DATE: Aug. 6, 2002
CONTACT: Paul Krome, pkrome@lacrosse.org

US Lacrosse Announces Creation Of Southern Ohio Regional Chapter

Baltimore — US Lacrosse has teamed with lacrosse enthusiasts across southern Ohio to further develop the sport there by officially creating the Southern Ohio Chapter of US Lacrosse, the 49th regional chapter of US Lacrosse, as announced today by Jennifer Allen, director of chapters, programs and services.

The announcement formally recognizes the efforts of several volunteers to combine resources and organize lacrosse activities in Cincinnati, Athens, Chillicothe, Dayton and other communities throughout the southern part of Ohio. Mike Ward, who began working with youth lacrosse programs in Cincinnati in 1994, will serve as the inaugural president of the Southern Ohio Chapter.

"We are excited and grateful to welcome the Southern Ohio Chapter to the US Lacrosse family as our 49th regional chapter," said Allen. "It’s a tribute to Mike Ward and the rest of the lacrosse volunteers to be able to come together and organize to develop lacrosse in that area. We’re looking forward to working with them in that respect."

The Southern Ohio Chapter becomes the second US Lacrosse chapter in the state. The former Ohio Chapter of US Lacrosse, presided over by Anne Griffin of Columbus, will now be known as the Northern Ohio Chapter.

"Our immediate goal is to ensure that our participants and association members are US Lacrosse members," said Ward. "As we continue to grow the sport, we must then ensure the integrity of the game by providing the support and forums for new and existing programs at all levels to be successful."

A local lacrosse development effort must go through an application process and meet several minimum requirements to be recognized as a US Lacrosse chapter. Official chapters provide services to local US Lacrosse members, bring together lacrosse constituents within their geographic areas, equally represent men’s and women’s lacrosse, and establish a central source for lacrosse information, programs, and events within their areas. One of the many benefits chapters receive from US Lacrosse headquarters is the return of a portion of all local US Lacrosse membership fees for use in the further development of lacrosse in their communities.

Joining Ward on the executive committee of the Southern Ohio Chapter are vice president Kate Molinsky, a former player at Harvard, secretary David Reed, a former player at Massachusetts, treasurer John Farrenkopf, at-large member Chris Howell and past president Reed Schroeder, a former player at Hobart.

For more information on the Southern Ohio Chapter of US Lacrosse, contact Ward at 513.791.1136 or ihlaxcoach@aol.com.

US Lacrosse, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization, is the national governing body of men's and women's lacrosse. To learn more, visit its web site at www.lacrosse.org.

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