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The second improvement approved was to replace the 4 side basketball backboards and rims. These side hoops are heavily used during physical education classes, clinics, varsity practices and other activities and were very old, did not match and rims were tired and inconsistent.
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Reflecting need and available funds, next we replaced the existing FLMS gym scoreboard. This scoreboard had been broken for years (which was inconvenient AND expensive to continually fix) and events relied on use of a small, portable electronic scoreboard. The new scoreboard supports all competitions held in the FLMS gym including FLHS varsity wrestling.
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The renovation of the Wellness Center (old weight room) is complete with virtually ALL new equipment, a new floor and entrance doors along with fresh paint to brighten the environment. New cubbies will hold athlete's gear and new cabinets will house and secure a new sound system. We still hope to add mirrors to some walls if shatterproof versions can be obtained. The response and increased usage to date has been phenomenal. Everyone is encouraged to tour the new facility.
The FLSBC spent close to $100,000 on this project reflecting strong support at the January 2010 Basketball Tournament and Winter Dinner at Crabtree's Kittle House AND membership support. Funds raised at the upcoming January 2011 Basketball Tournament and Winter Dinner will support Phase #2 of the FLMS Athletic Field project.
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Usage in the new Wellness Center is up dramatically with all fall and winter Varsity and Junior Varsity sports participating and already benefitting from the upgrade.
We hope to post more before and after photos on the FLSBC website soon. Better yet, arrange to visit the new Wellness Center to see the improvements yourself witness first hand how the fundraising monies have been spent.
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Funds have also been earmarked to support FLHS's Sport Medicine Program. The first step began with providing Coach Burns with a new, steroid injected ATV (aka, a high performance golf cart). The prior cart could not even go to certain athletic fields due to lack of power and torque! This vehicle has greater storage capacity for supplies, ice and a flat bed for transporting injured players. It will support the health of our athletes for years to come.
In addition, new cabinets are also underway for the Sports Medicine Training Room itself and new training tables and a more reliable ice machine are being contemplated should funds become available.
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"Affectionately" know as the cow pasture, the Fox Lane Middle School Athletic field has been in need of up-grading for DECADES. The field supports recesses at FLMS and serves as the practice field for modified soccer, field hockey and lacrosse. Further, it hosts FLHS varsity and junior varsity softball. Aside from large areas of very poor quality grass and an oversized infield, the downward sloping left field not only affects softball but modified practices as well since the need for level ground requires that the goals be placed only about one half as far apart as regulation.
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Fulfilling a longtime goal, in mid-October the FLSBC began work on leveling, resurfacing, sodding, aerating and seeding the FLMS Athletic Field. Completed in only 2 weeks and aided by cooperative weather, Phase #1 improvements were achieved by skilled BCSD parents, volunteers, representatives of the Town of Bedford, FLHS and other facilities in the district. Their expertise and collaboration allowed these improvements to be completed before this winter for full availability by the spring 2011 season. Funding for Phase #1 came solely from membership revenues and general funds.
Over 900 cubic yards of fill and top-soil (a welcome by-product of an unrelated FLHS project) was reclaimed for leveling left field and the area behind the Fox Lane team bench. Right field was in relatively good shape and simply required aerating and additional seed. It took 600 square yards of sod to reduce the infield to the proper size and cover the team and spectator areas along the 1st and 3rd base lines. To further improve the Fox Lane side of the field, the narrow area behind the backstop was widened from 5 to 20 feet providing the Fox Lane team and their supporters better access to that side of the field. Further, for the first time for softball, these changes will allow an out-field camera so that Channel 18 can now record and broadcast a game. Lastly, a tanker truck of water and hay (see far left in picture) over the new seed will help keep the new field moist until the seed and sod take hold.
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Phase #2, which we hope to complete in time for the spring 2011 season, will involve more material improvements such as new and larger bleachers for both home and visiting teams, new team benches, a portable softball fence, 1st and 3rd base fencing, an equipment shed and perhaps even a water fountain near home plate. Funding for Phase #2 items need to be specifically raised. To raise these funds, the FLSBC is raffling off a Honda Pilot EX-L 4x4 courtesy of Mt Kisco Honda (details below).
When funds are available, a Phase #3 will be pursued. We hope to establish a water source to support irrigating the field to keep it in tip-top shape for years to come. Any BCSD family in the lawn irrigation business willing to help out, please contact us. We also want to pursue illuminating the field.
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At homecoming last month, the FLSBC launched the fundraiser for Phase #2 of the FLMS Athletic field renovation with a raffle of a 2011 Honda Pilot EX-L 4x4 courtesy of Mt Kisco Honda (or $30,000 cash). Tickets are $150 each and only 500 will be sold. The odds of winning are good and someone in the BCSD community will win. You will likely know the winner - why shouldn't it be you!? The drawing will be held at the FLSBC winter dinner following the Basketball Tournament on January 22, 2011 (see below).
If interested in participating in the raffle, please respond to this mail with the number of tickets sought and arrangements will be made to provide them to you. Payments may also be made via PayPal on our website.
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FLSBC would like to purchase the scoreboard on the right for the Fox Lane Stadium. The existing one is almost 20 years old, performs poorly and, perhaps unbeknownst to spectators, is a maintenance nightmare. The new scoreboard could still be installed in time for for the spring LAX season although realization of this project will hinge on a successful membership campaign. If you can help, please see membership information at the bottom of this newsletter.
