Longtime Volunteer Burt Wilkes Honored as Personality of the Month in Eastern New York
New York Youth Soccer News: Burt has traveled thousands of miles in the past two months, all as a soccer volunteer
The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Burt Wilkes is being honored as our Personality of the Month for August. This is far from the first honor for the longtime volunteer as Burt was inducted into the Eastern New York Hall of Fame in 2012 as well as the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) Hall of Fame a year later.
“Youth soccer volunteers know that if you need something done, you call on Burt Wilkes so I am delighted that we are honoring him as Personality of the Month for always being there to help others,” commented Eastern New York President Richard Christiano.
Burt became involved with the CJSL’s Silver Lake Soccer Club in 1991 and served the club as President, Vice President and Trustee. He was the assistant coach and team administrator of the Silver Lake Rams, who won two State Cup championships at Boys-Under-17 and Boys-Under-19 with losing in the final at Boys-Under-18 in-between their two State Cups.
While with Silver Lake, the Rossville, Staten Island resident became part of the CJSL Board of Directors, then volunteered for six years as CJSL President. He was the driving force behind the CJSL opening a full-time office, negotiated partnerships with corporations and was instrumental in CJSL girls teams playing in other Eastern New York leagues as guest teams while the CJSL accepted guest teams from other leagues.
Burt also volunteered as the First, Second, Third and Fourth Vice President of Eastern New York as well as Trustee. He served as Chairperson of Eastern New York’s Olympic Development Program (ODP) as well as Commissioner of the Eastern New York Premier League (ENYPL).
Burt was the boys soccer coach at Moore Catholic High School for five years, coaching the Mavericks to the B Division championship in 2001, plus he coached football at McKee/SI Tech for four seasons.
Recently, Mr. August has been promoted to a more national role as a committee member of the United States Youth Soccer Association’s ODP. Last year, he was elected Vice Chair of Region 1, covering youth soccer from Maine to Virginia and West Virginia. In this role as second in command, he also serves as Chairperson of the Eastern Regional League.
Burt somehow finds the time to remain active as a trusted volunteer with Eastern New York, still serving on the State Cup committee and Arbitration Board, and continuing to tirelessly volunteer for the New York Chapter of the American Red Cross.
In the past two months alone, Burt has travelled to the Hudson Valley for the State Open Cup finals, to West Virginia for Regionals and to Texas for Nationals, all as a soccer volunteer.
Congratulations to Mr. August, Burt Wilkes.
Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association: With over 100,000 youth soccer players–both boys and girls–and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 11 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators.
All levels of soccer are offered–from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer Association.
