Boys & Girls Clubs of Edmonton

April 2009

In this issue...

A Message from the Executive Director

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Ross Tyson, Executive Director

BGCE (Boys & Girls Clubs of Edmonton) welcomes you to our new online newsletter entitled E-FYI. ‘For Your Information’ will become our voice for keeping you updated and informed.

Our aim is to be transparent in our reporting on happenings within our organization. We want you to know how all our programs are meeting the needs of Edmonton families, to keep you updated on community events and those at our nine neighbourhood clubs. As drop-in clubs, it means that children and youth can sign up as members (at no charge) and choose to come to the clubs on a regular basis.

Most of our clubs run five days a week. They are open for five hours a day from school dismissal times (early on Thursdays) onward. We offer a full nutritious meal through our Cool Moves program to each child that attends as well as healthy snacks.

On the programming side we offer homework help, recreation, leadership training, arts and culture and computer access. Onsite activities are supplemented with field trips and, during the summer, we offer free camping at our wonderful facility called Camp Discovery on Lake
Wabamun.

You are receiving this newsletter because you support our cause and align with our values. Thank you from our staff and the children and families we serve.

Sincerely,
Ross Tyson
Executive Director

Board of Directors

A Board of Directors governs the activities of Boys & Girls Clubs of Edmonton. Terms of office are one year up to a total of 6 years. The election of officers takes place at the Annual General Meeting held each June.

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From L to R: Gil Allenson, Darrel Holowaychuk, Patrick Sanders, Mack Fysh, Brian Wilkie, Elizabeth Lakeman, Bruce Ainslie. Bottom row L to R: Patti Skogg, Chereda Bodner, Teresa Mitchell

Current Executive

President:    Chereda Bodner
Vice President:    Patricia Skogg
Treasurer:    Gilbert Allenson
Past President:    Guy Smith

Members-at-Large

Bruce Ainslie    Jorn Brauer
Gordon Edmiston     Mack Fysh
Darrell Holowaychuk    Elizabeth Lakeman
Doug Ledgerwood    Mike Morison
Patrick Sanders    Jeff Tymo
Ross Tyson    Brian Wilkie
Teresa Mitchell

Anyone interested in joining the Board is asked to contact Executive Director Ross Tyson at 780-422-6038.

A Tweddle Place Story

84911238618697LittleGirl.jpgA little five year old girl would accompany her brother each time he visited the Tweddle Club and would try to persuade staff to let her in.

For almost a year, she came a few times each week. She would try to convince various staff members to allow her access but to no avail. The answer was the same no matter who she asked. No, she was still too young to come to the club. Then they would re-assure her that once she turned six, they would love to have her come to the club.

After a while, people noticed that the little girl had stopped appearing at the door. She had, in fact, stayed away a whole month. Then out of the blue, she arrived with a huge smile on her face and a signed membership form.

Our staff asked the girl where she had been. She thought briefly and replied that she was trying to make her birthday present more exciting. The staff then enquired what her birthday present was. With another smile and a giggle, she shouted “to come to the club and play!”

Kids Say The Darnedest Things

65821238618694Group3.jpgWhen asked to write on a poster of why it’s important to eat watermelons, a child wrote, “Watermelons texturize my feelings!”

A nine year old had lost an item. A staff member trying to be helpful asked, “Well do you know where you lost it?” The nine year old stared and said, “If I knew where I lost it, then it wouldn’t be lost!” An eleven year old, overhearing the conversation turned to another staff member and said, “Kids just say the darnedest things!”

 

 

Do you have tickets you'd like to donate?

Boys & Girls Clubs of Edmonton accepts donations of tickets such as sports, concerts, movies, etc. Please contact Silvia Corado at (780) 917-6661. Put a smile on a clubber's face!

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Clean your woods and polish your cleats. August 19th, 2009 has been selected as the date for the 15th Annual Caddie Classic Golf Tournament which will be presented for the third year by TELUS.

Established in 1995 by Garth Thomas, this tournament provides a rewarding and unique experience for both the golfers and the kids who participate. The young people gain from the volunteer experience and the chance to spend time with business professionals or community leaders. They also love the exposure to golf – something many do not have the financial means to explore on their own.

It is a day that showcases the charity’s work directly to the donors, themselves, to see first hand the impact of their support. While spending time and getting to know the caddies they too have become positive adult role models for our club members. So, plan to join us on the course and a gourmet steak BBQ afterwards.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Edmonton will begin accepting golfer registrations and sponsorships for the 2009 Tournament this month. Call 780-917-6653 for more information.

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Don't miss the 11th Annual
Lobster Lovers Feast!
Friday, October 30th, 2009

The Lobster Lovers Feast is one of our biggest and most enjoyed fundraising events!  As in past years, we expect more than 300 business and community members to join us for some ‘down east’ tastes, raffles and draws, live and silent auctions.

We will be returning to the Grand Ballroom at the Edmonton Marriott Hotel that adjoins the River Cree Casino & Resort. We hope you and all organizations that do business with Boys & Girls Clubs of Edmonton will join the fun and support this event.

Funds raised will support a variety of program needs at our nine clubs including our Cool Moves Nutrition Program.  We provide a nutritious meal to every child that attends our clubs – no child leaves our care hungry. We provide over 72,000 meals each year.

Please help us by:

Becoming a Sponsor – A new sponsorship program has been introduced for this event. Available sponsorship packages range from $500 to $8500. For more information, please contact (780) 917-6653.

Donating an Item or Unique Experience – something special to incite furious bidding at either our live or silent auction.

Buying Tickets - round up your friends and come out for an evening of succulent lobster (or an alternate entrée for the land lovers out there), great entertainment and lots of laughs. Individual tickets are $150 & tables of 10 are $1500.

If you are interested in sponsorship or have any questions, please call 780-917-6653.

BGCE in the media

Articles in the Edmonton Journal: