Show B. B Brothers B. B Sisters organize Basin Board of directors Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Uintah Basin formally held the first meeting of Its It's Board of ot Directors May 4 at the Vernal Jr High School The Big Brothers and Sisters program has been effectively operating in the Basin since January 1977 At Al that time the program had 4 children matches matches mat mat- ches to BB BO or BS When the local director arrived in January the program really began to take hold With the help of radio television and newspaper publicity the program caught on fast In just short of four months the program has multiplied itself more than ten times and we ve are serving now more than 40 children That makes a total of between 80 and 90 people involved in the program It was wasL L because of this rapid growth coupled with the tremendous expansion potential that it was felt time to organize a Board of ot Directors The Board of Directors will help to establish the program permanently in the community or at least until the need for such a program no longer exists With the divorce rate in the Basin increasing by 87 percent it was felt that such a program would be of benefit in strengthening the lives of children and promoting community conscience and welfare The Big Brothers and Sisters program is designed to strengthen the lives of children from single parent families Matching them with a volunteer who is willing to spend two to three hours a week with the child a friendship This comradeship through fun activities work and sharing helps the child to develop confidence in himself become productive and stabilize his life liCe IT HELPS him steer clear of dangerous pitfalls and gives him an appreciation of his own self worth It ll was not only the rapid growth and expansion potential but also the positive effects of the program which have caused us to move to establish it more permanently in the Basin The Mother of one little brother from the Roosevelt area said Wades blades big brother has simply worked miracles with him He Heis Heis Heis is quieter more self assured and does better in school Another mother reports that her sons son's BB is really helping her boy stabilize his life Jim really is benefiting from the program Progress is sometimes slow but Jim Idolizes his Big Brother and I Isee Isee Isee see that as being a very positive influence In his life liCe Because of such progress a number of concerned citizens have come together to formally establish the Board The President is Max Weis he is also a Big Brother of Roosevelt Other Board members include Richard Jacobson Ted Taylor Lyle Southam Ed Williams of the Uintah County School District Dorothy Peltier of the Vernal Express Jerry Jackson Social Services Mrs Emily Alexander of Jensen and Leora Jacobe of Vernal and also Dr Daniel Dennis of Roosevelt II |