The Boys & Girls Club Story

A New Day Dawns in San Diego

What a thrill to be a part of our 106th National Conference in San Diego. The energy generated by more than 2,500 Club leaders made it clear that our Boys & Girls Club Movement is ready to move forward to a new day.

We spoke of the need to grow within our existing footprint by increasing average daily attendance, which is fed by youth served and membership. ADA leads to frequency, which is the gateway to outcomes. The Formula for Impact was a centerpiece of the conference, with many great examples reported on how it’s coming to life at local Clubs across the country.

"As citizens, we have to have a voice," said Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor (retired). "We have developed iCivics to teach young people how government works."

Our sessions were truly standout events. Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s presentation on the importance of teaching civics to children and teens was a real eye-opener. Another crowd-pleaser was “Rediscovering Play,” which examined the spirit of play and its ability to maximize personal and professional growth.

At last year’s conference, we celebrated 20 years of partnering with the U.S. military to serve the children and families of our brave men and women in uniform. This year brought another significant milestone: the 20th anniversary of Boys & Girls Clubs on Native American lands. This partnership has blossomed over the past two decades to serve some 88,000 Native American youth at nearly 200 Clubs in 25 states. In commemoration, we presented a resolution to Jackie Johnson-Pata, executive director of the National Congress of American Indians. We also recognized Jackie’s tremendous leadership of our Native American National Advisory Committee with the JM Medallion.

This year's Alumni Hall of Fame inductees were impressive in their achievements and humble in their remarks.

Our Alumni Hall of Fame ceremony reminded us of the power of the Club Experience. Nine former Club kids were honored for extraordinary success in diverse fields such as the military, the arts and athletics. Each shared how their great future started with the self-confidence instilled in them at their Club.

Of course, these stories were complemented by so many others. One was from a staff member at the hotel, who told us how the Club saved his life; that if not for the Club, he would have followed the path of friends no longer with us … a powerful message we must never forget.

Kudos to our current regional and national Youth of the Year winners, too. These terrific young people lent a huge hand – hosting sessions, conducting a roundtable and generally serving as ambassadors for our Movement.

The Grand Finale on the last night wrapped things up wonderfully. Clubs were honored for exceptional marketing efforts and program offerings. Gifted Club members sang, danced and entertained the standing-room-only audience. Those young people are great examples of how a Club can nurture, support and bring out the very best in kids.

Like all the professionals and board volunteers who were there, the conference left me inspired, motivated and more determined than ever to increase Clubs’ impact on our kids.

A Very Special Spring Break

Spring break is an annual rite of passage. It gives kids a breather and helps them prepare for the school year’s home stretch. My spring break was a little different this year, which only made it more special.

This Clubhouse is the pride of the neighborhood!

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico invited me attend the grand opening of its 11th Club. It was in a small city called Isabela. CEO Jose Campos and V.P. Eduardo Carrera went out of their way to ensure the ribbon-cutting ceremony was a joyful occasion for everyone, especially the youth of Isabela.

It was a fabulous day in all respects – particularly for the community that the amazing new Club will impact. The facility is a showpiece, for sure. But it’s also a symbol for the transformational experiences that await young people behind Club doors.

The staff and kids were incredibly welcoming.

Previously, Club staff and members met mainly at local schools. But the new three-story Clubhouse has plenty of space to conduct programs and activities. Its 44,000 square feet includes a learning center, a state-of-the-art computer center, art and dance studios, indoor basketball and volleyball courts, and a fully equipped gamesroom. In addition, one more Club will soon open in a subsidized housing development.

The Puerto Rico Club has grown tremendously since being founded 45 years ago. Today, there is an organization-wide focus on the Formula for Impact, outcomes and metrics. Enhancing the Club Experience to attract more young people and keep them coming back is also a priority. That devotion to services extends to the greater community, as well. Club leaders have initiated community conversations about how quality youth development can help all kids to have better lives.

Dignitaries at the ceremony included Puerto Rico first lady Lucé Vela and Mayor Carlos Delgado Altieri. Each praised the Club for providing critical support that strengthens the island’s young people, families and communities. Their recognition is important. Having committed, dedicated and strong supporters who understand the life-changing work we do is a societal factor in Puerto Rico.

During my trip, I was able to meet Governor Luis G. Fortuño to discuss Puerto Rico's young people.

