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Great Valley Basketball League Newsletter
Spring 2008
Volume 2, Issue 1
Contents
Director’s Message
Summer League
Information
Volunteers
Winter League
Tournament Teams
1
Men’s League
Women’s League
2
2
1
1
2
2
Junior Hoopsters
2
Parties/Meetings
2
Rose Bigelow
3
Wine Tasting
3
Monte Carlo Night 3
Summer Camp
Information
3
Senior Center
4
Golf Tournament
4
Summer League
Registration
5
GVCO - Community
Center
6
Did you know???
That there is a group
of 30+ Great Valley
high school students
that have created The
GV Community
Service Group???
They meet weekly and
organize dances for
GV Middle School
students, movie nights
for elementary aged
kids and other
activities being held
at the GVBL Center.
Event Schedule
Summer League
Registration due by
June 1 2008
Summer Camp
Registration due by
June 15 2008
3rd GVBL Golf Outing
October 28, 2008
Registration due by
September 15 2008
Director’s Message
B
ack in late 2005 I talked my wife Rena
and the family into letting Dad spend
even more time involved with
basketball! I told them that I had found
a warehouse where GVBL could put two
basketball courts…They just looked at me and
thought that Dad had become even crazier!
Then I went out and dragged
four other families (whom I
knew to be as crazy as the
Walshes) into the “basketballcourts-in-a-warehouse” idea.
After an initial investment of
well over $100,000 by the five
crazy families and the help of a few local
businessmen, about 500 GVSD kids were
playing ball at the GVBL Center on Bacton Hill
Rd…6 months later!
It’s been nearly three years and I just wanted to
thank my wife and family, along with the
Currans, Greaves, Johnsons and Strangs for
what has become a huge success…and the first
step towards something even greater. In
addition, I think that we all realize that the huge
success only happened because of the support
and generosity of the fantastic
families in our community. I
knew in my heart that the
crazy idea would work because
this community is a very
special place to live and be a
part of. We should all be very
proud and thankful…I know I am.
Crazy Keith Walsh, GVBL Director
T
GVBL Summer League
THE GVBL YOUTH SUMMER basketball league
will kickoff once again June 9th. Registration for
girls and boys going into the 1st through 8th
grades are now being accepted. Registration
forms are available online at www.gvbl.org and
on page 6 of this newsletter. Games
will be played on Monday through Thursday
evenings at the GVBL Center beginning June
9 th and running through July. Please see the
GVBL website for additional info regarding
team assignments, skills assessments and
schedules.
The league is open to all area youths wanting to
participate. As always we are looking for
volunteer coaches (coaches have no refereeing
responsibilities during our summer league). T
Volunteers
ONCE IN A WHILE, A COMMUNITY is fortunate to have in its midst, volunteers who help build
an atmosphere where people want to add value to their community. These people are energetic,
have a spirit of camaraderie, and are interested in planning and supporting fun-filled events that
bring our community together. These types of people are a welcoming group who truly care
about one another, and the community where they live and work. We are fortunate to have such
a group of dedicated volunteers who support the GVBL Center. Because of a community of
caring people like you, the GVBL Center continues to grow and has become the cornerstone of
the Great Valley Community Organization (GVCO), the parent of GVBL. GVCO is the vision
of a community center bringing Great Valley residents together. We hope you realize the
impact your generosity has made in our community and we hope that we can continue to
count on your support in the future. Thank you!!!
GVBL – A subsidiary of Great Valley Community Organization www.gvco.org
Page 1 of 6
Winter League Basketball
THE 2007-2008 GVBL Winter
Basketball League was the most fun
and competitive year since the league
was organized back in 2001. GVBL
had 80 teams competing this year with
over 800 kids in the program.
Congratulations to all of the players
who practiced and played hard
throughout the winter. Everyone
seemed to enjoy the time learning to
play and hanging out with friends!
GVBL would like to thank all the
families involved for their continued
support and we are all looking forward
to this November when we get to start
it all over again!!!
GVBL had 80 teams
competing this year and over
800 kids participate in the
Winter program.
