2016 end of year newsletter - teamsideline.com 2016 newsletter.pdf · the initial goal is to raise...

NEWSLETTER – DECEMBER 2016

Blessings Abound

DECEMBER 2016 | CHRISTIAN ATHLETIC COMPLEX | 616.942.1330

2016

END OF YEAR

NEWSLETTER

Pg. 2 – Softball

Renovations

Pg. 4 – From the Director

Pg. 5 – New Website

Pg. 5 – Softball Update

Pg. 6 – 2017 Schedule

Pg. 6 – Volunteer

Pg. 6 – Staff Spotlight

Pg. 7 – Membership Form

CONTENTS As we draw closer to the end of another year – our 67th! – we realize how blessed

our organization has been in 2016.

We once again had robust softball league participation with over 110 teams

competing. That is one of the largest such programs in West Michigan! We also

welcomed youth softball and baseball tournaments throughout the spring and

summer. Fall ball and our tournaments were once again well attended.

On the golf course, we saw significant growth in rounds played, golf members,

and event participation. Once again, we welcomed GRCHS JV golf teams to our

facility as well as The First Tee of West Michigan. We are also excited to

announce that we are now the official home for The First Tee of West Michigan

as they are moving to our course after several successful seasons at The

Highlands.

The River City Rascals (River City FC) finished their season in late October and

extended a big “thank you” to our members and organization for working with

them throughout the year. We also appreciated their presence and enthusiasm.

As we look towards 2017 we are excited to see what God has in store for us. We

are focusing on improving our core member experience as well as continuing our

outreach efforts in the community.

Thank you for your continued support through participation, financial gifts, and

prayer as we reflect on the past and anticipate the future!

WWW.CACGR.ORG | WWW.STORMYCREEKGOLF.COM 2


Division Champions!

Capital Improvements Fund – Softball Fields

2016 has been a tremendous year for the CAC and Stormy Creek

Golf Course. As we look towards the future, we continue to

imagine a facility full of life, energy, and God’s love.

It is our goal to continue to grow in our outreach to the

community while strengthening the relationship with our core

members and creating a sustainable organization built on a solid

infrastructure.

To reach these goals we are creating a capital improvement fund

for the facility with an immediate focus on the softball complex.

As part of this project we are actively researching available public

and private grant, philanthropic options, and other funding

opportunities.

Continued

Friendship CRC

Westview

Calvin CRC

Last Chance Bar

Old Yellers

Cascade - Women

Encounter

Kentwood Bomb Squad

East Leonard CRC

Providence A

Ada Bible

Harvest OPC

Sky Zone

Alger Park A

Calvary CRC

Friendship CRC - Women

Couple’s Retreat

We are making it easier

for you to support the

CAC!

We have a new portal on

our website that provides

easy opportunities for

one-time gifts as well as

ongoing or sustaining

gifts.

As always, you can mail a

gift or drop it off.

For more information

about ways to give, visit

our website at

www.cacgr.org or call the

office at 616.942.1330.

HOW TO GIVE

http://www.cacgr.org/



The most immediate need, however, is for help from

you – our members. We are offering several ways for

you to give – from one-time donations to recurring

payments via credit card.

Our first action is to create a layout that allows us to

phase the entire project in over time. These site plans

will provide insight into the best use of space while

offering a visual aid to those interested in the project.

These plans will also identify phasing strategies to

most efficiently work through the project.

After creating the site plan, our goal is to raise enough

money to renovate our first field and create a history

showcase in time to open the 2018 softball season.

The initial goal is to raise $75,000. This pay for the

costs of a master plan that includes a common space

showcasing the history of the facility as well as fund

the renovations for the first field.

This is the first step in a long and exciting process and many hurdles must be crossed before we reach

the end. We want to ask you, our members and friends, to consider a gift to this project. As we seek

long-term sustainability, we believe the softball complex is the cornerstone to that future.

If you would like more information on this project or have any questions about other needs of the

CAC, contact Executive Director Graham Rayburn at 616.942.7450 or

[email protected].

We are in the initial stages of planning

for a renovated softball complex, but

several features are key to the project

including:

New infields

Improved drainage

New irrigation

New fencing

New lighting

Warning tracks

Level outfields

As part of the initial phase we are also

focusing efforts on the common areas

around the concession stand, including

a space dedicated to the history of the

CAC.

FIELD RENOVATION

Figure 1 - Example site plan

mailto:[email protected]



From the Director

As the year winds to a close and we spend time giving thanks for the good in our lives, I wanted to

take a moment and say thank you to our wonderful members, supporters, and customers. I cannot

begin to describe the joy I have experienced in my first year as Director at the Christian Athletic

Complex. Without your passion, encouragement, and support our future wouldn’t look so bright.

I also want to take time and thank our wonderful Board of Directors. Their vision has been crucial

to our organization. We are blessed to have a group of leaders who work well together and who

are united in their care for this facility.

Finally, I want to thank our staff. Their dedication and attention to detail are unmatched. I could

not do this job without the intelligent, caring, and insightful group that spend their time making

the CAC a place for all to enjoy.

I first became familiar with this

facility back in the early 90’s

playing golf. In 1997 I got a job

here working on the grounds and

learned from some “Rec Center”

greats including Harry Ten Broek,

Don VerMerris, James Timmer,

Herm Witte, and Dave Tuuk.

Though they may not have known

it at the time, those people had a

profound impact on me as a

person and on my appreciation

for this organization.

Stories like these are part of what make the CAC so special. Yet those stories are only a small part

of a larger tale. Throughout my early years at the facility, I experienced a friendly, connected

community of people who appreciate competition and the fellowship that comes from sports like

softball and golf.

