PRESIDENTS MESSAGE 04-10-07 TO THE BOARD AND ATTENDING MEMBERSHIP

OUR WRESTLING PROGRAM HAS GONE THROUGH MANY CHANGES IN JUST THE PAST TWO YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.  SOME FOR THE BETTER AND SOME DID NOT WORK OUT AS THEY WERE ANTICIPATED.  THE PRIMARY REASON FOR THIS IN MY OPINION WAS A LACK OF LEADERSHIP AND DIRECTION WHICH I HOPE TO CORRECT WITH THIS NEW SEASON AND NEW TERM.  WRESTLING IS A SPORT OF HEART AND HEARTACHE YOU WILL SEE AS SOME OF THE KIDS COME OFF THE MATT DOING BACK FLIPS AFTER A QUICK PIN AND SOME WITH TEARS AFTER BEING CHOKED BY A SO CALLED NOVICE WRESTLER DOING ADVANCED MOVES, HEAD LOCKS , CRADLES AND SUCH THAT CERTAINLY WOULD BE MORE TYPICAL OF A JV WRESTLER, BUT WE DEAL WITH IT AND TELL THE KIDS THEY DID A GREAT JOB.  I STRESS THIS BECAUSE THE PROGRAM SHOULD BE ABOUT THE KIDS AND SUPPLYING THEM WITH THE BEST OPPORTUNITY THAT A QUASI TOWN REC PROGRAM CAN PROVIDE. 

LAST SEASON WHEN THINGS WERE IN DISARRAY I DECIDED THAT IT REALLY WASN’T FAIR TO THE MEMBERSHIP TO AT LEAST NOT TRY AND SALVAGE SOMETHING OUT OF THE SEASON AND WITH THE HELP OF SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, OUR COACHING STAFF AND SOME OF THE PARENTS WE MANAGED TO FINISH OUT A SEASON WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE WITH TWO NICE BANQUETS, SOME NEW SINGLETS THAT WE DESPERATELY NEEDED AND OUR KIDS SMILING ON TROPHY DAY SO ALL IN ALL WE FINISHED BETTER THAN WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPECTED BY SOME BUT CERTAINLY NOT THE WAY SOME OF THE MEMBERSHIP WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEE.  

AS A RESULT OF THIS I NOTICED DISGRUNTLED PARENTS, PARENTS ANGRY WITH OUR BOARD MEMBERS, PARENTS ANGRY WITH OUR COACHING STAFF, PARENTS ANGRY WITH OTHER PARENTS AND WITH NO REAL STRUCTURE OR WAY OF HANDLING THINGS WITHIN THE CLUB THIS ANGER SEEMED TO MULTIPLY AND SPREAD.  I HAVE TO STRESS THAT ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND HOW THIS CAN HAPPEN I THINK WE ALL HAVE TO REALIZE THAT MORE CAN GET DONE IF WE ARE TOGETHER THAN IF WE ARE FIGHTING AMONGST OURSELVES.  I CONTINUE TO HEAR THE SAME STATEMENT FROM OUR MEMBERSHIP ONE THAT STARTS OUT “ UNLESS SOMETHING HAPPENS” OR “ IF SOMETHING DOESN’T HAPPEN” OR “IF THAT PERSON IS INVOLVED”  BUT ALL END THE SAME WAY WITH MY KID WILL NOT WRESTLE.  IM SORRY TO SAY THAT IT’S THE KIDS THAT WILL SUFFER FROM THAT IN THE END, AND IF THE PROGRAM IS CONTROLLED BY THAT TYPE OF CRITERIA FOR DECISION MAKING THE PROGRAM WILL SUFFER AS WELL.  

I CANT EXPECT EVERYONE TO LIKE EVERYONE ELSE BUT I THINK WHAT I CAN EXPECT OF EACH MEMBER IS TO THINK ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND THE DIRECTION IT IS GOING IN AND TO GET INVOLVED ON THE BOARD LEVEL, COME TO OUR MEETINGS AND HAVE YOUR CONCERNS HEARD, HAVE YOUR IDEAS TALKED ABOUT  RATHER THAN ATTEMPT TO CONTROL DECISIONS FROM THE BACKGROUND WITH THE TREATS OF I WONT PARTICIPATE IN YOUR PROGRAM.  

NOW WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY BEFORE US TO GO FORWARD IN A NEW DIRECTION WITH MORE PLANNING AND MOST OF ALL THE GOAL OF GETTING MORE MATT TIME FOR OUR KIDS ESPECIALLY THOSE STUCK BETWEEN CHALLENGING FOR VARSITY AND TOO GOOD FOR NOVICE.  THESE BEING ARE JV KIDS.  

LASTLY I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS TO THE BOARD AND MEMBERSHIP THAT NOTHING CAN GET DONE WHEN FIGHTING AMONGST OURSELVES.  I WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE PROGRAM AND YES I DO HAVE AN AGENDA FOR THAT DIRECTION AND I WILL BE DISCUSSING IT TONIGHT.  I HOPE  WITH THE BOARD, THE MEMBERSHIP, THE COACHING STAFF AND THE WRESTLERS ASSISTANCE  WE GET THERE AND DON’T GET DERAILED BY THE DIFFERENCES THAT SEEM TO BE RAMPANT BETWEEN CERTAIN GROUPS OF PARENTS.