GVBL Winter 2007-2008 Division
Champions
Girls 3/4 - Sol (Mallon)
Girls 5/6 - Liberty (Groves)
Girls 7+ - Fighting Irish (Strang)
Boys 3/4 - Blazers (Skrocki)
Boys 5/6 - Stars (Strang)
Boys 7/8 - Bucks (Schiebe)
Boys 9+ - Knights (Schoeninger) T
hour of GVSD. Some of our teams have
also participated in national events as far
as Nevada and Iowa. These GV
tournament teams were created to
support the GVHS girls and boys
basketball programs and have become
one of the premier “feeder” programs in
the area. As the program stresses the
fundamentals of team basketball both
GVHS basketball teams have begun to
reap the benefits as both programs
claimed their division title this past
season. For more info regarding the
GVBL tournament teams please contact
Rich Hooven at
rnhooven@aol.com.T
Did you know???
GVBL recycles 8 large
trashcans of plastic bottles
and aluminum cans EVERY
weekend during the Winter
Season.
every Tuesday morning. For more info
please contact Andrea Strang at
strangpsu@aol.com. T
Did you know???
GV Youth Lacrosse
Association trains several
times a week at the GVBL
Center during the winter
months?
Junior Hoopsters
THE JUNIOR HOOPSTERS program
has grown by leaps and bounds, and so
have the kids. This past winter GVBL
had over 80 pre-kindergarten and
kindergarten youngsters enjoy learning
the basics of basketball. How Coach
Walsh actually engages these boys and
girls is a mystery. These young players
are taught the lines on the court, how
to dribble, defense positioning and
how to correctly shoot the basketball.
While encouraging good sportsmanship
the kids are having a fun, and learning
the wonderful game of basketball.
Look for registration online at
www.gvbl.org coming fall 2008. T
GVBL Tournament Teams
AS SOON AS OUR GVBL WINTER
intramural basketball league ended in
March, GVBL went into high gear!
Groups of girls and boys at each grade
level from 4th through high school tried
out for our GV tournament teams.
BASKETBALL SEASON NEVER ENDS
at Great Valley. Our tournament teams
practice throughout the spring and
summer months, playing in numerous
local weekend tournaments. This AAU
type program began at GVBL seven
years ago as southeastern PA is a
“hotbed” for some great youth
basketball. Our GVBL teams are made
up solely of GVSD kids with some of
the teams playing a 50+ game schedule,
most of which take place within an
Men’s Basketball
THERE ARE A NUMBER of different
Men’s groups that rent out the GVBL
Center during the year. Every Thursday
night from 8:30pm GVBL holds an
“open gym” for all those looking for
some good pick-up basketball for a
nominal $5.00 change. T
Women’s Basketball
THIS PAST WINTER GVBL hosted its
inaugural Women’s Basketball League
on Wednesday nights. There was some
good basketball being played as four
teams from the local area competed
during the 10-week season. In addition
GVBL holds an “open gym” for women
Parties and Meetings
BIRTHDAY PARTIES, TEAM PARTIES,
DANCES, COMMUNITY GET
TOGETHERS, FUNDRAISERS…All
have all be held at he GVBL Center.
For more information regarding
holding your next event at the GVBL
Center, please contact Chris Johnson at
cccal521@verizon.net. T
GVBL – A subsidiary of Great Valley Community Organization www.gvco.org
Page 2 of 6
Rose Bigelow Tournament
M ONTE CARLO NIGHT FUND RAISER
THE ORGANIZERS OF THE ROSE
Bigelow 3 x 3 Basketball Tournament
and the Bigelow family would like to
thank all who participated in this year’s
tournament. The tournament was a
huge success. Thanks to everyone’s
help we avoided any major scheduling
conflicts and got great participation
from the GVBL players. Seventy
teams participated rising over $6,000,
which will fund the Rose Bigelow
Scholarship Fund at Great Valley High
School. This was an all time high for
teams and dollars raised. The annual
scholarships will be presented at the
Awards Assembly on May 25th.