Today, in a much different role, I see more of the same community. Families spending time

together, friends competing together and against one another, and – most importantly – people

experiencing God’s creation. I am excited to share these stories with the wider community and

humbled to be able to ask them to be a part of our story.



New Website

When you have time, please check out our new website at www.cacgr.org. From schedules and standings (updated daily), to roster management this site is your new one-stop source for all things CAC! The biggest news about this site is the new portals you can use to create your own member account as well as create your softball team and roster. Team managers will be able to see which players have paid their membership, track team and individual statistics, and communicate with their team. Our volunteer portal makes it easy for those who would like to donate their time and talents to the facility. You can see opportunities available and sign up to help through your member account.

Softball Update

Plans for the 2017 softball season are well underway! We’re excited to offer a second season running from late July through August. For teams that play in season one, there will be a significant price discount. Consideration was given to moving to a flat team fee for the 2017 season. However, after surveying our membership and having further internal discussions, it was decided to keep the same price structure for at least one more season. Again, slow pitch teams will be $500 and fast pitch will be $600. As always, a membership will be required to participate in our softball program. Don’t forget to visit the website and create your member account! Our new Programming Director, Ben Elenbaas, is available any time to answer your questions or listen to any ideas you might have to help improve our program. You can reach him at 616.942.7450 or [email protected].

WHAT YOU CAN DO AT

WWW.CACGR.ORG

Create your member

account

Pay for your membership

Make a one-time or

ongoing donation

Create your team roster

Pay your softball team fee

Sign up for diamond or

clubhouse rentals

View standings and

schedules

Check your team and

individual softball stats

Check for game cancellation

and status of fields

See upcoming events

Check out our sponsors

Visit our volunteer portal to

see opportunities to help

Visit our history section to

learn more about our facility

CACGR.ORG


mailto:[email protected]




Volunteer Opportunities

The Christian Athletic Complex is looking for volunteers for the 2017 season. Opportunities include working in the clubhouse, mowing, golf course starters/rangers, and concession stand work. If you have

other skills we

haven’t thought

of, please

contact us!

A volunteer

portal is

available

through your

account on our

new website. Check it out and sign up today!

Staff Spotlight

Ben Elenbaas comes to us from

Calvin College with a degree in

Accounting and a minor in Sport

Management. He spent 2016 as

an intern for the CAC and has

been hired on as our Director of

Marketing and Programming.

Ben will be handling all the day-

to-day operations of our softball

program as well as introducing

new events to the CAC.

Ben currently attends 1st Byron CRC, enjoys basketball,

golf, and is a huge University of Michigan fan. Please join

us in welcoming Ben to our organization!

SOFTBALL

APRIL 19 – 23: KCAC SOFTBALL

TOURNAMENT

MAY 1: SOFTBALL SEASON 1

BEGINS

JULY 20 – 23: SOFTBALL

TOURNAMENT

JULY 24: SOFTBALL SEASON 2

BEGINS

SEPTEMBER 8 – 10: FALL SOFTBALL

TOURNAMENT

SEPTEMBER 11: FALL BALL BEGINS

GOLF

APRIL 29: KICKOFF SCRAMBLE

JUNE 3: SUMMER KICKOFF

SCRAMBLE

JULY 14 – 15: MEMBER / GUEST

TOURNAMENT

AUGUST 19: SUMMER WRAP-UP

SCRAMBLE

SEPTEMBER 15 – 16: CLUB

CHAMPIONSHIP

OCTOBER 21: BIG HOLE

TOURNAMENT

OTHER EVENTS

VARIOUS EVENTS RUNNING

THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER INCLUDING

GLOW GOLF, OUTDOOR MOVIES, AND

COUPLES EVENTS. CHECK THE WEBSITES

FOR EVENT DATES, TIMES, AND DETAILS.

2017 CALENDAR



Primary Member Name __________________________________________

Phone ______________________ Email _______________________________

Mailing Address __________________________________________________

Member Name (2)________________________________ Youth?____





Contact me! I would like to volunteer and this is how: ________________________________________________

Pay your membership online at www.cacgr.org or fill out this form, and return it to the office with your payment. Memberships must be

postmarked before March 1st, 2017 to get the early bird discount. Questions? Call us @ 616-942-1330.

I hereby grant the Christian Athletic Complex (CAC) permission to take, use, reuse, and publish: photographs and/or videos of me/my child in any and all of its publications and

in any and all other media, including but not limited to use and publication on the internet, webpages, and social media accounts, whether now known or hereafter existing,

controlled by the CAC, in perpetuity and for other use by the CAC.

Signature _______________________________________________________________ Date ______________________

Your Membership in 2017

We continue to look for ways to add value to your membership. In 2017, included with your membership will be three free rounds of golf. Once again, children 12 and under accompanied by an adult member will play golf for free. New in 2017 is a statistics program for softball that will allow tracking of team and individual statistics and can be viewed on our website. Merchandise will be 10% off all the time and other member deals will be available throughout the summer. As always, any softball players 14 to 17 years old are free with a paid parent or guardian.

Membership Number Cost Per Amount

Early Bird

(Before 3/1/17)

$25.00

Regular Rate

(3/1/17 or later)

$35.00

Youth Rate

(14-17 w/ paid

adult)

$ 0.00

Donation towards the general budget

Donation towards this special project:

_________________________________

Total Enclosed

Thank you!


2016 end of year newsletter - teamsideline.com 2016 newsletter.pdf · the initial goal is to raise...

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