Heidi Lawson and Kyle McClain stepped into the SVI Radio studio on Thursday, January 29 to introduce the creation of the Star Valley Booster Club.

(0:00) First off, out of the gate, joining me in studio this morning is Heidi Lawson (0:04) and Kyle McClain introducing what has become the Star Valley Booster Club, (0:09) serving local youth athletes across Star Valley. (0:12) And Heidi and Kyle in studio to tell us about it. (0:15) Kyle, of course, the activities director at Star Valley High School.

(0:18) Heidi has built a very successful lifelong career as a sports mom (0:21) and has done a fabulous job at it. (0:24) So, Heidi, let’s start with you. (0:26) You’ve been very involved in sports in the community for a long time, (0:31) all the way up from the little kids, now through graduation, (0:34) and now you have a son in college playing athletics and doing athletics.

(0:38) So why did you want to start the Star Valley Booster Club? (0:41) Well, it’s been something I always thought that this community would benefit from. (0:45) And my youngest son is now a senior. (0:48) He started kindergarten here in Star Valley.

(0:51) And so we have gone through all of the sports. (0:56) And I think it’s a great opportunity to put some organization around (1:01) just having this great community, be able to support the kids (1:05) and go through an official 501C3 and do something great for the community here. (1:12) It’s been interesting because the community has always been very supportive, right? (1:16) There’s never been a lack of support, but there really hasn’t been a booster club, (1:20) as you as you mentioned, to kind of funnel and organize that support.

(1:24) And I think that’s the goal here, correct? (1:26) Yes, it certainly is. (1:28) So with Cooper last year, he won the Gatorade Player of the Year for football. (1:32) And this is really when it kind of came to my (1:35) board to the forefront of like, hey, we don’t have a 501C3 that supports the youth.

(1:41) And we looked around in the community because with the Gatorade, (1:45) he was able to award somebody in the community organization, (1:49) but they had to follow all these different criteria. (1:51) And so it was really difficult to find somebody that supported the youth in that way. (1:56) Absolutely.

So you you made something happen, which is what I love. (2:01) You saw a need. You’re making this happen.

(2:03) You’re currently serving as chairman of the board for the board of directors on this. (2:08) You’ve reached out to some people in the community, (2:09) including Kyle, of course, being activities director. (2:11) So, Kyle, you’re coming from a school where, I mean, everybody has booster clubs, (2:16) right, and Star Valley didn’t have one.

(2:18) So in your experience in previous schools that you’ve been at, (2:22) what’s the benefit of having a booster club like this? (2:25) Well, obviously, there’s that financial benefit. (2:27) So I will say our school district is (2:31) financially supportive of our activities. (2:33) It’s second to none.

(2:35) You know, every time I ask for money, we get it. (2:38) And and I feel like (2:40) our school board, our district administration, our building administration, (2:44) they really have activities at the forefront. (2:49) And that’s what the research shows is kids that are involved (2:52) in activities are more successful in the classroom.

(2:56) So there’s that financial component. (2:59) But then there’s also that engagement community support component to it. (3:04) And any time that we can bring in the community and our stakeholders (3:09) for one cause, I think that’s that’s going to better everybody.

(3:13) Everybody. So overall, this is this is going to be a great deal (3:17) for our kids, for our community, for our programs. (3:21) So I’m excited for it.

Absolutely. (3:22) So, Heidi, how does it all work, I guess, in as far as the details (3:26) and what happens here? (3:27) Well, we’re going to need volunteers. (3:30) So we’ve come together and put a board together.

(3:33) And we want to be good stewards of how this all works. (3:38) And we want it to benefit the community and have transparency (3:41) with the community to make sure that we’re held accountable (3:43) for what we’re doing and also being supportive of the kids. (3:47) So we do have a board of director of five people.

(3:51) And from there, then we’re going to start (3:53) seeing where the needs are and connecting with the community. (3:57) So we’re going to be having a website up and running. (4:00) And we’re going to start off with a contest with the logos.

(4:05) And I think you might have more to say about that. (4:07) But we’re going to get that rolling so that we can get ourselves organized (4:11) and ready to support the kids in this next school year. (4:14) Yeah, absolutely.

(4:15) So you’ve invited me on the board, which I appreciate. (4:17) And so I’m on the websites and the works. (4:20) And yeah, the logo competition is going to be maybe I’ll call.

(4:23) I’ll let you touch on that, too, as there’s so many great artists (4:27) and designers and everything in the schools. (4:29) We’re going to invite the community, the schools together to create a logo (4:32) for this. Yep.

Yep. (4:33) I think the branding of this is really important. (4:36) Obviously, we want it to be Star Valley and not just the high school, (4:40) but K through 12, the entire valley where we’re supporting all of our kids.

(4:44) And but yeah, we need a logo. (4:46) And so we’re going to be reaching out to our arts department (4:49) and trying to get our students involved in creating a logo for (4:53) for this new organization. Perfect.

Absolutely. (4:56) So, Heidi, if a business or individual, either one (4:59) wants to join the Booster Club and be a supporter of this, (5:03) when are they able to start doing that? (5:05) And what’s that process look like? (5:06) Well, they could do that today. (5:07) So we have five different levels of membership that we’re setting up (5:11) to allow businesses or families to choose (5:15) what they would like to do in support of the kids.

(5:17) I’m going to have a paper ready showing all the different organizations (5:21) at the Star Valley High School for right now. (5:24) And the donors can pick if they want their funds (5:29) to go to a specific location or if they want to just have it in the general fund. (5:33) So we’re trying to let the the donors be able to drive (5:37) what they’re wanting to do in support of the kids, (5:39) because we do have a fabulous community that’s been so supportive.

(5:43) And this will just allow you to also have that tax receipt (5:46) to take the 501 C three and be able to to do it officially. (5:51) Yeah. And just to to reemphasize something you said, (5:55) it’s not just for athletics.

(5:57) This is for every every program and not just in the high school either. (6:00) Right. Various ages and levels.

(6:02) Yes. So we’re starting out just with the high school to start with (6:05) so we can get our feet under us and get going. (6:08) But our intention is to support K through 12 and all the different activities.

(6:12) So everywhere from band drama into the athletics as well. (6:17) I think our community (6:19) really warrants showcasing everybody. Right.

(6:22) We don’t want to just focus on one area. (6:25) Everybody has has a passion that they’re going to drive after. (6:28) So we want those kids to realize what their passions are and be successful in life.

(6:33) Absolutely. So website about ready to go, making some final tweaks (6:37) to start about a booster club dot com, and then people can go online (6:41) to see the various packages and see how they like to to be part of the booster club. (6:46) So again, in the studio this morning, Heidi Lawson and Kyle McClain (6:48) introduced to the Starbody Booster Club.

(6:50) Anything we missed from either of you that you’d like to mention today? (6:54) We’ve got some swag for you once you sign up for membership, (6:57) so don’t be shy. Perfect. (7:00) I guess that’s worth mentioning some of the member benefits (7:03) before you just write a check.

(7:05) And now you’re going to get kind of a little return on that check, right? (7:09) Yeah, we certainly want to celebrate your donation as well (7:12) and give you a thank you as well. (7:14) So we do have that. (7:16) We’ll get that all posted out on the website so we can take a look (7:18) and see what fits best for where they’re at.

(7:21) Love it. Heidi Lawson and Kyle McClain in studio. (7:24) Starbody Booster Club.

(7:24) Stay tuned for more details at Starbody Booster Club dot com. (7:28) It’s the weekday wake up on SBI Radio.