Earlier this summer, the Broken Bow Optimists Club released a statement stating that due to low membership numbers they would be looking at no longer being an active club. Brian Johnson has been serving as the President of Optimists Club and told KCNI/KBBN that this was not what the group wanted to see happen.
“Not at all. Not something that we were wanting to happen, but these discussions were going on even before I joined the club, which was probably five years ago, I think. It’s just that it takes a lot of manpower throughout the year to run a lot of the programs we’ve been running.”
Being a youth-based organization, Johnson said the group has sponsored a lot of youth sports programs over the years. While the organization numbers may not be there currently to continue sponsorship of certain programs, Johnson said he sees other entities that may be in a better position to continue what the Optimists Club has helped build. Among those groups stepping in to help continue sports opportunities for youth is the newly formed Custer County Youth Sports. The group is being spear headed by Samantha Jensen and Chelsey Gilliespie. Both were recent guests on KCNI’s Public Affairs and announced that the group would be taking over the organization of the youth soccer program. Both thanked and praised the Optimists Club for what they have done for youth sports over the years and saw the need for continuing the soccer program. Jensen emphasized that the group would be taking over the soccer program only.
“So, at the moment, the only thing we have 100% committed is soccer. So, we will be taking over soccer from the Optimist group. And actually, the Optimist club has graciously agreed to donate all their soccer equipment to us, which is so unbelievably huge that they did that. We can’t say thank you enough.”
The group is in its infant stages currently with the focus on administrative setup for a nonprofit organization. Jensen said fundraising and finding others who share their desire in continuing the area’s youth soccer program are other focal points as the organization becomes established.
“We’re in the nonprofit setup stage. So, I’ve initiated those steps. The next thing we really need to do is get a board together. So right now, we have several parents who when the Optimists’ news broke, we got connected to them and we have a lot of folks who are very passionately wanting to get involved. But I would just say if anybody is very adamantly wanting to be involved in helping at least the soccer program continue, we need to assemble a board and make sure that we’re all aligned and how we’re going to go about this and how we’re going to function as a group. And then it’ll be talking to businesses, fundraising. We have zero dollars right now. So, we’re going to need to do some fundraising and just community outreach.”
The group has created a Facebook page and group for those who would like to find out more and join. The page is “Custer County Youth Sports” and can be accessed by clicking here
