Ela Soccer Club

I am very excited to be writing my first letter to the club on our new totally revamped web site. The new site has been developed to help us improve our ability to communicate with you, our members and guests about the various characteristics, initiatives, news, sponsors and accomplishments of the club. Just as important, I feel the new site will allow you to access the information you need in an efficient and logical way. The website is a work in progress so please take the time to review its features and usability and provide suggestions you may have regarding its improvement to websitesuggestions@elasoccer.com.

I want to thank Tony DiJohn, Ela’s outgoing president, for leaving the club in its strongest state ever. Under Tony’s leadership the club has grown to approximately 1500 members. Ela soccer club has become a place for everyone with boys and girls of all age groups, levels of ability and commitment represented. Tony’s success and the club’s success can be attributed to the capable people he has put in place to guide the various aspects of the club. You can meet these volunteers by visiting the Ela Board tab on the web site as well as the trainer information displayed in the Travel tab of the website. If you are visiting Kits please stop by and say thank you to Tony for a job well done. We wish him the best in his future endeavors.

For those of you who contributed to or attended the annual Ela dance and silent auction I want to extend my personal thanks for making the event a complete success. Roughly one hundred and fifty of you turned out to raise over $23,000 for the club. Learn more about the event in the Ela News tab on the web site. Look for more fun filled Ela events in the upcoming months.

As far as initiatives go, in addition to revamping our website we are focusing heavily on developing alternative funding avenues for the club. The largest and most obvious avenue for the additional funding is through local businesses. We are a club of over 1,500 families and our size makes us a valuable marketing asset to the business community. If businesses see a financial return for their investment they will continue to invest. Accordingly, it is important that when you see a named business on our website or in other Ela material you make a note to utilize that sponsor’s business. It is also important that you let that business know that you are spending your money with them because they support Ela. The more positive feedback they receive the more money they will donate. More money donated from the business community means less out of pocket expense and improved club services for you.

Our corporate fund raising efforts have just begun so if you have any suggestions or know of companies that would be willing to donate to the club in any manner please email us at sponsorshipideas@elasoccer.com. Lastly, although we have a number of qualified volunteers helping with this effort we can always use more help. If you have a penchant for fundraising or marketing or just want to help with this effort please contact us at the same address. We need all the help we can get.

Steve Morell
President
Ela Soccer Club

As another successful indoor season winds down, our focus, attention and excitement now turn to the upcoming Spring season. 

The Spring season however brings unique challenges that can test everyone’s patience and perseverance.  The inevitable “April Showers” which lead to rainouts, cancellations and rescheduling of games can test the resolve of even the most patient individual – please try and remain positive and understanding during these occurrences. 

Often once the Spring season commences, even though many hours will be spent traveling to and from practices, game fields and tournaments it is easy for parents and players to become distracted, anxious and worried regarding tryouts.  It is important to keep our focus and attention during the Spring season on the Spring season otherwise thoughts of future seasons can undermine and impact the camaraderie, team spirit and team goals of the current season.

It is worth constantly reminding ourselves throughout the season why we are involved in soccer and the goals here at Ela for the players, parents, coaches and volunteers.  Sportsmanship, fair play and an opportunity for soccer players to develop their skills, have fun and achieve their potential. 

Finally, and most importantly, a big thank you to all our volunteers whose time, effort and commitment make this club the envy of many.  I wish everyone a very healthy and successful season. 

Go Ela!!!

Gin Sharma
Director of Coaching