2018 Mid-Year Report
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<strong>2018</strong><br />
<strong>Mid</strong> <strong>Year</strong> <strong>Report</strong><br />
THE PRINTING & MAILING OF THIS REPORT WAS DONATED BY K&H PRINTING SOLUTIONS<br />
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Friends,<br />
I grew up in Sedro-Woolley during a time when there was no Boys & Girls<br />
Club. I was fortunate enough to be provided opportunities that culminated<br />
in my graduating law school. But many of my peers did not have the opportunities<br />
I had. The same is still true for many of the youth in our community.<br />
That is why I dedicate my time to the Boys & Girls Clubs, to continue to<br />
strengthen and grow the Clubs to fulfill our mission: to enable all young<br />
people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as<br />
productive, caring, responsible citizens.<br />
Our new strategic plan is outlined to do just this: strengthen the organization,<br />
expand reach, and provide increased opportunities. By strengthening<br />
our organization, expanding our reach, and providing opportunities to<br />
more youth we can continue making our community a better place to live<br />
for generations. I recently returned from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America<br />
National Conference in San Diego, CA where our organization was nationally<br />
recognized on several levels. This was a very big deal and it confirmed<br />
what I already knew: that our dedicated staff, volunteers, and community<br />
make us stand out as the great organization we are.<br />
Every time I enter a Club or hear one of our youth speak at an event I am<br />
amazed and inspired by our staff, volunteers, and youth who all work<br />
together to make the Boys & Girls Clubs a place to become. Thank you for<br />
your continued support which allows us to provide those opportunities to<br />
our youth. For those of you who have never done so, I encourage you to<br />
visit our Clubs. Come see first-hand the impact your support makes in the<br />
lives of our youth. I guarantee it will have a lasting impact.<br />
Sincerely,<br />
Holly Shannon<br />
<strong>2018</strong> Board Chair<br />
Carson Law Group<br />
<strong>2018</strong><br />
BOARD OF<br />
DIRECTORS<br />
President<br />
HOLLY SHANNON<br />
Carson Law Group<br />
President Elect<br />
TINA ASP<br />
Image360<br />
Vice President<br />
MIKE GUBRUD<br />
Mike Gubrud Farmers Insurance Agency<br />
Vice President<br />
ROB MARTIN<br />
Chinook Enterprises<br />
Treasurer<br />
BECKY TAFT<br />
Skagit Bank<br />
Secretary<br />
CARRIE WALLACE<br />
Skagit Bank<br />
Past President<br />
MARK LAWRENCE<br />
Simply Yards Landscaping<br />
Past President Emeritus<br />
ANNETTE BOOTH<br />
Booth Insurance/Allstate Insurance Co.<br />
Members<br />
DR. CARL BRUNER<br />
MVSD Superintendent<br />
PAT BARRETT<br />
Barrett Financial, LTD<br />
RAYMOND GODA<br />
DreamchasersRV of Burlington<br />
KELLY CODLIN<br />
Andeavor Corporation<br />
BILL OVERBY<br />
Skagit Valley College<br />
BRENDEN JONES<br />
Savi Bank<br />
MARK NILSON<br />
Retired, Education<br />
continued on page... 4<br />
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JOSH AXTHELM<br />
Fisher Construction Group<br />
ROSS ROBERTS<br />
Shell Puget Sound Refinery<br />
BRIAN SONEDA<br />
Retired - Library Services / Government<br />
ERIC JOHNSON<br />
Stiles Law<br />
KRISTEN KELTZ<br />
Hotel Services Group, LLC<br />
4<br />
Thank you to our<br />
dedicated Volunteers!<br />
Volunteers make our Clubs strong. Volunteers<br />
at the Club help our members<br />
during program hours, with reading and<br />
homework. They head up special projects<br />
like building a reading bench or easels, or<br />
replace or repair old equipment, redo floors,<br />
build cubbies, and paint walls. They create<br />
new programs focusing on new skills like<br />
knitting, cooking, gardening, chess, and<br />
music. They introduce kids to their dog, kitten,<br />
or lizard. They bring in healthy snacks<br />
from their gardens. They lend their professional<br />
expertise to Club members as guest<br />
speakers and mentors.<br />
Our Community Council members meet regularly<br />
with Club Directors and work behind<br />
the scenes to strengthen the Club. Our<br />
Board members are involved at every level<br />
of operation and put in many many hours,<br />
sometimes after the end of their own long<br />
work day, to make sure the Clubs have what<br />
they need to thrive. Our local businesses and<br />
professionals host our Club members for<br />
our STEM programs, and for Career Launch.<br />
Event volunteers are eager to be put to work<br />
on whatever the event requires.<br />
Volunteers give their very best, because this<br />
is their time, and this is how they choose to<br />
spend it. We are grateful to them for their<br />
passion in helping youth achieve great<br />
futures. We’ve done our best to include our<br />
volunteers from the last year below, but<br />
probably missed some names. There are so<br />
many of you! Know that you are appreciated.<br />
Hooray for volunteers!<br />
Deborah Hall<br />
Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group staff<br />
Growing Veterans Staff<br />
Kris Tully<br />
Tracy Dugas<br />
Anacortes Police Officers<br />
continued on page... 5<br />
Dear friends,<br />
Growing up, when I wasn’t in a foster home, I was living with my birth mother<br />
in a household constantly struggling to make ends meet. Even if there had<br />
been a more comfortable living arrangement, there was no thought or consideration<br />
to my development as a child and adolescent. If not for some wonderful,<br />
caring people in my life at key points, I certainly would not be composing<br />
this message, and fear what the outcome would’ve been.<br />
One of the common threads these individuals had, besides being completely<br />
loving, is that they afforded me opportunities I would not have otherwise had<br />
access to: my school counselor, pushing to get me tested for gifted; a church<br />
member who inspired my love of instrumental music and playing; a trusted<br />
coach who took me everywhere on the weekends, just to get me out of my<br />
house; my high school band director, who nominated me for anything and<br />
everything that would get me out of town, and especially, to college campuses.<br />
It is through their actions that my own passion for seeing other youth<br />
gaining access to opportunities was borne, and cultivated throughout my<br />
career in Boys & Girls Clubs by mentors.<br />
I have found wonderful alignment between my own personal passion and<br />
motivations, and that of the Skagit community as voiced through our Board<br />
of Directors and community stakeholders who provided input and direction to<br />
our strategic plan: Opportunity 2021. This plan establishes a foundation for<br />
guiding decisions made by the organization to further our mission in Skagit<br />
County, and themes of opportunity are found throughout. With the recent<br />
adoption by the Board, and subsequent release to our community in this <strong>Mid</strong><br />
<strong>Year</strong> <strong>Report</strong>, <strong>2018</strong> is off to a great start.<br />
Because of you, and your investment, advocacy, and commitment to Boys<br />
& Girls Clubs, kids and teens in our communities continue to be engaged<br />
by quality staff using best practices as our Club members work to become<br />
productive, caring, responsible citizens.<br />
Yours in service,<br />
Ron McHenry<br />
CEO/Executive Director
IN THIS REPORT<br />
Letter from our Board President ...3<br />
Board of Directors ...3<br />
Letter from our CEO ...4<br />
Thank you Volunteers<br />
...4, 5, 9, 10, 13, 33<br />
A Place to Become ...6-7<br />
Launch Camp ...8<br />
Emerging Leaders ...11<br />
Advocacy & Government Relations ...12-14<br />
Meals Beyond the Club ...15<br />
By the Numbers: LaVenture & Mount Baker ...16<br />
Opportunity 2021 - Our Strategic Plan ...18-21<br />
Keys for Kids ...22-24<br />
Community, Camaraderie, and Pride ...26-28<br />
By the Numbers: Regular Attendance ...29<br />
Great Futures Gala ...30-32<br />
Observations from a new Board Member ...33-34<br />
Thank you Event Sponsors ...33,35<br />
Anacortes Fire Firefighters<br />
Kara Symonds<br />
Chris Seidel<br />
Lori Pedroza<br />
Alex Harmon<br />
Ryan Erps<br />
