The board of directors of the Boys & Girls Club of Hot Springs said Friday the club will close at month's end after 75 years in operation, following notice from Boys & Girls Clubs of America that it would revoke the local charter at the end of February.
In a letter titled "To the Community of Hot Springs" emailed Friday to the newspaper, the board said the Hot Springs Family YMCA, located on Werner Street, has committed to run the spring baseball program on the Boys & Girls Club's baseball fields, will provide after-school care, and has expressed interest in taking control of the club and its facilities.
"However, the YMCA will perform a thorough due diligence process before a firm commitment will be considered," said the letter, which was drafted in coordination with the YMCA.
A rally to save the Boys & Girls Club will take place at the club, 109 W. Belding St., from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today, according to James C. Lowery, executive director of Community Empowerment Network of Hot Springs.
"Concerned Citizens will not allow this closing of the Boys and Girls Club without a fight. We are bring (sic) together as many people as we can from our Community that support the Boys and Girls Club to remain open under the charter of the Boys and Girls Club Of America," Lowery said in an email to the newspaper announcing the event.
The letter from the club's board, which was also distributed to parents and members, said it met Feb. 7 and voted to close the doors of the club at month's end after the Boys & Girls Clubs of America advised that it would revoke its charter at the end of February.
The news of the loss of the charter left the board with "no other option," the letter said.
"There are many questions to be answered as we transition the Club's non-profit status to permanent closure (e.g. what happens to the property, etc.), and the Club has engaged an attorney to assist us with this process," it said.
"Closure is disappointing for all of us, but it is our sincere hope that this closure is temporary and perhaps even necessary in order for us to rebound and gain the respect and support of our community as a whole," the letter said.
"Over the last 18 months the Board of Directors has put forth numerous efforts, including fundraising and exploring potential mergers with other non-profit organizations, to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Club. Our top priority throughout the process has been the safety and well-being of the children we serve. Those efforts were unsuccessful, and on December 10th The Sentinel-Record published a guest column written by current and former board members informing the community of our situation. In that column, we made a plea to the community for contributions that would allow us to continue operations, but that attempt was also unsuccessful," the letter stated.
After the guest column was published, the "church community and other leaders rallied in a final attempt to get the Boys & Girls Club of Saline County to reconsider a merger," it said.
The board's letter said the effort was unsuccessful, and it was advised on Jan. 2 by the Saline County board president that it had voted "not to reopen merger discussions."
The Hot Springs club had a committee meeting with the YMCA immediately following the Saline County decision, to determine if there might be interest for a club merger with the YMCA.
"This initial meeting primarily focused on the after-school programs for the kids (i.e. if the club closes, can the YMCA take care of the kids?)," the letter said.
The YMCA will send staff members to the club next week to work with parents "to try to get a smooth transition going" on the after-school programs, YCMA CEO Peter Davin said Friday.
"We want to make sure that they understand what our policies and procedures are, so that first day when that 'Y' bus pulls up, those kids know that they need to get on the 'Y' bus because they're coming to the 'Y'" beginning March 5, Davin said.
"We'll do whatever we possibly can to make sure that each and every child that's currently enrolled in their after-school program is taken care of. That's what we committed to do, and that's the important thing. We've got to take care of the kids that are currently in that program. We're not going to let them slip through the cracks," he said.
The YMCA currently takes care of more than 250 children a day, combined, at the three sites where it provides after-school programs.
On Feb. 1, the club's board met with designated representatives from the YMCA to discuss the club, according to the letter from the board.
"The YMCA confirmed that the Club's after-school kids would have a place in their programs, which was a great comfort to the board knowing that our kids would be in safe hands. Club staff will work with the YMCA staff over the next two weeks to ensure the smooth transition of our children into their programs. Additionally, the YMCA advised that there may be an interest in taking control of the Club and its facilities. However, the YMCA will perform a thorough due diligence process before a firm commitment will be considered," it said.
Registration for the spring baseball program on the Boys & Girls Club's baseball fields will begin on Monday through the YMCA. Call the YMCA at 501-623-8803 for registration information.
Local on 02/17/2018