Palos Baseball Organization

News Detail

28

Apr, 2023

2023 President's Message

“You always get a kick out of Opening Day, no matter how many you go through.
You look forward to it like a birthday party when you’re a kid. You think something
wonderful is going to happen today” – Joe DiMaggio

To the Friends and Families of PBO,
Since becoming a PBO Board Member in 2018, and then being able to be
President since 2021, I was determined to help PBO grow stronger than it has ever
been and with the changes in leadership I knew that we needed to find volunteers
who are exceptional people and passionate about helping the community. Since
the 2021 season, the league has added many dedicated trustees that all believe in
what our program can do for the community. They also knew that our league
needed to adapt to fit the needs of the Baseball world around us. The spark of
energy and determination that they have has brought Palos Baseball Organization
to where it is today, which has been called the “Gold Standard of Youth Baseball.”

PBO wants to provide a home for all levels of Baseball players, with a new motto
of “Making PBO so much fun that the players and families will not want to leave”
(quote from current Trustee Jon Freeman). This impactful statement has become
the driving force behind our league.

Plenty can be said about the way Baseball affects the lives of all who have
dedicated their time to playing, coaching, or spectating this great game. The
game of Baseball provides unlimited life lessons. Regardless of the level at which
you are involved, the most important part is the character that is displayed. Being
a good person, teammate, or leader is what PBO expects from our players. We
have these same expectations from our coaches and fans. While the games are
competitive and the desire for success will escalate, we as coaches and parents
must remember that we are responsible for our actions.

Thankfully, we have a community that is passionate for our Baseball league and
has provided us with a welcoming environment. From Opening Day, to the
numerous events (Parade, Diamond Days, Surprise Cookouts, Fundraising Events)
held at our fields, and all the way through the championship games, our
community makes this all an unforgettable experience!

We currently have (25) Trustees on our Board, all of which donate their time and
energy to doing everything you see at our beautiful fields. From January through

December, we are striving to make sure our Baseball league is operating at its
highest potential. While the City of Palos Heights has been a wonderful partner in
the growth of our league and has offered their help when needed, they allow us
to operate as an independent organization. Our Trustees maintain the fields and
grounds, manage the concession stand, schedule our games, and do all the other
things that make our league run smoothly throughout the season. The City of
Palos Heights places trust in our Board to keep the complex in pristine condition.

The giving spirit of those that believe in PBO has been remarkable. The response
to the efforts of our sponsorship committee can be seen in the improvements that
we have been able to make throughout our Baseball complex. You will find
sponsorship signs throughout the complex of local businesses and people who
have been involved both past and present as major contributors in our league.
Please continue to support these local businesses. Their generosity is GREATLY
appreciated and will never be overlooked!

In closing, I cannot thank this community enough for the comments I hear when it
comes to the efforts of our PBO Volunteer Board of Trustees. I’ve had numerous
people say that it is a “thankless job,” but I actually feel the opposite. Throughout
this journey, I have met an amazing group of people that I now call my friends. I
am thankful for this Baseball community, and have been able to watch my (3) boys
grow to love the game of Baseball. I will appreciate this experience for the rest of
my life. I wish you all a great Baseball season and hope that you will be able to
make memories with your Baseball friends and family that will last a lifetime!

Sincerely,
Tom Haseman
President of PBO