President’s Volunteer Service Award Presented at Native American Summit Congratulations to Roger Nisley, who was presented with the President's Volunteer Service Award at the 2007 Native American Summit. Roxanne Spillett, President of Boys & Girls Clubs of America presented the award to Roger on Thursday, February 15. Roger serves as a member of the Native American National Advisory Committee and is Chief Volunteer Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Thank you Roger for all of the work you do for Boys & Girls Clubs in Indian Country. Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is proud to partner with the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation in bestowing the President’s Volunteer Service Award to deserving Club volunteers. This program was created to thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service. Access the President's Volunteer Service Award Website to become a certifying organization, track volunteer progress, order awards and more. Taking part in the President's Volunteer Service Awards program is a great way to acknowledge the service contributions of Club youth, program volunteers and board members. Motivate volunteers or inspire others to commit themselves to a lifelong habit of service. Click here to view the President’s Volunteer Service Award Website. Roger Nisley receives award from Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s President, Roxanne Spillett Carla Fearon Awarded BGCA's Native American Service to Youth Award On February 14, 2007, Ron Gurley, Chairman of the Native American National Advisory Committee and Chief Professional Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Green Country, honored Carla Fearon, Unit Director for the Penobscot Nation Boys & Girls Club, Maine with the Native American Service to Youth award. Carla is a Club professional who symbolizes what makes Clubs effective. She understands the importance of the mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of America and its significance to the children she serves, the local Boys & Girls Club, and her community. She provides positive leadership and motivation to other staff members whom she guides and has worked alongside since 2002. Ms. Fearon has been instrumental in securing funding and implementing Boys & Girls Club programming for the benefit of the Penobscot Nation youth. Carla was also instrumental in creating a technology room, giving Club members the opportunity to prepare for their future and to expand their creativity through technology. Congratulations Carla! Carla, her father, T. Dana Mitchell, and Ron Gurley celebrate her award NANAC Announces Three New Members At the NANAC general meeting on February 14, the committee inducted three new members. These individuals include Ernie Stevens, Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association; Valerie Red-Horse, Senior Managing Director for Tribal Finance Asset Management, Western International Securities; and Carla Fearon, Unit Director, Penobscot Nation Boys & Girls Club. Each of these newly inducted members will employ individual strengths to further the mission of NANAC, providing support and direction for Boys & Girls Clubs in Indian Country. Training Provides Insight on Starting a Boys & Girls Club in Alaskan Native Villages A training program for individuals interested in starting a Boys & Girls Club in Indian Country was held in Bethel, AK September, 18-20 2006. Participants from all over Alaska attended the two-day workshop. Sessions and activities were developed to provide attendees with the basic tools and knowledge to open and operate a Boys & Girls Club in their community.  The first day of the training included a summary of the scope and history of the Department of Housing and Urban Development: Office of Native American Program’s Boys & Girls Club Initiative, a step-by-step overview of starting a Boys & Girls Club in Indian Country, and a discussion regarding support available through HUD: ONAP. The day continued with dialogue outlining Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) Regional Service Director and the National Native American Advisory Committee (NANAC) roles, BGCA resources and funding opportunities, statewide initiatives and federal funding updates, and BGCA program planning and core program areas. The second training day began with a discussion regarding targeted initiatives in Indian Country; including the T.R.A.I.L. diabetes prevention program and National Native American Mentoring Program. Participants enjoyed a catered lunch and participated in an open forum on the use of Methamphetamines in Alaskan Native Villages. The open forum provided insight into how Methamphetamine has affected the villages. It also gave training participants the ability to learn first-hand how BGCA programming can help with prevention activities.  The training provided attendees with the opportunity to network with other individuals who are interested in starting a Boys & Girls Club, or who have recently opened a Club. Additionally, participants gained first-hand knowledge of the realities of running a Club through experienced local Boys & Girls Club professionals and national staff members.  Native American Day Celebration On September 23rd 2006, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Clarkdale Verde in Arizona hosted a community-wide celebration on the Clarkdale Reservation. The event was sponsored by the Yavapai Apache Nation’s Recreation Department, Alcohol and Substance Abuse Department, Bethany Baptist Church, and the Clarkdale-Verde Club. The day was a huge success with a turn-out of over 250 people living within the community.  