PGO Families,

It has been my pleasure to lead Piedmont Gymnastics Organization. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your President these last 2 years. I look back with so much pride at the good works we have accomplished together. I could not have asked for a more supportive membership and Board of Directors, and I treasure the friendships I have cultivated with each one of you.

As we look towards the future, you each play a fundamental role in shaping this organization! Parent volunteers are the core of the PGO, and are crucial to Southeastern’s formula for team success. Hopefully, as the pandemic draws to an end, the PGO will once again reach 99%+ gymnast family volunteer participation.

Despite the pandemic, or possibly because of it, the opportunities for PGO volunteers to give with their hands and their hearts this year have been plentiful. We are indebted to the volunteers who have supported the PGO mission and have played integral roles in a wide variety of areas. It has been said that volunteers are not paid, simply put, because they are priceless. Thank you to each and every one of you!

I would like to take a moment to offer special recognition to a special volunteer for Outstanding Volunteerism:
Rachel Keenan, mother of Karstyn Keenan (rising Optional level 9)
Rachel has served on the PGO Board of Directors for the last 5 consecutive years, serving as Compulsory Team Coordinator for 3 years, and PGO Vice President for 2 years. I don’t think anyone could have predicted that Rachel would be asked to tackle 3 hosted meets this year alone. Thank you, Rachel! Your leadership and guidance will be sorely missed on the PGO Board of Directors next season.

I would also like to offer further recognition for: Rachel Keenan, Lisa Brienza, and Megan Ross. The Coaches offered these ladies payment for their camera services and coach support at the NC Optional State Meet. They have requested all such payments to be used towards the establishment of a scholarship fund in honor of Coach Ludmilla, “The Shobe Fund”. This fund shall be applied towards Southeastern team gymnasts in financial need.

I am going to ask each one of our families to consider how you might offer your hands or your hearts next season — to act with charity and purpose in mind- and sometimes at the sacrifice of personal convenience. The PGO Board of Directors invite each of you to get involved in our volunteer community. And we thank you in advance for all of the help your hands and your heart can offer. We have a fantastic set of people leading from the front on next season’s Board of Directors. I am excited to see where we go from here!



~Dan Brienza
PGO President, Sept 2019- June 2021
personal contact information: dcbrienza@yahoo.com

Time is not measured by the years that you live
But by the deeds that you do and the joy that you give-
And each day as it comes brings a chance to each one
To love to the fullest, leaving nothing undone
That would brighten the life or lighten the load
Of some weary traveler lost on Life’s Road-
So what does it matter how long we may live
If as long as we live we unselfishly give.
— Helen Steiner Rice