Later that day, we met with Puerto Rico Gov. Luis G. Fortuño and local board members. We discussed how the Clubs can provide even greater impact and work together to advance the lives of youth on the island.

I won’t soon forget my visit to Isabela. My thanks and congratulations to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico for your tireless commitment to our youth!

The Teenage Years

As we all know, the teenage years are filled with new challenges, emotions and pressures. These years also provide adolescents with tremendous learning opportunities – the choices they make now can have a life-long impact. Today’s teens also face more complex issues than previous generations. Drugs, alcohol, gangs and pregnancy are just some of the issues confronting them. Ensuring that teens have good judgment skills is more critical than ever.
 
The number of teenagers dropping out of high school is also a challenge. Nationwide, 1 out of 3 teens will drop out. African American and Hispanic youth will be hit even harder, with 1 of every 2 failing to graduate. These statistics are troubling and unacceptable. They’re further exacerbated by ongoing economic woes, nationally and world-wide, that have resulted in fewer job and career opportunities for teens.
 

During the National Keystone Conference, I enjoyed getting to know teens who serve as leaders in their Clubs.

This all underscores the role we play at Boys & Girls Clubs to ensure teens have a safe place to productively use their time – and a safe mental space, too. At the Club, they can be confident they’ll encounter positive, productive influences, as well as leadership and service opportunities.
 
Our Keystone Clubs engage teens in a way that produces significantly more favorable outcomes than the norm. This success was on full display at the recent National Keystone Club Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. Some 2,000 Club teenagers joined together for fun, exciting and enlightening experiences. It was my first national Keystone Conference. It was an experience I’ll never forget.
 
Teens gained valuable information about critical issues in their lives. They learned how to deal with everyday challenges. Teen focus groups provided essential insights on recruitment and technology. Speakers shared inspirational stories of overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles to achieve success. In the process, our young people learned that good things come from education, perseverance, hard work and focus.
 

Teen reporter DeQuan interviews me at my first National Keystone Conference as BGCA's new president and CEO!

Frequently, we see statistics that Club members’ high school graduation rates are often better than those of their peers. Surveys also show that Club teens, especially those in Keystone, do better in life and overcome the many challenges mentioned earlier. It’s no wonder, given the support system and caring Club professionals in their lives.
 
Our vision for Boys & Girls Clubs is simple – every youth who enters our doors graduates from high school with a plan for the future. We are focused on three outcome areas: academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. The Formula for Impact is the key that will improve results, and transform and save more lives.
 
At the core of the Formula is the Club Experience. There’s no substitute for ensuring that our young people have fun, have a professional adult in their lives to guide and counsel them, and receive recognition for their achievements. When you see it in action – like those 2,000 teens in Fort Worth – it all comes together. 

What a Week!

It has been a blast to join 4,000 Clubs across the country over the past five days to celebrate National Boys & Girls Club Week. The annual event commemorates the magic that happens in Clubs year-round. 

Reports have been coming in all week from Clubs throughout the country and on U.S. military installations worldwide, describing the wide variety of events and activities they’ve presented to show communities the fun and impact of the Club Experience.

On Monday, Atlanta’s Warren/Holyfield Club invited me to join them in kicking off their festivities. The kids were obviously having a ton of fun. Lending a hand as volunteers were our good friends from UPS, who spend time each week reading with kids at the Club. Of course, UPS is also the sponsor of our Road Code safe driving program for teens. 

UPS staff show their true support by joining us for National Boys & Girls Club Week.

We also took advantage of the occasion to launch our new Online Club Tour. The app has already enabled some 3,500 people to explore a Club online! 

Finally, some 700 Clubs took part in an attempt to set a Guinness World Record for most participants in multiple games of tag in 24 hours. It started with a game of tag at Major League Baseball’s MLB Fan Cave in New York. I’ll keep you posted on the valiant effort. 

My thanks to all of the Club kids and staff members nationwide who showed their communities why Great Futures Start at the Boys & Girls Club every day of the year! 

Mississippi

This was a very special and important few days in my life and in my short tenure at BGCA. Special for so many reasons and significant due to the internalization of the work we all do. 

