SBCPRD

Volunteers of the Year Recognized

The Statesboro-Bulloch Parks and Recreation Department (SBCPRD) hosted its annual Volunteer of the Year Awards Appreciation Cookout earlier this month.
Volunteers are an integral part of a successful recreation department and its programs. SBCPRD relies on over 500 volunteers per year.

“Without the support of our many volunteers, SBCPRD would not be able to successfully run many of our programs,” says Mike Rollins, Director of SBCPRD.

Volunteers were honored at the cookout for five awards: Recreation Advisory Committee Member of the Year, Athletics Volunteer of the Year, Community Recreation Volunteer of the Year, Aquatics Volunteer of the Year, and the Counselor in Training (CIT) Award.

Hadley Campbell has been involved in many volunteer positions within SBCPRD for more than 15 years. His most recent being Chair of the Recreation Advisory Committee (RAC). Each year, the staff chooses a RAC member who has been instrumental in the success of the department. While on the RAC, he served as the Chair and has also sat on the Finance, Program and Athletic sub-committees. He was very involved in attending many of the programs/special events and helped with numerous awards presentations—deeming him very deserving of this award.

The Athletics Winter Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Chris Cliett. Chris brings a good natured approach to coaching. He teaches the game while keeping the atmosphere loose so the kids can learn and, most importantly, have fun. He’s not only committed to teaching basic fundamental skills, but also to teaching sportsmanship and teamwork traits that it takes to be a successful athlete. He has always treated the staff, officials, players and parents with the utmost respect. This has made him a very valuable part of the SBCPRD department over the last few years. “He is what we in the Athletic department call a ‘go to guy’. When we are rounding up coaches each season, we know that, if we ask, Chris will help us out. No matter what sport, no matter what league he has always ‘stepped up to the plate’ to help,” says Athletic Superintendent Darryl Hopkins.

The Spring Athletics Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to David McLendon. David has been coaching for 17 years--three of those years have been with SBCPRD. “His leadership and dedication to volunteerism is evident by the amount of time he has devoted to our organization alone. He coaches both fall and spring seasons,” says Hopkins. The last two years he has even hosted British Soccer Coaches in his home for a week at a time. When he is not coaching soccer, he is busy with his work as the pastor of New Covenant Church.

The Fall Athletics Volunteer of the Year has been coaching football and baseball with SBCPRD for five years. Curt Deal has proved himself over and over as a great coach and mentor to the participants of our programs. If not at Mill Creek Park, you can usually find the Deal’s at First Baptist Church or at a Statesboro High or Georgia Southern game! “We are truly blessed at the Recreation Department to have some great volunteer coaches—and one of the best ones is Curt Deal,” says Dadrian Cosby, Athletic Program Supervisor.

The Community Recreation Volunteer of the Year is Tara Knight. Tara has been a coach with the SBCPRD Cheerleading Program since the Fall of 2009. She coaches our Stilson Cheerleading Squad and always does an amazing job. She has always gone above and beyond when coaching the girls--everything from their appearance to formation on the sidelines. She made sure practice would always happen rain or heat by holding every practice in the Stilson Elementary Gym. She even arranged for the squad to perform for their peers at the elementary school. This coach has done such a great job that every time girls come to register for cheer they request to be on her team. Her squads have exceeded their limits – up to 25 girls from ages 5 to 12. “We are extremely grateful to have Tara as part of our program. She brings so much to not only the program, but to each of her cheerleaders,” says Alison Brown, Community Recreation Program Supervisor.

SBCPRD offers volunteer opportunities for youth ages 13 to 15 to gain valuable work experience for future jobs. These Counselors-in-Training (CITs) provide assistance in recreational activities with younger children during Summer Camp. This year’s award recipients gave up three weeks or more of their summer vacation to volunteer with SBCPRD.

This year, I decided to let the staff choose the CIT of the Year and they stated that there were two that were very deserving of the award,” says Joy Deal, Community Recreation Program Supervisor. The awards went to Jordan Steffan and to Natalie Woodward. Staff comments on Jordan include “He is the most respectful young man that I have worked with in a long time. Jordan never complained and always gave more than 100%. When working with the kids he was a great example and even when working among the other CIT’s he continued to be an exemplary volunteer. We appreciated his charisma, hard work and dedication. Jordan is a great leader and if he continues to work hard he will be an extraordinary individual.”

