SUMMER PROGRAM

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Unfortunately due to lack of participation I will be canceling most of the trips for the remainder of the summer.

The ability to go on the trips each day significantly depends on members & families.

The phone calls that members feel they �need� to make are discouraged for field trip reason. I don�t want members to 1)bother you at work 2)make a habit of not being responsible themselves 3)phones should be used for emergency purposes only.

It has been so difficult to build members� hopes up and have to let them down due to improper sign-ups or not enough participation for the trips. For the remainder of the summer if attendance increases we will reinstate the trips, but without the attendance I am unable to do that. We are also looking at going on one field trip per day.

A child must be a member to have access to the Club while school is in session or not in session.

To become a Club member each child�s parent or guardian must complete a membership application and pay the annual $30.00 membership fee. Memberships valid January through December of each year.

(See the home page for printable membership form or come to Boys & Girls Club at the ARC 1640 S State Street, for membership forms)

dates, times and cost will be announced.

Boys & Girls Club of Ukiah Parents and Guardians,

Due to lack of participation off site field trips are hereby canceled for the remainder of the summer.

I understand the disappointment of your children when field trips are canceled and with this letter I hope to help you understand why.

As most of you know BGCU must fundraise year-round to maintain the ability to provide the safe positive place you have grown to know for your children. My job is to ensure this continues, while at the same time making our break programs as financially affordable for you as I can.

While we are at the ARC we operate at a 1-20 Staff to Member ratio, when we go off site that number goes down to a 1-15 ratio. BGCU also maintains a policy to send at least two staff members on all off site trips. To protect the safety of all our members Boys & Girls Club of Ukiah has put these strict, personally set guidelines in place.

Maintaining the ratio on and off site creates an interesting dilemma of over-staffing. (how many staff vs how many members are here �today�) Having the task of being the best steward over the financial gifts we have been given, it has become difficult for me to authorize off site staffing with such low field trip numbers. So � I look at and get to make the difficult decisions that need to be made regarding how to best utilize the funds raised from our generous community.

Unfortunately at this time I cannot send (a minimum of) two staff off site with less than 15 members.

I do hope that the interest in off-site trips will pick up and I am more than willing to revisit my decision in the future.

Please accept my apologies and know that this has not been an easy two weeks looking into the faces of disappointed youth.

Again please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have,

Liz Elmore

Late fees will be assessed if payment has not been made by end of each month or in accordance with special arrangements made with Liz.

This is just a skeleton schedule of a typical day at the Boys & Girls Club of Ukiah. A more in depth schedule will be available each day at the the club.

Thank You To Wal-Mart and Boys and Girls club of America For the Grant to help provide snack for the 2009 Summer Program