President's Message

As Chairman of the Boys & Girls Club of Hartford Board of Trustees and President of the Connecticut Area Council, my greatest concern is that we ensure that youth have access to quality programs, professional, caring staff and facilities conducive to positive youth development.

The Council must be vigilant in their efforts to retain and secure resources to strengthen and enhance existing Local Clubs, but, at the same time, must address its role in communities in which youth do not have access to after-school or out-of-school time programs.

The strategic planning process we are pursuing will assist the Council in identifying gaps in services, emerging youth issues and those communities who may want to pursue discussions about bringing Boys & Girls Club programs to their youth. Such a plan will not only assist the Council, but provide local Clubs with needed information to assist them in their planning.

With a rapidly changing and volatile social and economic environment, the challenge for the Council during the next few years will be to have both a short and long range plan to ensure that the Boys & Girls Clubs of Connecticut are positioned to continue to provide quality, positive youth development programs to the youth of our State.

These are difficult times, but the Council is comprised of committed professionals who will seize the opportunity to meet the challenges ahead.


Sincerely,

Richard Brainerd

President