We plan on continuing the
tournament next year and hope that
we can count on your continued
participation. T
ON MARCH 1, 2008, GVBL held its third annual Monte Carlo Night
fundraising event at the Chester Valley Golf Club. Monte Carlo Night was once
again well attended and provided a fun-filled venue for more than 250 guests.
Music, gaming and adult time with friends and neighbors was the winning hand
of the evening. Gaming was high on the agenda with blackjack, craps, roulette,
slot machines and a new activity – horseracing. The GVBL teams once again
donated extravagant team baskets and raffle prizes that is a hallmark of the
Great Valley spirit. This year’s event saw a record level of support in terms of
sponsorship and funds raised. We look forward to another wonderful event
next year, and we hope we can count on you all again to come out and show
your support for the GVBL. T
Did you know???
That this past year there
was a Beef-n-Beer held at
GVBL Center that raised
money for the Ally Perkins
Fund.
Hosting a Wine Tasting
BASKETBALL ISN'T THE ONLY thing
going at the GVBL. On Saturday,
April 5th, the GVBL Center was
transformed into a wonderful cafe
complete with curtains, soft lighting
and the sound of smooth
jazz throughout the facility. The
Symbiotic Conspiracy Relay for Life
team hosted an “Evening of
Winetertainment” at the GVBL
center. Phillip Silverstone—in his
witty way—entertained and educated
over 100 attendees on affordable
wines. There was plenty of cheese,
crackers and veggies...and wine, along
with a great time to get together your
neighbors. The event raised $2,740 for
the American Cancer Society. T
Summer Camp Information
BELOW IS A LISTING of summer basketball camps that will be available. For
registration forms and info please visit the "Camps & Clinics" page of the
GVBL website ( www.gvbl.org). For additional camp info please contact Tom
Curran at gvgirlsbball@aol.com or 610-644-5855.
June 23-27: Girls entering 6th - 9th Grades
Camp Director and Head Coach Paul Girone of the Great Valley HS Girls
Basketball program will be teaching both the individual and team fundamentals
necessary for girls to make the transition to the high school level of play. The
camp will include counselors whom were members of the Ches-Mont
Champion and PIAA "AAAA" state tournament participant GVHS team of
2007-2008.
July 7-11: Girls entering 1st - 5th Grades
Camp Director and Head Coach Paul Girone of the Great Valley HS Girls
Basketball program will be teaching the basketball fundamentals through fun
drills, games and contests. The camp will include a camp tee shirt and many
awards to those campers participating. The camp will include counselors whom
were members of the Ches-Mont Champion and PIAA "AAAA" state
tournament participant GVHS team of 2007-2008.
July 14-18: Boys entering 1st - 5th Grades
Camp Director Coach Alex Venarchik of the Great Valley High
School Basketball program will be teaching the basketball fundamentals through
fun drills, games and contests. The camp will include a camp tee shirt and many
awards to those campers participating. The camp will include counselors whom
were members of the Ches-Mont Champion GVHS team of 2007-2008.
July 21-25: Boys entering 6th - 9th Grades
Camp Director Coach Alex Venarchik of the Great Valley High
School Basketball program will be teaching both the individual and team
fundamentals necessary for girls to make the transition to the high school level
of play. The camp will include counselors whom were members of the ChesMont Champion GVHS team of 2007-2008.
July 28 - August 1 – TBA
August 4 – 8: Kiesha Mack Basketball Camp
Information to appear on GVBL website soon
August 4 – 7: Herb Magee Shooting Clinic
Information to appear on GVBL website soon
GVBL – A subsidiary of Great Valley Community Organization www.gvco.org
Page 3 of 6
GV Senior Center
BINGO! EVERY MONDAY the Great
Valley Senior Center hosts an
afternoon of bingo at the GVBL
Center. The “Bingo Hall” is set up on
the Ryan Court and the games begin
just before noon.
TAI CHI CLASSES FOR SENIORS are
also held at the GVBL Center on the
Patriot Court on Thursday afternoons
around noon.
FOR ADDITIONAL information
regarding the Great Valley Senior
Center including their activities and
schedule please contact Chris Johnson
at cccal521@verizon.net. T
Did you know??