The economic downturn of the past several years has brought hardships to many Mississippi Boys & Girls Clubs, not dissimilar to what Clubs across the nation have faced. Still, the resilience and commitment of every board volunteer and staff member I met came through loud and clear. I couldn’t help but see the despair and challenge in the eyes of Club members, but also the hope and opportunity they hold so close for a brighter future. Clearly, the fortitude of these youth and their sheer tenacity to overcome obstacles of almost insurmountable magnitude was impressive. My heart was heavy, but lifted at every interaction by the local community’s efforts to make a difference. 

Kelton Holman, Youth of the Year, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Delta.

It was a thrill to join the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Delta for their 10th anniversary gala at the Alluvian Hotel in Greenwood. The organization also recently doubled its number of board volunteers using a recruitment plan modeled on the Formula for Impact. Chief Professional Officer Jeremy Deming welcomed the significant crowd that came to reaffirm their commitment to our youth and the future. Kelton Holman, the Club’s Youth of the Year, gave me a full overview of challenges and opportunities facing area teens. We also did a TV interview together for a local news station. Later, Kelton introduced me to several Club teens, an impressive group of kids who clearly have the potential for great futures. 

Incidentally, Greenwood is where the movie The Help was made, a source of considerable local pride. I rented the movie the following weekend and found it profound and moving. I encourage you to view it if you haven’t already. 

The city of Batesville was the next stop for a focus group with area board volunteers, staff members and community leaders. Their strongest point: the need for Clubs to be America’s #1 agency and advocate for child protection and safety. I could not agree more. We also discussed sustainability, training, technology and outcome measurement – all priorities for BGCA. Special thanks to Belinda Morris, executive director of the NW Mississippi Club, for hosting this meeting.  

Youth of the Year Wilmonique Huff, Boys & Girls Club of Washington County.

The day’s final visit was to the Boys & Girls Club of Washington County, where local Youth of the Year Wilmonique Huff greeted me with a phenomenal drum solo! She and longtime member MaKendrick Todd then showed me around the facility. It isn’t new or very big, but the care and love poured into every square foot this Club is obvious and tremendous. Director Joan Rowe is a treasure. She’s run the Club for years and is like a surrogate mom to these kids. And after experiencing her hospitality and cooking, I think she’ll be my surrogate mom, as well. 

The optimism, energy and commitment of our Club leaders and kids never fail to inspire hope in me, for our nation and its next generation of citizens and leaders. Thank you to my hosts for this enriching experience. Great futures are most definitely being developed in Mississippi!

Club Leaders Convene for Kids

It was great to see the more than 500 Boys & Girls Club professionals and board volunteers at our Southeast Leadership Conference in Myrtle Beach, S.C., last week. These gatherings give Club leaders a great forum to share ideas and strategies on how to best serve youth. 

Jim Barker, president of Clemson University and a member of our Alumni Hall of Fame, was a featured speaker for the general session, “Key Performance Indicators Can Drive Impact.” Jim spoke about his Club Experience, as well as the characteristics of leadership. His contrast of two leaders especially resonated: Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger’s actions in 2009 to crash-land a passenger jet in the Hudson River near Manhattan; and Capt. Francesco Schettino’s command of the Costa Concordia cruise ship off the Italy coast last January. Captain Sully and his crew did all the “right things” to make sure the 155 passengers safely evacuated the plane. Conversely, Schettino abandoned ship leaving 4,252 people on board a sinking vessel. What a stark difference leadership can make! 

The conference included a meeting of our Mentor Recruitment Collaborations and Strategy Task Force. Over two days, task force members discussed how Clubs can better utilize partners and volunteers to recruit mentors. It resulted in terrific ideas and plans to develop. The meeting also featured Ahkeem Hollimon, our 2011/12 Southeast Region Youth of the Year, who spoke about his life’s journey. His address was moving and reminded us of the significant role we play in so many lives. Yes, this is about transformation. But it is also about the power of the Club Experience and a caring staff. Ahkeem made me think about our relevance to contemporary youth and why members come back every day. 

The Formula for Impact continues to be top-of-mind, as Clubs work to increase their impact on kids. Among topics Club leaders learned about: the vital nature of donor databases, key performance indicators, and what the National Youth Outcomes Initiative means for Clubs. It was inspiring to hear of plans at the local level to grow Average Daily Attendance and fill Clubs.

