Teams,
As most of you know, the CIty of Memphis is having some major budget problems. We’ve just learned that Rec Athletics is on the table as one of the items to potentially be cut. This would eliminate all athletics city-wide… starting with the fall season of Kickball.
I know many of us get pretty apathetic about stuff and assume it’ll always work itself out, but this is one case where we really need EVERYONE to please take action. If you guys love kickball half as much as I do, then PLEASE take 10 minutes out of your day to type up a letter addressed to the Memphis CIty Council. Print it on blank paper, corporate letterhead, whatever. Please have as many of your teammates write letters as possible and collect them all to turn in.
WHAT SHOULD IT SAY:
Address it to MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL and tell them why they shouldn’t cut athletics. Talk about how much fun you have, how much of a positive impact MKL has had on the community, how you’ve met people through kickball, etc. Hell, you can tell them this is the only exercise you get all week. Whatever kickball means to you… convey it to them.
WHEN DO WE NEED IT:
THIS WEEK. Unfortunately this vote is scheduled for next Tuesday. We don’t have much time. If you can get it together tonight and bring it to Pat at the field, that’s great. If you can’t get them by tonight (we understand it’s short notice) then collect them and try to get them dropped off at Brookhaven (in a single large envelope please) or at Pat’s House (most of you know where that is). You don’t need to mail them yourselves. Our goal is to turn them all in at once for maximum impact.
Again, we can’t stress enough that there is a very REAL threat to having Kickball cut from the budget and it will be gone forever. Please, convey this to your team members and compel them to take 10-15 minutes out of their lives to take action on this.
Thanks for your time and hopefully we can get everyone to come together on this,
Pat Halloran & Matt Savard
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
where should i send a letter?
I am a huge advocate of local athletics, parks and outdoor activity. Can you please provide me with some more details about what’s happening, and how I can help the needs of kickball in Memphis? I have some substantial resources at my disposal, and would like to help. Is MKL a government, non-profit, or private organization? Please contact me as soon as possible.
Lawrence, Thank you very much for your generous offer. It seems the government “Found” the money to make Rec athletics work yet again for the next year. I have no doubt that it is in NO small part due to the actions taken by members of the Memphis Kickball league. To answer your questions, MKL is a Private not-for-profit organization run by a couple gentlemen who just love the game. We do play on city owned fields and pay them dues in order to use their fields and have them maintained, lights turned on, etc.
I’m sure it’s on here somewhere but I am limited to what I can see at work. There should be a tournament to show the city how great this game is. I live in Kansas City but would be willing to help out however I can.