PROGRAM:
Up-Date on the Boys and Girls Club of the High Rockies
COMING TO CONIFER!
April-Dawn Knudsen, Executive Director
April-Dawn Knudsen joined us to tell us about the progress made with the Boys and Girls Clubs along US285. Their mission is to inspire and enable all young people to realize their full potential as caring, productive, responsible citizens. The focus of their programming is academic success, good character, citizenship and healthy lifestyles.
This is what we learned:
- Boys and Girls Club of the High Rockies (BGCHR) is an independent 501c3. They have a charter with Boys and Girls Club of America, but their clubs are autonomous hence their programming is focused on the needs of our community.
- By being independent, they depend on the community for financial support and programming ideas. For our local area there is large need to care for school children of working parents who leave for work before the children go to school and/or return from work after their children get out of school. As such, they provide a supportive environment for those children.
- In addition, the children identify specific needs that they see in their community—in Fairplay, they focused on teen suicide, smoking cessation and working on healthy relationships. The Club also focuses on and supports STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) to help in academics.
- BGCHR is planning to open a facility in Conifer, partnering with West Jefferson Middle School. They need to raise $20,000 to open this new after school program location in Conifer.
- The mountain area clubs are here because of the volunteer support they get. There are over 100 volunteers who work with the students and help to fund-raise. In addition, there are 3 full time staff plus part time staff of 8-12 that help with programming. These volunteers share their talents: art teachers, bicycle repair, financial education, etc. High school students also help with tutoring and special projects.
- Throughout the United States there ere are 1.2 million students in after school programming and three times that number that need programs.
- In addition to volunteer support, BGCHR has many partnerships in the community, including Chambers, Arts Centers, Churches, etc.
- They even have a summer program at their existing facilities, hours vary slightly but basically from 8 a.m. to 6:30 pm. These programs focus on academic success, STEM projects, physical activities and field trips.
- The tuition is $25/month for elementary students; $10/month for middle and high school. In the summer, the charge is $125/month. Scholarships are available for families needing financial assistance.
- Consider volunteering, there are many opportunities such as working with kids, serving on the board, fund-raising, or donating to the Club.
ANNOUNCEMENTS/BUSINESS:
- The Rotary Peak hike is this Saturday, August 5.
- Club Visioning Project. We are working on a venue and date.
- August 26, The Area 8 Picnic 11-3pm. More information coming. Cost is $18 for all over 18 years.
- The fifth Tuesday of August we will NOT meet; instead we will have a Rotary Social Event on Thursday, August 31 at The Payton’s home. More details to come.
- Mark reported on the application for the Presidential Citation for the Conifer Interact Club. Suzanne is sending the application for Fitzsimons Middle School Interact. The awards will be made mid-August.
- Next week the Club will receive the check for the Home and Garden Show!
- PLEASE SIGN UP TO HELP AT THE BLUE GRASS FESTIVAL: www.evergreenbluegrassfestival.org/volunteers.html. They need help parking cars and with beer tasting. The profits go to our Back Pack Projects.
Fund-Raising: Treasures Sale
Lesley and Yvonne are organizing a fund-raising garage sale of treasured items. The date is still to be determined, although we expect to do it in the latter part of September on a Saturday. Check your attics and storage areas for good condition, quality items that we can put into the sale. Donations are limited to the Evergreen and Conifer Rotary Clubs.
Lee Willis received the Paul Harris Plus One Award
50/50: Happy Dollars!