Hannah Williams<br />
Becky Taft<br />
James Johnson<br />
Wendie Granberg<br />
Lowes Employees<br />
Caroline Davis<br />
Jennifer Durney<br />
Kourtney Fleming<br />
Gable Wilkins<br />
Bill Overby<br />
Carole Straathof<br />
Bev Harrington<br />
Nancy Castellanos<br />
Ronda Tingley<br />
Andrew Bacus<br />
Stacy Enriquez<br />
Sarah Ward<br />
Tom Allen<br />
Jenny Fredriksen<br />
Jefferson Cuervo Villa<br />
Jennifer Doherty<br />
Jayne Branch<br />
Joe Jones<br />
Rob Martin<br />
Ryan Linman<br />
Officer Josh Murdock<br />
Jess Baker<br />
Kurt Swanson<br />
Josh Axthelm<br />
Shawn Kemp<br />
Pat Bedson<br />
Jenna Fonoimoana<br />
David Bishop<br />
Mark Nilson<br />
Trong Nguyen<br />
Evett Van Beek<br />
Ric Henderson<br />
Bette Thompson<br />
Dan Berard<br />
Jack Sather<br />
Kristin Twedt<br />
Bryan Jones<br />
Skagit Venture Club Members<br />
Pat Barrett<br />
Cabry Biddle<br />
David Mani<br />
Steve Torgerson<br />
Tracy Kane<br />
Will Hunter<br />
Shannon Bachtel<br />
Officer Edgar Serrano<br />
David Williams<br />
Maria Flores<br />
Jon Ronngren<br />
Skagit DVSAS staff<br />
continued on page... 9<br />
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a place<br />
to<br />
become<br />
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Opportunity. Whether the<br />
dream is to become a<br />
Michelin-star chef, an<br />
astronaut, an all-star<br />
athlete, or anything else: if kids can<br />
dream it, Boys & Girls Clubs can<br />
help them become it. Opportunity is<br />
what A Place to Become is all about.<br />
What makes Boys & Girls Clubs A<br />
Place to Become? Youth Development<br />
Professionals and Everyday<br />
Moments.<br />
Youth Development Professionals—”YDPs”<br />
as we call them—are<br />
the backbone of the Clubs’ Formula<br />
For Impact. The first things you<br />
notice are the passion, the dedication,<br />
the drive to inspire greatness,<br />
and a commitment to proving that<br />
every kid & teen has what it takes.<br />
With a wealth of research, experience,<br />
and training behind them,<br />
these experts know how to make<br />
substantive connections with youth<br />
that will last a lifetime.<br />
“Everyday Moments—Even<br />
simple encounters can<br />
shape young lives: a word of<br />
encouragement at a critical<br />
time; a bit of advice from a<br />
trusted mentor; a simple smile<br />
and guiding hand. These are<br />
the moments that make a<br />
difference.”<br />
They’re called Mentor. Guide. Friend.<br />
Hero. They are on the front line with<br />
our members, working with them<br />
every day: running programs, helping<br />
solve problems, being someone<br />
to confide in about life’s challenges.<br />
We strive to provide every<br />
youth with opportunities for a Great<br />
Future, and our YDPs embody this<br />
principle to the fullest. They are<br />
constantly looking for more and<br />
better ways to engage our Members<br />
and make sure that each kid<br />
knows that they can succeed. Our<br />
YDPs undergo specialized training,<br />
focused on delivering high-impact<br />
programming, to prepare them to<br />
be effective in the Clubhouse. Recognized<br />
as leaders not just in Skagit<br />
County, but across the country for<br />
exemplifying the best practices in<br />
youth development, our staff team<br />
is constantly honing their skills, and<br />
improving the quality of programs.<br />
Everyday Moments—Even simple<br />
encounters can shape young lives: a<br />
word of encouragement at a critical<br />
time; a bit of advice from a trusted<br />
mentor; a simple smile and guiding<br />
hand. These are the moments that<br />
make a difference.<br />
Teaching, learning, growing and<br />
having fun! These are just some<br />
of the everyday moments Members<br />
experience in our Clubhouses.<br />
When a young person joins a Boys<br />
& Girls Club, they are welcomed into<br />
a safe place that many call their<br />
“home away from home.” Everyday<br />
moments happen because kids love<br />
coming again and again to their<br />
Club to build relationships with peers<br />
and mentors. Experienced directors,<br />
trained professional staff, and<br />
enthusiastic volunteers engage with<br />
young people and provide opportunities<br />
for youth to engage with each<br />
other in constructive, positive ways.<br />
Whether it’s building good character<br />
through Positive Action, getting help<br />
with homework, or just a place to<br />
focus on learning in Power Hour, or<br />
growing through play and developing<br />
identity through filling free time<br />
with games and physical activity,<br />
Everyday Moments are the fabric of<br />
Club programming. The more days a<br />
kid spends in their Club, the greater<br />
their opportunities are for building a<br />
Great Future.<br />
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Look for the dotted white circles to find our STEM Coordinator, Nathan Allen & LaVenture Site Director:, Brian Gustafson at the NESSP Summit<br />
launch<br />
camp<br />
8<br />
In 1969, NASA launched the<br />
Apollo 11 mission sending<br />
the first team of astronauts<br />
to the moon. The Apollo missions<br />
captured the imagination of<br />
the world and established NASA<br />
as scientific authorities on space<br />
exploration. Today, NASA continues<br />
to design missions and annually<br />
invests billions of dollars to advance<br />
our understanding of both Earth and<br />
the universe. They also invest greatly<br />
in the education of youth.<br />
The Northwest Earth and Space Sciences<br />
Pipeline (NESSP) is a NASA<br />
funded effort to bring high quality<br />
inquiry-based STEM education to<br />
underprivileged youth in order to help<br />
diversify the future of science. In collaboration<br />
with scientists from the<br />
University of Washington, the NESSP<br />
has created a summer camp curriculum<br />
that lets youth explore topics in<br />
environmental science and astronomy<br />
through hands-on and fun activities<br />
while also meeting many of the<br />
Next Generation Science Standards.<br />
From August 13th through 16th, the<br />
NESSP will partner with Boys & Girls<br />
Clubs to offer youth in Skagit County<br />
the opportunity to become rocket scientists<br />
through Launch Camp. The<br />
camp will offer youth the opportunity<br />
to learn more about NASA’s missions<br />
and become inspired to pursue science,<br />
technology, engineering, and<br />
math (STEM). “The kids at your summer<br />
camp may be the ones who help<br />
us get to Mars in the 2030’s,” says<br />
Kay Ratcliff, Outreach Coordinator for<br />
the NESSP.<br />
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit<br />
County recently sent two representatives<br />
to the NESSP Summit to learn<br />
about opportunities to collaborate<br />
with NASA. During the summit, the<br />
two staff collaborated with educators<br />
from multiple states and learned<br />
how to run culturally relevant STEM<br />
activities. With the help of the NESSP,<br />
Boys & Girls Clubs will be offering<br />
kids the opportunity to design,<br />
build, and launch rockets during the<br />
week in August. “Kids rarely get the<br />
opportunity to interact with NASA<br />
let alone send rockets hundreds of<br />
feet into the air,” says Nathan Allen,<br />
Director of STEM Initiatives for Boys<br />
& Girls Clubs, “The science they<br />
learn during the camp could easily<br />
turn into a career especially with the<br />
number of aerospace jobs available<br />
in Washington.”<br />
In addition to the rocket themed<br />
summer camp, Boys & Girls Clubs<br />
received several resources that will<br />
enrich STEM education next year at<br />
all of the Clubs. Brian Gustafson,<br />
Site Coordinator for LaVenture <strong>Mid</strong>dle<br />
School, received advanced training<br />
in Lego Mindstorms, a program<br />
that combines robotics and Legos to<br />
engage kids. In addition, youth will<br />
have opportunities to study the environment<br />
and provide data that will<br />
be used by actual NASA scientists<br />
through NASA’s Globe Program.<br />
Launch Camp will run from<br />
9:00am-3:00pm each day on<br />
August 13th-16th. Openings at<br />
Launch Camp are limited on a first<br />
come, first serve basis, and participation<br />
in the camp is free. For<br />
more information on how to register,<br />
please visit www.skagitclubs.org.
