I live in a town where I have the privilege of paying $17,000 in taxes to be a resident. In addition, I supplement those taxes through financial donations to various local civic and school organizations and volunteer much of my time.

One of my volunteer activities includes serving on the board of one of the town's youth sports organization. Most of our monthly meetings go late into the night as we plan the various programs, select the best volunteer coaches and draft the optimal teams. The other night, our board meeting was particularly long and emotional. A letter had been sent out to the public by a board member that criticized other board members and unearthed dark secrets from the past.

During the meeting, tempers flared, tears were held back, resignations offered, and others from the community attended to fan the fire. What instigated the volatile situation was an unfavorable letter from a parent of a child on a team that a Board Member coaches.

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Like many typical suburban children, my 8 year old is a veteran travel soccer team player and participates in many other sports and enrichment after school activities. When 3:00pm rolls around, however, she will miss anything to play a game called "Chunkis".

Haven't heard of Chunkis? Chunkis or "Wall Ball" is played by elementary aged boys and girls of all athletic abilities and ages. Any number of children can play and the game lasts as long as the children want it to or they can spare before Mom drags them away for their first after school activity.

Chunkis does not require manicured fields or brand new equipment. Chunkis requires a wall and a bouncy ball. Chunkis is preferably played in a confined dirty and dusty area, an area no suburban Real Estate Broker would brag about to a prospect looking to move to town. Participants run, catch and throw. Mind you, Chunkis has very specific rules, but only children fully know or understand them.

So, while I attend Board meetings where we adults try to orchestrate perfect teams with perfect coaches and protect our perfect children from bad teams and bad coaches, my child dreams of Chunkis.

I just hope we don't decide to create a Chunkis organization to make it better for her.

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