Carrie Melton submitted this article and photo.
Morrison Athletic Booster Club is proud to support the athletic programs at the high and junior high schools. Thanks to the volunteers of the Board, at the Whiteside County Fair, and at other booster events and fundraisers, scrip purchases, and your membership dues, the Booster Club has been able to make many much-needed purchases and supplement sports in a variety of ways.
Just since January 2015, the Booster Club has funded $45,894 in equipment and tournament fees. These purchases include the following items:
- wall mats in the HS gym
- track/field tent
- wrestling mat
- basketballs and cart
- bleachers in the pool
- football helmets (matching school purchase),
- game-film software subscription
- volleyball net system and ball carts
- softball training equipment
- basketball backboard trim
- track field equipment.
Purchases come from requests from the coaches and Athletic Department. Each year, the Boosters request a wish list from coaches for items that will best enhance their program. The organization considers all requests and strives to fulfill as many as possible. Additionally, the Boosters commit each year nearly $7000 in tournament fees, for teams to participate in events outside of their regular season games.
The Boosters mission states, “The purpose of the Morrison Athletic Booster Club is to foster, expand, and perpetuate interest in all school-sponsored sports and activities and to encourage the spirit of good sportsmanship and fellowship. The Morrison Athletic Booster Club will work to create a bond between school personnel, players, and parents to improve and support the sports programs at Morrison Junior High School and Morrison High School.”
To support this mission, the Boosters have also lead school spirit activities such as homecoming week locker signs and candy for athletes; hosted chuck-a-truck event at basketball games; purchased “Home of the Mustangs and Fillies” signs for each highway entrance into Morrison; placed player yard signs during Homecoming week; purchased and distributed team and individual awards for post-season honors; managed the scrip program to offset school costs for all students; participated in the Homecoming parade; assisted with Meet the Players events; purchased discount cards for the teams to sell.
The Boosters are also charged with filling the schedule for volunteer gate workers at all high school games and volunteer workers for many concession stands throughout the year, and facilitating many fundraisers to support the above-mentioned purchases. It has also been the honor of the Club to help with a memorial dinner for one of our athletes and to provide a meal for a team that traveled 2+ hours to play in Morrison.
Morrison Athletic Boosters meet at 7:00 p.m. at Morrison High School, 643 Genesee Avenue, Morrison, IL, on the second Wednesday of every month. All meetings are open to the public, and you are all encouraged to attend. If you are interested in becoming a Board member, in becoming a member of the club, or would like to volunteer for the numerous events, please contact Karen Stralow at 815-632-7908 or any of these Board members: Shelly Brackemyer, Glenda Deter, LuEllen Lee, Carrie Melton, Trish Mickley, and LuAnn Wieneke.
Please join us for Winter Meet the Players on Thursday, November 10, 2016.