Youth enjoyed playing in several inflatable jumpers and an inflatable boxing ring. Club staff and volunteers from the Clarkdale Community provided a meal for participants of the event.  In the evening, community members enjoyed music provided by the Bethany Baptist Church as well as a special appearance by Native American Rapper, AZ Chief and the Apache Crown Dancers.   Club Participates in Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Event Members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Three Affiliated Tribes in North Dakota shared their heritage and culture with visitors from across the nation this August during the Tribe’s Lewis & Clark Expedition “Signature Event.”  The Tribe was selected by the National Council of the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial as one of only 15 sites to host a Signature Event.  Each event focused on a unique theme; the Three Affiliated Tribes chose the theme, “Reunion at the Home of Sakakawea.”  The American Indian woman guided the explorers from present-day North Dakota to the Pacific Northwest. The four-day event featured scholarly symposia, reenactments and dramatic presentations, an art exhibition and trade fair, indigenous game, land and water parades, singing and traditional dance competitions, and a fur trade rendezvous.  Boys & Girls Clubs of the Three Affiliated Tribes assisted in the event.  Club members hosted traditional games and activities such as hand signing and arrow throwing. A Family Tradition Renee Wiggins, Chief Volunteer Officer of Boys & Girls Club of Wilson/Ardmore pictured with Amanda and Tammy McArthur at the Governor’s Mansion. They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and this is the case for the McArthur family in Wilson, Oklahoma. Both mother and daughter were chosen for Boys & Girls Club leadership awards. Tammy McArthur, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Wilson/Ardmore, Oklahoma was awarded the Oklahoma Professional of the Year Award by BGCA’s Professional Association, Oklahoma Chapter. Tammy has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Club since November 1998. She was chosen based on her accomplishments, involvement in committees and organizations, and impact on Club professionals on the local, regional, and national level. Tammy oversees two Club units and is in the process of planning a new Teen Center. She has held leadership roles in the Oklahoma Area Council and Oklahoma Professional Association and has been a Keystone Advisor. In 2004, she attended the Advanced Leadership Certificate Program at Clemson University. Her daughter Amanda was awarded third place in the state’s Youth of the Year competition. The Youth of the Year program recognizes outstanding young people who have contributed to their family, school, community, and Club. Misty Sanders, Teen Program Director says “Amanda sets a great example for our younger teens and is more responsible and committed than most adults that I know.” Amanda will graduate from high school this spring and plans to attend Oklahoma State University in the fall. Congratulations to both of you!   Be a Part of the North American Indigenous Games This July, Indigenous people from all over North America will gather to compete and celebrate their heritage at the 2006 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG). Sponsored by the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute tribes of Colorado, the competitive Olympic-style games will take place in Denver, Colorado July 2-9, 2006. Native American youth ages 13-19 are eligible to participate in one of 16 sports: • Rifle Shooting • Badminton • Archery • Baseball • Basketball • Volleyball • Tae Kwan Do • Golf • Boxing • Softball • Canoeing • Athletics (Track & Field) • Swimming • Wrestling • Soccer • Field Lacrosse In addition to athletic events, a Cultural Village will be open throughout the Games. Cultural Events will include Opening and Closing Ceremonies, traditional game demonstrations, a Parade of Athletes, dancing, comedic and singing performances, and a mini Film Festival. A Pow Wow, Golf Tournament, and Indian Rodeo will also take place during the games. 10,000 Native Athletes and 60,000 spectators and volunteers are expected to attend this summer’s event. For more information about the Games, visit www.naig2006.com. National Boys & Girls Club Week is the ideal time to turn the spotlight on "The Positive Place for Kids" in your community. BGCA has a variety of tools and resources available to help you plan and publicize your local celebration. For ideas look at BGCA’s publication 100 Ways to Celebrate! or visit BGCA.net for event ideas, sample press releases and letters to the editor, as well as posters and the official logo.     Shakopee Tribe Contributes $1 Million to Red Lake Nation Boys & Girls Club On March 15, 2006, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community of Minnesota donated $1 million to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians. The money will be used for construction of a new Boys & Girls Club.  To date, the Club has obtained $2 million towards their goal of  $5 million. The Shakopee Community also issued a letter of support to challenge other Tribes to contribute to this goal. Read More.     The Boys & Girls Clubs of Tahlequah-Briggs Unit Winter Olympics The Boys & Girls Clubs of Tahlequah, OK – Briggs Unit spent the month of February celebrating the Winter Olympics. Club members learned about the culture and traditions of the following countries: USA, Japan, China, Kenya, Germany, and Italy. After researching the countries, the games began!  