August 10, 2006

Almaden, Cambrian Business Associations play games

By Carol Rosen
Staff Writer

It was the perfect day for a softball game and a picnic, but no one expected a slaughter of epic proportions. That’s what happened though when the Almaden Business Association slaughtered the Cambrian Business Association with a four-inning score of 25 to 8.

The winners take a break for a picture. Almaden Business Association members pose around their sponsor sign. From left are Dave Roche, Rich Crowley, Lori Adam, Jack Campbell, Rich De La Rosa, Cathy Cassetta, Carole Edman, Doug Keller, Dan, Rachael and Jim Kabel, Jim Young, Pete Bucter and Stan Hronik.

The Almaden group was exacting revenge, however, for the first annual softball game when Cambrian beat them. And, the Cambrian team was a bit short-handed.

The annual event, which started last year, was the brainchild of Almaden’s then-vice president Dave Roche and Cambrian’s then-president Gil Zamora. The latter group was just starting out, and the two thought it would be a good method of networking in a different way than a mixer.

The two groups had so much fun, they decided to make it an annual event, said Cathy Cassetta, who is program chair this year and was president of the Almaden business group last year. Cassetta works with the Tabard Theatre Company.

But it’s not just fun and games. The ABA turned the party into a fund-raiser. At first, it was just to finance the event, but when the funds raised surpassed the expenses, the group decided to give something back to the community.

The money raised, about $200 after expenses, will be donated to a public school—chosen at random—from the Almaden area.

“We have a commitment to help the community,” said Cassetta. “We decided to pick a school out of a hat. It can be any one of the public schools in Almaden. We have a lot of schools and they are all equally deserving of the money.”

After the game, the Almaden team had a short meeting during which they decided to pass the hat and collect money for Boy Scout Troop 200’s Eagle Project. “It’s a beautification project at the Almaden Post Office on Crown,” said Rich De La Rosa, ABA president. “We’ll be taking them food and drinks.”

ABA sponsors included Keller Williams, Ventura Barnett Prop-erties, Lori Adam CPA, Ken Bryant, Allstate Insurance, Tabard Theatre Company, HR Managers To Go, Doug Keller Marketing Consultant, Case Handyman and Remodeling, Signs By Tomorrow and Time and Payroll Services.