BGC Compadre Branch CHANDLER

D.A.I.N.O.W......

2010-02-09T00:44:00.000-08:00

Our dance team, D.A.I.N.O.W. stands for dance as if no one is watching.

I am SO PROUD of these 8 teens! They took 2nd in the City of Chandler Teen Talent Show!

Animoto.com

2010-01-24T21:09:00.001-08:00

It's time to start up again.....

2010-01-24T20:53:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone~

I'll begin blogging again! When I first started this blog, it was to update everyone on what was going on with the new building.

Now the building is open and wonderful and the kids are super happy (And SO AM I!)

So here it comes.........

see the post above which was our grand opening video and Christmas Card.....

It truly is a dream come true!

~me

Chandler Boys and Girls Club opens; ceremonies Monday

2009-11-13T06:10:00.000-08:00

Chandler Boys and Girls Club opens; ceremonies Monday

Opening Day Channel 3

2009-11-09T13:41:00.000-08:00

http://www.azfamily.com/good-morning-arizona/east-Valley-Boys-and-Girls-Club-chapter-goes-green-69568392.html

We have a countdown…..

2009-09-29T21:17:00.001-07:00

See it over there --------------------->

Here are some new pics as of today!!!!

Don’t you love the new signs!!!

I love the bright carpet!!!

This is the new trophy case!!!

Our new bleachers…….i love that we can roll them into the other gym!

See if you can spot the difference in the SKYLIGHTS and the GYM LIGHTS! We won’t even need to use the gym lights for much of the days!!!

Today they put all of the sod down on the back field and baseball field!!! I love the little trees!!!

I can’t wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~me

The Press Release….. :)

2009-09-23T00:08:00.001-07:00

EAST VALLEY Father and daughter Live a life of community service
Boys and Girls Club Leaders Make Lasting Impact on the Community

TEMPE, Ariz– September 17, 2009 – Ramon Elias has been a staple in the non-profit community for over 37 years. He has served as the President and CEO of the East Valley Boys and Girls club for 13 of those years. During this time he and his wife, Mima has raised a family of 4 daughters, instilling an attitude of service in all of them. Eldest daughter Mindy Elias has followed in her fathers footsteps, she is the Branch Executive for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley’s Compadre Branch. Both father and daughter will be honored for their commitment to the community at two separate events.

Mindy Elias has been chosen as one of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Top 40 Under 40. The Top 40 Hispanic Leaders Under 40 Luncheon will be held Wednesday, September 23 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort. The Chamber selected the top 40 key Hispanic business and community leaders for making significant contributions to the greater good of the community. These individuals best exemplify the integration of their best practices and support the community by contributing to society in ways that are an inspiration to others and use resources and creativity to enrich our community.
Elias, a former club member herself, has taken the reins at the East Valley’s largest Boys and Girls Club.

“My parents instilled a sense of service in all of us, it feels so good to work with these kids everyday and to know I’m making an impact in another person’s life. To be recognized by the Arizona Hispanic Chamber is such an honor it also gives me the opportunity to take some of the kids to the event to show them what other successful Hispanic leaders are doing in their communities”, said Elias. In addition to working in the non-profit sector, Mindy is involved with Arizona Cactus Pine Girl Scouts. She has volunteered with the House of Refuge East, Polytechnic Elementary School and Willis Junior High in Chandler and is a Young Life supporter.

Ramon Elias, President and CEO of the East Valley Boys and Girls Club be honored as Man of the Year by Fresh Start Women’s Resource Center on October 1 at 6:30 p.m. Villa Siena, 890 W. Elliot Rd. Gilbert.
Ramon was instrumental in helping Fresh Start Women’s services establish their East Valley presence. The organization is currently using the Gilbert branch of the Boys and Girls club as well as Gilbert Elementary School. The model is working well and could be expanded to include other East Valley Boys and Girls clubs. The Boys and Girls clubs are a natural fit as they are serving youth while Fresh Start Women’s Resource Center serves the mothers of those children as well as other mothers.

Ramon is also a lifetime member of the Chandler Compadres. “I am so honored to have been selected by the Fresh Start Women’s Center for their first annual award. I am also very proud of Mindy and her dedication to the youth of Chandler and her recognition from the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.”

