To the Editor:

The Berne-Knox-Westerlo Little League Board would like to thank Kevin Toomey for his years of dedicated service to the league and the entire community. Under his leadership as president for the past three years, enrollment has increased for the first time in decades.

This may not seem like a big deal until you consider participation in Little League across the country is down almost 40 percent over the past 10 years alone. Thanks to Kevin, the league here has remained on strong financial footing and the results of this can be seen in the fields our children play on every season.

The Lewis Tubbs field in Knox was completely renovated this year, and now exceeds all standards for a Little League softball field.  Baseball fields in the town parks of Berne and Knox have received annual facelifts to ensure they remain safe and beautiful.

Thanks to Kevin’s persistence, last year the league was the recipient of a complete makeover sponsored by Tri-City ValleyCats for the baseball field in the Westerlo town park. This field was brought back from the grave in an incredible 12-hour community effort.

All of these changes have occurred while our league remains one of the most affordable in the area.

As coaches, managers, and board members, we believe there is no better barometer for our league than how we are perceived by other leagues.  When we are complimented on the sportsmanship of our players and the quality of our facilities, that reflects good leadership.

If you see Kevin, thank him. If your kids are playing now, if your kids have played in the recent past, or if your kids will play in the future, you have Kevin to thank for the quality experience they enjoy.

The Berne-Knox Westerlo Little League Board would also like to thank our secretary, Tiffany Detlefsen, and our treasurer, Stacy Loucks. They have worked very hard for a long time, and have done an incredible job keeping the league moving in a positive direction.

Special thanks to our equipment guru, Sean Simpson, who is leaving. He stayed on to help us out even without kids in the league this year. 

Changes on a Little League board are inevitable. As kids age out, or the demands in people’s lives change, we experience turnover.

This coming year, more than ever, we will need your help to continue to give kids in the Berne-Knox-Westerlo district a great baseball and softball experience. If there is no board, there is no league. It’s that simple.

No past experience or baseball or softball knowledge is required to run for any position on the board. Outgoing members will assist all new volunteers to ensure a smooth transition and consistency for our league.

We will hold a board meeting on June 25, at 6:30 p.m. at the BKW Elementary School cafeteria.  This will be an opportunity to say “thank you” to those stepping down, and also an opportunity for new people to step up.

You can also send us an email at [email protected] if you would like to be considered for any position on the board.  Please attend or contact us, and please volunteer.

Chris Curvin, vice president of softball  

For the BKW Little League Board