Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
NEW JAMAICA Volleyball Association (JVA) president Patricia Garel has already acquired a permanent home for her secretariat.
The sports marketing consultant, made popular by her handling of Reggae Boy Onandi Lowe, became the new president of the JVA at the weekend with her first agenda to find a home for the sport.
Since gaining the post she has already been promised half of the old police station at the National Stadium for her organisation.
Garel and the JVA have also received donations of furniture for the office which is currently under renovation and is scheduled to be up and running within the next two weeks.
During the AGM on the weekend, international referee candidate Leighton Cummings was asked to remain as the officials manager, while competitions' manager Oneil Ebanks also retained his position.
APPOINTMENT
Other executives are scheduled to be appointed at a later date.
The constitution of the JVA has also changed, with three executive vice presidents coming into the fold.
The three vice presidents will be in charge of marketing and promotions, sponsorship, techni-cal co-ordination and national team co-ordination.
Garel's administration also has the mandate of finding sponsorship for its 2005-06 national season.
The season will be highlighted of course by the preparation of the national teams for the Senior Caribbean Championships.
However, Garel says she is not limiting herself to these goals, as the sport of volleyball "has much further to grow".
PLACE TO PLAY
With that in mind, she said she will be on a drive to ensure that each parish has a place to play the sport.
"Volleyball was popular and I don't think it is over ambitious to think it can be that way again," said Garel.
Garel also thinks that her job as a sports marketing consultant affiliated with Logosports will provide volleyball with opportunities in the area of sports tourism - in particular beach volleyball.
Garel is also planning a retreat with the members of her executive where they will lay out plans for the sustenance of what she calls "a vibrant association".
