BG&C Redneck Rodeo
The Boys & Girls Club of Deer Lodge County will be hosting a Redneck Rodeo at the Anaconda Saddle Club. 16 teams will compete in hilarious events to raise funds and promote the club. Admission for Spectators is $2.00. Concessions will be available.Anyone interested in having a team should contact the Boys & Girls Club of Deer Lodge County at 406.563.7972
Boys and Girls Club Opening
George Plaven / The Montana Standard The Boys & Girls Club of Deer Lodge County officially opened its doors April 1 after its charter was approved Dec. 31. Staff and kids celebrated the club, a program under the Anaconda Family Resource Center, Wednesday afternoon at Durston Park, and are pictured here. The banner was then hung over Park Avenue at Oak Street in Anaconda.
The Boys & Girls Club of Deer Lodge County officially opened its doors April 1 after its charter was approved Dec. 31. Staff and kids celebrated the club, a program under the Anaconda Family Resource Center, Wednesday afternoon at Durston Park, and are pictured here. The banner was then hung over Park Avenue at Oak Street in Anaconda.
Nuts and Bolts Breakfast
The Anaconda family resource center is hosting its first annual Nuts and Bolts Breakfast The organizaiton is hoping to display its programs, endeavors and goals for the coming year. The event will take place February 10th 2011 at the Community Service Center from 7:00AM - 9:00AM.
Boys & Girls Club
The Boys & Girls Clubs of America is an organization that promotes positive youth development in students by providing a safe place with caring adults and fun activities where youth can spend their free time. The organization hosts more than 4,000 clubs nationally, serving approximately 4.2 million youth.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America program areas include character and leadership, education and career, health and life skills, the arts, sports and fitness, and other specialized programs.
Jamie Roessler is the AmeriCorps*VISTA researching the feasibility of a Boys & Girls Club in Anaconda.
Since arriving, she has completed an assessment of the community and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America programs.
An Advisory Board is being developed to ensure the community’s voice is heard as the Boys & Girls Club project progresses.
A New Club Grant was awarded to the project by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to help with the cost of starting a new club.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the Boys & Girls Club project, or are interested in becoming involved, please contact or visit Jamie at the Family Resource Center.
Anaconda Family Resource Center Recruites Guardian Ad Litem Volunteers
Anaconda Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) program recruits, screens, trains and supervises volunteers from Deer Lodge, Powell and Granite Counties.
Are you wondering what the qualification are to becoming a Guardian Ad Litem? The most important qualification is a sincere interest in the safety and well being of children. A GAL must be 21 years of age and pass a fingerprint-based background check. A volunteer should have good verbal and written communication skills and the ability to be objective and non-judgmental. GAL's should be able to commit to the program for at least one year or until the cases to which they are assigned are resolved.
Guardian Ad Litem's must complete 30 hours of initial training and one hour per month of on-going training. The initial training will be in a classroom setting but the monthly training can be done on an individual basis. The fully screened and trained volunteer will be sworn-in by the Family Court judge prior to the assignment of their first case. A GAL's appointment to a removal case lasts until the case reaches permanency or until they are relieved of their duties by the judge.
Joe Thompson Volunteer Spotlight
Joe's wife, Donna, was the original founder of the Anaconda Family Resource Center. Her professional life was dedicated to helping end all types of family violence.
Since its inception, Joe has assisted Donna in every step. In the late 1980's, Joe and Donna took classes to become accredited facilitators in Parenting Classes. Shortly thereafter, Joe began co-facilitating a domestic violence group. Almost immediately after that, a Guardian Ad Litem program was developed and again, Joe was a key player.
A few years had passed and then a new self esteem program for children was added as a service. Again, Joe was at the forefront. Other classes he helped initiate included babysitting, dating violence, inappropriate touch and inappropriate aggression.
It's important to note that Joe did all this while he was employed as a full-time Forensic Psychiatric Social Worker at the Montana State Hospital. After working a full day, Joe would come home, ready to support and assist Donna in any way possible; all on behalf of the children of Deer Lodge, Powell, and Granite County's.
Joe continues to volunteer; he is an active Guardian Ad Litem and steps in whenever needed for other programs. He also continues to facilitate the Stress and Anger Management classes. In Joe's words, "I continue in that capacity today after Donna's death and my retirement, and offer to serve in whatever way I'm needed. It keeps me active."
The staff and board salute Joe Thompson and all that he has done for this agency. Without the efforts of Joe and those like him, we would not have the valuable services we offer today. SALUTE!!!
Children's Program Continues to be a Major Success
Services offered at the Anaconda Community Youth Center include one-on-one tutoring; homework clubs; gender-specific program for girls in grades 6-12 designed to augment math skills and explore careers; hands on projects in biology and science; service learning; writing; alcohol, tobacco, and substance abuse prevention, and tolerance education.During summer months, the center provides a wide array of activities that are designed to be fun and invigorating. Incorporating educational enhancement into these activities is essential during the planning process. Examples include learning about science, biology, and the eco system through hands on activities such as visiting local streams and the fish hatchery; learning how choose and care for an animal; learning how to prepare simple snacks and meals safely; and crafts such as designing and making jewelry or making kites that can actually fly. Other summer activities include mini-sessions in art, music, writing, and dance and are provided by community leaders in their respective fields.
Special services for students who have been truant, expelled or suspended from school will be provided via Youth Quest. Youth Quest is a program targeted toward these youth and others who have a high risk of being involved with the Juvenile Justice system. A "Life Coach" is provided who works with the youth in overcoming issues that prevent them from going to school on a regular basis and otherwise become productive members of the community.
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