall registration. The lack of registration involvement is actually a blessing and I do not miss the late night trips to get player and parent photos, signatures and even later runs to Kinko’s. However, I find myself in new uncharted territory of being only a fan and a supportive parent with only the responsibility of showing up at the field and cheering for Gabe’s teams.
For any of you all I may have annoyed along the way, my apologies. Many times I got so focused and wrapped around the axle about the issues of the moment that manners escaped me.
Thanks to you all for making a positive impact on both of my son’s lives in competitive ways but also for allowing them to help with clinics, tryouts and your support for ODP and our goalie coach as well.
No matter wherever the future takes me I will always cherish the Stoddert years with all the parent characters and outstanding kids that we served and you continue to serve.
Again, thank you and best wishes for the fall season and beyond.
Bill.
Actually, our thanks should go to Bill for his many, many contributions to DC Stoddert over the years. I know that we have many other volunteers like Bill, and our thanks go to them as well. I also welcome new volunteers to become involved to build new memories along with their kids. The memories are indeed priceless.
Dave
September 21, 2007
