Letters to the Editor 02/02/2011

To the Editor:

In response to the "Gym and field space at a premium in Sisters" article in the January 26 Nugget, some issues need to be addressed. What is the article really about and what is an "outside club" supposed to mean? Why would "outsiders" want to come all the way to Sisters and use the facilities?

The truth is these "outsiders" are 11- to 13-year-old girls from Sisters that have chosen a fantastic opportunity to try out for and participate in the Rimrock Club Volleyball program.

The Rimrock Volleyball Club in Sisters is for the children of taxpaying Sisters residents and is coached by taxpaying members of the Sisters community.

This Rimrock Club is open to all to try out and offers clinics to all at no charge.

In addition, the Rimrock Club facilitated the installation of $4,500 worth of quality, removable and portable equipment and nets for all to use, at no charge to the community.

The only thing outside about the club is the name, and as taxpayers the club has the same rights to use our town's public facilities as any other organization in Sisters.

Having said that, Rimrock has always yielded to any other organization's schedule. The club intentionally chose the elementary school gym to practice in to be as unobtrusive as possible. In addition, the Club went out of its way to avoid scheduling conflicts with any other group, especially in-season school-sponsored teams.

We are grateful to have a choice in our town. It is competition that holds one to a higher standard and for that all will reap the benefits. Rimrock Club Volleyball comes along with a proven, successful program. What is wrong with welcoming new and/or competing programs to our community?

Not to mention these girls will be playing for Sisters High School soon. The carping about gym time seems more about resistance to a new club than an actual capacity problem. Many much larger towns have fewer and certainly older facilities than our town does. We are very fortunate to have these multiple well-maintained facilities in town.

Furthermore, if some athletic fields need maintenance, then let's schedule a community work day.

Either Mr. Yoder, the author, was lured into this article, is unaware of the real issue at play, or he has taken a side and has an agenda. Whatever the case, I encourage Mr. Yoder and all involved to look at all sides.

Eric and Julie Knirk