FOLLOWING the formation of two parish associations in January, the Jamaica Volleyball Association (JaVA) continues with

its programme of institutional strengthening by welcoming yet another member to its family, the St Elizabeth Volleyball Association (SEVA).

The new parish association was commissioned during a meeting held at the Santa Cruz Primary and Junior High School on Thursday. The interim executive committee comprises Dietrich Chistie (president), Omar Thomas (general secretary), Suellen Blake (treasurer) and Tatyana Fiddis (public relations officer). JaVA’s western region co-ordinator Haile Mika’el will serve as an ex-officio member.

The meeting was chaired by JaVA president, Rudolph Speid, who charged the newest affiliates to perform their duties diligently and within the constitution of JaVA.

“JaVA currently has only a small footprint in St Elizabeth through the primary-level school programme, your job will be to not only expand the reach of this programme, but to establish and expand our reach in the secondary level schools and at the community level,” he said.

JaVA, in its push to transform volleyball into a major sport in Jamaica, is on a drive to establish associations in all 14 parishes by the end of 2015 to enable the national body to increase its capacity to administer volleyball and beach volleyball across the island.

Speid also disclosed that the vast growth potential that these parish associations present will result in a commensurate demand for equipment to support this growth. JaVA currently receives an allocation of equipment from NORCECA Volleyball Confederation, but the JaVA president noted that the need was already greater than the allocation before the formation of these parish associations. The need for sponsorship support, Speid noted, is urgent.