The Plainview-Old Bethpage Athletic Booster Club was astonished at the turnout for its Open House Meeting on April 22 at Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School. Kevin McDermott, the District athletic director, was available and answered sports-related questions.

There was talk of having another open house early next fall and inviting student athletes and parents to meet and talk with upcoming team members and coaches. There were numerous parents of students currently attending Mattlin and POB Middle School who wish to become active in the club. Even parents with students in fourth grade came to find out how they can help out. Everyone was interested in supporting and being there for the local athletes.

McDermott spent time outlining some of the statistics relating to the sports programs in the district. There are over 78 sports teams involved between the middle schools and high school. More than 1500 students in these schools are involved in one or more sports programs. Nearly 50 percent of the boys and girls of the student body participate in some type of sport. The training and sportsmanship that they receive throughout school has developed champions in many areas.

Last year, the POB Varsity Baseball Team was Long Island's Championship Winner and came in second in the States. This winter the POB/Bethpage Gymnastics Team captured the L.I. Championship and has done so for the past five years.

The athletic facilities are constantly being improved. A state of the art workout room opened in the high school and is available for workouts before, during and after school. The baseball fields have been resurfaced and backstops and dugouts added. New fences have been installed for Girls Softball. Boys and girls varsity soccer, football and lacrosse teams have played night games all because of the hard work and determination of parents working with the Booster Club. There is hard work involved but the rewards are significant. The athletic program is constantly growing and improving. Booster Club is there to help all that is needed is parent involvement.

Harry Jacobs, president of Booster Club, enumerated many activities and programs initiated by the club and readying for next year. The Booster Club sponsors, cooks and promotes the Fall Pep Rally, Homecoming, Friday Night Madness, Wall of Fame in the high school, an NCAA Recruiting Seminar, hosts an Annual Athletic Awards Dinner at the Foxhollow Country Club and awards scholarships to recommended and deserving seniors.

This year the Booster Club was asked to become involved with the community wide Relay for Life being held on the track at POB Middle School on June 12 - 13. The club will be one of the many organizations involved with cooking for and supporting the hundreds of attendees anticipated for this overnight event to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

At the April meeting, 15 names were submitted as board members for the 2004-2005 school year. The nominees were Joe Green, Debbie Mcgee, Bruce Carlow, Lee Eichenbaum, Cheryl Dender, Bob Blumenthal, Paul Rut, Gary Burke, Paul Desimone, Gary Herbst, Francesca Carlow, Eric Schulz, Larry Shapiro, Luis Marrero and Jack Young. Next year's board will be voted on at the next meeting.

Parents of all swimmers, cheerleaders, wrestlers, bowlers, golfers, gymnasts, track and field, kickline, hockey, basketball, soccer, football, softball, volleyball, lacrosse and baseball players are encouraged to become involved and help the Booster Club continue to sponsor programs and events allotting fun and enrichment for all the children of POB.