There were also tremendous discussions on how local organizations are internalizing the Formula. One board, for instance, has divided into three sub-groups for each outcome area: Academic Success, Good Character and Citizenship, and Healthy Lifestyles. At each board meeting, they spend time in breakout discussions to determine what was accomplished to drive outcomes in these core areas. 

I also heard feedback on where we need to help strengthen local Clubs. As we look at our service delivery model, I encourage you to share your thoughts with your regional service director, BGCA Sr. V.P. of Field Services Lorraine Orr, or myself. Please also help neighboring Clubs or others that could use your thoughts and ideas. 

It was a pleasure to meet Club and board leaders from all over the nine-state region. With four regional Leadership Conferences to come in 2012, I look forward to meeting more of the dedicated Club professionals and board volunteers who make Boys & Girls Clubs great.

Celebrating Native American Clubs

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Native American communities working together to serve youth. Today, more than 200 Clubs are on Native American lands. Recent visits to two of them revealed the progress that’s being made.

Ramon Elias (right), CPO, and Jason Jones (left), Unit Director, were excellent hosts during my Arizona trip. Their relationship with the Gila River tribe has been such a tremendous help to this organization and to the community!

Ramon Elias is chief professional officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley in Tempe, Ariz. We drove to the Gila River Indian Community together, site of East Valley’s Komatke unit. About 20 years ago, Ramon used a $75,000 grant to buy an old, vacant school here to serve as the Club. He asked Intel to be a partner. The tech company agreed and sponsored a $250,000 facility renovation. Komatke opened in 1995 as Arizona’s first Boys & Girls Club on Native American land. It was so well received, the community requested a second. This led to the founding of its sister unit, Sacaton.

The Gila River Tribe’s ongoing support has been tremendous. Last year, they contributed $850,000 of the $1.1 million budget for the two units. In 2009, they single-handedly funded the new $6.5 million Clubhouse.

Despite making an impact, challenges remain. This includes a high school dropout rate of 80 percent. The community is working hard to change this. For every teen who earns a high school diploma, for instance, the tribe will cover *all costs* to attend any college for four years. Tuition, room, board, books – the whole nine yards. As a result, the number of young people enrolled in college grew from 30 in 1995 to more than 1,000 in 2011.

Throughout my travels, the kids have been great. Here, in Washington, I relaxed with a game of pool. It's a great way to meet Club members and learn about the Club.

While in the “Valley of the Sun,” I met with CPO Steve Davidson and Board Chairman Rick Baker of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale. We discussed their plans for outcomes and growth, including opening a Club on Hopi tribal lands in 2012.

Interacting with Youth of the Year members is always special for me. So attending the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix’s annual “Today’s Kids, Tomorrow’s Stars” event and meeting the 12 candidates was awesome. Chloe Johnson was named the organization’s Youth of the Year. She will now vie to be Arizona Youth of the Year. Chloe is a wonderful example of how kids can be transformed as members of the Club.

Time spent with Metro Phoenix staff was also insightful. CPO Amy Gibbons leads a great team that includes Vonn Magnin. As Director of Impact, Vonn’s role is to ensure programs and Clubs are aligned to achieve the priority outcomes of academic success, healthy lifestyles, and good character and citizenship.

Washington State’s Tulalip Boys & Girls Club is also one of the first Clubs on Native American land. It opened in 1997 as part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County, where Bill Tsoukalas is executive director. We visited the Tulalip community and its Club together.

We were welcomed by Mel Sheldon, board chair of the Tulalip Tribe and a Snohomish board volunteer. Mel praised the Tulalip Club for promoting the values of education, good decision-making, and drug and alcohol abstinence to youth. Director Chuck Thacker is the retired principal of the local elementary school. He’s been with the Club since it opened and director for four years now. It’s unusual for a non-tribal member to run a Club, but that’s the kind of trust the community has in Chuck.

I enjoyed meeting the younger Club members as much as the older teen Youth of the Year winners. Here, I am having a serious conversation with two of the youngest at the Tulalip Club. Now if I could find a similar pair of sunglasses, I'd be set.

Also in Tulalip was Mike Tulee, BGCA’s Native American Outreach Coordinator. He’s working with Washington state’s 29 federally recognized tribes to open at least two more Clubs in Native American communities by 2013. They’d be modeled on the Tulalip Club, currently the only Native American Club in the state.