For the Opening Ceremony Parade, the gym was decorated with flags and banners from each country and participants had the chance to carry the torch. The countries competed in the following events:   Bobsled: a relay race with two members of each team competing on scooters Curling: each team member has two turns to push a puck closest to the target Hockey: 4 on 4 hockey game Luge: a relay race where participants maneuver scooters through an obstacle course As part of the Closing Ceremonies, each person was presented with a medal for a job well done. What a great way to cure the winter blues! Pueblo of Pojoaque BGC to host Regional Fine Arts Exhibit Congratulation to the Pueblo of Pojoaque Boys & Girls Club, New Mexico!  The Club was selected to host BGCA’s 2006 Southwest Regional Fine Arts Judging and Exhibit. The Club is seeking art work from Club members from the southwest region.  All art work received will be exhibited and judged at the Poeh Center in Pojoaque. On February 24th, there will be an exhibit of all the artwork and regional winners will be selected for each category and age class. Refreshments will be served and entertainment will include local Native American dancers and a mariachi band. The 37 selected pieces of art will be included in BGCA’s National Fine Arts Exhibit competition. If your Club members would like to submit artwork, contact: Evelyn Martinez 101 A Lightning Loop Sante Fe, New Mexico 87506 P: 505-455-3659 F: 505-455-5021 E-mail: ppbgc1@aol.com If you are interested in attending the exhibit on February 24th, 2006 please contact Donald Christy at 505-455-3659.   GOT TALENT? BGCA is looking for talented Club Members to perform at the 100th Annual National Conference in Boston, May 3-6 2006. All types of entertainment are welcome to apply.   The search is open to all Club members ages 6-18. Send a standard VHS or DVD of a performance to: National Conference Talent Search Boys & Girls Clubs of America 1230 West Peachtree Street NW Atlanta, GA 30309 The video tape or DVD must be clearly labeled with the Club name, contact person, address and phone number; as well as the age and names of the performers and the number of acts on the tape. You may include more than one act on a tape. To qualify, all audition tapes must be received by February 15th, 2006. If you are chosen, Boys & Girls Clubs of America will pay for travel, lodging and meals for up to six Club members and one adult advisor. Winners will be posted on www.bgca.net and notified by March 8th, 2006. If you have questions, please contact Jim Caufield at 404-487-5706 Congratulations to the Boys & Girls Club of the Red Lake Nation!  The Club received a $500,000 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant toward the construction of a new Club building.  HUD’s Indian Community Development Block Grant provides eligible American Indian and Alaska Native communities with money to develop housing, a suitable living environment and economic opportunities for low and moderate income persons.   Dawn Huseby, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club, said the Club currently serves 650 members in Red Lake and Ponemah.  About 200 children attend daily in the current facilities of the middle and elementary schools.  The Club has had limited access to school facilities since the tragic high school shooting that left eight dead in March 2005. The grant will provide for modular buildings in Red Lake and Ponemah that can be installed quickly and allow the Club units to run regular programs. Long term, the Boys & Girls Club and the Tribe continue to work together to raise funds for a permanent 20,000 sq. ft. structure to serve as a Boys & Girls Club facility in Red Lake.  The Club recently launched a new web site www.giiwedinnation.com; “Giiwedin” means “from the north” in the Ojibwe language.  This new web site will allow others to learn more about the Club and track their fundraising progress. Club Leader Chosen for BGCA Award Shirley Swenson, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of the Turtle Mountains, North Dakota was awarded the Vision & Spirit Award at the Midwest Regional Leadership Conference.  The conference was held October 6-8, 2005 in Louisville, KY.  Nominations were requested in advance from the Midwest Regional Service Center.  The awardee was chosen based on how she has overcome challenges, shown vision and enthusiasm in developing the organization, and demonstrated commitment to children.  Shirley has been the Director of the Turtle Mountain Clubs since they opened in 2000.  She oversees five Club units and is in the process of opening two new sites.  Congratulations Shirley! Taco Bell Grantees Announced Congratulations to the following Native Clubs who received Fall 2005 Taco Bell Teen Program Enhancement Grants.  $5,000 will be awarded to each grant recipient to expand or begin a teen program at their Club. Boys & Girls Clubs of Green Country-Pryor, OK Pojoaque Pueblo Boys & Girls Club-Pojoaque Pueblo, NM Boys & Girls Club of Wilson-Wilson, OK Waterville Area Boys & Girls Club-Waterville, ME Two Native Clubs Receive BGCA MAC Awards Francis Jock of the Akwesasne Boys & Girls Clubs receives the silver MAC Award from Mark Shamley of Tupperware. Two Native Clubs received Marketing & Communications (MAC) awards at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s national conference.  The awards are presented each year to Clubs that create a successful media outreach plan and demonstrate solid media placements.  