With New Mode of Operations, Heights Booster Club Looks To Expand Membership

Andrew Trzaska | September 26, 2011

The Muskegon Heights Booster Club is running differently than it was a few years ago, according the Muskegon Heights School Board, Superintendent and officers of the club.

At Monday night’s school board meeting, multiple officers from the group gave an informational presentation about the state of the organization and its purpose.

The group is set up as a non-profit organization whose proceeds all go to support and promote athletics at Muskegon Heights Public Schools.  According to Joy Robinson, Program Chair: “At no time will this club function as a pressure group” against athletic staff or faculty of the district.

Superintendent Dr. Dana Bryant applauded the group’s support of Muskegon Heights athletics, especially football in the past few years.

Bryant also commended the group for a transformation in their methods of operation in recent years, after the group previously did not function as effectively.

“[The Board of Education] has been going through this booster club for numerous years… People used to not be held accountable, but it has evolved into something new.”

One of the largest reforms that the club has worked on in recent years is how they interact with the athletic department.  The Booster Club works through Muskegon Heights Athletic Director Keith Guy for all uses of funds to determine what is needed and make sure the district and the club do not duplicate efforts.

Robinson noted their changes include a new system for tracking their funds; the group has stepped up legitimate documentation of its funds as a non-profit.

In recent years, the Booster Club has raised money to fund trips to camps for boys and girls basketball as well as football.  It has also funded bus trips for fans and cheerleaders to away games, provided new equipment to track teams and weight room equipment. It has also bought sound and scoring equipment for the district’s gymnasiums and bought advertisements for various teams.

Booster Club president Bill Green announced a recruitment efforts are underway for the group to gain more members.  The group accepts any adults willing to join, and officer positions have varying term lengths but most positions can only be held for up to two years.

Green noted that the club currently does not have membership dues but they were exploring adding them in the near future.

A date for the club’s next official meeting was not set as of Monday’s meeting, but membership requests should be directed to president Green.

Dr. Dana Bryant commended the group as well as the reinvigorated Muskegon Heights Alumni Association, who announced plans at Monday’s meetings to commemorate the district’s string of state football championships in the mid 1960s.