photo by Susan Young
|
mark youngTaymouth Community Association
Burgess Volunteerism Award recipient April 25, 2015 When the Taymouth Elementary School closed in 2000 we felt the loss of this gathering place in our community. Mark Young was the first to think about Taymouth taking over the ball field and he began to investigate this possibility. When the TCA acquired the old school property in 2002 there were 2 assets: the building, and the ball field/green space. When we think of what the TCA has accomplished we think of everything that has been done with the building. All our annual volunteerism awards recipients, up to now, have been recognized for contributions to the building upgrade and all the programs that the building has made possible. And then there is the ball field. Year in and year out, it has made it possible for large numbers of people to enjoy the TCA green space. The ball field has received significant upgrading and expansion and has required constant six months a year maintenance and supervision. How has all this happened? Troy Spilman is one of the coaches for kids’ ball program in Taymouth and here is how he answers that question. Troy Spilman: Most often, when one thinks of a ‘volunteer’, they think of a person who gives a lot of his/her time to one particular organization. This year’s winner of the Volunteer of the Year Award gives his time, experience, and winning attitude to many. Mark Young has been a community leader in the cultures of hockey, softball, baseball, and most importantly, family, for over twenty years. As a coach for Stanley Minor Hockey, Taymouth Minor Baseball, and Taymouth Tigers Softball, Mark has provided real life learning, and real life fun, for hundreds of fortunate kids in our area. Mark’s duties as a coach included instruction and development, allowing him to properly show our kids the skills required to succeed. Acquiring knowledge from a coach who has talents in the sport he is coaching, and who himself has played at higher levels, gives our kids a decided edge in competition. Talent aside, Mark’s most significant contributions as a coach came most often outside of a coach’s ‘duties’. Mark has also fallen heir to duties such as:
I wasn't involved in the first ball field renovation that Mark managed, but Mark was instrumental in getting the last renovation secured and completed. This included following up on Katherine Peterson’s offer to donate a ¼ acre of land to allow the expansion of the field. Mark volunteered the survey work involved and arranged with lawyer Hugh Cameron Junior to do the deed transfer work for free. This renovation has allowed our kids to bring three provincial championships (1 baseball and 2 softball) to our community. It also has allowed us to bring men's Fastpitch back to Taymouth for the first time in nearly thirty years. Mark has been the main contributor to getting key equipment to allow our kids to improve. He got a hitting cage and was the main engineer in setting it up. He also raised the funds necessary to buy a pitching machine, which we used inside the hitting cage. Both of these pieces of equipment have contributed significantly to improving our hitters. This is noticed when you see how our young hitters compare to others from around the province . . . simply put, we are better. Mark was also involved in the process to get young kids involved in Fastpitch with Craig Clarkson . . . not only in guiding Craig toward the right programs for financial help, but also in the recruitment of kids to play. When Mark’s family members were consulted about his involvement in ball here in Taymouth and elsewhere here are the things they listed:
Sandra English seconds Rhona’s comments. She remember a parent's comment that he was so glad his son had Mark for a coach because Mark was the example of what coaching should be - excellent skills training done with a positive approach. His results at so many levels are a testament to that. Mark’s dedication to the TCA has transferred to his family who have participated in the ball field and green space upkeep. His daughter Abbi was part of our outstanding summer student employee team in 2014 and his wife Roxanne ran one of our very successful early Day Camp Programs. Mark is being recognized by the TCA this year for his tireless dedication to youth sport, and to the improvement and maintenance of the TCA ball field and green space. Troy’s final words on our behalf - Mark Young is a special man, well deserving of this award. We are fortunate to have him in our region, and I hope he stays active for us, for many years to come. |