About the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley (www.clubzona.org) serves more than 30,000 children and teens annually, and continues to grow to meet the needs of today’s youth, providing a positive place for all kids and teens. Serving members in Apache Junction, Chandler, Gilbert, Guadalupe, Mesa, Tempe, Queen Creek, and the Gila River Indian Community, programs are offered after school and during the summer and provide youth and teens, ages 6 – 18, with fun and educational activities, supervised by professional staff. The organization also runs Mesa Arts Academy, a K-8 charter school. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley’s annual membership fee is only $20 dollars a year and financial assistance is available. No child is ever turned away if they are unable to pay the fee. www.clubzona.org

About Fresh Start
Fresh Start is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping women help themselves. We do that through the work of the Jewell McFarland Lewis-Fresh Start Women’s Resource Center, the first comprehensive Center offering quality services to women seeking self-improvement.

Day for Kids

2009-09-14T01:01:00.001-07:00

Here are the pics from the Sept 12 Day for Kids :)

So we snuck inside….

2009-08-12T23:27:00.001-07:00

And this is what we found!

they are laying down the wood floor in the gym. This is the small gym. Smells really good in there like WOOD :)

Girls restroom….i love how a small sink is coming for my little ninas!

inside teen center entrance. I LOVE the signs!

BIG gym! Check out those logos! I love the paint colors!

and they all fall down….

2009-08-12T23:19:00.001-07:00

The old building is officially gone….see for yourself:

This is the gym.

This is where the gamesroom use to be…..check out the uno card and the puzzle piece.

What was left of the computer lab.

Back 2 School shopping

2009-08-03T12:06:00.001-07:00

Saturday, 40 of my youth and 25 of my teens went back to school shopping. I didn’t take any pics of the teens but here are some of my little ones!

Big thanks to Target at Power & Ray, Norma and her team were awesome!

Gateway Life Choice for their donation of backpacks and school supplies

The Branch Board for their donation of time by shopping with my kids!

The Chandler Service Club Flower Girls for their time and shopping talents!

The JCPenney store at Superstition Springs Mall for their assistance and patience with me and my 25 kids!

It was a fabulous event!

The Building is Empty…..

2009-08-03T11:49:00.001-07:00

My old pink office…..My staff decided to make it like a yearbook!

That piece of gym floor will now be on the wall in our small gym!

Okie’s old office……..empty!

The front desk…now empty….

Where in the World (or Chandler) is the Compadre Branch of the Boys & Girls Club?!?!?

2009-08-03T10:31:00.001-07:00

Good morning everyone~
A lot of wonderful changes have happened at the Compadre Branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley and I wanted to bring you all up to speed.

As of last week, all three of our old buildings were emptied out with most of the items being recycled to seven other Boys & Girls Clubs. The old facility is now gated up as our wonderful building team, Chasse, begins to demolish the three buildings to make room for our new entrance and parking lot.

In the meantime, the City of Chandler has once again been very generous to us by offering us space to continue our programs while this demolition takes place.

As of August 11, 2009, our youth program will be moved to the Chandler Community Center located at 125 E Commonwealth. Our youth hours are 2:30-7:00 pm and we provide transportation from five local schools----Humphrey, Bologna, Knox, Shumway and Sanborn.

Our teen program will begin at the Chandler Public Library (Downtown-22 South Delaware Street) in dedicated space specifically for our teens from 2pm-5pm. We'll be picking teens up at Chandler High School at 2:15pm daily to transport them to the Library.

Our teen program will continue at Willis Junior High School (located at 401 S McQueen Road) from 5pm-9pm each day. We will transport them from the Library to Willis at 5pm.

Our plan (and hope!) is to be in our brand new, 33,000 square foot, LEED Certified building before the fall break begins.

We plan to be in the facility for a month before our OFFICIAL GRAND OPENING so mark your calendars for Monday, November 16 with tours beginning at 4pm.

The new facility has:

2 gyms, one with a stage!
A Community Room where HOA's, Girl Scouts/Boy Scouts, etc can use the facility as well as rentals for bridal showers, baby showers, etc.
The worlds LARGEST Intel Computer Clubhouse with 45 computer stations, a state of the art recording studio and an amazing video editing room!
An industrial kitchen where we'll be able to feed our members!
A fitness center for our teens with free weights, treadmills, etc.
A computer lab, gamesroom, art room and learning center for our youth!
We'll have a wellness center with dedicated space for two doctor exam rooms and on dentist exam room!
A focus on technology with over 80 brand new computers available for our members at all times!