Ericka Catubo<br />
Pam Nevitt-Bruce<br />
Josh Scott<br />
Kelsey Langille<br />
Lin Tucker<br />
Brenden Jones<br />
Alberta Hendrickson<br />
Jessica Bigelow<br />
Darrell Hooper<br />
Chantel Bills<br />
Jim Scott<br />
Gary Anderson<br />
John Guinn<br />
Shanda Churape<br />
Carrie Wallace<br />
Stephanie Hooper<br />
Cookson Beecher<br />
Nels Strandberg<br />
Vanessa Murphy<br />
Pola Kelley<br />
John Bamonte<br />
Kristen Keltz<br />
Mindy Holland<br />
Kohls Staff<br />
Alex Hallett<br />
Jill Boudreau<br />
Shannon Henderson<br />
Jennifer Brown<br />
Katie Stamwitz<br />
John Small<br />
Teresa Cardenas<br />
Chris Hill<br />
Mary Staley<br />
Cameron Bigge<br />
Christine Valdez<br />
Jamie Yantis<br />
Dave Mercer<br />
Holly Shannon<br />
Planet Fitness Staff<br />
Lance Wilder<br />
Andrea Brown<br />
Pat Grenfell<br />
Colvin Swanberg<br />
Rebecca Schlaht<br />
Barbara Tucker<br />
Geri Cole<br />
Chelsea Martin<br />
Mount Vernon Fire Firefighters<br />
Bryan Harrison<br />
Judy Wiefels<br />
Kelly Codlin<br />
Anna Holm<br />
William Peland<br />
Mount Vernon Police Officers<br />
Richard Raymond<br />
Harry Otah<br />
Fielding Turner<br />
Patricia Stephens<br />
Rachael Wright<br />
Kiley Barbero<br />
Alice Bohnker<br />
continued on page... 10<br />
9
10<br />
Elizabeth Bishop<br />
Megan O’Bryan<br />
Alix Baker<br />
First Tee members<br />
Bill Wartchow<br />
Verna McClure<br />
Karen Peirolo<br />
Dr. Carl Bruner<br />
Chief Mike Luvera<br />
Carmen Hubbard<br />
Kj Cooper<br />
Brandon Lange<br />
Renee Garman<br />
Stacie Oakes<br />
Kelley Tetzlaff<br />
Allison Gilham<br />
Bobbie Sadler<br />
Shellie Eubanks<br />
Burlington Fire Firefighters<br />
Mike Gubrud<br />
Annette Booth<br />
Patricia Dunn<br />
Bonnie Bowers<br />
Erika Littlewood<br />
Alex Johnson<br />
Matt Gehring<br />
Danielle Baird-Russell<br />
Anthony Maciel<br />
Kathie Roll (in memoriam)<br />
Judith Wiefels<br />
Leslie Wilson<br />
Darrell Smiley<br />
Skagit Bank Staff<br />
Jeff Duncan<br />
Don Neill<br />
Stephanie Hamilton<br />
Raymond Goda<br />
Annie McGary<br />
Jim Glackin<br />
Evie Bates<br />
Brian Soneda<br />
Troy Wright<br />
Barb Dahlstedt<br />
Liz Smith<br />
Erik Hansen<br />
Eugene Benson<br />
Jennifer Fix<br />
Dennis Penny<br />
Greg Reed<br />
Nancy Ptacek<br />
Brian Youngquist (in memoriam)<br />
Laura Swenson<br />
Georgia Coy<br />
Briseida Cardenas<br />
Dick Nord<br />
Barbara Atterberry<br />
Connie Bass<br />
Kellisa Overman<br />
Humane Society of Skagit Valley Staff<br />
Sedro-Woolley Police Officers<br />
Peyton Kane<br />
continued on page... 13<br />
Concrete<br />
Announcing a new Club<br />
in Concrete, WA<br />
to serve grades K-12<br />
Opens on<br />
Oct 1, <strong>2018</strong><br />
more info at:<br />
skagitclubs.org
L to R: Brian Gustafson (Site Director, LaVenture), Carl Bruner (BGCS Board Member, Superintendent of Mount Vernon School District), Desni<br />
Fonoimoana (OJP Coordinator, Sedro-Woolley), Becky Taft (BGCS Board Treasurer, Skagit Bank) Andrew Flores (Program Director, Sedro-Woolley).<br />
Emerging<br />
Leaders<br />
John F. Kennedy once<br />
said “Leadership and<br />
learning are indispensable<br />
to each other.” In<br />
this spirit, we launched the first ever<br />
Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County<br />
Emerging Leaders Program. In January,<br />
four Youth Development Professionals,<br />
of various levels, were<br />
identified as up and coming leaders<br />
within our organization. These four<br />
individuals are staff members who<br />
demonstrated a hunger for growth,<br />
knowledge, and opportunities to<br />
demonstrate true professionalism<br />
and leadership within our Skagit<br />
County team. After all, the number<br />
one task of a leader is to develop<br />
more leaders. Ultimately, the mindset<br />
we are creating will trickle down<br />
into greater outcomes for our members<br />
as we help them build their<br />
great futures.<br />
Brian Gustafson, Elizabeth Hanna,<br />
Andrew Flores and Desni Fonoimoana<br />
were selected for this inaugural<br />
cohort. Beginning in January,<br />
the participants were provided the<br />
text, “The Leadership Challenge”, in<br />
which they gained a deeper understanding<br />
of the 5 Practices of Exemplary<br />
Leadership: Model the Way,<br />
Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge<br />
the Process, Enable others to Act<br />
and Encourage the Heart. Utilizing<br />
the text and the accompanying<br />
workbook, participants met on a<br />
biweekly basis to have group discussions<br />
on the theories as presented.<br />
They were then provided<br />
with assignments to practice the<br />
theories on the job. This task proved<br />
to be a challenge as their thoughts<br />
and beliefs were questioned and<br />
potentially reshaped to improve the<br />
quality of leadership they demonstrated<br />
on a daily basis. The process<br />
took 6 months as each practice was<br />
thoroughly examined to ensure that<br />
concepts became habits.<br />
In addition to the practical learning<br />
elements of the program, the group<br />
was visited by prominent members<br />
of the Skagit Community, and Boys<br />
& Girls Clubs of Skagit County Board<br />
Members, to provide additional<br />
insight and advice based on experience.<br />
Mark Nilson, Former Educator<br />
and Administrator; Kristen Keltz,<br />
Senior Director of Sales and Marketing<br />
with Hotel Services Group; Carl<br />
Bruner, Mount Vernon School District<br />
Superintendent; and Becky Taft,<br />
Branch Manager at Skagit Bank,<br />
were among the prestigious guests<br />
who shared their valuable skills<br />
and knowledge with the group. In<br />
addition to visiting group meetings,<br />
Mark, Kristen, Carl and Becky have<br />
all agreed to be ongoing mentors for<br />
the participants as they further progress<br />
in their Club careers.<br />
Our mission to enable all youth,<br />
especially those who need us most,<br />
to reach their full potential as productive,<br />
caring, responsible citizens<br />
is only made more achievable<br />
when we live and breathe it in our<br />
everyday practices. We do this by<br />
enabling our staff to reach their full<br />
potential as the next generation of<br />
great leaders in our movement.<br />
11
12<br />
advocacy<br />
government<br />
relations
As part of the Great<br />
Futures 2025 Strategic<br />
Plan for Boys &<br />
Girls Clubs of America<br />
(BGCA), one priority is advocacy<br />
for youth development. While<br />
the Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit<br />
County, as an independent, locally<br />
governed organization is under no<br />
obligation to adhere to the Great<br />
Futures 2025 plan, the Skagit Clubs<br />
were already on a path toward this<br />
when adopted. Alignment of these<br />
goals creates efficiencies through<br />
accessing enhanced development<br />
and engagement opportunities. The<br />
goal is to position Boys & Girls Clubs<br />
as the leading voice, thought leader,<br />
and advocate for America’s youth.<br />
One cornerstone project to support<br />
this priority is the expansion of Government<br />
Relations across all levels<br />
of Boys & Girls Clubs. To this end,<br />
the <strong>2018</strong> National Days of Advocacy<br />
convened more than 200 Club professionals<br />
and Board members from<br />
nearly every state, for a two-day<br />
whirlwind experience in Washington,<br />
DC in March. Currently serving<br />
as the President of the Washington<br />
State Alliance and Washington State<br />
Association of Boys & Girls Clubs,<br />
and with Skagit County recognized<br />
as a leader in this space, Club CEO<br />
Ron McHenry joined Club staff Ryan<br />
Scott of Bellevue, Elise Menashe of<br />
Southwest Washington, and Board<br />
Member Scott Horenstein from Vancouver,<br />
WA.<br />
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit<br />
County has been blessed to have<br />
good working relationships with<br />
both Congresswoman Suzan Del-<br />
Bene (D-WA, 1st) and Congressman<br />
Rick Larsen (D-WA, 2nd).<br />
They have spent time visiting Club<br />
sites, and serving as Congressional<br />
Champions for Boys & Girls Clubs<br />
in their District, and across the<br />
country. Their support is realized<br />
through USDA programs that provides<br />
reimbursements for snacks<br />
and meals opportunities for more<br />
than 1,700 kids each day during the<br />
school-year and summer, including<br />
The Boys & Girls Clubs of<br />
Skagit County has been<br />
blessed to have good<br />
working relationships with<br />
both Congresswoman Suzan<br />
DelBene (D-WA, 1st) and<br />
Congressman Rick Larsen<br />
(D-WA, 2nd). They have spent<br />
time visiting Club sites, and<br />
serving as Congressional<br />
Champions for Boys & Girls<br />
Clubs in their District, and<br />
across the country.<br />
a full dinner for kids and teens in<br />
Sedro-Woolley and Mount Vernon.<br />
Their voice in advocacy is also<br />
manifest in Mentoring programs in<br />
Anacortes and Sedro-Woolley, and<br />
the two 21st Century Community<br />
Learning Centers in Mount Vernon,<br />
where all 8th graders recently<br />
advanced to high school, meeting<br />
a very high benchmark standard in<br />
support of the Mount Vernon School<br />
Districts 100% Graduation Goal.<br />
continued on page... 14<br />
Karin Wigen<br />
Matthew Cheney<br />
Helena Schlegel<br />
Dawn Hardman<br />
Mark Lawrence<br />
Sandy Rodriguez<br />
Laura Riquelme<br />
Steve Hoglund<br />
Mike Lumpkin<br />
Deborah McNeal<br />
Patrick Siler<br />
Melissa Nelson<br />
Jason Miller<br />
Keith Magee<br />
Cardenas Teresa<br />
Wanda Rowland<br />
Old Navy Stores<br />
Abraham Kidane<br />
Tina Asp<br />
Lucy DeGrace<br />
Dennis Parent<br />
Cory Kiehn<br />
Jose ‘Freddy’ Reyes<br />
Officer Jon Gerondale<br />
Gap Stores Employees<br />
Caleb Dobey<br />
Ross Roberts<br />
Bernadette Halliday<br />
Burlington Police Officers<br />
Mathew Cheney<br />
Skagit Land Trust staff<br />
Kelly Bowden<br />
Pam Allen<br />
Mike Crawford<br />
Joseph Bowen<br />
Armando Ruiz<br />
Jenny Cole<br />
Emerson Nordmark<br />
Eric Johnson<br />
Josh Anderson<br />
Esteban Vivanco<br />
Sally Hill<br />
Sedro-Woolley Fire Firefighters<br />
Mark Holland<br />
Christine Johnson<br />
Beth Bishop<br />
Ross Employees<br />
Christine Hill<br />
Sarah Morr<br />
Biruktawit Hasenbalg-V<br />
John Fromong<br />
Huy Seyler<br />
Katie Wilson<br />
Karen Pitt<br />
Demond Johnson<br />
Josh Carpenter<br />
Wes Fridell<br />
Sandi Johns<br />
Katie Davis<br />
Callie Shoemaker<br />
David Storey<br />
continued on page... 33<br />
13
During the National Days of Advocacy,<br />
the Washington delegation<br />
met with all available members of<br />
Congress or their staff, primarily as<br />
a group, but also individually when<br />
scheduling difficulties were present.<br />
Not all Congressmen were engaged,<br />
but Skagit County was fortunate to<br />
meet with staff from Senator Maria<br />
Cantwell’s office, a brief meeting<br />
with Senator Patty Murray followed<br />
by a deeper conversation with a<br />
senior staffer, and some brief time<br />
with Congressman Rick Larsen<br />
before finishing with another staffer.<br />
We are grateful for the time that was<br />
provided by all, but especially for<br />
the time allowed us with Congresswoman<br />
Suzan DelBene. She carved<br />
out thirty minutes for passionate discussion<br />
and dialogue with us, and<br />
as a result, the delegation was the<br />
envy of many peers in the Boys &<br />
Girls Club movement.<br />
Participation in the National Days of<br />
Advocacy increased awareness of<br />
local needs and how they relate to<br />
governmental efforts at the federal<br />
level, as well as set the tone for the<br />
Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County<br />
understanding the tremendous work<br />
and sacrifice made by our elected<br />
officials, really, at all levels. Gaining<br />
a deeper understanding as to the<br />
effort it takes to make change happen<br />
everyday highlights the need for<br />
a recommitment to stewardship on<br />
behalf of the organization. Skagit<br />
County Clubs certainly appreciate<br />
the ongoing connection, through<br />
visits and correspondence, and the<br />
voice that it provides the needs of<br />
the kids and teens served as we<br />
work to fulfill our mission: to enable<br />
all young people, especially those<br />
who need us most, to reach their<br />
full potential as productive, caring,<br />
responsible citizens.<br />
14
meals Beyond<br />
the<br />
Club<br />
Across Washington<br />
state, thousands of<br />
kids rely on free and<br />
reduced lunches for<br />
their next meal. However, during the<br />
summer, they can’t rely on school<br />
meals. “Skagit County youth face<br />
one of the highest rates of food<br />
insecurity in Washington State” said<br />
Ron McHenry, Boys & Girls Clubs<br />
of Skagit County CEO. In 2015,<br />
the Skagit Clubs saw a need and<br />
stepped up. “Some School Districts<br />
were providing lunches for some<br />
of the summer, but not in all communities.<br />
In becoming a provider,<br />
we were able to bridge the gap for<br />
lunches to be offered from the first<br />
day of summer to last, snacks for<br />
the entirety, and an additional meal<br />
when the schools were serving<br />
lunch. Participation meant that our<br />
Club members would have regular,<br />
consistent access to nutritious foods<br />
year-round.”<br />
Now, three years after our first summer<br />
meals program, we are proud<br />
to announce that, for the first time,<br />
we are serving lunch at John Storvik<br />
park in Anacortes. “Boys & Girls<br />
Clubs, whenever possible, serve at<br />
the pleasure of the community. We<br />
had received a number of requests<br />
to serve lunch out of Storvik Park,<br />
especially from adjacent low-income<br />
housing communities” said<br />
McHenry. This will give kids who<br />
need us most, even if they are not<br />
members, the opportunity to have<br />
a healthy meal every day. The new<br />
program at Storvik started last week<br />
and is still blooming as every day,<br />
we serve more and more kids. When<br />
it reaches full production, more than<br />
100 youth ages 0-18 will receive a<br />
healthy lunch every day, provided<br />
through funding from USDA.<br />
15
By the Numbers<br />
Laventure &<br />
Mount baker<br />
100 %<br />
Graduation Rate<br />
at LaVenture. Mount Baker data was not yet available.<br />
147<br />
Members who attended 30<br />
days or more<br />
up from 103 in 2017<br />
283<br />
Enrolled members<br />
up from 140 enrolled in 2017<br />
Dubbed our most passionate staff member, Brian Gustafson<br />
worked tirelessly to make sure every one of his members would<br />
graduate in <strong>2018</strong> after seeing 7 members not graduate last year.<br />
As an incentive and reward, he threw a graduation party and even<br />
temporarily dyed his hair blue.<br />
The Berc Group has done an independent assessment of these<br />
two Clubs in years 2016 & 2017. Data for <strong>2018</strong> will be available<br />
in September. The current data shows steady increases in regular<br />
attendance, homework completion, and increases in math, and<br />
reading proficiency since 2016. Funded through the 21st Century<br />
grant, our Mount Baker & LaVenture Clubs are located on campus<br />
at the middle schools.<br />
16
Hendricks Family<br />
Foundation<br />
The Jeff & Linda Hendricks<br />
Foundation proudly supports the<br />
Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County<br />
17
our Strategic Plan<br />
The journey to the final<br />
development of OPPORTU-<br />
NITY 2021 began in August<br />
2017 with a task force<br />
created by the Board of Directors. In<br />
initial meetings, it became clear that<br />
the importance of a new Strategic<br />
Plan and timing in the organizational<br />
development of the Boys & Girls Clubs<br />
of Skagit County meant that nothing<br />
was to be rushed. Instead, the Strategic<br />
Plan Task Force set out methodically<br />
in creating a concept, framework<br />
for collecting data, and development<br />
of metrics that would correspond to<br />
goals and objectives.<br />
The first determination was whether<br />
or not to align with the recently<br />
released GREAT FUTURES 2025<br />
framework from Boys & Girls<br />
Clubs of America. As an independent<br />
Club organization, locally<br />
governed, there is no requirement<br />
to adopt into a plan set forth by<br />
Boys & Girls Clubs of America.<br />
However, in a more in-depth review<br />
of that plan, three of the four<br />
priorities resonated strongly with<br />
leadership, and form the basis of<br />
OPPORTUNITY 2021: Reach More<br />
Youth, Increase Program Quality,<br />
and Strengthen the Organization.<br />
Focus groups were convened consisting<br />
of community leaders, all<br />
facilitated by Greg Reed of Greg<br />
Reed Consulting who provided his<br />
services pro bono in support of<br />
the Boys & Girls Club. From these,<br />
themes emerged that identified areas<br />
of growth within the initially<br />
targeted considerations. At a joint<br />
Board and Club staff retreat, hours<br />
were spent in small and large groups<br />
discussing what objectives could be<br />
adopted to reach those goals, and<br />
over subsequent months, metrics<br />
created that allow for regular review<br />
and reflection in support of achieving<br />
OPPORTUNITY 2021.<br />
18
OPPORTUNITY<br />
Providing a Great Future for Skagit County Youth<br />
PURPOSE: To inspire and empower kids and teens in Skagit County to achieve success, and champion<br />
opportunities for all Club members<br />
PRIORITIES:<br />
• Reach More Youth<br />
• Increase Program Quality<br />
• Strengthen the Organization<br />
GOAL: To transform the operational ability of the organization to be best responsive to the evolving needs of<br />
youth ages 6-18 throughout Skagit County.<br />
Priority 1: Reach More Youth<br />
OBJECTIVES:<br />
• Increase Square Feet of Dedicated Club Space by 50%<br />
• Expand Outreach through Purposeful Program Integration<br />
At some point during the past three years, at least<br />
one community’s Clubhouse has found it necessary<br />
to implement a membership waiting list system due<br />
to lack of space capacity. Increases in dedicated Club<br />
space may mean capital expansion, opening new sites<br />
in existing mixed-use facilities, or entering into new<br />
shared-space agreements that result in more area for<br />
