Many of you may not know the behind the scenes activities that occur and how they are accomplished. Here are just a few:

1. Organizing and promoting registration dates, including putting ads in the paper, printing and distributing flyers
2. Coordinating all cheerleading uniform purchases
3. Coordinating all football uniform and equipment distribution
4. Recruiting/maintaining coaches
5. Field maintenance and improvements
6. Concessions which include the shopping of items for the concession stand and recruiting volunteers to work the concession stand during the football games
7. Public relations which include the creation and maintenance of the new and improved AYAC website (www.ayac.us) and photography
8. Fund raising efforts through Bingo

As you can see there is a lot of work that goes into running a great organization such as AYAC and the items mentioned doesn't include everything that goes on. Not only is time required, but money is also a factor. AYAC's biggest money makers are the concession stand (during the football/cheerleading season) and Bingo (year round). It is because of these two items that we are able to purchase new uniforms, equipment and make vast improvements to our facilities and field. Additional improvements are planned for the 2004 season including, but not limited to, hooking up electricity to the concession stand, refrigerated coolers, additional storage container and announcer booth/tower, just to name a few. Our ultimate goal would be to raise enough money that we can purchase land and make improvements to that land in order to have our own football field.

In order to meet and exceed these goals, volunteers are a necessity in order to keep the concession stand and Bingo running smoothly and efficiently. Without the help of volunteers, the concession may have to close during part of the games limiting the potential income. Without volunteers, people who come to play AYAC Bingo will leave because of lack of service and attention. Without the Bingo players, AYAC will have no Bingo in which to raise the necessary money to maintain and make improvements to the organization. Bingo is a huge money maker for the organization. Just last week (April 20), we netted a profit of $1,300.00. Imagine how quickly we can purchase a piece of land for our own football field.

AYAC is a volunteer organization that is in desperate need of parents, grandparents, family members and friends to step up and volunteer their time to help the organization continue to grow and provide a great place for their kids to play football and cheerlead. A lot of organizations make it mandatory for parents to volunteer in order for their child to participate in their sport, but AYAC has not yet chosen to do that. But as an organization, we cannot expect the same dozen or so people to continually do all the work.

So what do we need from future volunteers? Just a few hours and . . .

1. A commitment to help work the concession stand during football games. We need a minimum of 5 people to work on any given shift.
2. A commitment to help work the Bingo. Our Bingo session runs every Tuesday at WT Hall from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm. We need a minimum of 5 people to work each week. And State laws prohibit anyone under the age of 18 to be in the building during Bingo.
3. A commitment to help, when needed, for field maintenance. Things like clearing out brush, repairing low spots, etc.

The organization cannot survive without its volunteers. How can we expect our children to know and experience the joy of giving unless we teach them that the greater pleasure in life lies in the art of giving rather than receiving. Please make a difference, contact your head coach and let him or her know you're stepping up and want to help AYAC continue to grow and be a place that creates a winning spirit. If you are new to the organization and haven't had the opportunity to meet your child's coach, please contact Teri Thomas at teri_thomas@fuse.net.