07/17/2026
Well . . . it's been a minute. Okay, if we're being honest, it's been quite a few minutes since our last Community First Newsletter found its way onto this page.
The past year pulled the Dollings in a few different directions as we stepped into big leadership roles with Red Bluff Rotary and the Red Bluff Elks. They were incredible experiences, but they also meant something had to give—and for a little while, this newsletter did.
Now that those seasons have come to a close, life has settled back into a more normal rhythm, and we're feeling the pull again.
The pull to tell the stories that deserve to be told.
The pull to celebrate the people quietly making a difference.
The pull to shine a light on all the good that's brewing.
So consider this the official COMMUNITY FIRST reboot.
🏐 CREATING IMPACT 🏐
If you've spent any time around youth sports in Red Bluff, chances are you've heard of Bucky's. For years, Bucky's has been about so much more than sports—it's been about building confidence, character, and community. Now, that same mission has made its way to the volleyball court with the launch of Bucky's Impact Club Volleyball, a program rooted in the belief that athletics have the power to shape lives long after the final whistle.
Serving female athletes from elementary school through high school, Bucky's Impact offers club teams, developmental programs, camps, clinics, and training opportunities for a variety of skill levels. Their primary club season takes place during the winter and spring, allowing athletes to continue developing during the sport’s school off-season. But while volleyball is what brings everyone together, the founders will tell you the game is only a fraction of the story.
Impact Club Volleyball was born from a shared passion for youth development and a desire to create more opportunities for local athletes. Co-founder Carly Martinez knows firsthand what volleyball can offer. A Red Bluff High School standout, she continued her playing career at Shasta College and Simpson University before returning to coach both Red Bluff Club Volleyball and Simpson University Volleyball. Along the way, she saw too many local athletes forced to leave the area to find higher-level club competition and continued skill development.
Co-founder Aubrie Thomas brings a different but super complementary perspective to this dynamic partnership. A lifelong multi-sport athlete, she knows firsthand how sports build confidence and character. Around Red Bluff, she's known as a rock-solid business owner, coach, and one of the community's biggest champions for young athletes. If you've ever survived one of her gym classes, you know she's equal parts encouragement, accountability, and humor (usually delivered while your legs are begging for mercy). It's that same passion she's now pouring into our next generation of athletes.
When Martinez approached Thomas with the idea of creating a local club volleyball program, the response was immediate.
"I'm all in."
That simple reaction was all it took. Bucky's Impact Volleyball was born in 2025 with a vision to provide local athletes with quality coaching, meaningful competition, and the opportunity to grow—all without leaving home. Throughout the season, athletes practice several times each week, focusing on fundamentals, position-specific training, game strategy, teamwork, communication, and overall volleyball IQ. Teams compete in local tournaments, and as the program continues to grow, opportunities to participate in larger events in places like Reno, Lake Tahoe, and Oregon are forthcoming.
But ask the founders what success looks like, and you'll quickly discover it isn't measured by tournament finishes.
"What makes us most proud isn't the medals, trophies, or tournament outcomes," Martinez said. "It's watching our athletes gain confidence, build friendships, overcome challenges, and discover what they're capable of accomplishing through hard work and dedication."
That philosophy is reflected in every practice and every conversation. Leadership, accountability, resilience, work ethic, coachability, and confidence are valued just as highly as serving, passing, and hitting. The goal is for every athlete to leave not only as a stronger volleyball player but as a stronger human.
Thomas believes those lessons extend far beyond the court. "Our 'why' comes from a shared belief in the power of sports to change lives," she said. "If we can help develop strong athletes and even stronger people, then we're accomplishing exactly what we set out to do."
At its core, Impact is about giving every athlete a chance to grow. It doesn't matter if it's your first day on the court or you've been playing for years. The expectation is the same: show up, work hard, be coachable, and keep getting better. The founders believe that's how great athletes—and great people—are made.
For young women who aren't quite ready to commit to a full club season, clinics and summer camps provide an opportunity to meet the coaches, sharpen their skills, and experience firsthand what Impact is all about.
In fact, their biggest camp of the summer is just around the corner. While the older age group has already filled, incoming third- through fifth-grade athletes still have time to jump in. The camp takes place July 21-22 at the Red Bluff High School Spartan Pavilion, where just $50 buys two jam-packed days of skills, drills, and plenty of fun. Click the link to register: https://bit.ly/ImpactCampJuly2026
Spend a few minutes around Bucky’s Impact Club Volleyball, and their mission becomes pretty easy to spot. Martinez and Thomas aren't looking for perfect athletes. They're looking for kids who hustle, stay coachable, encourage their teammates, and never stop learning. The volleyball skills will come. Building confidence, character, and resilience is the bigger win.
And perhaps that's exactly what the founders had in mind all along. They're not simply building volleyball players—they're helping shape the next generation of leaders who will one day make their own IMPACT on this community.
Written By: Kelley Dolling
Client/Community Outreach & Medicare
Dolling Insurance
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