youth development.<br />
In recognition of the significant costs related to any<br />
expansion into additional space, another avenue of<br />
engagement focuses on building new partner relationships<br />
and serving youth in non-traditional ways that do<br />
not impact daily facility capacity.<br />
In meeting these objectives, total Club square footage<br />
would increase to 21,500 sq ft in Skagit County, and<br />
500 new unduplicated youth served annually.<br />
Opportunity 2021<br />
19
Priority 2: Increase Program Quality<br />
OBJECTIVES:<br />
• Increase Opportunity to Youth<br />
• Fully Implement Youth Program Quality Initiative<br />
As a result of a takeaway from an executive development<br />
program, Board and Staff journeyed through exercises<br />
to isolate an organizational “question zero”; primarily,<br />
with all activities and services considered within<br />
the context of the mission of Clubs, what single word<br />
best represented what is hoped Club members receive.<br />
That word was Opportunity.<br />
In relation to the objective listed, youth reflect about the<br />
life-changing result of different engagements, tours, and<br />
experiences that occur during Club membership. Additionally,<br />
the needs of our kids and teens are increasing<br />
in depth and breadth, with more requiring case management<br />
and referrals.<br />
Beginning in 2014, our Clubs were pilots for efforts in<br />
Washington to adopt the Youth Program Quality Initiative<br />
(YPQI), from the Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality.<br />
In seeing benefits from the creation of a Continuous<br />
Program Quality Improvement Cycle, it has become<br />
clear that fully implementing YPQI will increase program<br />
quality for Club members, with a secondary benefit of<br />
positively impacting staff retention through more profound<br />
professional development and engagement.<br />
Annual benchmark metrics are set that will impact the<br />
number of unique opportunities, the percentage of youth<br />
receiving referrals and case management services, the<br />
percentage of program staff trained in YPQI Basic and<br />
YPQI Methods, as well as the number of assessments<br />
conducted per site annually.<br />
Priority 3: Strengthen The Organization<br />
OBJECTIVES:<br />
• Grow Internally<br />
• Increase Community Engagement<br />
With any business, you are stronger the more institutional<br />
knowledge remains through better staff retention.<br />
This is also true with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit<br />
County, and perhaps even more critical. The basis for<br />
success with a Club member resides in the trusting,<br />
supportive relationship one builds with a staff member.<br />
In setting out to increase staff retention rates, the organization<br />
grows stronger as both a business and social<br />
service agency. To support this, we will provide better<br />
recognition of staff and volunteers and increase the<br />
number of staff receiving advanced professional development<br />
opportunities.<br />
Heard time and again, while many support the mission<br />
of the Clubs and know it is available to youth during the<br />
critical out-of-school hours, each time someone tours a<br />
Club for the first time, the same statement is offered: “I<br />
had no idea all that you did.” We know that by merely<br />
increasing the number of people touring our programs, a<br />
more profound connection will be made to our essential<br />
mission. Additional strategies to improve donor retention,<br />
already much higher than national benchmarks,<br />
will produce more significant resources which directly<br />
impacts all facets of OPPORTUNITY 2021 and allows for<br />
the successful execution of this strategic plan.<br />
When the objectives are fully realized, retention rates will<br />
improve both staff and donor/investors engagement,<br />
increased allocation of financial resources toward recognition<br />
primarily of part-time, hourly staff will set Clubs<br />
above others as an employer of choice, and more than<br />
500 unique individuals will have toured a Club program<br />
for the first time.<br />
Opportunity 2021<br />
20
Thank You For Building<br />
Opportunity<br />
FOCUS GROUP PARTICIPANTS<br />
Josh Axthelm, Architect, Fisher Construction Group<br />
Wayne Barrett, Superintendent, Concrete School District<br />
Kate Bennett, Executive Director, Leadership Skagit<br />
Laurel Browning, Superintendent, Burlington-Edison School District<br />
Anne Clark, VP of College Advancement, Skagit Valley College<br />
Mike Crawford, Retired<br />
Laurie Gere, Mayor, City of Anacortes<br />
Bryan Harrison, City Administrator, City of Burlington<br />
Carol Hawk, Program Director - CHOP, United General District #304<br />
Lynne Jordan, Non-Profit Consultant<br />
Sue Krienen, Community Advocate<br />
Debra Lancaster, Executive Director, United Way of Skagit County<br />
Rob Martin, Executive Director, Chinook Enterprises<br />
Mike Matheson, Retired<br />
Mary McGoffin, Executive Director, Skagit Community Foundation<br />
Maggie Potter, Land Use Consultant, Community Relations Services<br />
David Riddle, Principal, Mount Vernon School District<br />
Danielle Baird Russell, Realtor, John L. Scott - Skagit<br />
Rebecca Schlaht, Executive Director, Helping Hands Food Bank<br />
Brad Tuininga, Director of Philanthropy, Skagit Valley College Foundation<br />
Sarah Ward, Executive Director, Burlington Public Library<br />
Karin Wigens, Volunteer, Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County<br />
Levon Yangoyan, Fire Chief, City of Burlington<br />
BOARD LEADERSHIP<br />
Tina Asp, Image360<br />
Josh Axthelm, Fisher Construction Group<br />
Pat Barrett, Barrett Financial, LTD<br />
Annette Booth, Allstate Insurance<br />
*Dr. Carl Bruner, Mount Vernon School Dist.<br />
*Raymond Goda, DreamChasersRV<br />
Mike Gubrud, Farmers Insurance<br />
Eric Johnson, Stiles Law<br />
Brenden Jones, SaviBank<br />
*Rob Martin, Chinook Enterprises<br />
Mark Nilson, Retired<br />
*Bill Overby, Skagit Valley College<br />
Ross Roberts, Shell Puget Sound Refinery<br />
Holly Shannon, Carson Law Group<br />
Brian Soneda, Retired<br />
Becky Taft, Skagit Bank<br />
Kelly Codlin, Andeavor Corporation<br />
Carrie Wallace, Skagit Bank<br />
STAFF LEADERSHIP<br />
Nathan Allen, Director of STEM Initiatives<br />
Sarah Arquitt, Director of Administration<br />
Jayne Branch, AIM Program Coor.<br />
Shane Collins, Club Director<br />
Patrick Dougher, Teen Director<br />
Ian Faley, Associate Executive Director<br />
Andrew Flores, Program Director<br />
Desni Fonoimoana, OJP Mentoring Coor.<br />
Tammy Findlay, Director of Marketing<br />
Angela Freeberg, Area Director<br />
Brian Gustafson, Site Director<br />
Elizabeth Hanna, Program Director<br />
Ron McHenry, CEO<br />
Erik Pineda, Site Director<br />
Manny Smith, Director of Operations<br />
Evan Wright, Development Coordinator<br />
*Denotes Strategic Plan Task Force member<br />
Opportunity 2021<br />
21
Keys<br />
for<br />
Kids<br />
22<br />
It was in 2008 while attending<br />
the Boys & Girls Clubs of<br />
America National Conference<br />
in New Orleans, LA that Boys<br />
& Girls Club CEO Ron McHenry went<br />
to a dueling pianos bar for the first<br />
time. It was Pat O’Brien’s, a landmark,<br />
and he was hooked. Sitting<br />
there, drinking a “Hurricane” and<br />
singing along, he looked around<br />
and saw how engaged everyone<br />
was. Fun was a visible energy in the<br />
environment, and it was unlike anything<br />
he had ever experienced. Ron<br />
went every night that week, inviting<br />
friends from other Clubs to join in<br />
that fun, and by the end of the week<br />
Club staff nearly packed the house.<br />
With such a common passion, the<br />
building was electrified; the staff<br />
there had seen nothing like it.<br />
Flying home, McHenry began considering<br />
how to replicate that experience.<br />
It took several years of really<br />
trying to think through each element<br />
to ensure that it would be viable.<br />
During that process, it was realized<br />
that the envisioned event just<br />
wouldn’t work at the organization in<br />
Eastern Washington. There simply<br />
wasn’t the infrastructure of staffing<br />
nor strength of marketing, and it<br />
wasn’t a community where events<br />
in the nonprofit world were a common<br />
occurrence. It was not long<br />
after moving to Skagit County when<br />
the realization came that the dueling<br />
pianos concept could potentially<br />
work. When Tammy Findlay joined<br />
the marketing team, and Ian Faley<br />
stepped into the role of Director of<br />
Development, the organizational<br />
capacity was in place.<br />
Ian took the initial vision and further<br />
refined the concept, integrating organizational<br />
best practices in stewardship<br />
and donor confidence. Tammy<br />
would create iconic marketing materials<br />
which captured the essence<br />
of what was hoped would be the<br />
outcome of the event, and curiosity<br />
was piqued. The Board was willing<br />
to put energy into promotion, even<br />
one member who was pretty sure<br />
continued on page... 24
23
24<br />
it just wouldn’t work, and ended<br />
up becoming one of the greatest<br />
