Policy

Since its beginning in 1972, the Gladwin Athletic Association (GAA) has given every penny that it has made to benefit Gladwin Athletics. Prior to 1972, the group was known as the Gladwin Sports Boosters Club. Detailed records are kept. The school has always been included in decisions, making recommendations as to the needs and priorities. The Executive Board votes as to how money is spent, and what projects will be undertaken, considering recommendations from the Athletic Director.

Past and Present ...

The Gladwin Athletic Association has been extremely active in our community for the past 37 years. Made up primarily of parents and other community people, the GAA has been responsible for building athletic facilities, buying athletic equipment, and even funding the entire athletic program at a time when the Board of Education was not able to fund it.

In the past, the GAA has completely restructured seating at the football field, built press boxes at the football field, baseball and softball fields, and assisted with the one at the track. The have built a new concession stand for football. The GAA was responsible for building our first track, and then again responsible for, years later, putting in our new, gorgeous track facility. They have put in new lights at the football field, a new PA system in the High School gymnasium, helped purchase and refurbish wrestling mats, and contributed $32,000 in money, plus time and effort in building the new softball field at the High School instead of the softball team practicing and playing their home games at the old Little League Complex across town. They have purchased phone systems for football, a video camera, and helped with a computer program for track and purchased the software and licensing for the Bigger-Faster-Stronger Program. Most recently, they have helped purchase uniforms and equipment, when the athletic department had no funds, maintained the softball field.   In recent years, the GAA has funded freshmen sports, so that we could continue to have that our programs in football, boys and girls basketball, and volleyball.

Currently, the GAA is in process of building the field house at the football field.  It has also been a goal of GAA for many years, to have bathrooms at the football field.  They are excited that now they will have the facility that solves both needs by constructing the field house for the teams and bathrooms for the fans.

Since the organization started, the GAA has contributed over $800,000 to the Gladwin Athletic Program.

Current officers include:

President: Corey Pratt

Vice President: Thane Grove

Secretary: Brenda Ranck

Treasurer: Terry Brokoff

New Members Needed

Parents, community members, coaches, and staff are invited to be members of GAA. Meetings are held at 7 pm in the High School on the third Monday of the month. There you will find more information about GAA projects and activities.  Also at the meetings, are updated financial records.

Future

Though much of the future is unknown, we do know of numerous projects that need to be done. It is likely that GAA will be taking a major role in helping us complete projects.

Fund freshmen sports for the 2009-2010 school year.

Finish the field house at the football field.

The next building project will be to construct a multi-use building for multi-facilities.   Near the end of the track, we will construct a building that will have some storage.  In addition, it will have a concession stand for track, soccer, softball, and baseball games.  There will also be bathrooms for all four venues.

New equipment is needed for the concessions' stands,

New scoreboard is needed for the newly redone soccer field.

Scoreboards and their control panels, need to be repaired.

Maintain the position of athletic trainer.

Parent Representative Responsibilities

Volunteers needed

The massive successes and accomplishments of the Gladwin Athletic Association are a result of one thing ... volunteers.  Some community members unselfishly commit to massive amounts of time, to help GAA help the Gladwin Athletic Program. Others commit a few hours in one of the concession stands. Some help build things, some find people to make contributions, some do leg work, and some sell tickets.  The list goes on and on.  The bottom line is that great things happen if many of us are willing to give a little of our time or efforts to help the organization. Volunteers are always needed, and every effort made is greatly appreciated.

Concessions