The most intriguing part of the Tulalip visit had to be the “Immersion Center.” This 1,700-square-foot addition is being built for “Immersion Presents,” a program created by oceanographer Robert Ballard to inspire careers in science, math and the environment. Kids will be able to interact live with oceanic research crews worldwide via satellite and internet. What a great way to get kids interested in science and math.

The programs at Komatke, Metro Phoenix and Tulalip are life-changing. A future that includes more Boys & Girls Clubs in Native American communities would be a truly great future for young people.

Pacific Region Round Up

My travels through our regions continued in California. It was a pleasure to meet some of the terrific Club professionals and supporters who make our Pacific Region stronger.

The trip began at the Boys & Girls Club of Whittier, where CPO Samantha Ridout praised our Formula for Impact. Our in-depth conversation included board volunteers, Jim Shepard of BCM Foundation, and Itzel Rodriguez, Whittier’s 2012 Youth of the Year.

I am always impressed when I meet a Youth of the Year winner. Meeting Itzel Rodriguez, Whittier’s 2012 Youth of the Year, left me feeling positive about the future and our nation's youth.

Then it was on to a luncheon in Newport Beach to meet local supporters. Thanks to National Trustees Brian Prinn, Mark Shurtleff and George Young for organizing the event.

Later that day at the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana, CPO Robert Santana showed me around the facility. It was clear to see they’ve eagerly adopted the Formula for Impact. In fact, the FFI model is even on their business cards. But Santa Ana’s onsite, no-fee health clinic is what makes it unique.

A partnership with Children’s Hospital of Orange County enabled the full-service clinic to open in 2002. Primary physician Dr. Mark Colon, also a board volunteer, has been there from the start. He said 25-30 Club members and community kids benefit from the clinic’s no-fee services every day. On the way out, I managed to squeeze in a foosball game with three Club kids. It ended with “the other team” winning, but it was fun!

That night, our friends at Taco Bell hosted a reception at their headquarters. It was nice to meet the many Club executives who took the time to be there.

It was great to meet up with Oracle Chairman Jeff Henley the next day. As Governor and Pacific Region chair, his leadership and intellect are invaluable to Boys & Girls Clubs.

At Toyota Financial Services, Vice President and National Trustee Mike Groff introduced me to President/CEO George Borst. We discussed the diverse support and energy Toyota brings to our mission. Our alliance could be a model for how the nonprofit-corporate collaboration can benefit both parties.

Later, a group of volunteers, supporters and professionals gathered at the offices of Trustee Skip Keesal for a great conversation and reception.

Fun is, and always has been, a big part of what we do every day at Boys & Girls Clubs. For me, playing foosball with these sharp kids from our Santa Ana Club reinforced the importance of play and social recreation ... and kept me on my toes!

CPO Mike Lansing welcomed me to the Boys & Girls Club of L.A. Harbor that afternoon. It was filled with kids – including one who beat me at pingpong. Mike introduced teens and staff involved in “College Bound,” their academic success program that helped 98% of Club 244 seniors graduate on time in 2011. All but 10 went on to college. Amazing work, particularly when you consider the 50% graduation rate before the program launched in 1999.

A working lunch with Jay Rasulo, Leslie Goodman and Kevin Callahan of The Walt Disney Company proved to be an excellent get-to-know-you session and discussion of partnership opportunities.

During an afternoon call on the Challengers Boys & Girls Club, CPO Corey Dantzler and I discussed the value of family involvement. At Challengers, parents volunteer five hours a month. It was also great to visit the East L.A. Club, as well as our Anaheim leadership.

The week ended by meeting the CPO and board volunteers of the Watts/Willowbrook Club and an evening reception with several Club professionals at the home of Sally and Allan Young of the Pacific Youth Foundation.

It was an honor to meet so many dedicated Club staff and supporters on this trip and talk with our young people. In coming weeks, I’ll visit several more Clubs. As usual, I’ll bring you the latest details right here. Your comments and feedback are encouraged. 

Movement Mojo in the Midwest

Last week was another special one, being in the Midwest, with several stops in Illinois.

Tuesday began at the Boys & Girls Club of Rockford. Several topics were covered in a meeting with President/CEO Chip Stoner and board volunteers. Regarding outcomes, we discussed how measuring the ways Clubs help kids achieve great futures is critical; we also focused on the “secret sauce” – kids want to be at the Club because it’s fun. The Club staff was impressive. We talked at length about the transformative power they wield through their daily work with kids.

