|
Boys & Girls Club to acquire own charter
October 5, 2006
The Boys & Girls Club of Scott County will soon be acquiring its own charter, the organization’s Advisory Board announced Monday.
Dr. Tim West, chairman of the advisory board, said that the club has formally begun the process of acquiring its charter from the Boys & Girls Club of America.
“We will still be a Boys and Girls Club, but now we’ll be controlling our own programs locally instead of being a branch of another club,” West said. “Our own charter will give us much more freedom to establish programs and fees that fit the needs of Scott County families.”
The transition is expected to take place by December 31. Formerly, the club — which moved into a multimillion-dollar facility at the intersection of Verdun Road and Alberta Street six months ago — was affiliated with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, based in Knoxville.
On Thursday, Mayfield Brown was named interim CEO of the new organization, and a formal transition plan was adopted. Borwn is a long-time educator and former superintendent of the Oneida Special School District.
Brown said that the move is part of a natural growth process for the club.
“The Boys & Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley helped us get started and has operated the Scott County club since the beginning,” he said. “Now we’re ready to grow out on our own, and I think we’re all excited about the opportunity this presents.”
The club will remain open on its regular schedule throughout the transition. Current employees will continue in their present positions.
Executive Director Shannon Wright said that kids and parents do not need to do anything differently in the meantime.
“Just keep coming to the club, share your suggestions with us and watch for improvements,” she said.
“We will be taking a fresh look at our whole operation and finding ways to better serve all of our members and families,” Brown said. “In particular, we’ll be looking at ways to upgrade our programming — increasing our focus on arts, music, physical education and nutrition — and to make our fees more affordable.
“We want to be a club for all Scott County families and a place where everyone who wants to participate can afford to do so,” he added.
All Boys & Girls Clubs rely heavily on financial support from their local community. For more information on joining the club, sponsoring a child or supporting the club’s building fund or endowment, contact the organization’s office at 286-9500, or Brown at 663-3897.
“If you like living where kids from all walks of life have a place to learn integrity, self-respect, fair play and living together peacefully and productively, then you’ll want to support a strong Boys & Girls Club,” Brown said.
news@ihoneida.com
Enjoy the Independent Herald? Have it delivered to your door! Click here for details.
| 
