Boys & Girls Club

Expanding into Bethel

By M. D. Drysdale

The Boys & Girls Club of the White River Valley has been given approval to open a new center in Bethel, adding to its increasing presence in Central Vermont.

Approval of the new "unit" came from the national organization, and start-up support of $25,000 was promised from the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, which provides major funding for the clubs around the country.

The new center in Bethel will begin as a continuation of an existing "Homework Club" program in the Bethel school, according to Max Bryant, director of the Boys & Girls Club of the White River Valley.

New school-based programming will be built throughout the remainder of the winter, and it is hoped that in the spring, a location can be found for a teen center.

Eventually the Bethel unit is expected to serve at least 100 youth with programming that is available at least 20 hours a week.

That is the goal for every Boys & Girls Club "unit", and there are already eight "units" that have been established by the White River Valley Club.

There are teen centers in Randolph, Northfield, Hartford, and Bradford already, as well as in-school programs at Randolph, Bradford, and Brookfield.

The Boys & Girls Club also operates the Town of Randolph's recreation program.

Altogether, the Boys & Girls Club of the White River Valley saw 2700 children last year in its programs, Bryant said. It has grown into a budget of $800,000, governed by a board of directors, who are assisted by several advisory councils.

Such an advisory council should eventually be part of the programs in Bethel, Bryant said.

Teen Scene Closing

Discussions in Bethel have been going on since the popular "Teen Scene" closed a couple of years ago, he noted. The B&G Club decided it did not have the resources to take over that organization, but it did agree to restart the Homework Club that had functioned in the elementary school.

Bryant obtained a grant for that program, which he said brings about 15 youngsters to a classroom after school for homework help. He also found money to buy new uniforms for the Bethel girls soccer team.

The Bethel connection so far has been nourished mainly by B&G staff member Felicia Dieffenbach. She will continue to develop new programs for Bethel youth.

"Based on the positive impact the existing units have on the communties we serve, the decision to add programming in Bethel was not difficult," said Sue Sytsma board president. "Boys & Girls programs really work."

"The need for effective youth development programs has never been greater," said Bryant.

Unlike most non-profit organizations, the Boys & Girls Clubs are partly funded from a direct line item in the national budget, voted by Congress. Last year the appropriation was $85 million, about the same as the year before.

"These funds are part of a five-year effort to serve one million additional young people throughout the nation," Bryant noted. "So many young people still lack constructive programs and activities to occupy heir time, particularly after school, on weekends and during the summer months.

"Our goal is to reach out and offer these youth a safe place to go with caring adults."

About half of the club's $800,000 budget and 80 workers (most of them part-time) is based in Randolph, the club's first location. Teen programs are based in the center on South Pleasant Street beside the railroad, and administrative offices are in the Tallman Building on North Main Street.

Bryant noted that a reorganization will create the job of full-time teen director at the Randolph center. Jeff Bickford of Randolph Center will begin that role on Nov. 7.

He and the board hope that this will result in a new level of offerings for Randolph youth, including school-based programs like "Money Matters" and joint activities with clubs in other towns.

The club is open Monday through Friday with programs that include health and life skills, the arts, and sports and fitness.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America comprises a national network of more than 3700 facilities annually serving more than 4.4 million young people, primarily from disadvantaged circumstances.

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