Letters to the Editor

To the Editor:

I have heard a couple complaints about our large group running for queen and want to make sure everyone knows AAU (local girls middle school aged basketball club) is trying our best to manage such a large group of girls in the royalty race. Since this is just one of the two times a large group has run, there is a learning curve. We are listening to the public’s concerns and suggestions and are managing the team accordingly. We have split up the girls and gave them all their own area of town to knock on doors so households are not hit up multiple times and we are splitting up the phone book calling for donations. We are in this “race” to raise money for Wrangell’s fourth and for our kid’s basketball program. AAU parents and kids support both AAU and Kimberly - we’re all in this together. Please call me if you have any complaints - I want to hear them so we can make this a good experience for everyone. Please remember we are doing this for the kids and for Wrangell (you).

Penny Allen

To the Editor:

I saw running for Fourth of July Queen as a chance for Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) to raise money and as a way to give back to the Community of Wrangell.

It all started around 2004-05 with a program called “Little Dribblers,” a program for elementary children run through the Parks and Rec Program. It was started due to a love for the sport of basketball and also a way to build a continuing basketball program for Wrangell’s youth. Little Dribblers was the brain child and a group effort of Gary and Carly Allen, Penny Early and Tracy Allen due to their love of basketball and a desire to see Wrangell’s Youth grow and be successful. Little Dribblers is a winter program that lasts six weeks for Kindergarten-2nd Grade to learn the basics of basketball. Parks and Rec has a Youth Basketball Program that starts in the fall for youth 3rd-6th grades.

Three of my daughters have been fortunate to start playing basketball beginning with Little Dribblers. Gary, Carly, Penny and Tracy did not stop volunteering their time and energy with Little Dribblers but continued with the Parks and Rec Basketball Program.

With a desire to see the ladies basketball program thrive in Wrangell, yet another youth basketball program was launched. By joining AAU our middle school girls (age ranging 11-14 years old) can play basketball with other AAU members such as Sitka, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Hoonah and Juneau. AAU is just completing their second year here in Wrangell, which brought in outside dollars in our community during some of the slowest times of the year for our local businesses. AAU also traveled to Juneau for their big tournament. This was of no little expense. Our girls raised money throughout the school year. They received a matching grant from First Bank, raised money for Hannah’s Place, Local Salvation Army Food Bank and a big screen TV Raffle. This bought uniforms, shooting shirts, warm ups and allowed them to travel to Juneau and pay the cost for joining AAU.

I particularly have a “sweet spot” for Wrangell’s 4th of July. Having run for 4th of July Queen myself, ticket managing, pulling staples the evening of July 3rd with other volunteers, starting the event Tiny Tot Scrap Fish Derby, and my last volunteer work - 4th of July Parade Chairman.

I thought as a parent of AAU girls we could teach our team of girls to give back to the community, which gives their support through the basketball season by having the team raise funds for Wrangell’s 4th of July by selling tickets. We are teaching them to give. The money they raise will help with tournament travel, buy more uniforms and our dues that keeps us in AAU. AAU will receive 30% of ticket sales (that they sell) after the first 1000 they sell.

Yes, we are a team of 19 girls and parents. Some Wrangellites have expressed in more than one way how “unfair” it is for us to be “running against” one girl. Let’s please get this straight. We are not. We are running as a group. Wrangell Chamber of Commerce only has one candidate for Queen, Kimberly Cooper. She has no competition, no other single girl is running. AAU is running with Kimberly to raise money for Wrangell’s 4th of July. How fair is that I may ask you, to put on one girl the total money for next year’s 4th of July? In my opinion that in itself is a hardship and cruel.

So, Wrangellites, when called upon to donate food items, please be kind and don’t hang up on our girls. Please don’t slam the door in their faces when asked to buy tickets. Please remember your manners as the youth are helping Wrangell Chamber of Commerce and you to have a splendid, fun filled 4th of July.

A special note of thanks to Wayne Easterly, Gary and Carly Allen, Penny Early and Tracy Allen for all your support and vision of what Wrangell Ladies Basketball can be. Thank you Miss Laurie Brown for “jumping on board” to further our endeavor to bring consistency to the Wrangell Basketball program.

Heidi Stokes-Armstrong

To The Editor:

After seeing your article about “It’s a Royal Rumble” I felt compelled to write this letter.

I was very saddened to see that the Chamber of Commerce is allowing what is shown to be a very unfair race. Since when would the Chamber of Commerce choose to change the fairness of such a great event? This event was always about a “Queen” not a group of “Queens”.

The definition of ‘Queen’ at Dictionary.com is as follows: noun, 1. a female sovereign or monarch, 2. the wife or consort of a king, 3. a woman, or something personified as a woman, that is foremost or preeminent in any respect: a movie queen; a beauty queen; Athens, the queen of the Aegean.

This statement below was copied from the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce.

“The 4th of July Royalty Contest is a long standing tradition in Wrangell which started back in 1950. Though it was traditionally started as a way for high school age girls to earn money for college; it has now evolved into a contest that is open to any male or female individual, youth, married couple, friends, church, club or organization.”

Since when should a 4th of July Queen contest be changed to include more than 1 individual? You know what, I can understand the contest changing to Queen or King.... but let’s be real here... a group of people. What fairness is this to other contestants that are trying to carry on the tradition that started back in the 50’s? This event was traditionally started as a way for high school age girls to earn money for college and was so great for those that needed this financial help to further their education. It looks like the Chamber of Commerce is more interested in how much money that will be raised other than the tradition and fairness of such competition.

My sisters and I have all been involved in this event many years ago and it had taught us so much. The more people you have working to sell tickets the more likely that you are going to win. That is why your team helping you in this event is so important. You are taught all about teamwork and how much success you will have any time there is a team effort. This event was always about hard work and the willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty.

Why would the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce change the opportunity for an individual to raise much needed finances to go to college into something that is unfair and just about the money? You tell me how sad is that.

Jaqulyn Mansfield