The Lopez Booster Club wants to bring Lopezians back to the school and back to the games.

Deanna Brant, who grew up on the island and played basketball for the Lopez Lady Lobos, wants the same affirming feeling of inclusiveness and support for the young people of the school that she garnered from the community when she was growing up. There is much support for the young people, but she feels it could be better coordinated.

“The schools are underfunded in some areas, but better funded in others,” Brant commented, “and what we see in the formation of this Booster Club is a way to help provide extra financial support where it is needed, run a concessions for events and activities, and do some fund-raising within the community. I hate seeing the young people selling cupcakes for four hours at the grocery store when they could be working on their school work or practicing the sport of their choice. The Booster Club would help support their activities. I mean, we’re all the same people supporting the same needs for 4H, or the Chess Club, or the cheering squad, the basketball teams. The Booster Club would exist to help support all those endeavors.”

Brant and Christine Dye foresee the Booster Club providing moderate financial support for musical instruments, special clothing to commemorate a tri-district or tournament win, or travel funds so that clubs who may not have the money to go to a tournament can attend.

“We see the Booster Club providing support to all school sponsored clubs, groups, and athletic teams. We want to encourage school spirit, sportsmanship and pride in the school, and the community. We also want to encourage attendance at the events. Our children need to see our faces, and feel our presence at these events. They will know they are supported by the community if they see us in force.”

Brant was also passionate regarding inviting older people back into the games and events.

“Many parents with children who no longer participate, or adults who don’t feel like it’s their place anymore to go, or older people who simply may not feel welcome, should come and enjoy themselves at these functions, whether it’s a volleyball game or a chess tournament,” she said. “We can make it a goal to obtain better handicapped parking and we can make sure the Senior Center will always have a front row seat so that older people can come and enjoy themselves.”

They envision that, in order to raise funds, small businesses would have the opportunity to buy memberships into the Booster Club and this would help the business do advertising as well.

“I remember when we used to play in that quonset hut, an old barn, before the gym was built. I was on the basketball team, and we didn’t have as much as some of these other visiting teams. But I remember how it felt to me as a youngster, when some of the people in the community purchased warm ups and shoes that matched, all in our school’s maroon and gold. It made me proud to be from Lopez. I want to help with that fostering of community spirit, and pass it on to the next generation.”

Information on how to be a part of the Lopez Island Booster Club can be obtained by contacting Deanne Brant at 468-2359 or Christine Dye at 468-4191, or email: rvrubbish@hotmail.com