TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Suncoast Pasco News

City Honors Young Volunteer Advisors

ADVERTISEMENT

By KLINT LOWRY | The Suncoast News

Published: February 4, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - On Jan. 20, a group of boys and girls ranging in age from 9 to 15 were brought before City Council in regard to their involvement in numerous incidents around town during the past year. Council members wanted to make an example of these young people - by publicly applauding their efforts.

A year ago, Parks and Recreation Director Elaine Smith started the Youth Advisory Board. Like its adult counterparts, the Youth Advisory Board meets on a regular basis, sets its agendas, creates and follows through on projects and makes recommendations for improvements for the city's Recreation and Aquatic Center.

"I knew I wanted them to have input on the center," Smith said. "They know what they want."

The Youth Advisory Board members are Zack Altman, Kortney Bush, Zac Caravona, Elizabeth Giordano, Rebekah Giordano, Gerardo Otero, Corey Smith, Tanner Smith and Charles Timony.

Smith and fellow Parks and Recreation employee Angie Wolcott serve as advisors. The board's stated mission is teaching leadership skills, how to hold a meeting, public speaking, event planning, community service and the functions of city government.

In its first year, the board had organized its first public event, a glow-in-the-dark volleyball party called Night Spiker. It has taken part in a half-dozen other events in the past year, usually operating its own concession stand, selling popcorn and snow cones. The members handle every aspect of the operation at those events.

"All I do is grind the ice," Smith said.

At December's Holiday Joy and Children's Art Festival, in Sims Park, the board raised $714 selling popcorn and snow cones, "one dollar at a time," Corey Smith emphasized. That money went to buying food, clothes and toys for a family the members "adopted" for Christmas.

Early on in its existence, the board decided the recreation center's game room was somewhat lacking, so they raised enough money with its concession stand to buy video games and a television.

The board has reached out to the community in a number of ways in its inaugural year. In March, it painted over graffiti on the bridge at Main Street. Members replaced American flags on the graves of veterans at Pine Hill Cemetery on Memorial Day.

In addition, the board took part in River Clean-up Day, in September. In November, it took part in a project called "Smile Cards," creating and mailing inspirational greeting cards to terminally ill children.

The young people are responsible for the board's success, according to Elaine Smith. "We don't just take everyone who applies," she said.

Instead, staff members pay attention to the young people who attend center activities. They note who is consistently responsible and courteous and respectful to the staff.

There are no age parameters for board membership, but most of the board is in middle school, according to Smith. Young people in this age group are developed enough to take on challenges but young enough to need the guidance and gain from being on the board.

Each member of the board sees that opportunity in their own way.

"It's just being self-satisfied being able to help out the community," said Zack Altman.

"My mom says it's a good idea," Gerardo Otero said. His mother shows a lot more trust in him now that she has seen him in action in his board activities, he said.

Charlie Timony thinks his experience on the board has taught him to work as part of a team. That was evident at a recent meeting, as board members were considering a new event, Come Out and Play Day. The event is a tie-in to draw other young people to the next River Clean-Up on Sept. 19.

Gerardo suggested they have the event after the cleanup. "Otherwise, they would just come and play and leave," Charlie added.

Tanner then suggested maybe they could make collecting a bag of trash a requirement for admission.

These meetings are only supposed to be an hour long, Smith said, but it's hard to rein the youngsters in once they get going on a topic.

As council members took turns complimenting youth board members at their Jan. 20 meeting, Councilman Rob Marlowe said that in a city that finds it difficult to find adults to serve on various boards, the Youth Advisory Board is an example to people of all ages.

Klint Lowry can be reached at 727-815-1067 or klowry@suncoastnews.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT