RSU 1 students host Community Leaf Rake to kick start Fields for our Future fall campaign No comments yet
News release
Date: October 14,2010
RSU 1 students host Community Leaf Rake to kick start Fields for our Future fall campaign
On October 30 student leaders and athletes will convene in downtown in Bath to help residents rake and bag leaves, with the goal of raising $2,000 to help replace McMann field with an artificial turf surface.
“I think the new turf could really help the sports programs at Morse.” Max Rawson, Vice President of the Morse SCLC (Student Community Liaison Committee) and varsity soccer and lacrosse player. “It would allow us to play games in weather conditions that prevented us from playing on the grass, and it would help keep the field in better shape, as it is usually pretty torn up by the middle of the fall season.
RSU1 student athletes are the primary users of the fully lit track and field facility, but other leagues do pay to use the facility for regional playoffs and other tournaments. With a natural grass surface, McMann usage is limited to approximately 200 hours per year which restricts its use for practices and prohibits its use during rain or snow. A turf field could expand capacity to 2,000 hours and allow spring teams that must compete with late snow and rain to begin their training on the field instead of inside a gym. For example, lacrosse, a growing sport in Maine, currently has 10 Bath teams from Grades 2-12 and approximately 160 players that are often unable to get outside until April when the game schedule begins.
Morse students are eager for this extra field time. ‘The “Community Leaf Rake” is a great way to help raise the money we need for the turf.” Rawson adds. To meet their goal of $2,000 the student teams will need to rake 100 lawns with a suggested contribution of $20.- per average in town lot. Residents should call 443-3535 to schedule the RSU1 raking team’s services, provide an estimate of the lots size and stock up on brown paper leaf bags.
The leaf raking event kicks off a series of community group fundraising events. Lu Lozano, Field of the Future Committee chairman, says “ Since the June vote against the city loan option we have seen an increase in community support—residents of Arrowsic, Bath, Georgetown , West Bath and Phippsburg looking for ways they can help out. Professional volunteers are offering their services, local businesses are hosting various promotions and citizens are making donations. We welcome this support!” The Fields for our Future Campaign has $270,000 in funding and must raise an additional $300,000.- to pay for the installation and maintenance of the turf field.
Other October fundraising efforts include:
Saturday Morning Breakfast Club – Enjoy home baked pastries and fresh brewed coffee while watching youth soccer at the Donnie Small Athletic Complex and Varnum Field.
Friday Night football field goal contests – Your chance to kick a field goal for prizes at halftime of the Morse football games Oct. 15 and 22.
Newcastle Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Gem Car of Newcastle, Maine will make a $50 contribution to the Fields for our Future for each sale of a New or Used Vehicle if the buyer mentions “Turf McMann!”
Bootleggers of Topsham, Maine, has set up a Fields of the Future bottle redemption account. Just say “Turf McMann” to donate your portion to the FOF account. Bootleggers will donate an extra 10% of all donations. Morse Boosters have already made a significant contribution! Thank you!
For more details about the “Turf McMann” effort and special promotions and events visit www.Fields4ourfuture.org.
To schedule a leaf rake contact Mary Sreden at 443-3535. A donation of $20 is suggested and must be paid by check to Fields for Our Future. Residents must also provide bags for leaf collection. Rain date: November 6.
FMI contact: Kate Bussey, Fields for our future Committee, Communications, 207-751-2938
