To Stow and Lancaster Soccer Community, We weren't sure what to expect this spring when we started planning this season. Still having to play with Masks and be socially distant, no one was certain we could even finish the season.
Thanks to some serendipity, hard work, and faith by our community and volunteers, I think we could all agree that this spring was an unqualified safe, successful, and fun season!
In case you weren't aware, planning and executing on any season is no small feat. We are the second-largest club in the Nashoba Valley Youth Soccer League (NVYSL) and the largest in Stow or Lancaster. Combined with LYSA and Nashoba United for the last year, our club has just over 430 kids participating in it, supported by over 90 volunteers.
With this in mind, I'd like to recognize the contributions of all-volunteer Board Members who organized and executed both the Fall and Spring seasons' operations plans.
Our players literally could not step on the field without the hard work of our Registrar, Mike Kirkland. Moreover, our Risk Manager, Rob Alix, ensures that all our kids are safe but helping out volunteers navigate our compliance protocols.
We'd be remiss if we didn't recognize the hard work of these other Executive Board members as well:
- Bill Gerecke, Vice President
- Jeremy Edgerton, Treasurer
- Emily Stewart, Secretary
- Leah Viviriti, Player and Coach Development
Please also acknowledge the stressful work by our Age Directors who perform player rosters and team placements.
- Munchkins/Transitions: Mike Kirkland, Matt Mayo (LYSA), and David Carr (LYSA)
- Grade 1/2: Mike Kirkland and Alan Byford
- Grade 3/4: Roger Duchesneau and Leah Vivirito and Tom Salvatlelli (LYSA)
- Grade 5/6: Rich Eckel and Leah Vivirito
- Grade 7/8: Derek Edmond and Leah Vivirito
- High School: Bill Gerecke
The critical contribution of these Board Members enabled much of our behind-the-scenes work that isn't always noticed because they do it so well - thank you!
- Maria Mpelkas, Referee Assignor, Genesis Program Director
- Greg Angelides, Equipment Coordinator
- Jessica Farruggia Barry, SSC Marketing
- Malissa Miot, LYSA Marketing
- Brian Gorham, SSC Field Coordinator
- Jason Englehardt, LYSA Field Coordinator
Finally, thank you to all our coaches who brought their passion for Soccer to their teams and ensure a safe and fun experience for all our club's players. Although it is a labor of love for these volunteers, please take a moment to let these people know that their time investment is appreciated.
Lastly, we will have our Annual Board Meeting on June 30th.
We hope you will contemplate attending our Annual meeting to particulate in our Club's governance. Please also consider volunteering for one of the Board positions. As you can see, there are several people doing multiple positions, and if you help out, many hands make light work.
Enjoy the summer,
Rich Eckel
Stow Soccer President
