Community teamwork helped make soccer trip possible

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful community for support they afforded our team in our efforts to travel to Europe this last July. In a town where small businesses are constantly being asked to support our youth, these same businesses once again stepped forward to sponsor our trip to Czech Republic and Holland.

It is with extreme gratitude that I say thanks to the following businesses and individuals: Ben Franklin, Big Mountain Ski and Summer Resort, Blacktail Ski Resort, Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Food Pavilion, Glacier Wholesalers, Kent Taylor and the Flathead Ski Foundation, Montana Coffee Traders, the Glacier Nordic Patrol, Rocky Mountain Images, Runner-Up Sports, Safeway, Ski Mountain Sports, Stillwater Photography, Tidyman's, the Whitefish Youth Opportunity Corp., Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Dodson, Mr. and Mrs. Hayden Eaves, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Goquen, Mr. and Mrs. William Kelsey, Mr. and Mrs. Tom LaChance, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Weinberg and Mr. and Mrs. Dick Wright. If there are any I forgotten, I apologize.

I would also like to thank our local soccer organizations, the Whitefish Youth Soccer Association and the Glacier United Soccer Club for their support in this endeavor. Special thanks to Laura Strong, administrator, and Linda Hobbs, president. Without your help, this never could have happened.

My personal thanks goes out to my 15 players and their parents who have trusted me as a coach and a mentor. Your faith in me means as much as my own parents'. With your support, this trip had only one destination — success.

Roland Franks

Coach, Glacier United U-15 Girls