Congratulations are
extended to John Bressler from our Columbia/Montour Counties program who
received Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Volunteer of the Month Award this
month (June 2013). The award is presented to an individual who has exhibited
exceptional commitment to Special Olympics, demonstrated appreciable time and
effort, and has made an outstanding contribution to his/her program.
John is currently the
head tennis and bocce coach. He has been a Head of Delegation (HOD), head
coach, assistant coach, and/or volunteer at most local, sectional, and state
events for the past ten years. He not only coaches tennis and bocce, but also
can be seen at soccer, bowling, floor hockey, basketball skills, aquatics and
athletics. John also takes responsibility for making sure that all of the
training sites have the appropriate equipment. He takes care of the equipment
and supervises the setting up and tearing down of the training sites for all of
the sports. At each site, he can be found taking charge of the paperwork that
includes attendance and score/time sheets. His truck has become home to sports
equipment and all of the necessary sports paperwork. John’s job often requires
him to put in overtime and work twelve-hour shifts. On the days when there are
evening training sessions, he works 3:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. so that he can
attend the sessions which often fall on consecutive days.
John has been
treasurer for close to ten years. During that time, he has organized the
finances and guided the management team towards being continually accountable
for their spending and the requesting of funds. During fundraising events, he
has the necessary funds ready for making change and requires at least one other
management team member or volunteer to be present when tallying up the profits.
At meetings, if anyone has a question about a bill or deposit, John knows
exactly how much and when it was paid. He keeps a monthly record of what is
spent and deposited and handles all of the equipment for the county.
John has been on the
Bocce Bash committee since its inception nine years ago. At committee meetings,
he is a positive influence for the Bloomsburg University students, often
providing financial input and information from the previous invitational so
that the students know their budget goals. Making sure he is available to move
the bocce courts, rugs and other necessary equipment is a priority for John the
week of Bocce Bash. He directs the students for moving the equipment and
setting the courts up each year for the tournament.
John is a bocce
clinician and official for the state. This has required him to travel to other
areas and train both coaches and officials. Because of these roles, there are
times when he also sets up tournament sites for sectional and state events. He
would then help coordinate and run the venue if needed. Vacation days for John
are often determined by when Special Olympics competitions are scheduled. He
will schedule days off in advance to ensure that he is not working for the
competition, whether it is local, sectional, state or an invitational.
Columbia Montour
continually receives high marks on its treasurer reports and financial
statements. John has recruited family members to help with not only training
events, but also fundraising opportunities and athlete recruitment. He does not
hesitate to ask parents and spectators to help if timers or scorekeepers are
needed for training.
.JPG)