Someone volunteers to come in every Sunday evening and Monday
afternoon to set up and take down numerous chairs and heavy tables
in order for the Great Valley Senior Center to play bingo every
Monday.
The GVBL Center 3rd Annual Golf Tournament
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 Rivercrest Golf Club & Reserve
SPONSOR OPPORTUNITIES
Platinum Sponsor:
Banner displayed at Country Club during the event and at the GVBL Center for 1 year after the
tournament, 2 foursomes, name and logo featured during tournament, on all promotional materials, display
board, your promotional items distributed to the golfers., reserved table at dinner, 3 tee signs and gifts for
your golf cart and a hostess for the event. Total $6,500
Dinner Sponsor:
Foursome, name & logo featured during dinner, on all promotional materials and display board, your
promotional items distributed to the golfers, 1 tee sign and reserved table at dinner.. Total $3,500
Gold Sponsor:
Foursome, name featured at the tournament, in program and on display board, your promotional
items distributed to the golfers and 1 tee sign. Total $2,000
Luncheon Sponsor: Twosome, name featured at lunch and on the display board, your promotional material literature
distributed to the golfers and 1 tee sign. Total $1,750
Silver Sponsor:
Foursome, name in program and display board and your promotional literature distributed to golfers and
1 tee sign. Total $1,500
Bronze Sponsor:
Twosome, listing in promotional materials and on display board, and your promotional materials
distributed to the golfers. Total $750
Individual Golfer:
Individual, lunch, golfer’s bag, greens fees, cart, snacks, drinks and beer on course, cocktail hour w/beer
and wine complimentary for the first hour and appetizers, dinner/cash beer at dinner and silent auction.
Total $230
Tee Sponsor:
Sign at tee and listing in tournament program Total $175
Good Neighbor:
Listing in program Total $50
_____________________________________________________________________________
Program Ad Sponsor
Full Page Ad:
1 Full page ad in the program
$150
Half Page Ad:
1 Half page ad in the program
$100
Quarter Page Ad:
1 Quarter page ad in the program
$ 50
Please send the original ad to Chris Johnson at cccal521@verizon.net by September 15th, 2008 in order to be included in the program.
Due to the quality of reproduced business cards we will use the information from the card for an ad in the program.
The GVBL Center, an entity of The Great Valley Community Organization ("GVCO"), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under the tax code provided by the Internal Revenue Service. The
purpose of GVCO includes providing a multi-use indoors facility for community activities, focusing on youth athletics, senior citizen activities and to further community, recreational, charitable and
educational programs and events. The official registration and financial information of the Great Valley Community Organization may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling
toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1 (800) 732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
GVBL – A subsidiary of Great Valley Community Organization www.gvco.org
Page 4 of 6
GVBL
Summer 2008
Return to:
Great Valley Basketball League
19 N.Bacton Hill Rd, Malvern, PA 19355
610-935-4577
www.gvbl.org
Open to Girls (Entering Grades 1-8) and Boys (Entering Grades 1-8)
EXTENDED - REGISTRATION DUE BY June 1, 2008
===========================================
Parent/Guardian: _________________________ Player’s Name: _________________________________
Address: __________________________________ Birth Date: ______________Male____ Female _____
City ____________________ Zip:_______ School Name: _____________________ Grade (Sept 08): ____
Telephone: Home (_____) _______________Work (_____)___________________
Employer: Father _________________________________ Mother _______________________________
Parent’s Email Address: _________________________________________________________
Playing Experience: ____________________________________________________________
If different: Parent/Guardian: _____________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________________
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS (DO NOT ALTER)
I. INDEMNIFICATION AND HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT
The undersigned, parent/guardian of the above named youth, hereby give my permission for this youth to participate in all
GVBL activities, including practices, games, tournaments, and travel to and from such events, sanctioned expressly or
implicitly by GVBL or its authorized representatives. On behalf of this youth, I assume all risks and hazards incidental to
such participation; I hereby release GVBL from any and all liability which may arise from any injury from whatever reason
to the above named youth as a result of his/her participation. Further, in consideration of this youth’s participation in the
GVBL Program, I agree to INDEMNIFY and hold GVBL Affiliated Organizations, the Organizers, Sponsors, Supervisors,
Participants, Coaches, Referees, Land owners and any persons transporting this youth to and from GVBL and related
activities, HARMLESS for any claim for any injury, damage, loss, costs, and/or expenses of any kind arising out of this
youth’s participation in these activities, whether such damages are the result of negligence or for any other reason or
cause. I also agree to reimburse GVBL or its authorized representatives for such damages incurred by them, on behalf of
this youth. I also agree to discharge forthwith, on request of GVBL and its Authorized Representatives, each and every
obligation or claim which shall be made, assigned or apportioned against GVBL or its authorized Representatives by any
party by virtue of any injury or damage caused to __________________________________ (Player’s Name) absolutely.
II. Medical Release
a) In the event of injury or sickness, I authorize GVBL Team representatives to transport and admit the above named
youth to any convenient hospital or similar facility for emergency medical treatment. I authorize said Hospital to
commence treatment.
b) The above named player has no known medical or allergies except as follows (if none, then the word “none” must be
written in this space): _______________________________________________________________________________.
c) Further, undersigned parent/guardian hereby acknowledges adequate personal medical insurance coverage for the
above named youth. No child will be permitted to play without providing to GVBL evidence of insurance coverage.
Health Insurance Policy No. _________________________________
Health Insurance Company _________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature
_______________________________________ Date _________________
PARENTS – INTERESTED IN HELPING OUT?
______ COACH
______ ASS’T COACH
______ REFEREE
Registration Fees: $85 - Make checks payable to GVBL.
For GVBL use only:
Boys
1/2
3/4
5/6
7/8;
Girls
1/2
3/4
5/6
7/8
GVBL – A subsidiary of Great Valley Community Organization www.gvco.org
Page 5 of 6
GVCO – Great Valley Community Organization
A 501(C)3 NON-PROFIT CORPORATION designed to benefit OUR COMMUNITY!!
In September of last year GVCO finally received notice that we had received our not for profit status. The goal of GVCO is to
create an organization to serve the local Great Valley children, families and seniors through activities, sports and gatherings. This will
create a greater sense of community for our Great Valley residents and surrounding communities.
ONE OF THE MAIN OBJECTIVES IS TO BUILD A NEW COMMUNITY CENTER WITHIN THE GREAT VALLEY S CHOOL DISTRICT
to help create more opportunities for those in our community. To this end we have been diligently working to secure some property
within the district. Working together in a coordinated effort with the Great Valley School District, the local townships and other
community associations and organizations. In addition, we have started our fundraising efforts through our annual Monte Carlo and
GVBL golf outing events. We have begun developing the GVCO website at www.gvco.org in order to better inform the
community of the progress we are making for the betterment of the community. Our GVCO Board of Directors is listed below. All
are volunteering their time, effort and influence to make this dream for our community become a reality. Please contact anyone of
the directors to find out more about this community center project and GVCO as we need the entire communities support. T
GVCO BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
KEITH W ALSH, CHAIRMAN; DOUG STRANG, TREASURER; TOM CURRAN, SECRETARY; K ARL BUETTNER; JIM GERHART;
ALAN GREAVES; CHRISTINE JOHNSON; HENRY M CCLOSKEY; DON MERRILL; CHRIS MILLER, ESQ
MISSION STATEMENT: To create a non-profit community recreational asset that enables our children to grow and learn in a
safe environment. This indoor facility will also be a multi-use community center for local residents as well as charitable activities.
Did you know??
Both the Girls and Boys GVHS basketball teams won the American Division title of the Ches-Mont
League this past year…and the girls team set an all time best for GVHS with a 26-5 record en
route to making the “sweet-sixteen” round of the PIAA AAAA state tournament.
Great Valley Basketball League
19 N. Bacton Hill Road
Malvern, PA 19355
www.gvbl.org
GVBL – A subsidiary of Great Valley Community Organization www.gvco.org
Page 6 of 6