Press Release Feb 1, 2005

February 1, 2005

PRESS RELEASE

To: Regional media for immediate release

From: Chenango “Chargers’” Soccer Club

Subject: Completion of Phase #2 of the Emerson Soccer Farm

At their monthly meeting of Thursday, January 20th, the Chenango Soccer Club Board of Directors agreed to commission the 2005 completion of their Emerson Soccer Farm. When complete, the total capital cost of the 21 acre soccer facility project will exceed $750,000. The Emerson Soccer Farm is located 5 miles south of Norwich on NYS Route #12 in the Town of Oxford in Chenango County, NY. Club President, Bob Nassar said, “with a lot of community support, we were able to complete Phase #1 of the project back in 2001 with the construction of the best soccer fields around.” The Club started using the new fields in May of 2002 to host hometown soccer events, travel league play and as the host site for the Nice n Easy New York/New York Summer Soccer Series. The Clubs in-house and travel programs involve players and families from throughout all of Chenango County.

The formal action by the Club last Thursday night, paves the way towards trying to complete the project this year. Fred Bateman, the CSC Board’s Chairman of the Facility Planning Committee noted, “I needed this action tonight for authorization to submit the required documentation for final approvals from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.” State Parks and Rec is holding a $205,000 matching grant for the project. Bateman reported that the State needed an updated site appraisal, a conservation easement and the final construction plans. It is uncertain at this time how long the State review process will take. This will be a critical factor in determining the timing of this capital construction effort.

The Club agreed to advance Phase #2 in sequence this year starting with restoration of the old barn on site into a central service and storage facility. The barn, when fully restored will become “the hub,” the headquarters center at the Emerson Soccer Farm and will contain a food concession area with outside deck, restrooms, equipment storage area and more. If the review process moves forward in a timely way, work on the barn could begin as soon as weather permits. The second part of Phase #2 is the construction of the principal terraced soccer field to showcase championship matches and special events. Field construction ideally should begin in late summer or in early fall. “We’re looking to formally dedicate and name both the restored barn and field later this year,” Nassar continued.

The total cost of Phase #2, that combines the barn restoration, field construction and 2 parking areas is estimated at $410,000. Nassar noted that the Club, under the leadership if Phil Metzger and a volunteer development committee, succeeded in producing a significant portion of the local lead share through a number of charitable donations from generous individuals and organizations based in Chenango County. He said, “now is the right time to get it done!”

The CSC has already announced its events schedule for 2005 to include setting aside dates for the 4th Annual Nice n Easy New York/New York Summer Soccer Tournament. Team enrollment efforts and promotion are aggressively underway. The tournament schedule with dates, age groups and level of competition follows:

U16, U17 & U19 B&G May 7-8 Premier Weekends

U11, U12 & U13 B&G May 21-22 Club Weekends

U14 & U15 B&G June 11-12 “ “

U14 & U15 B&G June 18-19 Premier Weekends

U16 & U17 B&G July 2-3 Club Weekends

U11, U12 & U13 B&G Aug 13-14 Premier Weekends

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February 1, 2005

PRESS RELEASE

To: Local press for immediate release

From: Chenango “Chargers’” Soccer Club

Subject: New Slate of Officers Elected

At is annual organizational meeting held in November 2004, the Chenango “Chargers” Soccer Club elected officers for 2005. They are: President, Bob Nassar, Vice-President, Phil Metzger, Secretary, Sylvia Drelich and Treasurer, Barb Spalholz.

Additionally, a number of new members were named to serve on the Board. Kathleen DeFrancisco, Greene, NY, physical education teacher, John Lorence, South New Berlin, NY, Lore Pak Pharmaceuticals, Jamie Mullen, Norwich, New York, YMCA Executive Director and Jeff Totten, also from Norwich.

There are a total of 13 members on the “Chargers” Board of Directors representing a broad spectrum of Chenango County. Some board members are independent business owners, school district employees, operations directors and individuals from other various walks of life. All are extremely dedicated people who have given untold volunteer service to soccer, the Soccer Club and to their respective communities throughout the County.

Meetings are scheduled to take place in the BOCES Support Services Building on the third Thursday of the month at 7:00pm. The Club encourages parents, coaches and others interested in being involved with Club to attend and participate in the meetings and other club events. For more information, see the Club’s website at: www.chenangosoccer.org

Other members of the Board include Fred Bateman, a McDonough, NY businessman, who chairs the CSC’s Facility Planning Committee and is the Club’s Grant Writer and Grants Coordinator. Julian Drelich, an agronomist employed by the USDA, serves as fields’ management coordinator at Emerson Soccer Farm in Oxford. The Board is rounded out with Rich Lathrop, Earlville, NY, Harry Gardner from Norwich, and Teresa Woodard from Norwich. Rich and Teresa are coaches in the Spring Travel League. Teresa also coordinates the British Challenger Soccer Camps held at Emerson Fields during the final week of July.

It should also be noted that Vice President, Metzger was subsequently officially named the Soccer Club’s Director of Coaching and Spring League Coordinator.

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For more information contact Bob Nassar at 607/334-2556 or Albert Colone at 607/432-4365

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