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Show Volume XIV Issue XV The Ogden Valley news Page October 15, 2007 Fighting Crime with Fun—Boys and Girls Club a successful alternative By Jenny Songer Harris “You are 12 years old. School is out. Your mom and dad aren’t home. Where are you, and what are you doing?” This is the question Pat Bair, the Executive Director of Boys & Girls Clubs of Weber-Davis, would like each of us to consider. There are many obvious problems with the latch-key scenario. Pat Bair, a Nordic Valley resident, is involved with the solution. She states that Boys & Girls Club is an organization that gives kids a place to go—whether it’s in a school or in a separate, free-standing building. In doing so, crime rates are reduced and hours of idleness are replaced with constructive activities. Bair says, “The Boys & Girls Club is the best crime-prevention program in the country.” She says it’s not exactly rocket science; crime rates increase between 3:00 and 8:00 p.m. when school kids are unsupervised. When they are provided a safe, inviting place to go during this critical time, crime rates go down. “[At Boys and Girls Club] Kids are able to dream—see beyond their neighborhood— and we give them skills to succeed.” --Matt, Club Director Not only does Boys & Girls Club serve to reduce crime rates, but it gives kids many opportunities that they would never have otherwise. Each month is packed with learning activities, games, and fun. They offer classes on things like money management and internet safety, and then invite guests to present classes on a variety Roberta, who attends Boys and Girls Club states, “When staff stop and recognize something we did, it makes us do bigger and better things.” of topics including scrapbooking, baby-sitting, and science experiments. The buildings are equipped with pool tables, foosball machines, computer labs, and sports rooms. What do the kids think of all this? Bair says they love it! Most of the members of the club come every chance they get and stay as long as they can. Bair says the administration has actually had to ask parents not to keep their kids away as a punishment. And when the kids step through the doors of the club, they know they are in neutral territory. There’s no doubt that there are members of rival gangs there at the same time, but Bair’s staff members see no signs of typical gang tension. Kids know that if they go against the neutrality rules, they will be temporarily kept from the fun activities offered at the club, and that’s enough to keep them in line. Requirements to be a member of the Boys & Girls Club? You need to be between the ages of six and eighteen. That’s it. Kids can be from any kind of background and income level. The membership fee for the club varies; however, in Ogden City there is no cost to members. In Roy there is a low yearly fee of $75. The successes of Boys & Girls Club are innumerable. To illustrate, Bair shared one specific success story, though she could have supplied hundreds more similar to the following. “Sally” was a young girl who was going through a difficult time in her life. At school she had just been held back from entering second grade because she didn’t know how to read, and, at home, her par- ents were going through a divorce. Her 1200 to 2600 members. safety zone was at the Boys & Girls Club. Bair continues to set high goals that One day when her mom came to pick her she would like to see reached before she up, Sally said she wasn’t ready to go, but steps down as Executive Director in 2009. wanted to finish her book first. Her mother These goals include having a free-standing didn’t even know she could read! Then club building in Roy (scheduled to happen Sally showed her mom the stack of books this summer), having a free-standing buildshe had finished reading and explained ing in Ogden City (hoped to be achieved in that tutors had helped her read every day 2009), and to have a Boys & Girls Club in during the tutoring program called “Power enough schools that they will be accessible Hour.” Sally’s grateful mom broke into to every junior high and elementary student tears and thanked those who helped change in Weber and Davis counties. her daughter’s life. Bair was asked how Valley residents could help. She replied that while Boys and Girls Club could always use more volunteers at the existing clubs, she would really like to see a Boys & Girls Club here in the Valley. She says that it really does take “a village to raise a child.” Clubs are started by individuals who see the need in their community for latch-key kids to have a place to go. Once there is the desire to meet that need, there needs to be funds raised and a facility found. Those interested in volunteering their services to Boys & Girls Club can contact Club member Mark says, “What makes this McKell Warburton, Director of Volunteers place special is the people; they believe in me.” and Mentoring, at (801) 395-9214. Since Bair has been the executive director of Boys & Girls Club, there has been When Bair has done all this, on top of great expansion. Where there used to be everything else she and her board have only four programs operating in four cit- already done to benefit Boys & Girls Club, ies in the region, there are now nine clubs. she will definitely have earned the right to Boys & Girls clubs are now organized and do what she sees herself doing after retiroperating in all Ogden City middle schools. ing—riding off on a Harley into the sunset In addition, participation has grown from with her husband Toni . . . . Daylight Savings Time November 4th Reading Volunteers Needed and welcomed at Valley Elementary School this year. Provide a valuable community service for as little as 30 minutes a week. For more information, contact Valley Elementary at 452-4180, or Chris Fuller at 781-0399. Valley Elementary is also looking for High School Seniors who are looking for community service or volunteer opportunities. The school is in need of reading volunteers to work at the school for as little as 30 hours a week. Call Valley Elementary at 452-4180, or Chris Fuller at 781-0399. Slopeside at Powder Mountain Nordic Valley - Unsurpassed Views! $1,6 0,000 New construction with $425,000 Log home with 2.65 acres, 3 bedrooms, and lake views. all the upgrades. Unsurpassed views in North Fork. $610,000 Lindal Cedar home on lg. view lot. Ski-in Ski-out Powder Mountain Lots starting at $57 ,000 Slopeside at Powder Mountain $1,100,000 Ski-in-Ski-out custom log cabin. 5 BD, 3.5 BA. Beautiful landscaping. 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