Irene: 40 years of management and belonging in Santa Barbara

Irene’s story in Santa Barbara is the chronicle of a passion that is inherited. After 40 years as a member, her presence in the stands represents the continuity of a bond that began with her daughters and today extends to her grandchildren. For her, the club is not only a sports space, but an axis that articulates family life over time. “I came to see my daughters and now I come to see my grandchildren. It is a passion that is passed from generation to generation. I never played hockey, but my daughters started and now my grandchildren play; “It’s another generation of Santa Barbara.”

The management that transformed the infrastructure

Irene’s time on the Board of Directors for almost ten years marked a milestone in the modernization of the club. From key roles such as the treasury and the secretary, he was part of the work team that promoted avant-garde works for the time, positioning Santa Bárbara as a benchmark in the La Plata region. “I was treasurer and secretary, I spent almost all of my youth here. Our board of directors made the first water court in the City of La Plata and the first sand court, back in 2000. I owe a lot to the club.

For those who have managed the resources and organization of a sports entity, the club’s vision transcends the strictly competitive. Irene highlights the social and pedagogical function of the institution, understanding it as a fundamental pillar in non-formal education and in the construction of support networks. “The life of the club is fundamental. It is a way of education, of living together. It teaches you to have colleagues, to be able to collaborate with the team and to be supportive.. My daughters have their friends here and they played for so long; For all that, the club is fundamental,” said the historic member of the Gonnet group.