By Mary-Justine Lanyon
At Rim of the World High School, there are 15 sports programs but there have been only five booster clubs.
In their monthly meetings, the Rim High coaches had expressed the desire to explore the possibility of creating a schoolwide booster system. Shelley Black – the former cheer coach and a community business owner – began reaching out to community members to form a board of what is being called the Rim Athletic Association.
Such an association would provide support to all the athletes and level the fundraising playing field.
At the March 14, 2024, meeting of the Rim board of trustees, Rim High Principal Brian Willemse and Athletic Director Ryan Reisbord had presented the idea of a unified booster club. The idea, they said, was to put all the sports “under one umbrella, creating more equity across sports.” Some of the existing booster clubs – like boys basketball – are huge while others – like volleyball – are nonexistent.
This single entity, Reisbord said, “would connect all stakeholders seamlessly. Fall sports are the first to the well in the community, asking for help.” What the winter and springs sports hear from the businesses, he noted, is that they would love to help but they have already donated.
Educational Services then sought approval of the Rim Athletic Association bylaws on the consent calendar at the April 18, 2024, meeting of the Rim board of trustees. There was considerable input from parents, coaches and trustees on both sides of the matter.
Trustee Bill Mellinger wondered how many of the existing booster clubs had participated in creating the bylaws and in the discussion of having a single booster club. “Right now,” he said, “I’m not hearing unity in the voice.” His suggestion was to table the matter and give time for the various clubs to participate in the discussion.
The board voted unanimously to table the matter until “there is conversation with the various booster clubs prior to the May 16 board meeting when they will report on the review of the bylaws.”
Following the April 18 meeting, Principal Willemse sent a letter to Rim High coaches and parents, inviting them to participate in individual sports meetings as well as a forum for parents. He provided a Q&A sheet answering questions like what the association is, how it was formed, why such a move is being considered, how the bylaws were written and how parents will be involved.
The matter was brought back on the consent calendar at the May 16, 2024, school board meeting.
“The idea has been around for a long time,” said Trustee Cindy Gardner, adding the unified association would allow for “more equitable fund distribution and meet the needs of each sport.”
Trustee Dana Ridland said that she was “amazed you’re able to get all the athletic organizations together.”
Mellinger wondered about input from parents. “I would hope the parents would help,” Shelley Black said. “You don’t have to sit on the board to help.”
The board approved the bylaws by a vote of 4-0 with Mellinger abstaining.
The RAA is an outside organization, run independently of the school, but with the school’s permission. Under the California Education Code, any school-connected organization cannot legally operate without the written approval of the district’s governing board.
Jaime Stianson, whose son plays football, made a presentation on the Rim Athletic Association at the Nov. 13, 2024, meeting of the Mountain Sunrise Rotary Club.
Their mission, she explained, is “to foster an environment that inspires athletes, students, coaches, parents and the community to collectively create a positive and spirited atmosphere for all athletic programs. Our focus is to help build academic excellence, strong moral character and physical conditioning through community involvement, fundraising, mentoring and the five pillars of Rim PRIDE.”
Those five pillars are Positive, Ready, Involved, Determined, Excellent.
She listed 18 sports the RAA supports: baseball, boys basketball, girls basketball, cheer, boys tennis, girls tennis, cross country, football, golf, mountain biking, track and field, boys volleyball, girls volleyball, ski and snowboard, boys soccer, girls soccer, softball and wrestling.
Of the 897 students enrolled at Rim High, Stianson said, about one-third play a sport. The average enrollment at other schools in Rim’s conference is 2,111. Despite Rim’s smaller size, in the 2023-2024 school year Rim came in first place as league champions in five different sports. The average GPA for Rim’s student athletes participating in fall sports is 3.67.
For a school of this size, she noted, “this is a huge accomplishment and testament to the dedication of our coaches, community and students.”
Last fall the RAA held its first Hall of Fame induction. That first class included Greg War, Marcie Van Dusen, Jill Whitney Lawler, Bill Dickson, Linda Pattison and John Beresford.
They have several fundraising events planned: a golf tournament, casino night and a gala. Scots apparel is always available for sale and there are advertising opportunities on the scoreboard and the website. Members of the community and local businesses are invited to become members.
Shelley Black is currently serving as president of the Rim Athletic Association. The board and standing committees meet monthly. General meetings will be held twice a year.
More information is available by contacting RAA through its website, www.rimaa.com.
0 Comments