Staff comments for Natalie Woodard state “Natalie was extremely helpful; friendly with staff and always enjoyed interacting with the children. She always did a great job – whether it was working with children or cleaning up from the day. She took initiative when she saw anything that needed to be done. She always asked if there was something that needed to be done.”

Robin Arnett was named the Aquatics Volunteer of the Year. He has been involved with the Statesboro Bulloch County Sharks Swim Team for five years. Robin is a volunteer member as President of the Sharks Parent Board. During 2012, Robin had a big hand in developing the Sharks Splash Swim Meet, where six other swim teams, including 130 swimmers, participated. With his help, the Sharks parent board sold concessions and tshirts, organized heat sheets, and more and raising over $3,000. This money went towards sending 37 swimmers to the State Swim Meet, as well as, providing an end of the year banquet for the swimmers! He attends every practice and every swim meet and always encourages, not only his two girls, but the rest of the team as well. “I am proud to have such a strong parent volunteer as a part of the Statesboro Bulloch County Sharks Swim Team,” says Erin Hight, Sharks Swim Team Coach.

“We’d like to thank all of our volunteers who give unselfishly of their time and energy each season, each year,” says Rollins. “It is you who makes our department successful and you who the children will remember for years to come.”

To become a volunteer with SBCPRD, please contact Kimberly Sharpe at (912) 489-9087 or pick up an application at the Honey Bowen Building or online at www.bullochrec.com

Area Youths Capture Honors at the Statesboro-Bulloch Parks and Recreation’s Punt, Pass & Kick Competition

More than 27 participants took part in the Punt, Pass and Kick competition hosted by SBCPRD on September 22 at Mill Creek Regional Park.
These participants earned first-place honors in their respective age groups:
Ages 6-7, Adam Arsenault with a total score of 96 feet; Ages 8-9, Khristian Clark with a total score of 199 feet; Ages 10-11, Brock Sapp with a total score of 241 feet; ages 12-13, Andrew Cribbs with a total score of 261 feet. The total score is the cumulative total of one punt, one pass and one kick.

These four winners will now move on to a Sectional Competition, to be held October 21 in Guyton. They could qualify for the Team Championship competition that will be held at an Atlanta Falcons game.

“We would like to congratulate these winners and wish them luck in the Sectional in October with hopes to move on up to Atlanta,” says Kimberly Sharpe, local PPK coordinator.

SBCPRD & Elk’s host the annual Soccer Shoot

Statesboro Bulloch County Parks and Recreation, along with the Savannah Chapter of the Elks--Lodge #183, hosted the annual Soccer Shoot at Mill Creek Regional Park on September 22.

Over 40 boys and girls participated in this year’s event. There were first place winners awarded by gender in each age division. These winners were:
U-8 Girls: Isabella Halaby, Boys: Brayan Figuero
U-10 Girls: Lorena Cifuentes, Boys: Preston Blakenship
U-12 Girls: Elicia Ward, Boys: Trey van den Bosch
U-14 Girls: Terra Calhoun, Boys: Andrew Cribbs

“Congratulations to these boys and girls and best of luck at the State Competition that will be held in Conyers in November,” says Kimberly Sharpe, local PPK coordinator.

Georgia Recreation and Parks Association (GRPA) First District Awards Banquet

The Georgia Recreation and Parks Association (GRPA) First District held its annual Awards Banquet last week in Midville. Among those in attendance receiving awards was Statesboro Bulloch County Parks and Recreation Department and its staff.

Service awards are given at 10 years of service and each 5 year interval thereafter. SBCPRD has two individuals that have reached their 10 year mark…Tony Morgan, Parks Division Manager, and Kimberly Sharpe, Special Events Coordinator .
Darryl Hopkins, Superintendent of Athletics , received his 20-year Service Award. With 20 years under his belt, Ronnie Melton, Athletic Supervisor, accepted his Service Award. Congratulations to these dedicated staff for reaching these milestones in their lives.

Each year, the Leadership Award is presented to a First District Agency staff member who has been most instrumental in creating, starting, and/or supervising programs that benefited their respective community and brought praise to the department. In 2012, the Leadership Award was presented to Alison Brown, Program Supervisor.