champions after attending that first<br />
year. It’s because the organization<br />
had the right conditions that things<br />
worked, and funds were secured in<br />
support of the mission. It’s because<br />
of YOU that wildest expectations<br />
have been exceeded.<br />
The first year of Keys for Kids raised<br />
$35,000 for programs and operations<br />
and there was a strong sense<br />
the event was indeed something<br />
special. People were talking about<br />
it months after the fact, and after<br />
taking feedback from that first night<br />
some guiding principles were developed<br />
about the future. Producing<br />
Keys for Kids outside in an unusual<br />
way was a big hit, and with the<br />
next five years locked-in at our new<br />
venue at Stepping Stones Garden, it<br />
will continue to be so. Keeping the<br />
experience intimate is another ongoing<br />
commitment. So often, events<br />
focus on volume to ensure success.<br />
It is certainly helpful, but this year<br />
proved there are ways to strike a<br />
good balance.<br />
Each year has set new records, and<br />
the Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit<br />
County are appreciative of the community<br />
for taking a chance on Keys<br />
for Kids in 2015. Together, we have<br />
demonstrated that remaining committed<br />
to those guiding principles<br />
was the right choice, as we celebrate<br />
the event generating more<br />
than $80,000 toward the mission<br />
of the Boys & Girls Club: to enable<br />
all young people, especially those<br />
who need us most, to reach their<br />
full potential as productive, caring,<br />
responsible citizens.<br />
At this year’s Keys for Kids, Clubs<br />
welcomed more than 60 new investors<br />
who were responsible for nearly<br />
$15,000 in new revenue in support<br />
of our important mission. And, from<br />
an execution context, it was the<br />
smoothest year for staff, took less<br />
manpower, and seemed to be most<br />
enjoyable with just the right balance.<br />
Because of you, Club kids will continue<br />
receiving access to incredible<br />
opportunities and field trips,<br />
snacks and meals year-round, staff<br />
mentors, supplies for life-changing<br />
programs, and an investment<br />
specifically for our part-time staff<br />
in deeper training and professional<br />
development. Beyond this, the event<br />
results significantly beat even our<br />
stretch goal. Always conservative<br />
with resources and assets, some<br />
of this will be set aside for future<br />
sustainable needs.<br />
However, there is also enough to<br />
provide the base for the Burlington<br />
Summer Breeze program for next<br />
year, and on June 28th, the Board<br />
of Directors voted to allocate $5,000<br />
toward the purchase of AED units for<br />
all Clubhouses. This has long been<br />
on our wishlist of equipment to further<br />
our commitment to Child & Club<br />
Safety, and will be available as a<br />
resource to anyone nearby during<br />
Club hours.<br />
From deepening impact through<br />
quality programs, to attaining<br />
life-saving equipment, the difference<br />
Skagit has made through participation<br />
in the Keys for Kids event is a<br />
legacy that will provide a return for<br />
many years, manifest as youth transitioning<br />
into adulthood equipped<br />
with key assets resulting from<br />
achieving Boys & Girls Club priority<br />
outcomes of Academic Success,<br />
Healthy Lifestyles, and Good Character<br />
& Citizenship. Thank you for<br />
making Keys for Kids a truly qualified<br />
success!
It’s not just about achieving your goals...<br />
It’s about the path that gets you there.<br />
A place to become... a buisness leader, a teacher, and artist; if<br />
kids and teens can dream it, Boys & Girls Clubs can help them become<br />
it. Because it’s not magic that makes dreams come true, it’s people.<br />
People like our youth development professionals, who tell every kid<br />
and teen who enters our doors that they believe in and care about<br />
them, and provide each with opportunities to become the person they<br />
want to be and achieve a great future.
The group at Shout (back row): Sarah Arquitt (Director of Administration), Josh Johnson (Holly’s spouse), Tina Asp (Board President-Elect), Brian<br />
Gustafson (Site Director, LaVenture), Manny Smith (Director of Operations), Ron McHenry (CEO). Front row: Andrew Flores (Program Director,<br />
Sedro-Woolley), Holly Shannon (Board President), Elizabeth Hanna (Interim Club Director, Anacortes), Tammy Findlay (Director of Marketing), Desni<br />
Fonoimoana (OJP Coordinator, Sedro-Woolley), Ian Faley (Associate Executive Director), Evan Wright (Development Coordinator). Photo next page<br />
top right: Brian is ready to lead a group for a conference break-out session. Photo next page, bottom: Ron McHenry (center left) and Whatcom<br />
County’s CEO Heather Powell (center right) accept the State Alliance of the <strong>Year</strong> Award on behalf of the Washington State Alliance from BGCA<br />
President Jim Clark (left) and Senior Vice President of Resource Development and Government Relations, Julie Teer (right).<br />
Feeling Community<br />
Camaraderie and pride<br />
Staff & Board members travel to National Conference<br />
26<br />
by Tammy Findlay<br />
Held annually, BGCA’s<br />
National Conference<br />
brings together over<br />
400 staff, board members,<br />
volunteers, and Club members<br />
from 4,300 Clubs nationwide. A<br />
variety of speakers, Club member<br />
talent, award ceremonies, and celebrations<br />
complete with food and live<br />
music fill out the general sessions.<br />
Break-out sessions throughout the<br />
day focus on specific topics, tailored<br />
to common needs of Club organizations.<br />
The conference provides a<br />
valuable opportunity to further professional<br />
development. Staff and<br />
board members get a chance to<br />
network with other individuals from<br />
other Clubs facing them same types<br />
of challenges, and share successes,<br />
as well. Every year, depending on<br />
budgetary considerations, CEO Ron<br />
McHenry makes the tough choice on<br />
which staff members will go. This<br />
last May, a group of 16 representing<br />
Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County<br />
traveled to San Diego for Boys<br />
& Girls Clubs of America’s 112th<br />
National Conference.<br />
Community: a feeling of fellowship<br />
with others, as a result of<br />
sharing common attitudes,<br />
interests, and goals.<br />
I recently was introduced to an old<br />
science video called “Powers of Ten”<br />
that had a powerful impact on me.<br />
It starts with a family sitting on a<br />
picnic blanket, at one meter wide,<br />
adding incrementally 10 seconds<br />
and ten times zoomed out, as one<br />
eventually sees Chicago, then North<br />
America, then the whole earth, then<br />
the orbital paths of the planets, then<br />
the solar system, then eventually our<br />
galaxy, and additional galaxies, to<br />
the farthest we can see into space.<br />
Perspective is important on so many<br />
levels. Our mission may start with
one child who needs us most at one<br />
Club, with one staff member. As we<br />
zoom out we see another youth, and<br />
another. Then, we see more staff,<br />
and volunteers. As we zoom out<br />
more, we see a town or city, filled<br />
with businesses, schools, public<br />
officials and stakeholders invested<br />
in our Club’s mission. We continue<br />
our journey outward and our view<br />
includes Skagit County our six Club<br />
sites, and administration office, as<br />
we eventually encompass Washington<br />
State and their 147 Clubs.<br />
This may give some insight into the<br />
magnitude of the Boys & Girls Club<br />
movement. This is what I re-learn<br />
when we attend conference. We<br />
share a common goal with all of<br />
these Club organizations across the<br />
nation. That is a powerful feeling. It<br />
helps me feel ready to tackle any<br />
challenge ahead, because we know<br />
we do it together.<br />
“Honestly, one of my favorite takeaways<br />
was from Eric Boles, a former<br />
NFL player and one of the speakers<br />
during Wednesday’s general session,”<br />
reflected Evan Wright, Development<br />
Coordinator for Boys & Girls<br />
Clubs of Skagit County. “Boles said<br />
‘Run though the wedge!’ a football<br />
analogy he used to illustrate that<br />
we should embrace challenges,<br />
rather that avoiding them. We kept<br />
yelling that to each other throughout<br />
the whole conference. That<br />
saying is going up on my office<br />
wall.” Director of Administration,<br />
Sarah Arquitt talked about hearing<br />
the personal stories of Club Alumni<br />
who were inducted into the BGCA<br />
Alumni Hall of Fame. “Knowing<br />
what these alumni have achieved<br />
in their lives speaks to the efficacy<br />
of our Clubs, and gives hope for the<br />
futures of our youth, and the great<br />
future they can achieve.”<br />
Camaraderie: mutual trust and<br />
friendship among people who<br />
spend a lot of time together.<br />
One of the challenges we face as<br />
an organization is creating cohesion<br />
among six geographically isolated<br />
locations, between Sedro-Woolley,<br />
Mount Vernon, Burlington, and<br />