As you can see, we're very excited about this new facility! Please pass this on to anyone else who might need to know where we are going to be over the next 8 weeks as well as anyone who might want to know what's going on with us!

If you are interested in supporting the club and purchasing a brick for our entryway, please visit http://buymybrick.com/ .

On behalf of the 2100 current members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley~Compadre Branch Chandler, thank you for your interest and continued support in our Club.

Mindy N. Elias

Branch Executive

Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley

Compadre Branch~Chandler

Palm Lane Branch~Chandler

480-899-8302

www.clubzona.org

Some New Pics of the BUILDING!

2009-07-19T22:47:00.001-07:00

Air conditioning is on.

Paint on the walls.

Life is good!

Community Room is almost done! :)

i wanted COLOR and as you can see above, I got it! This is the new art room!

The Above picture is the gamesroom for the youth side. Check out the green ceiling (COBRA GREEN!)

This is in the new pantry…..can you imagine it filled with food for my kids?

The new freezer……..(It has plastic on it that’s why it looks that way)

Did you see the new stove/oven? OMG Can’t wait to make Spaghetti :)

New Basketball Hoops!

Teen Center~That blue walled room is Bernie’s office :)

Teen Center….love the green wall and blue ceiling swoops.

Teen Center Patio~Can’t wait!

roosevelt’s going away dinner

2009-07-11T23:38:00.001-07:00

Roosevelt our Intel Computer Clubhouse Coordinator has received a promotion to be the new Youth Development Director at the Queen Creek Club!

The teens had a dinner for him and here are some of the pics:

Kids were saying their favorite memories of RW.

Dancing!

I can never get these boys together for a picture! Adam wasn’t there! :(

These four boys are more like brothers than friends…..love that!

Another group shot, different time…..pizza gone :(

Telling secrets.

The three girls that were there……..

Kevy Kev and RW

Branding….

2009-07-08T00:52:00.001-07:00

This made me smile today…………..It’s becoming such a reality!

When we do the grand opening, I want EVERYBODY to come. It’s a huge huge huge day for me! :)

And my FAVORITE sign………..above the teen center entrance.

Graduation Time

2009-05-30T21:38:00.000-07:00

I am so proud of all of our graduates! Here are some pics from the Hamilton and Basha graduation!

how's the building coming along????

2009-05-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

Well, see for yourself..........................

This is what I drove up to today.........this giant crane putting things on the roof!

LOOK..........my window was installed today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AND we have front doors!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the BIG GYM!

This is the little gym and the stage :) :) :)

Check out our Teen Director, Bernie Young, in the new teen center!

Summer Day Camp Training

2009-05-24T02:22:00.001-07:00

Above is my staff (at least the ones who are not in school and could attend this training)

Below is Becca, Judy and Dustin...............

Above is the Chandler Staff

Check Judy and Michelle out doing the Electric Slide!

Above are the group lines of all the staff from all the Clubs.

I cannot ever get Becca to smile right!!! Jeeze!!!!

Two of my favorite Branch Execs.......Mark from Gilbert and Jason from Komatke

Pics of Sam's Club Event on 5/16

2009-05-17T11:01:00.001-07:00

Walls are up, roof is on..........

2009-05-07T18:22:00.001-07:00

This is the window into the conference room :) (Yes! We'll have a conference room) This is the walkway up to the building and that's the front door space and the lobby! Can't you just see bazillions of kids walking in there!!!

This is the side of the building where we have the gym in the back, art room, community room patio, etc

Below are the windows...............the conference room, my office :) :) :) Okie's office and another office

Those are going to be BIG WINDOWS :) :) :)

I love those block windows for the teen center...........and that wall is their patio for bbq's and hanging out!

Some updated pics............

2009-04-23T23:53:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's my driveway that they dug up everyday for a week and had it all covered and good by 1:30 everyday. Amazing!

Above is our current high school basketball team!

Above picture is what we gave to the City Council today :)

Bernie, my teen director, does a great job mentoring Adam who sometimes needs to be reminded to stop talking :)

Basketball Championship Games

2009-04-02T23:51:00.000-07:00

My kids did amazing tonight, playing at US Airways (Home of the the Phoenix SUNS!)

My ROOKIES are 8-9 year olds made me very proud.

My CADETS are 10-11 year olds and won the championship so we brought the trophy home for the second year in a row!