Hired as a Program Supervisor in 2006, Alison worked diligently to provide optimum programming to 50+ Adults and Therapeutic participants. By 2008, in an effort to diversify our program offerings, Alison was given the added responsibility of providing county-wide Instructional Programs to youth and adults. Through her efforts there were 235 new participants and over $25,000 in new revenues in our community recreation budget last year. In addition she conducts part time staff trainings and orientations, and develops and maintains operational budgets for specific program areas.

Alison has the desire to lead and is passionate about attaining success. She is motivated and takes initiative when developing new programs and activities. She looks for opportunities to lead and often accomplishes more than is expected. She is honest and compassionate concerning working for the common good of her programs and is supportive of other divisions within the department.
While resolving conflicts she remains calm and compassionate but is unwavering in her professional ethics. When training p-t staff she sets an exemplary example and is successful in choosing the best staff to accomplish her programming goals. She has the skills to speak well, listen carefully and write clearly.

With Alison at the helm of the Adults 50+ Programming at SBCPRD, the department was also awarded the coveted Connie Kight Senior Adult Programming Award. Connie Kight, a program coordinator for the Swainsboro-Emanuel Recreation Department enjoyed working with her local senior adults and involved them in many state programs. Connie, well known for her commitment to senior adults throughout the state of Georgia, pass away in 1995 while serving as Chairman of the GRPA's State Therapeutic/Senior Citizen Committee--a committee she had served for over 5 years. In memory of her dedication and hard work with the senior adult programs, this award is presented for an exemplary senior adult program in the First District.
From bingo to lunches to trips around the state, SBCPRD provides numerous activities for adults who have the time to enjoy the good things in life. The department’s goal is to keep Seniors bodies in shape with line dances and yoga while card games throughout the week offer these adults a chance to exercise their mind.

Each year, the GRPA First District presents a department with an Innovative/New Program Award. For 2012, SBCPRD accepted the award for it’s Holiday Helping Hands program. Do you know that there are several households in Bulloch County that celebrate Christmas without a Christmas tree because they simply cannot afford it? A Christmas Tree is a symbol of Christmas. Imagine your Christmas without a tree…can you? It may seem trivial to some, but it may be that we just take it for granted that we have one.

The Statesboro-Bulloch County Parks and Recreation Department has a program called Holiday Helping Hands—a program that, through sponsorships only, will provide a Christmas tree to those deemed needy through a special partnership with the school system.

In addition to the tree, volunteers go into the recipient’s home to set up the tree, decorate the tree and spend a little time with the recipient—spreading a little holiday cheer.

The Georgia Recreation and Park Association was formed in 1945 as a private, non-profit Institution to support and promote the recreation and park industries within the state of Georgia. It is the only state organization that serves as an advocate for quality recreation and park areas, facilities, programs and services at the local level.

Darryl Hopkins, GRPA 1st District Commissioner presents the Leadership Award and the Connie Kight Award to Alison Brown, SBCPRD Program Supervisor.

Darryl Hopkins, GRPA 1st District Commissioners presents the Innovative/New Program Award to SBCPRD representative, Dadrian Cosby, Athletic Program Supervisor.

Toys for Toys Softball Tournament

The 2012 Toys for Toys Softball Tournament, hosted by local law enforcement agencies and the Statesboro-Bulloch Parks and Recreation Department (SBCPRD), was held at Mill Creek Park on Saturday, December 15. Five teams competed for the coveted trophy—Bulloch County Correctional Institute, Bulloch County Sheriff’s Department, Statesboro Police Department, Statesboro Fire Department, and SBCPRD. After a day full of games, inflatables for the kids, and food for all...the real winners will be the kids after participants and fans collected two truckloads full of toys and approximately $300 for the Toys for Tots campaign.

Pictured: SBCPRD Coach Dadrian Cosby (accepting trophy) was presented the Champion Trophy by Bulloch County Jail Warden Chris Hill (kneeling). Players on the SBCPRD team: Steve Brown, Joe Williams, Carlton Hendrix, Jaime Fullington, Robby Sewell, Ian Byrd, Chris Atkinson, Russ Winter, Melissa Petitjean, Cannon Petitjean, and Jeb Register.

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