Anacortes. The nature of proximity<br />
means that some locations work<br />
closer together than others. We see<br />
each other, but all work together<br />
less often. It’s important to create<br />
moments for us to interact, build<br />
“When I saw the pride—<br />
sincere and authentic pride—<br />
in a staff person’s or board<br />
member’s eyes, especially<br />
from our board members who<br />
work so hard as volunteers,<br />
that was a highlight for me.”<br />
CEO, Ron McHenry reflected.<br />
“It’s important that people<br />
have pride in what they do.”<br />
trust, and understanding. The conference<br />
is one of these opportunities.<br />
We travel together, conference<br />
together, and share accommodations.<br />
It’s a chance for us to get to<br />
know each other better.<br />
Our days at the conference are<br />
long and full, typically starting at<br />
7:30am and ending well after 9pm.<br />
We do, however, carve out some<br />
time for fun. Because the conference<br />
was held in San Diego, an<br />
area Ron knows well, he treated us<br />
to an adventure, out-on-the-town<br />
at Shout, a dueling pianos bar. We<br />
continued on page... 28<br />
27
were joined by other staff from Clubs<br />
in Washington State from Whatcom<br />
and Benton & Franklin Counties. It<br />
was a definite highlight of the trip,<br />
and a well-deserved night out after<br />
long days spent at the conference.<br />
Pride: a feeling or deep pleasure<br />
or satisfaction derived from<br />
one’s own achievements, the<br />
achievements of those with whom<br />
one is closely associated, or from<br />
qualities or possessions that are<br />
widely admired.<br />
Some may have begun to notice<br />
a hashtag gaining popularity on<br />
our social media channels, and in<br />
our publications, #skagitpride. It’s<br />
important that as an organization we<br />
take notice of our “wins” with humility.<br />
The conference gives our staff<br />
and board members a chance to be<br />
recognized for the hard work they<br />
put towards our mission, and we<br />
celebrate our accomplishments with<br />
our peers from other organizations.<br />
“When I saw the pride—sincere and<br />
authentic pride—in a staff person’s<br />
or board member’s eyes, especially<br />
from our board members who work<br />
so hard as volunteers, that was a<br />
highlight for me.” CEO, Ron McHenry<br />
reflected. “It’s important that people<br />
have pride in what they do.”<br />
It’s true that this year we were able<br />
to send a greater number than usual<br />
to represent Skagit County and with<br />
that deeper investment, we see<br />
greater value in return. Additionally,<br />
our board members make a great<br />
sacrifice in attending conference,<br />
spending their own hard-earned<br />
funds and vacation hours to volunteer<br />
for the Clubs. They will tell<br />
you that it wasn’t a sacrifice, but<br />
their pleasure. Nevertheless, we are<br />
deeply grateful for their investment.<br />
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By the Numbers:<br />
Regular Attendance<br />
Attendance serves as the foundation of the Boys & Girls Club measurement strategy. To<br />
effectively demonstrate impact, Clubs must know who is in their building, how frequently<br />
they attend and in which programs they participate. In order to attract new members,<br />
retain existing members and encourage members to attend more often, we know that<br />
a Club must provide a powerful Club Experience. Therefore, measuring attendance and<br />
participation also helps the Club assess the effectiveness of its Club Experience.<br />
Number of members that attended the Club 52-99<br />
days during the 2017-18 school year<br />
Club 52: 216<br />
Studies have shown that Club Members who attend at least 52 times per year are most<br />
likely to reach our priority outcomes. Each of our Clubs strive to increase our average<br />
daily attendance—to get as many Members in our Clubs as possible each day, and to<br />
improve our retention/renewal rates—keeping our Members in the Club through high<br />
school graduation.<br />
Number of members that attended the Club 100 days<br />
or more during the 2017-18 school year<br />
Club 100: 198<br />
This fall the Clubs will launch a new reward system for Club 100 members where they<br />
will be given a special membership card. In addition to the cool graphics on the front of<br />
the card setting their achievement apart, the back of the card will feature coupons. With<br />
the card, members will be able to visit participating businesses to get free items. If you<br />
know a business that would like to partner with us to reward our Club 100 members,<br />
please contact Evan Wright at evan.wright@skagitclubs.org.<br />
29
Great<br />
Futures<br />
Gala<br />
a Night on the<br />
Gridiron<br />
30
y Ron McHenry<br />
We knew that<br />
starting our new<br />
Great Futures<br />
Gala venture was<br />
going to be exciting, and we believe<br />
we set the bar high when we kicked<br />
things off with Evander Holyfield. It<br />
was a knock-out of an evening in<br />
all aspects, and the feedback from<br />
our guests was clear: it’s a one-ofa-kind<br />
experience, so what’s next?<br />
As the staff and Board of the Boys<br />
& Girls Clubs of Skagit County processed<br />
through the changes and<br />
evolution of our most significant<br />
fundraiser held each fall, one guiding<br />
principle was held highest. We knew<br />
that a deep connection to youth with<br />
our featured guest was essential<br />
and that preferably, they are alumni,<br />
making a genuine connection to the<br />
possibilities that are available to our<br />
youth, through the opportunities provided<br />
by Clubs through the investment<br />
of our communities.<br />
Unless you were cheering<br />
or reacting to a play on the<br />
field, talking was saved only<br />
for commercials, as friends<br />
quickly learned when they’d<br />
spend the night and join me in<br />
the ritual. You did not want to<br />
take attention away from the<br />
game, lest you get the stink<br />
eye that bored into your soul,<br />
and a threat of no cake and<br />
ice cream.<br />
Congressman, Steve Largent<br />
I had the benefit of perspective and<br />
lessons-learned through running<br />
a similar event in the Tri-Cities for<br />
nearly ten years. Spud Webb, Mack<br />
Strong, A.C. Green, Dave Krieg, Scott<br />
Hatteberg - are just a few that I’ve<br />
been fortunate enough to engage<br />
and learn from, and have my passion<br />
for this work ignited time and<br />
again. Even Mike Carey, who made<br />
‘the call’ during that fateful Steelers<br />
vs. Seahawks game, and ended up<br />
being one of the kindest, respectful,<br />
and humble individuals I’ve met.<br />
In conducting research as to<br />
whether or not this type of event<br />
would resonate with our constituents<br />
in Skagit County, Ian Faley,<br />
the Associate Executive Director,<br />
responsible for resource development<br />
and community partnerships,<br />
and I traveled back to Eastern<br />
Washington so he could observe<br />
the event in a completely objective<br />
manner. That year, their speaker<br />
just happened to be Mr. Steve<br />
Largent, and we were mesmerized.<br />
My connection to #80 is perhaps<br />
one of my most personal, and emotional.<br />
As many know, most of my<br />
life was spent in foster care. My<br />
family tree is rather thin as well. The<br />
one person who was consistent,<br />
and the only source of unconditional<br />
love for me, was my grandmother.<br />
When I first entered foster care in the<br />
Olympia area, she moved from her<br />
support network and the house that<br />
she loved in Seattle and settled in<br />
Thurston County to be close to me.<br />
Because of her health and age, she<br />
couldn’t be a relative placement, but<br />
thankfully, I spent many weekends<br />
visiting, until her passing when I<br />
was in High School.<br />
The strongest, and by far most positive<br />
memories from that period in<br />
my life were sitting in the living room<br />
of the apartment to which she had<br />
downsized. We would play cards<br />
until all hours of the night, and of<br />
course, there were Seahawks Sundays.<br />
She had been a fervent fan<br />
of the team since their inception,<br />
and it naturally transitioned to me.<br />
Those Sundays were exceptional.<br />
Steak and eggs for breakfast, with<br />
the smell of the perfectly broiled<br />
meal lingering for hours, and getting<br />
hooked on vegetable platters with<br />
ranch dressing to snack on the rest<br />
of the day. Kickoff meant the distinct<br />
sound of Grandma opening her ritual<br />
Miller High Life, and me getting a<br />
continued on page... 32<br />
31
Pepsi. She loved spending time with<br />
her ‘two handsome fellas’ - Steve<br />
and I. Unless you were cheering<br />
or reacting to a play on the field,<br />
talking was saved only for commercials,<br />
as friends quickly learned<br />
when they’d spend the night and<br />
join me in the ritual. You did not<br />
want to take attention away from<br />
the game, lest you get the stink<br />
eye that bored into your soul, and<br />
a threat of no cake and ice cream.<br />
Being a part of the team welcoming<br />