The MAC awards program is sponsored by Tupperware. “The outcome of this plan shows all Clubs – no matter what their size – can make people stand up and take notice,” said Kurt Aschermann, chief marketing officer, BGCA.  “Efforts such as these are making Boys & Girls Clubs a household name.”  Seven outside professionals with leadership positions in the areas of package-good marketing, agency promotions, and non-profit marketing served as MAC Award judges.  The Akwesasne Boys & Girls Club in New York won a silver award in the Publicity/Media Relations category.  Their submission was a promotional video geared towards youth, the community, stakeholders, and prospective donors.  The 7-minute video reflects the core beliefs of the Movement and the Club, inspires pride in Club members, and encourages support of the Club from the community. The Club has observed advancement of their organization after the production of the video.  Membership has increased by over 200 youth and the annual operating budget is projected to increase by $250,000 in one year. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Tahlequah in Oklahoma won a bronze MAC award, also in the category of Publicity/Media Relations.  Executive Director, Janice Randall acknowledges that community partners contributed to their receipt of the award.  To increase publicity for the Club, the local radio station regularly airs public service announcements.  Because the Club is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Club logo is placed beside the address label of the Chamber’s monthly newsletter.  Additionally, a strong relationship has been formed with the local newspaper, which publishes any article that is sent to the editor within three days.  Finally, the Club maintains a website that is updated on a regular basis.  Next year, the Club plans to send articles to the tribal newspapers, which they hope will catch the attention of more Councilmen.  Congratulations to both Clubs for your outstanding work! New Boys & Girls Club Building Opens in Nevada The Boys & Girls Club of the Mason Valley opened a unit in Schurz, Nevada in November 2004.  Now, the Walker River Paiute Tribe is proud to open a brand new building for the Club.  The Grand Opening will be held on June 30th at 11:00 am.  The ceremony will include a blessing, presentation of certificates of thanks, and refreshments to follow.  The Club has made great strides since it opened last November.  It has more than 100 registered members and served over 150 children in 2004.  The Club was also chosen to be a part of the pilot project for adapting the Money Matters financial education program for Native Clubs.  Check back here for pictures from the Grand Opening. Lucky Arizona Clubs! On the final night of the BGCA National Conference in San Diego, it was announced that the Boys & Girls Club of Aha Macav in Mohave Valley, Arizona, won the drawing for the 16-passenger mini-bus donated by the Thomas Built Bus Company. Of course they are very excited as transportation is always a challenge! Then the announcement came for the second bus –Arizona came through again! Boys & Girls Clubs of East Valley (Gila River and Sacaton BGC) won the bus that promotes The Club, BGCA’s new marketing campaign that attracts teens to BGCs. Congratulations to both Clubs! BGCA Board of Governors Steps Up!! Two BGCA Board of Governors have just made a significant personal contribution to the Native American Sustainability Fund. Wayne Allen and Rick Goings each contributed $500,000 to the Fund! These personal gifts, totaling $1 million, helped the Fund nearly reach the $10 million mark. BGCA is committed to building the Fund to $100 million which will be used to help support the operations of local Native American Clubs in the future. On behalf of Native American youth across the nation – THANK YOU!  Wayne and Rick for your generosity! Historic Moment in the BGCA Movement! On April 30, 2005 at the BGCA National Conference in San Diego, the first Native American was elected to serve on the BGCA Board of Governors. Dave Anderson, Former Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Founder of Famous Dave’s Restaurant chain, is keenly interested in working with Native American youth. Dave was asked to speak at BGCA’s Board of Governors meeting at the National Conference after providing such an inspirational message to an audience of Tribal and Club leaders at BGCA’s 2005 Native American Summit in Phoenix. BGCA knew this was someone who could provide strong leadership within the Movement in Indian Country. Moved by the recent tragic event on the Red Lake Nation, Dave, along with members of the BGCA Government Relations Team, traveled to Red Lake to provide support to the community. BGCA looks forward to benefiting from Dave’s knowledge and understanding of the needs of Native American youth and their communities. Welcome Aboard Dave! Program Offers Free Meals to Hundreds of Youth! Three Native American Boys & Girls Clubs (BGC) have been awarded the beneficial Kids Café grant, provided by America’s Second Harvest –The Nations Food Bank Network. The three Clubs are BGC of the Northern Cheyenne Nation, MT; BGC of the Lewis Clark Valley, ID; and BGC of the Glacial Lakes, SD. The Kids Café grants are awarded to local food banks in partnership with the local Boys & Girls Club to help them establish a site where children receive a free, hot meal. The Club sites are usually provided funds to remodel an existing kitchen and serve one to three meals a day. The BGC of the Northern Cheyenne Nation held their Kids Café Grand Opening on September 13, 2005. Since then the Club has started serving supper and plans to serve breakfast and lunch during the summer months. The Club serves about 120 kids at two sites daily. The Kids Café opens its doors to all kids not just Club members. The site also allows parents who accompany their children to eat there as well. With the Kids Café grant, the Club was able to remodel their kitchen and because they also received a USDA Rural Development grant, they will build a 30’ x 30’ extension onto the Club. The Club’s Executive Director, Rick Robinson, said that everyone is excited about the grant and that it is bringing community food issues, such as nutrition and hunger, to the forefront. The BGC of the Lewis and Clark Valley received their Kids Café grant in October, 2005 and is currently planning a grand opening. They are also very excited about the grant and the possibilities the opportunity presents. The Club will be serving breakfast and supper daily. They will also begin a remodeling project to add a kitchen to their facility. In South Dakota, BGC of the Glacial Lakes began serving supper immediately upon award of this grant. The Club had the advantage of already having a working kitchen in place!  Suppers are well attended by children from the community and many of them are staying for tutoring and other programs after supper. The Club is planning to serve three meals during the summer months. The next Kids Café grant application process will begin in January 2006. The application will be posted on www.secondharvest.org and is due in February, 2006. The grant is not awarded to the Club directly; it is awarded to the local food bank. If your Club is interested, begin developing a partnership with your local food bank now. Reach out to the food bank and tell them about your Club, the kids you serve, your programs and services and how over 200 Clubs across the nation have established Kids Cafés in partnership with their local community food bank. Invite the food bank to visit the Club so they can meet the kids, see what you are doing and better understand how a Club operates. If you establish a partnership with them, the possibilities are endless. To find out more about Kids Cafés link to Kids Cafe Opens at Northern Cheyenne Club . Please call Betsy Brown at FirstPic, Inc. at 1-866-NACLUBS, if you have any questions. Hurricane Relief:  How You Can Help  9/2/05 How To Help: Nationally As of this writing, we estimate that 17 Boys & Girls Club facilities along the Gulf Coast -- with a total annual enrollment of 20,000+ children -- were destroyed or severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Of this number, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast in the Gulfport/Biloxi, Miss., area lost six of their seven units to the storm. This organization alone serves some 14,000 young people.   Boys & Girls Clubs everywhere are advised to let people know about the hurricane relief fundraising effort to benefit afflicted Clubs. Donations can be made via 1-800-805-2582, online through our public Web site, bgca.org, or by mail. Checks (write "Hurricane Relief" in the memo line) should be made payable to Boys & Girls Clubs of America and sent to: Boys & Girls Clubs of America 1230 West Peachtree Street NW Atlanta, GA 30309 Attn: Hurricane Relief   How To Help: Locally The enormous humanitarian crisis posed by Hurricane Katrina -- 1 million people could be left homeless -- has brought forth many offers of assistance. There are many ways to help. Boys & Girls Clubs in areas where displaced families are being sent across our Southeast and Southwest regions can do the following: - Make contact with the local Red Cross or Salvation Army as a place they can direct non-financial support (food, clothing, etc.). - Make contact with local hotels/motels/shelters to pass out fliers about possible service in their existing Clubs to kids from displaced families. - Work with major shelter areas to set up mini-Boys & Girls Clubs for a few hours each day to help children have some sense of normalcy. Make sure to share with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the national office, what you are doing to help. We will collect the information for sharing as best practices, now and in the future, while also compiling a participant log. Stay tuned to www.bgca.net and www.bgca.org for further updates Notah Visits Green Country As winner of the 2004 "Walk With Notah" campaign, Notah Begay III, PGA Professional Golfer, took time from his busy PGA Golf Tour schedule to visit the BGC of Green Country. Last year, Notah challenged T.R.A.I.L. Diabetes Prevention sites to walk and exercise as he does each day. BGC of Green Country met the challenge and gathered the most miles! Their reward was a visit from Notah! Notah spent the day visiting with Club members, staff, community leaders and signed autographs! Thanks Notah and we look forward to the 2005 winner! 