Boys & Girls Club Update
Published by Joe Burgess January 23rd, 2008 in Clubs.There was a public meeting about the Boys & Girls Club, Tuesday at noon at the Boys & Girls Club facility, at the City Park School.
There were at least 15 people present, including Board President Ken Harper and former Director Mindy Chambliss, who is still involved in a supporting capacity.
The primary focus of the meeting was funding. The city of Monticello has a contract pending, that may provide $20,000 to the Boys & Girls Club, based on specific programs that the club may provide to the community.
The group received word that the federal grant that has been $20,000, will be reduced to $10,000 this year.
One point that was made at the meeting is that donations, which have been a major form of support in the past, will need to be relied on again.
Another aspect that was covered was how helpful volunteers who donate 2-3 hours on a weekday are.
There is going to be a calendar set up where concerned parents can sign up to assist the Club a few hours each week, and know what specific area that they will be used in, such as tutoring, sports, or simply “babysitting”.
The Boys & Girls Club has run around 182 registered members, and usually serves around 70 children daily.
Donations and volunteers are going to be the key to re-opening the Boys & Girls Club, hopefully on February 4.
Donations of $10 or $20 are going to be the key. Larger donations are welcome, but the small donations are going to make the difference.
If you would like to help, the contact numbers are 367-2334 and 367-6102.
There has been a follow-up meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 22nd at noon.
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I attended this meeting as a parent. This is such a great asset for Monticello to lose! From what I understood, the community is going to have to save the Boys & Girls Club. I did not realize that around half their funding comes from private donations (local companies and people like you and I). I guess I thought the federal and local grants took care of everything.
Reopening will require a new Director, Community Donations and Volunteers. They would need to collect around $12,000 to open the doors again. Volunteers are needed Monday - Friday, 3:00 - 7:00. I think they are only giving us until February 4th. Our son attends the Boys & Girls Club, so we know first hand what this organization means to Monticello.
If you would like to help, the contact numbers are:
Club Office 870-367-2334, Board President 870-367-6102.
There has been a follow-up meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 22nd at noon. I urge all parents and community members to attend.
Let’s show them we care.
The next meeting is Jan. 29th at noon.
Michelle is absolutely right. The Club is a community asset. If your child attends, he or she is likely to have a GPA above the overall average in the Drew County school systems, as shown by a recent study. If you child attends, he or she is exposed to after school arts, sports and tutoring programs. If your child attends, he or she is provided with a positive after school environment (”a positive place for kids”).
Your child does not attend? You and your community receive the benefit of 190 Club members having a safe place to go after school. More are always welcome. No child attending? You and your community benefit from the someday-to-be adults (future employees and employers) having one more reason to be positive about our great town and county.
Together, we can make this continue to work for all of us. And no, February 4 is not a deadline, it is a goal to once again welcome Drew County’s future leaders.
The Club’s next meeting is Tuesday at noon, or you can give us a call at either 367-2334 or 367-6102.