Steve Largent to Skagit County<br />
is an honor that I could never have<br />
imagined during rides in the car<br />
with caseworkers shuttling me from<br />
home to home. It is because of the<br />
very obstacles I faced personally,<br />
that this outcome was realized. You<br />
invest in our Clubs and our mission,<br />
and through that, our kids and teens<br />
have a Great Future ahead of them,<br />
with limitless possibilities. One day<br />
that could mean they are the next<br />
Evander Holyfield, Steve Largent,<br />
Jennifer Lopez, Bill Clinton, Denzel<br />
Washington, General Colin Powell,<br />
Condoleeza Rice………<br />
We hope that you will join us for<br />
our 2nd Annual Great Futures Gala<br />
on November 2nd, <strong>2018</strong>. A limited<br />
number of corporate sponsorships<br />
that include enhanced interaction<br />
with Mr. Largent are available, and<br />
admission reservations are filling<br />
quickly. More information can be<br />
found on our newly redesigned<br />
website, www.skagitclubs.org, and<br />
Ian or I are always happy to meet<br />
up to provide more details on this<br />
and all of our projects and ongoing<br />
operations.<br />
32
Eric Johnson<br />
<strong>2018</strong> Board Member<br />
Stiles Law<br />
Observations from a<br />
New Board Member<br />
If you had told me back in April 2017, before I decided to run for public<br />
office, that within a year I would be elected to the Sedro-Woolley School<br />
Board and nominated to serve on the Board of Directors for the Boys<br />
and Girls Clubs of Skagit County, I probably would have politely smiled at<br />
you and said “I like your optimism”. All the while thinking that you were<br />
completely nuts. Yet here I am. It has been a whirlwind year filled with<br />
some great opportunities to meet new people and discover the many<br />
great things that Skagit County has to offer. However, the opportunity<br />
that excites me the most is the chance to serve our community.<br />
The end goal is to make the Skagit Valley a more just, more equitable<br />
and a better thriving community then when I was entrusted to serve it.<br />
It is my firm belief that education and opportunity are two key components<br />
for making that goal a reality. They provide the foundation by<br />
which success is achieved and progress is realized. To put it simply,<br />
if you want to make the world a better place, you don’t have to look<br />
any further than your community and, specifically, the individuals that<br />
make up that community – your neighbors. Yet, this isn’t just my end<br />
goal. It is deeply shared by the staff, administration and board of the<br />
Boys and Girls Club of Skagit County.<br />
I feel very fortunate to be a part of group of like-minded individuals<br />
who have taken on the duty and responsibility of serving as stewards<br />
of our community’s greatest asset – our kids. We share a common<br />
vision of seeking to enhance the lives of our youth now and create<br />
more opportunities in order that they might have a better future. And it<br />
is our belief that clubs are one of the most effective tools for bringing<br />
that vision to fruition. Or as we like to describe it, clubs are “a place to<br />
become” for our youth. They provide the necessary framework, mento-<br />
Donnabell Lathrom<br />
Pat Garrett<br />
Voula Alexopoulos<br />
Antonio Powell<br />
Paul Godfrey<br />
Bill Wallace<br />
Don Bates<br />
Thank you to our<br />
Event Sponsors!<br />
<strong>2018</strong> Youth of the <strong>Year</strong>:<br />
Dinner with Friends Keystone Sponsor<br />
Hendricks Family Foundation<br />
Leadership Sponsors<br />
Skagit Valley College<br />
Draper Valley Farms/Perdue<br />
Terry & Vince Oliver<br />
Program Sponsors<br />
Trident Seafood<br />
Eaglemont Golf Course<br />
<strong>2018</strong> Sedro-Woolley Winter Fundraiser:<br />
Royal Title Sponsor<br />
Dwayne Lane’s North Cascade Ford<br />
Noble Sponsor<br />
Janicki Industries<br />
Grand Sponsor<br />
Barb & James Thompson<br />
<strong>2018</strong> Annual Breakfast:<br />
Title Sponsor<br />
Trico Companies<br />
Keystone Sponsor<br />
K&H Integrated Print Solutions<br />
Torch Sponsor<br />
Skagit Transportation<br />
Logistics Sponsor<br />
Bayside Specialties<br />
<strong>2018</strong> Anacortes Breakfast:<br />
Title Sponsor<br />
Kiwanis Sunrisers Anacortes<br />
Torch Sponsors<br />
Cap Sante Inn<br />
Anacortes Rotary Club<br />
RIS Insurance<br />
Strandberg Construction<br />
<strong>2018</strong> Keys for Kids:<br />
Grand Piano Title Sponsor<br />
Andeavor<br />
Baby Grand Sponsor<br />
Dwayne Lanes Skagit Subaru<br />
Full Staff<br />
Drain Doctor<br />
Stepping Stones Garden<br />
Key Sponsor<br />
Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro<br />
Table Sponsors<br />
Columbia Bank<br />
Farm & Cottage Enterprises<br />
Joanie & Stephen Moe<br />
RIS Insurance Services<br />
IMAC General Construction<br />
continued on page... 34<br />
continued on page... 35<br />
33
ing and support that kids need to<br />
grow and learn.<br />
As a new board member, I quickly<br />
made two observations. First,<br />
passion is what fuels the clubs.<br />
There is no shortage of it even at<br />
the Board level. It permeates all<br />
levels and is quite contagious. The<br />
second is the quality and openness<br />
of its governance. I am well<br />
versed from my background and<br />
education that you can have the<br />
greatest of goals and mission in the<br />
world, but without a proper vision<br />
for achieving those goals and that<br />
mission and the willingness to work<br />
through the many struggles it takes<br />
to realize them, it is all for naught.<br />
Our kids face many challenges and<br />
struggles on a daily basis. Our staff<br />
and administration work hard to<br />
provide the support and mentorship<br />
our youth need to succeed in<br />
facing those struggles. It is our job<br />
at the board level to be judicious in<br />
our decisions with how resources<br />
are allocated and managed. This<br />
requires open dialogue built on a<br />
culture of ‘no surprises.’<br />
OF THE<br />
It is our hope that the youth in the<br />
clubs today will become the board<br />
members of tomorrow. In that<br />
respect, the Board serves as an<br />
example of what it means to be a<br />
caring and engaged citizen. That<br />
requires a great deal of self-awareness<br />
and a willingness to face<br />
challenges head on. I have seen<br />
nothing less from my fellow board<br />
members. They take their mission<br />
seriously—making our community<br />
better, one kid at a time.<br />
34
Dahl Electric<br />
Safway Services, LLC<br />
2017 Golf Tournament:<br />
Join the Heritage Club<br />
The Heritage Club is an association of friends of Boys<br />
& Girls Clubs from all across the country. Like you,<br />
these people seek to ensure that the future needs of<br />
our nation’s youth are met by including their local<br />
Boys & Girls Clubs in their estate plans. This planning<br />
might include a will, charitable gift annuity, a trust<br />
arrangement, a real estate gift or a life insurance policy.<br />
Your support through a planned gift will ensure<br />
that future generations of our children will have<br />
the opportunity to live successful lives in a safe,<br />
positive and caring environment.<br />
Joining The Heritage Club is easy! Simply let us<br />
know that you’d like to join by printing, signing and<br />
returning the enrollment form available at<br />
www.skagitclubs.org<br />
or contact Ian Faley at<br />
ifaley@skagitclubs.org or 360-419-3723 x7.<br />
Title Sponsor<br />
Blade Chevrolet<br />
Dinner Sponsor<br />
Judd & Black Appliance<br />
Lunch Sponsor<br />
Bayside Specialties<br />
Rotary Club of Burlington<br />
Contest Sponsor<br />
Heritage Bank<br />
Mike Gubrud – Farmers Insurance<br />
Skagit Transportation<br />
Swinomish Casino<br />
Snack Cart Sponsor<br />
CPI Plumbing/SaviBank<br />
Barrett Financial – Community Caring Project<br />
Hole Sponsor<br />
Wells Fargo<br />
Green/Tee Sponsor<br />
Banner Bank<br />
Bob’s Burgers & Brew<br />
Brown Line LLC<br />
Central Moving & Storage<br />
Conover Insurance<br />
Cook Road Shell<br />
Farmstrong Brewery<br />
Flyers Restaurant & Brewery<br />
Gateway Transmission<br />
Just Peachy Frozen Yogurt<br />
Land Title & Escrow<br />
Louis Auto Glass<br />
Rallye Auto<br />
Safelite AutoGlass<br />
Scholten’s Equipment<br />
SEMRAU Engineering & Surveying<br />
ServiceMaster<br />
Skagit River Steel & Recycling<br />
ServPro Skagit<br />
Skagit Valley Marine Corps League<br />
Smiley Insurance<br />
2017 Great Futures Gala:<br />
Keynote Sponsor<br />
Jack Gubrud Memorial Fund<br />
Title Sponsor<br />
Dreamchasers RV<br />
Premier<br />
CPI<br />
Gold<br />
KarMART<br />
American Dream Realty<br />
Silver<br />
Simmons Partner Network<br />
Louis Auto Glass<br />
Alaska Marine Lines<br />
Andeavor<br />
Chinook Enterprises<br />
Image360<br />
Strandberg Construction<br />
Bronze<br />
Samish Indian Nation<br />
Judd & Black<br />
Birch Equipment<br />
Columbia Distributing<br />
Skagit Regional Health<br />
Fisher Construction Group<br />
Pacific WoodTech<br />
Skagit Bank<br />
35
PO Box 947<br />
Mount Vernon, WA 98273<br />
THE PRINTING & MAILING OF THIS REPORT<br />
WAS DONATED BY K&H PRINTING SOLUTIONS<br />
36