Chipley Kiwanis Club Learns About Teenage Boys…A Troubled Past to a Bright Future - October 26, 2010

 At the weekly club luncheon on Tuesday, October 26th, Kiwanis had a multi-part program oriented to youth oriented programs.

First part of the program was a presentation by Coy Williams, as student at Chipola, accompanied by Sharron Hobbs and Cathie Streckewald of the WC Health Department.  Their topic was an update on the SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco) project to reduce the availability of tobacco products in Washington County, with a focus on candy-flavored tobacco.   Currently, SWAT has about 250 students in the WC middle and high schools promoting the program within their communities.  SWAT is now planning to find ways to further restrict tobacco offerings at retail outlets.

Greta Draayham, president of the WC Education Association, spoke about the importance for voters to retain the .25 mills that had been collected the last two years. Stopping the collection would  represent a further reduction in local budgets by about $1,000,000 over the next two years.  This reduction would occur because the dollars collected at .25 mills for the Critical Needs account are matched by the state.  For comparison, $1,000,000 is the equivalent of the full cost for 20 teachers for a year, 40 paraprofessional classroom assistants, or the electric bill for the school system for one year.

During a presentation with slides and personal highlights of the AMI Kids programs, Ron Boyce, Executive Director, AMIkids West Florida in Ponce De Leon, explained how his facility implements the mission as a private non-profit residential program helping teenage boys overcome a troubled past to pave the way for a bright future.  The facility accommodates an average of 40 boys ages 14 – 17 and has a staff of 30 people.  There are three main elements to the program: (1) Education leading to employment and social skills; (2) Mental health counseling and behavior modification to accepted attitudes; (3) Transition back to community environment through community services that rebuild self esteem and positive attitudes toward others.

 The program lasts 6 to 9 months and all the young men have been referred to the program by judges and the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) rather than going directly to confinement or other very restrictive programs as punishment for crimes following conviction.  While the facility is not fenced and the participants are not locked-up, they have a very strict daily regime that includes classes, counseling, working on community projects, and constant monitoring by trained staff.  Unacceptable behavior is promptly confronted and corrective actions taken by staff and the youths.  Meeting acceptable standards for behavior is rewarded and failure results in removal of rewards or privileges.  Youths failing to adjust their behavior and attitudes can be returned to a judge for more formal punishment if they fail to realize the opportunity they have been given.  For more information, contact Ron Boyce at (850) 548-5524.

 The Kiwanis Club of Chipley has been providing support to youth oriented events and programs for 70 years and last year supported 31 organizations throughout the county.  

 Next on the fund raising schedule will be the heavily attended Marvin Ingram Memorial Kiwanis Golf Tournament on Saturday, November 6th at the Sunny Hills Golf Course. Also the annual fruit sale will be from now through Nov. 30th with delivery around December 17th.  This year the club has also added a gourmet 3 pound mixed nut item in a designer tin with no peanuts, and these will be available from merchant displays as well as from Kiwanis members.

The club meets Tuesdays at Pattillo’s Restaurant in the middle of the Washington-Holmes County Technical Center (WHTC) at Noon.   For an invitation to lunch, contact any Kiwanian or call David Solger, Membership Chairperson, at (850) 638-1276.