My SUNS are the 12-14 year olds and they won the championship so we brought the trophy hom efor the second year in a row as well!

They made me very proud as they played with integrity, honesty and true sportsmanship.

Latest pictures :)

2009-03-28T20:37:00.000-07:00

That is my new window............
Below is one of the new GYMS!

That's another gym and that raised part is the stage :) :) :)

The AZ Republic Article

2009-03-24T22:35:00.000-07:00

Boys and Girls Club members tour construction site
by Weldon B. Johnson - Mar. 24, 2009 01:20 PM

The Arizona Republic

When the brand new Compadre Branch of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the East Valley opens to the public this fall, there won't be any surprises for Tyeshea Campbell.
Campbell, 16, is part of a group of club members who have been learning about the construction of the $8 million, 32,000 square-foot building from the ground up. The club's staff has teamed up with Chasse Building Team, Inc., the general contractor for the project, to use the construction of the new club as a teaching opportunity for the kids who will use it.

During spring break, Campbell and about a dozen other Club teens got two chances to tour the construction site after work had finished for the day. The new club is being built right next to the existing one on Chandler Boulevard just east of Arizona.
"I thought it was very interesting to see just how much work goes into building something like this," Campbell said. "We got to see how much hard work and planning it takes. It makes me think about maybe going into architecture."

On the two Thursdays of spring break, club members were divided into three groups, by age, to learn about different aspects of the building process. Project Superintendent Robert Dilzer showed the kids the blueprints for the project and answered their questions about the project or the industry.

The younger groups got to make a cinder block and footing that will be used in the building. The teens got a chance to tour the building and walk its halls (even though there are no walls yet) to see how everything fits together.

"Any time we have a school or a project like this, we like to get the kids involved," Dilzer said. "Not only is it educational, but it cuts down on vandalism and things like that. It also seems like they take care of it better after it opens when they're involved."
The new building has been designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental and Design (LEED) standards. So part of the discussion with each group has revolved around some of those features included in the new building and the importance of recycling.

"I didn't know you could turn old blue jeans into insulation for the walls or have old water bottles turned into a new soap dispenser," said Kayla Geans, 11. "Now I want to recycle more."

Dilzer tailored the discussions to the maturity level of each group. With the teen group, he talked about different careers available in construction ranging from laborers to engineers.

"I'm trying to find another job now," said Matthew Solis, a freshman at Chandler Gilbert Community College. "I wouldn't mind doing this for the summer."

Learning how it's made has Jade Edwards, 12, even more excited about the new club, which should be open by September. "I think it will be an awesome building," she said.

week two of educating the kids on the building....

2009-03-19T23:46:00.001-07:00

Today the younger kids learned about recycling materials for the new facility. Then as a group, they made a cement brick. The 4-6th graders learned about recycling as well but also touched on the facility on paper as well as the different careers/jobs that it takes to build a facility.

My teens were able to learn about all sorts of careers and trades and of course, take a walk onto the work site. (There favorite thing to do!)

The building is coming up before our eyes. In just a few days we've seen the brick rise and door frames installed..........Last picture is of me standing in the doorway of my new office :) :)

Remember this is a LEED certified project and we'll be granted a Silver Status. My kids, the great kids I serve, have learned so much from this process and we've only just begun!

Take a peek for yourself...........

~me

Kids and the building....

2009-03-15T22:39:00.000-07:00

Part of building the new facility is having the kids involved every step of the way. It's pretty exciting to see the kids on the other end of the fence, learning about careers and recycling and their new Club.

From 5 year olds to 18 year olds, they were excited....

Walk around........

2009-03-04T21:38:00.000-08:00

Today, I decided to just bust through the fence (with a bit of help!) and walked around the new facility.

I learned two things. One, don't wear new white shoes in all that dirt. (Keeping old shoes at the club for now on)

And two, it's amazing....see for yourself!

~me

(These are the footings in the new facility....see how the bricks are all mismatched? It's because we are recycling (remember, we have a LEED certified building).....The bricks are recycled from other job sites that didn't need so many.....we don't care what they look like because they are underground so they are mismatched!

This is the size of the new music studio..............goodness it is huge! Below that is the picture of what we currently have! The kids are going to go nuts!!!

Youth of the Year Event.....

2009-03-02T21:24:00.001-08:00

(to read my personal thoughts and feelings (sappy) please visit my other blog...

http://mindye.blogspot.com/

Here are all the pictures from the 2009 Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley Youth of the Year!

