A week after Sundre town councillors voted to reject a $350 fee waiver request from the Swing For Charity Sno-Pitch tournament for use of three Sundre ball diamonds, tournament supporters have taken to Facebook to try to bring in the cash.
During last week's regularly scheduled town council meeting, councillors defeated a motion calling for the waiver of the fee for the March 2-3 community fundraising tournament.
During the meeting, Mayor Annette Clews said the fees are needed to help maintain the diamonds for all users.
“It's time they (Swing For Charity) start reinvesting back to the ball diamonds,” said Clews. Councillors Patricia Toone and Paul Isaac were not present during the vote, which passed unanimously.
After news of the motion was published in the Feb. 14 Sundre Round Up, Facebook users starting to put out the call for donations to cover the additional fee. Here are some of the comments posted before press time Friday:
• I challenge everyone to donate a small amount of money, even if it's just tomorrow's cup of coffee and we will do what we can to pay for the rental of these ball diamonds and the rental of the Sundre Community Centre. Remember, your donation does not have to be huge. Every bit counts.
• I will donate money for the fee and maybe other people will too.
• Let's see what we can do.
In a letter to town council, organizing committee member Kim Comfort said waiving the fee would be “an important part of the tournament and allows for the committee to disburse greater funds to local charities.”
The diamond rent fee had been waived for the Swing for Charity tournament for the previous six years.
The town of Sundre has invited Swing for Charity organizers to attend the Feb. 27 council meeting, Wanda Watson-Neufeld, director of corporate services, said Friday.
This year's Swing for Charity tournament is raising money for four groups: Sundre Fire and Rescue Society, Sundre Skatepark project, Sundre Hospital and Emergency Care Centre, and Sundre Playschool.
Sno-pitch organizing committee member and spokesperson Dallas Rosevear said the tournament will be going ahead as planned next month.
