NORTH CONWAY — What do Cooper Cargill Chant partners Chris Meier and Dennis Morgan share in common, besides a law office and legal expertise? You can find them both most Monday and Thursday afternoons this time of year on the fields behind Kennett Middle School, dedicating their time and talents to coaching Mount Washington Valley Lacrosse Club teams. Attorney Meier coaches the fifth and sixth grade girls’ team and Attorney Morgan coaches the fifth and sixth grade boys’ team. The MWV Lacrosse Club serves the youth of SAU No. 9 and No. 13 plus Fryeburg, Maine.
What began as a parental interest (both men coach their own children’s teams) has since grown into an interest in supporting the sport of Lacrosse for all student athletes in the area, and both now also serve on the Board of the Club.
According to Morgan, it’s all part of their firm’s philosophy of giving back to the community. “We’re coaching our own kids, but we’re also doing it because it’s important for everyone in our office to volunteer. It’s nice that it matches up with a family interest too.”
Meier added, “We’ve decided as a firm to require that all attorneys volunteer time in the community, and we encourage our staff to do the same. The attorneys each serve on two or more local non-profit boards, and practice-wide we serve on more than 20 boards. By having each Cooper Cargill Chant team member dedicate time to a non-profit and mission in which they believe, the goal is that our collective legal experience and enthusiasm can enrich the community in which we live and practice law as well as by.”
The Club organizes and runs youth and club lacrosse teams in the Mount Washington Valley and supports the Kennett Eagles High School Lacrosse teams. The club has been around for many years and was founded originally with a goal to build a youth program to support high school varsity programs. The Club is actively working to get the high school girls’ program recognized as a varsity program.
Meier started the girls’ elementary level teams two years ago, and now, including all age levels, there are 50 participating. Earlier this year, he joined the organization’s board to further help grow the girls’ program. He shared, “There is no shortage of girls who want to compete. Our goal is to get it to a varsity level at Kennett, and continue the reliable feeder program at the elementary and middle school levels.” The girls’ team is following the successful example of the boys’ team, which has been recognized as a varsity sport for over 5 years. Morgan states, “It’s growing in popularity and getting better and better. It’s been great having the youth program feed into the varsity program. Lacrosse is the fastest growing team sport and the oldest team sport in North America.”
Morgan and Meier kicked off practice for the lacrosse season in early April, and games for the program started on April 30.
The boy’s youth programs have now grown to include four teams ranging from third through eighth grade. The Kennett Eagles Boys Lacrosse teams are KHS sanctioned varsity and JV teams that compete in Division 22 NHIAA. The girls high school club team (grades 8-12) plays games against both public and private schools in the area. The club also has a co-ed K-2 to introduce younger kids to the sport as well. The club strives to make it a fun yet disciplined program for all participants. Their belief is that lacrosse is not just a game but a sport that combines athletic skill, intelligent decision making, encourages teamwork and teaches life lessons as well.
Those wishing to learn more about the Club can go to their website: www.mwvlax.com.
Cooper Cargill Chant is the largest law firm north of the lakes region in New Hampshire. With its main office in North Conway, Cooper Cargill Chant lawyers have over 150 years of experience. Cooper Cargill Chant attorneys are recognized leaders of the N.H. Bar Association, have chaired the Boards of the N.H. Bar Association, the N.H. Association for Justice, and the N.H. Bar Foundation. Their lawyers have won numerous awards for their representation of clients throughout New Hampshire, including awards for legal service to the poor, for work in domestic violence cases, in helping form and develop businesses, and in personal injury work. For more information, visit them online at www.coopercargillchant.com or call (603) 356-5439.
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