The Derby sports complex Indoor Recreation of Orleans County, known as IROC, shut its doors last spring. The complex went into foreclosure, and many locals were hoping it would reopen under new ownership, with a manageable debt load. But that didn't happen. Soon, the building will reopen as a Sticks & Stuff home and building supply store.
Phil White was executive director of the nonprofit IROC facility. In his last post on the IROC website, White pledged to keep some of the activities run through IROC going:
We turn over the keys to the facility at 5:00 pm, Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013. Our hope, that the facility can be purchased and continue to be run as a sports, fitness and recreation center that will continue to serve the entire community. The Summer Games will continue. First up is The Dandelion Run on May 18th, 2013.
And now White is preparing for a second post-IROC summer of activities. On December 23 he requested support from the Derby Select Board to help fund 39 days of summer activities. According to the meeting minutes, he's calling his new venture Kingdom Games:
Phil White has started a company called Kingdom Games to keep the summer events formerly attached to IROC alive and allow them to grow. They have expanded the offerings to 39 days including running, cycling, kayaking, skating, & swimming, and more. Expansion and recognition requires community support and volunteers.
White requested use the town's Beach House for the 2014 Dandelion Run on May 17, and Kingdom Triathlon in August. The minutes show he also asked for a $2,000 appropriation from the town.
It is important to ask for sponsorship from the towns to keep the fees low for local youth to participate in these opportunities. It is a motivational force. Phil intends to go around school by school to get the students organized to participate. Phil would like to keep the fees low, get youth to participate, and train. This is not a money making venture. The sponsorship allows more advertising. We’ve historically appropriated $2,000.00 per year to support the games as a benefit to Derby.
Select board member Laura Dolgin moved to appropriate $2,000, to support 39 recreation days "because this is a consistent model with previous IROC initiatives, that this is good for the local economy; this benefits our youth and local community, including our local charities."
Selectman Brian Smith suggested the board up the appropriation by $500 to support youth event vouchers. After discussion, select board member Steve Gendreau amended the motion to include a $10 sponsorship, up to $500, for each Derby youth signed up for the Dandelion Run.
The amended motion passed unanimously.