Next stop was the Boys & Girls Club of Elgin. Rose Reinert is chief professional officer of the organization. We visited their 15,000-square-foot Club. It’s built on top of the first Club, a 2,000-square-foot house bought for $1 in 1993. Since re-opening in 2008, they’ve been over-capacity, with membership growing 200 percent in the first year alone. Rose and her board detailed how they’ve re-strategized fundraising to focus on individual giving. As a result, their It Just Takes One campaign has grown at least 50 percent each of the past two years. The staff also discussed the BGCA Advanced Leadership Program and the benefits they’ve derived by participating. A clear and visible outcome-driven agenda and the Formula for Impact were evident in the Club.

The staff members from Boys & Girls Clubs of Elgin were right on track with our Formula for Impact initiative.

At the day’s last stop, Executive Director Curt McReynolds took me through the Perry Elementary School unit of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dundee Township. It serves 175 kids in grades 1-4. And it seemed like every one of them was on hand to welcome me. Fielding their questions was a hoot: What's my favorite thing to do at Boys & Girls Clubs? Do President Obama and I share an office? They even let me slice strawberries for a yogurt parfait, part of a Healthy Habits activity. It was delicious, btw.

That night, more than 80 Club professionals and board volunteers attended a reception at our Midwest office. Some travelled from as far as Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio to be there. It was a warm welcome back for this Midwesterner.

The remainder of the trip was spent primarily in Chicago, a tremendous opportunity to meet with donors, corporate partners and national board volunteers. A reception hosted by Ron Gidwitz, our tireless BGCA Governor and Chairman-Elect, allowed me to meet several top community leaders. I also met with one of our newest Governors, Greg Cappelli of the Apollo Group, as well as Lifetime Governor Ed Liddy. Our meeting with JPMorgan Chase Bank reinforced the significance of our National Youth Outcomes Initiative. The feedback was positive, supportive and encouraging.

I wrapped up the week by attending the Midwest Trustee Planning Meeting. Clearly we have some of the best volunteers, whose passion and commitment to youth shines through.

Thanks to everybody who helped make the week so productive and informative.

Making Moving an Exciting New Mystery to Solve

Moving is an interesting experience, as many of you know. As our family prepares to transition from the area we grew up in, it represents an exciting and adventurous time. Sure, there’s some anxiety: new city, new neighborhood, new schools and soon-to-be-new friends. We try to approach this experience as an exciting mystery to solve.

Preparing for Adventure!
Chase (left) and Grayson (right) are excited to move to a warmer climate that allows them to ride bikes and enjoy playing outside. Samantha (Sam) found a great house in Metro Atlanta and is getting ready for the big move.

Our boys, Chase, 7, and Grayson, 9, are in second and fourth grade. They view the move as exciting, too. Georgia’s mostly mild climate means they get to spend a lot more time outdoors: riding their bikes, swimming, playing tennis, golfing, playing baseball. At their age, the change comes much easier than if they were older. They’ll make the move this summer after school ends in Wisconsin.

Samantha, my wife, has spent time in Atlanta searching for a new home. And I’m happy to report she found one! We’re not looking forward to the packing and the physical move itself, but we hope to get through it as quickly as possible.

Sam joined us for a community reception here two weeks ago, hosted by Bill Rogers, the board chair for Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta and president and CEO of SunTrust Banks. It was a great way for her to begin acclimating to the community, even if she did have a head start. Sam used to work for Kimberly-Clark and had traveled to their Atlanta-area office a number of times.

Even our pets will have to prepare. I don't look forward to moving a frisky cat, who is much too interested in our fish and who may not enjoy a long car ride to Atlanta.

In the next few weeks, we’ll begin a laundry list of home projects to do once we get settled in. When I asked my sons what they wanted in a new house, Chase asked for a Ping-Pong table, while Grayson requested a beanbag chair. And they both love playing Wii games, so we’ll definitely need room for that, too.

We’re fortunate to have longtime friends in the Atlanta area and reconnecting with them has been fun. Atlanta is a beautiful city whose rolling hills and lots of trees/greenery were a pleasant surprise. And the locals are super friendly, as well.

Family is so important, and for Sam and me, our top priority. I look forward to introducing them to our extended Boys & Girls Club family at our National Conference in San Diego this May.