Above, Kevin with his Nana and his mom.....Below, Kevin with Mayor Boyd Dunn.

building a building....

2009-02-27T22:13:00.000-08:00

Construction is moving so quickly!

Today they were pouring the cement for the footings of the facility!

WOOHOO! Is all I have to say........

See the pics :)

Way to go KEVIN.....

2009-02-24T22:07:00.001-08:00

Kevin Martinez has been named in the semi finals, top four of the Youth of the Year Candidates!

Of the four clubs, one of them will be announced as the winner next week! That's why we are closing early on Monday, March 2nd.

We're so proud of Kevin! He's been a member of our Club his entire life!

For more information on the other candidates and the event itself, please visit our website at http://clubzona.org/about-us/yoy.aspx

Friday Feb 20

2009-02-22T10:03:00.000-08:00

Youth of the Year--Kevin Martinez

2009-02-19T00:23:00.001-08:00

Kevin Martinez (yes, the same Kevin who is at our front desk) is our 2009 Youth of the Year.

Kevin is pictured below with the candidates from 7 other Clubs in the East Valley. Kevin has been a member of the Club for 12 years. I (that would be Mindy) have a picture of him at the age of 2 years at our Annual Thanksgiving Dinner with his grandmother. That tells you that this kid literally grew up at the Club.

We are very excited that Kevin is representing the Compadre Branch and the winner will be announced on March 2, 2009!

His bio is below....

18 year old Kevin Martinez has been going to the Compadre Branch in Chandler
since he was very young. In fact, the Boys & Girls Clubs has been in his life so
long that the director of the Compadre Branch has a photo of Kevin when he was
a baby in a stroller at the Club’s traditional Thanksgiving dinner! Kevin is from a
large family with seven siblings and has been raised by his “Nana” his entire life.
He has had to be raised by his grandmother because his mother spent seven
years in prison for a crime she did not commit… her conviction was eventually
overturned.

Kevin is currently the President of the Keystone Club at the Chandler Branch.
Keystone is a service and leadership club within the Club. He has completed
countless hours of volunteering at the Club Thanksgiving dinners, but mostly
volunteers at various nursing homes in the Chandler community. Kevin is also
very active with his church and his high school’s track team, Cultural Student
Union and Vibe and Step Dance Team.

Kevin is a senior at Hamilton High School and plans to attend Chandler-Gilbert
Community College when he graduates and wants to study business. Kevin will
be the first person in his family to attend college which his Nana is very proud of.

New Pics!

2009-02-18T21:32:00.000-08:00

Right now, the construction workers are working 6 days a week! The pad should be in possibly Friday! :) Makes me very happy to see all they are doing everyday! :) ~me

The Before Pictures....

2009-02-15T21:43:00.000-08:00

I just got my hands on the before pictures of the New Club.....

Why I have the best kids............

2009-02-15T17:56:00.000-08:00

Now I want you to know..............I HAVE THE BEST KIDS!!!When everybody was taking pictures and pushing (mostly parents!) my kids sat, in these bleachers, waiting our turn. We were suppose to be group 13 and they never made it to 13. And no one complained. No one was upset that we didn't get our picture taken with them...........they are truly the best and that's why I love them and look after opportunities for them to experience.

Remember my words to live by................

Hope and Opportunity

Jay Z, LeBron and Beyonce.......

2009-02-15T01:02:00.000-08:00

It was quite the experience................

To see a short video of the day, go to: http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1155316042/bclid1155212903/bctid12449364001

By popular request......

2009-02-13T21:12:00.000-08:00

I've been asked by a parent to post pictures of our GroundBreaking Event so here they are:

All Star Weekend Events 2-12-09

2009-02-12T22:20:00.000-08:00

Today we hosted the NBA Cares All Star Past and Present Player Event......

Here are ALL the pictures!

February 12, 2009

2009-02-12T21:53:00.000-08:00

The current facility is located in a flood zone........the new building is 3 1/2 feet higher than what we currently have.

To raise the building, you are required to use the same dirt from the site.

So 80 trucks ran thru yesterday.

And 8o trucks today.

Here are today's pictures!

Welcome!!!!!!!!!!

2009-02-12T00:03:00.000-08:00

This blog will be used to update you on the happenings of the New Clubhouse and what's going on in our current facility!

Above picture taken 2/11/2009 at 4pm.