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Reflecting the success of Fox Lane athletics in recent years, the existing display cases for awards are thoroughly overrun. New awards displace existing ones which undermines our historic athletic achievements. Athletic Director Staropoli has requested that the Boosters earmark funds to purchase additional display cases so that all achievements may continue to be recognized. The FLSBC Board fully supports the request however, funds must be raised for this to become a reality.
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Back by popular demand, the FLSBC is hosting it's 2nd annual Basketball Kid's Clinic, Adult 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament and Winter Dinner on Saturday, January 22, 2011.
The day begins with a basketball clinic for BCSD elementary school children at FLHS. It wil involves instruction and drills from boys and girls varsity players and coaches. In addition, we hope to have some fun contests and competitions at the clinic this year. Adults (18 and over please) are encouraged to join other FLSBC supporters in a 3 on 3 basketball tournament in the afternoon and Winter Dinner at Crabtree's Kittle House Restaurant and Inn (21 and over please). Tournament sign-up is on an individual basis with the FLSBC forming teams to achieve parity. Ladies, recruit your lady friends!! The dinner is for players, spectators, sponsors, spouses and everyone interested. Additional information will be provided as we approach the event but like last year, the clinic will held in the morning at FLHS, the tournament in the afternoon followed by dinner at Crabtree's Kittle House Restaurant and Inn. Voodoo Canrnival (last May's golf outing band that we didn't get enough of) will provide the live music. The event will be on Saturday, January 22, 2011 and students and families are encouraged to come and watch and root for (laugh at?) their teachers, parents, coaches, etc.
REMEMBER - The raffle drawing for the Honda Pilot will occur at this event (though raffle participants needn't be present to win).
The clinic, tournament and dinner are terrific events - just ask anyone who attended last year.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!
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The Fox Lane Sports Boosters Club Inc. is the only official BCSD Booster Club supporting its athletic programs. We are a public charity under the IRS code 501(c)(3). Accordingly, contributions are generally tax deductible under section 170 of the IRS code and we are sales tax exempt under NYS tax law. Contributions at fundraising events are deductible only above any Fair Market Value of any items or services provided. When there is a FMV in exchange for a contribution (i.e., golf outing, dinners, etc,) that information will be provided. As appropriate, receipts will be provided for contributions and other supporting documentation is available upon request.
Board of Directors: Roger Stern, President, Stephen Tortorella, Vice President, Mary Palmerton, Secretary, Gregory Raue, Treasurer, Robert Beyer, Ayo Hart, Sarah Jeffers, Dave Medd, Fiona Mitchell, Lisa Raue, David Simon, Steve Vandervelden
Sponsoring Organization Representative: Beth Staropoli, Athletic Director, Bedford Central School District
Fox Lane Sports Booster Club, Inc. | P.O. Box 247 | Bedford, NY 10506 | www.foxlanesbc.org
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Please consider adding your family to the ~275 other families who have joined since our inception. Our goal is sustain over 500 member families per year. Since July, we have more than 50 new members. Renewals and new memberships are obviously critical to this membership goal and project funding. We have consciously kept the membership contribution at $50 so that it is within reach of virtually all student, faculty and staff and community families. New/renewing members will receive the 2010-2011 car magnet reflecting your current membership status. SHOW YOUR CURRENT SUPPORT. Particularly because of the FLMS Athletic Field project, we are seeking as much support from the 5 BCSD elementary school families as possible. Ultimately, they are the greatest beneficiaries of our projects. Please forward this mail to any BCSD family that may not know much about the FLSBC's contributions.
Also, for those interested, we're introducing a lifetime FLSBC membership for $500. To help recognize this level of support, a special magnet is under development (how does a silver fox sound?). If already a member for 2010-2011, simply pay the difference of what was paid and the $500 contribution. Applications may be down loaded from our website (see quick links) and may also be made through the website via PayPal. The website has not yet been updated for the Lifetime membership however, any contributions reaching the $500 threshold will be recognized as such. In only a matter of weeks, 3 members have converted their membership to Lifetime status!
Short of the lifetime membership, please help us fund the renovation of the FLMS athletic field by participating in our raffle of a 2011 Honda Pilot.
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The 3rd annual FLSBC Golf and Tennis Outing will be held on Monday, May 23, 2011. Based on the success of last year's evert, it will he held again at the Mt Kisco Country Club. MARK YOUR CALENDARS.
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The next FLSBC meeting will be Monday, November 15th at 7:30 FLHS cafeteria. Except for holidays, meetings are the 3rd Monday of each month, same place/time. Please join the FLSBC Board and Beth Staropoli, BCSD Athletic Director to learn more about YOUR booster club and offer any views you may have about the FLSBC, its projects, fundraisers, etc. Non-members are welcome to attend to learn more.
The FLSBC has numerous projects and needs (i.e., website development & maintenance, merchandising, elementary school representation, etc.) which are not or are underdeveloped due to a lack of support, expertise, etc. If anyone has a particular skill set they wish to contribute, please speak to us. That said, there are never strings attached to attending any meeting and there is no pressure to step up. Ideas alone and attending simply to learn more is very welcome.
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Our apologies for this lengthy newsletter but we felt a thorough overview was needed. We very much appreciate all the past and future support and are dedicated to using funds in manner which provide the greatest benefit to the entire athletic community.To help share the support, please forward this mail to anyone (elementary school families, parents, school staff, alumni, etc.) who'd be natural supporters and beneficiaries of our mission but our message may not have yet reached. Thank you for joining or renewing your membership and overall support.
Sincerely,
The Board of the Fox Lane Spots Boosters Club
Fox Lane Sports Boosters Club
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