BELC Members,
We hope this holiday season finds you all in good health and ready to watch many Excelsior alumni play and coach when the NLL kicks off this weekend.
Over the next few weeks, we, the duly elected BELC Board of Directors, will be sending correspondence with factual details of the events that led to the transfer of the Major team in 2018, and more specifically what has been circulated since the announcement that Mr Joe Norton wished to relocate his Major franchise in late 2020.
In this initial correspondence we would like to address the question of which Board is legitimate and recognized by the OLA to govern the affairs of the BELC.
We are aware that an internal communication went out to the OLA Board of Directors and Staff to clarify this matter. Further to that communication, on Nov 4th at the OLA Board of Governors meeting, President Jim Leworthy, went on record and stated that as was circulated to the Board, the only recognized Executive is the current BELC Board. Normally, only a list of clubs that are entitled to vote at the OLA AGM is read out by sector. To verify that they were approved by the current BELC Board, the individual names of the registered voting delegates of the BELC programs was also read out. All BELC delegates who attended the OLA AGM on Nov 6th were afforded voting privileges, whereas two members of ELLA who presented themselves as voting members were denied access to the meeting by Ron MacSpadyen (OLA Acting Executive Director) and Jim Leworthy (OLA President).
Our goal is, and always has been, to promote the game of lacrosse in Brampton and grow the greatest game. We are fortunate to have been given the gift of lacrosse. Our hope is that these communications will allow you to gain a better understanding, as we move forward, working together to steward a positive BELC environment for everyone.
Gary Groob has been involved with Lacrosse for the majority of his life, whether playing, coaching, or covering the sport for the media.
An avid fan, with a real drive about helping to “grow the game”, Gary became part of podcasts about the game in 2010. Through the podcasts, Mr. Groob was given an opportunity to write about lacrosse, and the rest as they say, is history.
Through many miles (flying and driving) Gary has made inroads with the National Lacrosse League, Major Series Lacrosse League, the Ontario Lacrosse Association, as well as the Arena Lacrosse League, covering the leagues, their teams, and players, working for, and in concert with all of them.
In the year 2020, Mr. Groob was made the media person for the Arena Lacrosse League, voted onto the board of directors of the Brampton Excelsiors Lacrosse Club, as well as being made administrator of the Lacrosse page “Global Lacrosse” with a membership of 9000 members in over 90 Countries. Gary was also made an administrator of Lacrosse History Past Present and Future in 2022.
Mr. Groob co-hosts a weekly Lacrosse show on Spanglish Sports World, and ZingoTV channel 250, as well as writes a weekly lacrosse column for La Portada Canada News (both in print, and online).
Gary also hosts a Lacrosse talk show and podcast for The Edge of Philly Sports Network, seen live Sunday nights at 9pm (ET), and archived on the Edge of Philly YouTube page, as well as Spotify.
Mr. Groob’s other sports interests include Hockey, Football, Boxing, Wrestling, and Baseball, competing competitively in Boxing and Wrestling for many years.
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