The Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table’s 48th Celebration of Athletic Accomplishment
This year we did something very different by dividing the celebration into 2 events – the Hall of Fame Banquet where 4 past outstanding athletes, a coach and a community leader were inducted into our Hall of Fame. And introducing An Evening with the Athletes where we honored our student athletes, scholarship winners, teams and coaches. The former was held at La Cumbre Country Club and the latter at the Lobero Theatre.
2014 – 2015 was an action packed year! I was overwhelmed with all the amazing accomplishments that our athletes achieved this year! Congratulations to our CIF Champions – Cate’s Girls’ Volleyball and Bishop’s Girls’ Basketball teams! And all the other teams who made it to the playoffs and beyond!
As I finish my term as President, I want to thank all our sponsors and members for their support – we are so lucky to have you sharing our vision! And to my fellow board members – a HUGE thank you for all the hours, lunches, committee meetings and events you have logged in for the Round Table. As Randy Weiss observed, “What is so impressive about the SBART board is that there aren’t any egos on your board – you’re all just working hard for the kids!” I couldn’t have said it better! And finally to all the Athletic Directors, Coaches, Athletes, the Press, Parents of Athletes and loyal fans of the Round Table….keep up the GREAT work!
Participation in sports is really a great character building opportunity when done right. I think everyone connected to the Round Table believes this. So when we became acquainted with the Positive Coaching Alliance this year, it felt like the perfect opportunity for the Round Table to expand our impact and support of athletics to the youth sport programs in our community. Again thanks to our amazing community supporters, we were able to secure funding for 3 years to bring the Positive Coaching Alliance to Santa Barbara. This funding will provide 7 seminars each year and will be offered to the leadership of youth sports programs (board members, athletic directors and executive directors), to the coaches, to the parents and to the athletes themselves….all for FREE! Already we have had 7 seminars with over 300 total participants – and the biggest attendance was at the parents’ seminar! The response has been super positive – and we are already putting together a schedule for the next round which will begin in August! This wouldn’t have happened without the hard work and extra effort of our PCA Committee – THANK YOU!
Did you know that the Round Table has NO paid staff? That’s right – it is a very roll-up-your- sleeves and do the work sort of nonprofit. As President for the past 2 years, the biggest take away for me is how proud I am to be a part of this great community as well as this great organization – the Round Table. There is no better place to see the real meaning of team than at one of our Monday press lunches. Together Everyone Achieves More… rings loud and clear. As I pass the baton to Cara Gamberdella, our incoming President, I’m certain her years will be just as exciting and rewarding! Look for even more great things from Your Santa Barbara Round Table in the years to come!
Laurie Leighty, President
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