Portage Soccer Club is very proud of its history of individual volunteerism on behalf of young soccer players. At the June 25 Clubwide Meeting, Kathy Brown, Verne Genesio, Gordon Groves, and John Calnin (pictured below, left to right) were honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards to commemorate their service. Please read the comments below prepared by PSC President David Rice, who presented the awards on behalf of the Club.

During the nearly 20 years that the Rice family has been part of the Portage Soccer Club (our sons Sean, Tyler and Andrew all played for the PSC, Kathi has been a tournament volunteer since 1988 and Andrew now coaches in the club), what has struck me has been the level of volunteerism in our club. As a non profit organization the PSC relies totally upon the generosity of its members. Volunteers come and go but one group of volunteers stands out for their longevity (yes, they are old), their commitment, knowledge and expertise they bring to the PSC. Even more remarkably these volunteers no longer have children playing in the club but continue to give unconditionally to help make the PSC the best soccer club in the area.

Tonight the Portage Soccer Club will recognize four individuals with its first ever Lifetime Achievement Awards. I would like to introduce the recipients and describe their contributions to our club.

Kathy Brown - Our first and only Vice President of Fundraising. She has been on the Board for nearly 10 years. She manages, staffs and trains volunteers for the concession stand and organizes our preseason manager's meeting. Kathy is also in charge of vendors for the Portage Soccer Classic; a job she has handled for many years. There has been no job I have asked her to do for the club that she has not completed with a smile.

Gordon Groves - Our current facility manager, Gordon is the reason we have the Portage Soccer Complex. His company, Cornerstone Construction Management, acted as the general contractor at no cost to the club. In addition he did much of the manual labor during the six months it took to build the concession stand. Gordon is one of the tournament's field marshalls and has coached PSC teams in the past. This past season he assisted with our U-13 boys team. Gordon is one of those guys who simply does what's needed, when it's needed without complaint.

John Calnin - The first President of the Portage Soccer Club (ran unopposed during his 3 terms. Imagine that!) and former Director of the Portage Invitational Soccer tournament for many years. John served on the Board of Directors of the United Soccer Foundation, the fundraising organization which led the development of the Portage Soccer Complex and the renovation of the River Oaks soccer fields. He is one of our field maintenance volunteers contributing hundreds of hours annually to maintain the soccer complex and practice facility. As John reminds me from time to time "we are in the grass business and its our job to make it grow."

Verne Genisio - A past Regional Commissioner for AYSO Region 74, former coach in the PSC and long time tournament volunteer (he manages Ramona Park with Kathi Rice). Verne coordinates field striping at the complex and is "Mr. Fixit" (he's fond of saying the only thing he can't fix is a horse race!). Verne is our big idea guy. He's always looking for ways for the PSC to do things better, faster and cheaper. He too contributes hundreds of hours annually to the club. I know that winter is almost over when Verne calls and wants to discuss projects to be done at the soccer complexes.

The Portage Soccer Club is truly indebted to these deserving individuals for all that they have done in the past, present and forseeable future. Would you please join me in recognizing the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award winners?