Eagles Club contributes $50K to new gymnasium

The New Rockford Eagles Club made a big donation to the second gymnasium project this month. The two presentations made by Superintendent Jill Louters and fundraising committee members had quite an impression on the board members, and as a result they contributed $50,000 to the project.

As we reported last week, approximately $365,000 in donations have poured in for the gymnasium over the past nine months, which includes the Eagles' contribution.

I sat down with six members of the Eagles Club's board of trustees this past week to talk about what they see as the biggest reasons why they have so generously donated to this project. They had a lot to say, and their responses reflected a desire to see growth and improvement in the community.

Board member Dennis Nybo, who is also the New Rockford Park District manager, said the park district looks forward to using the new facility to host larger basketball tournaments, including their annual New Rockford Classic youth tournament. Having the extra gymnasium will make it possible to play more games and offer more flexible scheduling, ultimately attracting more teams, Nybo asserted. They would also like to organize other youth events, including volleyball tournaments and archery shoots, and the extra gym space will allow them to do so without interfering with the high school teams that need practice time.

In addition, adult activities including sports leagues, cornhole tournaments and other special events are on the horizon and could become a reality with the new facility.

"The New Rockford Park District will always support any community improvement that will make things better for our kids," Nybo said.

Eagles President Mike Yri said he appreciates the committee's approach to funding the project, as the goal of seeking donations is to eliminate the tax burden of construction. Each contribution the project receives brings them closer to the reality of building the gym without using taxpayer funds.

Jon Heinz, whose two athletic daughters have attended many early morning and late evening practices over the years, said the extra space will make scheduling easier for families. He specifically noted how some athletes who live in the country now travel 25-30 miles in the dark to make it to 6 a.m. practices.

During the school day, the second space will provide elementary students a place to have recess when the weather isn't conducive to outdoor play. The school will also be able to hold physical education classes in the space at times when the gymnasium is set up or in use for other events such as prom and homecoming.

Brady Richter, the youngest of the members, concluded that "the ultimate goal is to grow the community." He thinks the facility will attract more young families to the community and school district.

The potential economic benefit should not be underestimated either, board members say. Each tournament, activity and game scheduled will draw people from out of town. They see visitors grabbing a bite to eat at local restaurants, having a drink at the Eagles Club and filling fuel at the local convenience stores.

Tubby Bymoen, who represents the second gym fundraising committee, is grateful for the support from the Eagles Club. In a recent letter to alumni and friends of NR-S, Tubby wrote, "Our enrollment is growing and we need more space to accommodate practices and event schedules. Activities that take place in our gym are PE, sports, archery, concerts, programs, walking clubs, community basketball, and NBA, and this list grows every year. A second gym will be an asset to our athletic program and provide us the opportunity to host events that will benefit our community. We are committed to raising the money for this structure through fundraising and possible donations, without increasing taxes!"