2005 Native American Service to Youth Award This year's award was presented at the BGCA Native American Summit to Denise Ballard, Executive Director of the Cherokee Youth Center Boys & Girls Club in North Carolina and recognizes her impact on the lives of Native American youth. As one nomination form explained, "Denise embodies the level of commitment and service to youth that we should each strive to attain." Congratulations, Denise! New BGCA NANAC Chairperson Appointed BGCA NANAC has announced that Ron Gurley, founder and COO of the Boys & Girls Clubs in Green Country, will serve as the new Chairperson of the advisory committee. He is replacing Dan Lewis who served as chairperson since NANAC's inception in 1997. As a dedicated volunteer in this position, Dan spent much of his own time helping to ensure the growth and sustainability of Boys & Girls Clubs in Indian Country and his efforts will always be remembered Notah Visits Cherokee BGCA National Spokesperson and Club Alumni, Notah Begay III visited the Cherokee Youth Center Boys & Girls Club on November 16 to play some foosball, take a tour of the Club and speak with Club members the importance of education and learning tribal traditions. Notah is currently working with a Pueblo elder to learn the difficult, unwritten Pueblo language. He also shared, "Don't ever set limitations on yourself. I'm living proof that dreams can come true." Mashkisibi Boys & Girls Club Receives ANA Grant In late October, the Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans (ANA), Quanah Crossland Stamps, visited Bad River, Wisconsin and presented the Mashkisibi Boys & Girls Club with a significant grant to be used for youth outreach and a Junior Staff program. Club Execs Gather for Training and Empowerment Native American Club executives from across the country recently took part in the first Advanced Leadership Certificate Program (ALCP) for Native American Clubs. Read how they were inspired and how their experience will help other execs. First Nations Celebrate National Kid's Day A Pentathlon in Hawaii, a fishing derby in South Dakota and a Health Carnival in Arizona. Read more about how Native communities celebrated National Kid's Day. Notah Begay & Domenici Talk Support BGCA national spokesperson Notah Begay III met with U.S. Senator Pete Domenici on June 24 when he was is in the nation's capital for a PGA tournament. Begay went to Capitol Hill to meet with the senator to discuss the allocation of federal funds for the organization's contributions to Indian Country. Native American Focus Group and Technology Training As part of BGCA's February Technology Conference in Phoenix, 20 professionals from Native American Clubs gathered for a full day of technology activities. The participants discussed the role technology is playing in their Clubs, how to include Native American activities in BGCA Core Tech, and received technology training. This was the second consecutive year this special all-day event was held. Native Clubs making connections at BGCA Technology Conference Clothing for the Tots Some local toddlers receive new clothes with a very special donation from Carter's, Inc. and doors are opened for 47 Native American organizations to begin a partnership with their tribal head start program. Find out the details. Mr. Cody Goes to Washington Cody Buff, Club member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Green Country, Oklahoma, travels to Washington, DC to receive an Outstanding Youth Leadership award from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Read more. Notah Presents at NCAI Annual Conference PGA Golfer & BGCA National Spokesperson, Notah Begay III was a keynote speaker at The National Congress of the American Indians' (NCAI) 60th Annual Conference on November 17-21, 2003. Read more. Pow Wow Celebration at Cherokee, NC Club The Cherokee Youth Center Boys & Girls Club in Cherokee, NC held its third annual pow wow on Saturday, November 15. Get a full report. Nike and NNALEA Partner for the Kids Once again, the Native American National Law Enforcement Agency (NNALEA) and Nike are teaming up to deliver hundreds of sneakers to Native American Boys & Girls Clubs. Many thanks for making a positive impact in Native American communities. Callaway Recognized for Contributions to Native Americans Robbie Callaway, BGCA's Sr. Vice President, Government Relations, was presented the Outstanding Native American Community Volunteer, Non-Native Award by the Native American Recognition Days, an event representing Native Americans who reside in the Greater Phoenix area. Learn more. Breakfast in DC Native American Clubs had quite a presence at BGCA’s annual Congressional Breakfast. A video presentation from the upcoming PBS special on Boys & Girls Clubs in Indian Country was featured, a large contingent of Club representatives, tribal officers, partners and NANAC members attended and even the table centerpieces, Precious Moment® teepees fit the theme. Read more about the Youth of the Year. Boys & Girls Clubs National Youth of the Year, Mieasha Hicks, with Navajo Nation Vice President, Frank Dayish Jr and Lamont Yazzie from the Navajo Nation’s President's BGCA Liaison Office. Tennis Anyone? This summer, several Native American Boys & Girls Club members had the opportunity to participate in free tennis clinics sponsored by Standing Tall Tennis. Read more. David Dantzer, President of Standing Tall Tennis Instructs Club Members First Nations Celebrate National Kids Day On August 3, Boys & Girls Clubs celebrated and honored America's children by spending meaningful time with kids. Click here for a few examples of how Native American Boys & Girls Clubs across the nation recognized National Kids Day. Secretary Tommy Thompson Visits Alaskan B&GC The Dillingham Boys & Girls Club in Dillingham, Alaska had a special visitor this summer. Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Tommy Thompson, was in Alaska to address his department’s issues regarding Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. While there, Secretary Thompson expressed interest in visiting a Boys & Girls Club to observe positive prevention efforts. His visit to the Club was the highlight of the summer for Club members, community volunteers, and Club staff. The Club appreciated the opportunity to personally thank Secretary Thompson for his support of Clubs and the funds that allow Dillingham and others to provide services to young people in communities throughout the nation. Club members in front of the van along with Secretary Tommy Thompson and Chris Klabunde, Boys & Girls Club of Dillingham Manager Expedition to the Black Sea and Beyond Six Native American Clubs are participating in a pilot program for The Immersion Project that includes new curriculum training for Club staff, a summer camp for Club members and a grant for each Club. During the Sea Research Foundation's Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean expedition, some lucky Boys & Girls Club members will be taking part in the expedition from their "campsites", talking to the scientists via the web, asking them questions, and watching them work. They'll play games, read stories and solve puzzles about the expedition, having fun with their fellow campers as they learn. Read more. Boys & Girls Clubs Staff Tour the Mystic Aquarium JANA Concert to Benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Lac Courte Oreilles On July 18, 2003 popular young Lumbee performer, Jana, will present a concert at the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Reservation in Northern Wisconsin to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Lac Courte Oreilles. Jana, who combines traditional and contemporary music and dance, travels with a motivational positive message for youth and elders and will speak to area youth prior to the Concert. Jana addresses the issues of cultural pride and identity, motivation and ambition, education, alcohol, tobacco and drug awareness, and gang association. Jana’s single, “Stairway to Heaven,” earned her the 2002 Native American Music Award’s Song of the Year. For more information about the event, contact Brian Jackson at 715/634-4030. For additional information about Jana, click here National Diabetes Prevention Pilot Program is Launched The National Diabetes Prevention Pilot Program for Boys & Girls Clubs in Indian Country was launched at a special training, hosted by Nike, Inc. and held on June 9-10, 2003 at the Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. The Nike training, NikeGO, kicked off the first training for six Native American Boys & Girls Clubs selected to serve as grantees for the proposed Prevention Program that is a partnership among Indian Health Service, the National Congress of American Indians, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and Nike, Inc. Read More. The entire group enjoys dancing in the Nike gymnasium! Youth as Resources Boys & Girls Clubs of the Navajo Nation is collaborating with the National Crime Prevention Council to establish Youth as Resources (YAR) Programs in each of its 14 Units. YAR’s message to youth, “You are part of us. We need you,” helps young people realize they are valuable resources-to themselves, to their communities, and to the future of the planet. Clubs will learn how to incorporate the YAR program in their local community. In partnership with adult leaders, Club youth will plan and implement youth-led activities that promote positive changes in their communities while gaining leadership, planning, decision-making, teamwork, and other life skills. Club staff and youth leaders attended the kickoff YAR training May 29-30. Visit www.ncpc.org and www.yar.org for more information. Native American Clubs Focus on Technology Nearly 300 Boys & Girls Club Movement professionals met in Atlanta on May 22 and 23 to recognize their technology potential at BGCA’s second annual National Technology Conference, sponsored by Microsoft. Technology center directors from 16 Clubs on Native American lands gathered for a focus group to discuss obstacles to implementing technology in their areas. Participants said they face special challenges getting high-speed Internet access in remote areas, recruiting and training tech-savvy staff members, and navigating relationships with tribal governments. The focus group was sponsored by the Verizon Foundation, which provided attendees with scholarships to the Conference and has donated more than $100,000 for technology centers on Native American lands. Celebrating National Boys & Girls Club Week Clubs in Oklahoma collaborated to publicize the week. On April 9, Boys & Girls Clubs across the state set up displays within the Oklahoma State Capitol Rotunda, located between the two houses of government. More than 140 Club members and staff participated in rallying support. Both legislative houses recognized Boys & Girls Clubs and the Oklahoma State Youth of the Year, Amanda McArthur. Governor Brad Henry followed suit by proclaiming April 9 Oklahoma State Boys & Girls Club Day. Club members from across Oklahoma appeal to state legislators for support. Expanding the Circle at the 2003 Native American Summit Nearly 200 individuals, including senior professional officers and board volunteers from Boys & Girls Club organizations representing approximately 48 tribal nations and 32 states,and staff from Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), tribal leaders, Native, public and private organizations that serve youth gathered at the 2003 Native American Summit on January 31 - February 2, 2003. The two and a half day training conference provided participants —serving youth in Native American communities –– an opportunity for sharing many experiences. Read more. Bridging the Digital Divide a Little at a Time The January 7, 2003 edition of Indian Country Today features a cover story on Club Tech and our Native American Clubs. The joint program from Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Microsoft ® has connected 32 Clubs on Native Lands. Read the article. Breakfast of Champions Prominent B&GCA supporters gathered at the Congressional Breakfast Sept. 25 to honor Donald Smith, the 2002 National Youth of the Year, and pay tribute to longtime friend Sen. Strom Thurmond. Among those in attendance were Tex Hall, President of National Congress of American Indians and members of B&GCA Native American National Advisory Committee (NANAC) including Chairman Dan Lewis, Bank of America, Sam McCracken, Nike; Rick Robinson, Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Cheyenne Nation and Ernie Stevens, National Indian Gaming Association. Read more at www.bgca.net Starting a New Club in Indian Country Isn’t Easy…. but we know it can be done! A group of interested folks from over 25 tribes recently attended a two day Implementation Training workshop in Las Vegas to find out how to get started. The participants also visited the Mowapa Band of Paiute Boys & Girls Club. If you know someone interested in starting a Native American Club, order them the free manual “Forging a New Path: A Guide to Starting a Boys & Girls Club in Indian Country. U.S. Senate Subcommittee Hears From Boys & Girls Clubs in Indian Country At the invitation of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Indian Affairs, Dan Lewis, Chairman of Boys and Girls Clubs of America National Native American Advisory Committee (NANAC), presented testimony on the Problems Facing Native Youth. His briefing highlighted the success of the Club movement and urged for continued funding of youth initiatives. Click here to read the complete testimony. A GREAT Program for Our Kids The National Native American Law Enforcement Agency (NNALEA) will expand the G.R.E.A.T. Program into six pilot B&GC sites in Indian Country. The G.R.E.A.T. Program teams trained law enforcement agents with school-aged children to create an interactive learning environment intended to deter youth from the negative aspects of their community. Since 1992, the program has proved to have a positive impact on the more than 2 million youth it has served. For more information on NNALEA, visit http://www.nnalea.org. Honor Our Children with National Kid’s Day Across Indian Country, Clubs are planning to celebrate National Kid’s Day to encourage adults to spend meaningful time with their children. In Maine, the Penobscot Nation is planning an event to include fun activities like canoe races, a Fun Run, basket making and lacrosse and the grand opening of their new gymnasium. The entire 1,200 member tribe is invited as well as 3 other tribes in Maine making it a “Wabanaki” the kids won’t forget. To join the event, visit www.bgca.net for more info. New Report: Addressing Poverty in Rural America Children in rural America are more likely to live in poverty than are children in urban and suburban areas. A new study from Save the Children outlines insights into why our rural communities have not been as effective as possible and provides recommendations of ways to address rural child poverty. Full of Native American statistics and sources for your grantwriting. Click here for access to the report. Nike Contributes $1M in Nike Wear to Native American Clubs Thanks to Nike, our Club kids will soon hit the ground running in summer camps across Indian Country. Every Club will soon receive a supply of socks, shoes and reversible jerseys - stay tuned for notification from your main unit. Thank-you Nike! SuAnne's Dream Team Celebrates New Building In Pine Ridge, SD dreams do come true. Suanne Big Crow's vision of "Happy Town" was made a reality as the local community, government agencies USDA, HUD, DOI & DOJ and Boys & Girls Clubs of America came together to celebrate the Grand Opening of the new center for the SuAnne Big Crow Boys & Girls Club. Click here to see picture gallery. A Club Started in an Old Feed Store Makes History The Boys & Girls Club of Green Country and the town of Pryor, OK made history as voters approved a creation of a sales tax to be directed to a new Community Center with facilities for the Boys & Girls Club's main unit and offices. The tax will also cover ongoing operational expenses for sustainability. Congratulations to the Boys & Girls Club of Green County and especially to Ron & Maggie Gurley. For more information, email Ron at rgurley@rectec.net. Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Conference April 17-20 Native American Clubs had a major presence at the 96th National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Highlights included an honorary charter presented to the 100th Club in Indian Country - Boys & Girls Club of Kayenta, AZ (Navajo) Read more. SMART Moves News Thanks to a CNS grant, SMART Moves is currently being piloted for Native American Youth in the following clubs: Scottsdale Boys & Girls Club in Scottsdale, AZ Valley Boys & Girls Club in Lewiston, ID Shiprock Boys & Girls Club in Shiprock, NM Akwesasne Boys & Girls Club in Hogansburg, NY Cherokee Youth Center Boys & Girls Club in Cherokee, NC Boys & Girls Clubs of Green Country, Inc. in Pryor SuAnne Big Crow Boys & Girls Club in Pine Ridge, SD Boys & Girls Club of Lac Courte Oreilles in Hayward, WI Boys & Girls Club of Grand Traverse in Traverse City, MI Boys & Girls of the Fort Peck Reservation in Wolf Point, MT SMART Kids graduation at the Shiprock Boys & Girls Club.