More Than Just Community

I would like to start off my entry with a quote by Vince Lombardi, “We will build this team in pursuit of perfection knowing we can never achieve it … in the meantime we will achieve excellence.”

   The Bridgewater Baseball Association is a proactive community. The association initiates change rather than reflecting on the past.  We sacrifice the interests of each other and revolve around the interests of the community as a whole. Our values never change – to create a unified community which everyone can enjoy. We must create an environment which everyone from all different ages can relate to. To feel comfortable knowing they have a say and to understand that we will listen. Our initiative is to create leaders on and off the baseball field. The priority isn’t solely on developing each individual’s athletic abilities. The development of each child as an individual is our primary goal. Yes, the memories associated with winning championships last a life time, but their attitude and integrity shown off the field highlight their true character.  

      After a conversation with the VP of the Bridgewater Baseball Association, Dennis Woodworth, Dennis referred to our community as one that embodies the T.E.A.M. concept. T – Together, in order for a community to be successful everyone must work together in order to find success. The baseball community strives for long term success, to see beyond their years as a member of this community and prepare those coming up with a solid foundation. E- Everyone, everyone must be on board. Everyone must have a say, this proves very difficult because when viewing a community we tend to forget everyone and just see ourselves. A- Achievement, achievement can be viewed in many ways. The community must create goals in order to view one’s achievements. Achievements are very important because they identify the community’s strengths and weaknesses. For example, how did we achieve this goal, or why didn’t we achieve it and how can we? M- More, because everyone has more to give. Everyone contributes one way or another, even in an indirect way. There are many aspects of community that need to be accomplished, big or small.

    Ideally everyone would show their support in community events. Although I have emotional ties to the baseball community, there are many other equally deserving communities in Bridgewater. We must realize that everyone from each community can come together to share their ideas openly. Successes and failures happen – that is life, but it’s how fast we bounce back that matters.  

  I started my entry with a quote – Vince Lombardi is known as football’s greatest coach. He was referring to his football successes; however it was much more than that. It relates to community development in every aspect. In order to succeed one must realize that not everything will be perfect. There will be many ups and downs, but it is how we grow and evolve as a community that direct us towards perfection.     

The Bridgewater Baseball Community

    I grew up in a small town in Nova Scotia called Bridgewater – population of roughly nine thousand. If you are wondering if it is called Bridgewater because there is a bridge over water, then yes, you are correct.  Bridgewater is a very strong community in terms of development. It has expanded rapidly over the past ten years. More companies create more job offerings which cause families to reside either in Bridgewater or close by. It is a very close community. Bridgewater takes pride in letting everyone know that they have a say and encourages those who feel strongly about something to get the word out.  More specifically, Bridgewater revolves around Sport. Sport has brought Bridgewater a lot in terms of tourism, and publicity. We recently brought a Jr.A hockey team to Bridgewater in which are sold out every game. Our high school sports are developing more athletes that will one day play at the next level whether it is in the US or in Canada. The community that I am most involved with is the baseball community, most notably the Bridgewater Baseball Association.

      I have played baseball in Bridgewater since the age of five. I have been apart of many great teams, I have played with many great players, but what makes the players and teams great is the association itself. In 2003, Bridgewater Baseball had a falling out with some members of the association. The aftermath left the BBA bankrupt. It was a sad day in our community, especially for all those volunteers who were really the reason why we had so much success in the first place. It was up to parents, players, and volunteers, to make the Bridgewater Baseball Association better than ever and to overcome the past and look towards the future. Now in 2011, we are better and stronger than ever. There is a board of directors in which takes anyone who wants to be heard and believes they have way it takes to create a stronger association, creating a stronger community. The baseball community is absolutely on the right track.

     For the past five years, I have been working for the Bridgewater Baseball Association as an instructor for the house league program. This program was developed to not only work on the athlete’s skills but to create better individuals. It is necessary to understand that these kids see you as a role model and for them to play a significant role in their community  all starts when they step foot on the ball field. I am here in Calgary to play baseball for the University of Calgary. I am not here just for myself; I am here to learn so I can share what I have learned with the players at home.  To be viewed upon the community as an individual who will one day play an even more important role in the association.

    In order for a community to be successful means there needs to be leaders and followers. It is vivid who are the leaders and followers in my community but what makes the baseball community so strong is the identification of each person’s role. One needs to realize that even if you are a leader or a follower that everyone plays a role that benefits the community as a whole. The successes and failures have made us stronger and I am proud to say that I have been apart of this community basically my entire life.

 2009 - Myself on the right with a broken ankle, next to some future Major Leaguers.