mbaa

2007-2008 Annual Report

 

Michigan Blind Athletic Association

http://mbaa-mi.org

 

Message from the Chair

 

The MBAA participated in a variety of activities, sports and tournaments throughout the year resulting in an exciting and rewarding season of competition and physical fitness.

 

The Sports Education Camps have again allowed many new and seasoned athletes to work toward individual goals. The Goal Ball teams traveled nationally and internationally participating in tournaments. The Bowling League also participated in state and national competitions with an ever increasing number of athletes. The Tandem Club attempted many rides, despite adverse weather conditions. The MBAA has also provided funding to athletes to further their training and assisted four athletes to participate in the 2008 Paralympics in China.

 

The MBAA Board of Directors, composed entirely of volunteers who work toward finding and assisting athletes in their sporting endeavors, said farewell this year to two longtime board members and welcomed three new members this past year. Our longtime treasurer Dr. William Welke retired from the board. His years of service have made a huge difference in the lives of many athletes. Amy Mesara also retired from many years of service to the board and she will be missed. John Hulsebus, Dr. Robert Wall Emerson and Dr. Richard Long, all with Western Michigan University, came on as new board members. Thanks to John, we now have a website. Please check it out at http://mbaa-mi.org. You will find background information about our organization as well as photos from 2008 Junior and Senior Sports Education Camps.

 

In all of the athletic endeavors the biggest contribution comes from those volunteers who make everything come together.  Without the more than 200 volunteers this year, many activities could not have occurred. We continue to recognize and appreciate these volunteers.

 

The MBAA also appreciates the very generous financial contributions which enable our athletes to participate in sports in Michigan, nationwide and internationally. We would especially like to recognize the continued support of The Irving S. Gilmore Foundation and The Harold & Grace Upjohn Foundation, in addition to the Michigan Braille Transcribers and our individual donors. All of this support is greatly appreciated. 

 

I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank you for your team work with the MBAA this year.  The volunteers, funding contributors and the board, working together, have enabled many athletes to reach for their dreams and goals.

 

John Boes
johnboes@charter.net

 

Highlights

 

MBAA-supported athletes Tyler Merren, Stephen Denuyl, Asya Miller, and Robin Theryoung were named to the 2008 United States Paralympics Men’s and Women’s Goal Ball teams (read about their achievements online at http://mbaa-mi.org).

 

The New Jersey National Goal Ball Tournament included one men’s team and two women’s teams supported by an MBAA grant of $1,700.

 

The National Blind Bowling Tournament was held in
St. Louis, Missouri, during May and included 10 bowlers sponsored by MBAA with a grant of $1,890.  Local bowlers participated in a “Turkey Shoot” in November, with 8 out of 15 bowlers winning turkeys.

 

The Michigan Braille Transcribers Fund provided a grant of $4,000 to MBAA toward Sports Education Camp.

 

Youth National Goal Ball Tournament in St. Augustine, Florida, included 5 boys, 4 girls, and 3 coaches supported by an MBAA grant of $3,640.

 

Adult National Goal Ball Tournament in Montreal saw one men’s team from Michigan with MBAA sponsorship of $1,617.

 

The Kalamazoo Goal Ball Tournament was held again at Western Michigan University with MBAA athletes and volunteers participating.

 

John Kusku ran in this year’s Boston Marathon, for which he received an MBAA grant of $300. He did well enough to qualify to run in the 2009 Boston Marathon.

 

MBAA provided a $200 individual scholarship to Kaylee Maxum, a young gymnast who participated in the 2008 Sports Education Camp. This scholarship will allow her to hone her gymnastic skills during a summer clinic.

 

The 2008 National Goal Ball Tournament held in Salt Lake City during June saw six athletes and one coach participate thanks to an MBAA grant of $2,245.

 

The Tandem Club held a fundraising ride in Centerville, Michigan, to benefit Habitat for Humanity in an event called “Bike-to-Build.”

 

Michigan Ski for Light hosted a weekend activity with MBAA participation.

 

The Kalamazoo Lions Club provided volunteers for this year’s Sports Education Camp, and has expressed an interest to increase their involvement with MBAA.

 

Sports Education Camp events included goalball, swimming, judo, spinning, tandem cycling, power lifting, and wrestling. Among the speakers at the awards ceremony was Hal Wolfe of the Ann Arbor Track Club.

 

Pro Forma Results of Operations

July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008

 

Revenue:

      Grants                                     $31,876

          Participant Entry Fees       3,565

          Contributions                               1,245

          Bank Interest                                   128

          Miscellaneous Income                  160

                   Total Net Revenue          $36,974

 

Expenses:

      Goalball                                  $12,299

          Sports Education Camp           24,364

          Adult Bowling                             3,755

          Support of Individual Athletes    526

          Administration                               311

                   Total Expenses              $41,255

 

Change in Asset Position (decrease) ($4,281)

 

Statement of Assets as of June 30, 2008

 

Cash                                    $8,160

 

Board of Directors

 

Officers:

John Boes, Chair
Retired, Michigan Commission for the Blind

 

Tom Vance, Vice-Chair

Portage Public Schools

 

Richard Hodges, Treasurer

Western Michigan University

 

Sherry Gordon, Secretary

Michigan Commission for the Blind


Directors:

Michael Branch, Young Men’s Christian Association

 

Mary Lou Brooks, Western Michigan University

 

Thomas Coyne, Emeritus, Western Michigan University

 

Sue Fluri, Michigan Commission for the Blind

 

John Hulsebus, Western Michigan University

 

Richard Long, Western Michigan University

 

Tyler Merren, student, Western Michigan University

 

Robert Wall Emerson, Western Michigan University

 

Frank Wolf, Emeritus, Western Michigan University

 

Our Mission

The MBAA is a nonprofit organization based in Kalamazoo to serve blind and visually impaired athletes. Founded in 1980, the MBAA is dedicated to the proposition that – empowered to participate – quality-of-life improves for the visually impaired. MBAA is affiliated with the United States Association of Blind Athletes and is managed by an all-volunteer board of directors with no paid staff.

 

Support the mbaa

 

We continue to pursue our mission only with the financial support of individuals and foundations. The MBAA strives to wisely disperse its funds and provide responsible stewardship as it seeks to nurture and assist this area’s visually impaired athletes.

 

Please consider making a donation of any amount. Make checks payable to: Michigan Blind Athletic Association and mail in care of Mr. John Boes, mbaa, c/o Michigan Commission for the Blind Training Center, 1541 Oakland Drive, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 49008.

The mbaa thanks the Michigan Commission for the Blind Training Center for providing the MBAA Board meeting space.

 

mbaa is an affiliate member of the United States Association of Blind Athletes whose mission is to increase the number and quality of grassroots-through-competitive, world-class athletic opportunities for Americans who are blind or visually impaired. Learn more at www.usaba.org.