By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
The summer camp at the Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County in Asbury Park is in full swing with about 120 campers registered and more expected.
The club, which will turn 70 next year, has operated continuously through hard times and good times in the city. It currently is seeing a growth spurt with the installation of a new roof at the pool and new doors and windows.
Dispelling some of the misinformation circulating in the community regarding the club, Robert Taylor who has been the director for seven years, said this week the club is being used all year round and services 1,200 of the citys youth during the year.
Taylor said the club has made significant progress since he began working there seven years ago.
It was practically not usable, he said. It had not been worked on in years it went the way the city went.
But the United Way, which provides funding to the club, and the BGCM put money into the program and hired a retired executive to overhaul the program.
Taylor said since he has taken over, the budget has increased 100 percent.
I want to make it a better facility for the kids right here in Asbury Park for the kids that can come here.
Taylor said he currently has a yearly operating budget of about $700,000, but with $200,000 more per year he believes he could make some needed changes, especially to the facility and the pool in particular.
Taylor explained that each child pays yearly dues of $8.
It gives them a sense of ownership, and responsibility and membership this is their club.
Once they are a member they can participate in all programs.
Taylor said the camp, according to state guidelines, costs $125 per week for each camper.
The club, however, only charges $45 for working parents while those on subsidized incomes receive scholarships.
He said no member is denied services because of inability to pay.
There are scholarships available, we do not deny services, Taylor said.
He said basically the camp costs less than $1 per hour.
Taylor also said many of the staff members advocate for individual children if they know of a situation that may prevent a child from being able to come to camp.
Busing is provided for all programs at the club.
Isiah Jones, in his second year as program director, provided a tour of the pool area last week while several youngsters swam in the pool and others played board games outside on picnic tables.
Jones said there is a staff of about 12 counselors who work every day at the club.
Several junior counselors were hired through the Asbury Works program in the city.
Jones said he runs many clubs including a chess club and a running club, whose members run from the club to the beach three days a week learning how to stay in shape.
The camps trip schedule begins next week, said Jones, with outings planned to see a play at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, Jenkinson’s Aquarium and Keansburgs Amusement Park.
Campers range in age from 6 to 12.
Jones is obviously proud of the club and has fond memories of growing up in the city and going to the club.
I came here as a child, he said.
Jones has attended William Paterson College to study history and said he will return to complete his degree.
I only have a few more (courses) to go, he said.
Previously Jones worked as the technology coordinator for the club and last year was hired as program director.
Walking through the brightly colored halls, Jones said it was a common misconception that the club does not function well and the pool is dirty.
Thats from the previous administration, he said. Its far from the truth.
The chemicals are checked every week the state comes in. The only thing I can say is its old. The tiles are old, but the roof is new.
He said the roof was installed through fund-raising efforts.
Were a non-profit, so we only have fund-raising, he said.
According to the club, website funding comes from several sources; program income 42 percent, contribution and fundraisers 34 percent, grants 17 percent and facility rentals 7 percent.
The organizations major gala fund-raiser is the Night of 100 Parties run in conjunction with other Boys and Girls Clubs.
This year it was held in Asbury Park in June 16 and raised more than $30,000.
Jones said he is concerned about how much money is being spent on the east side of the citys redevelopment while not enough is spent on the west side of town.
Thats what I see living here and working here, he said.
I could be wrong, but I think its gentrification, he added.
Jones also, however, faults the residents for not being proactive.
Theres too much apathy in town, everyone has to give it some effort.
Staff member Anthony Bacon, 22, of Neptune said he has worked at the club for four years and loves it.
Bacon has an Associate of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education and is planning a career as a teacher.
Asbury Park resident Vince Gifford is one of the organizations biggest private donators and attended the club as a child, at the same time as Danny DeVito.
He said to make the club more successful more volunteers are needed.
We need to get more people involved, Gifford said.
Gifford, an attorney, said although he has donated to several of the clubs individual projects, such as new windows and doors, capital improvements are needed, especially for a new heating and air conditioning unit.
Its an incredible facility, you can see the things they have going on there. I had the doors replaced a couple of weeks ago.
Gifford said he participated in the book club as a boy.
I read a book every week, They had a woodworking club too. I learned I wasnt very good at that, he said.
Several fund-raisers are held throughout the year to raise money for the club.
We want to get them used to writing out a check every year so you have a budget, said Gifford.
Gifford says he often helps locate people to get jobs done at the club, such as electrical and construction work
Gifford said Peter Nussbaum, president of the board of directors, often thanks the organizations large contributors at fund raising events.
He thanks us as large contributors, but were only a fraction of what he gives in time, said Gifford, who lives on Deal Lake Drive.
Gifford said its imperative to provide recreation to city youth.
He recalled a comment he heard that $1 of recreation is money better spent than $1 for a police officer.
You gotta get kids off the street before they join gangs, then its too hard to break the cycle, said Gifford.
He estimates it could cost as much as $3 million to upgrade the facility.
Taylor agreed with Gifford that a capitol improvement campaign is needed.
Its an old building. The pool is the top priority, he said.
Taylor said it needs to be resurfaced and have new tiles installed around the perimeter and the locker rooms need to be fixed up.
Several high schools, including both Middleton schools, Neptune and St. Rose, use the pools for their swim teams during the winter months.
During the school year Taylor said between 150 and 200 students use the after school program at the club.
The facility is also open in the evenings and on weekend for teen programs.
Taylor said they offer programs that appeal to teenagers, such as sports programs or programs designed specifially for teenage girls.
Its the only place where kids can come in and be supervised and be safe.
Taylor also said the computer lab on the second floor of the building is well used.
Its going fine, he said.
Taylor began working for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America in 1984 in Los Angeles while attending California State University.
Originally from the Atlantic Highlands he decided to come back to New Jersey and wanted to help improve the Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County and make it a good organization that would serve the kids in the area.
Taylor, who earned a degree in recreation, said he has always worked with youth in the field of recreation.
Katy Dinolfo, director of the after school care program, has worked at the Asbury Park club for five years.
An English major at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, she said she was brought up in the club.
Im a second generation Boys and Girls Club worker. My father is 60 and still working for the Boys and Girls Club.
Dinolfo said she attended the summer camps as a child and learned to swim at one of the clubs, before becoming a counselor in training at the age of 12.
It was a career path that DiNolfo has found very rewarding and says she loves working at the Asbury Park Club.
I love the kids, theres always something new, she said.
To contact Joanne Papaianni email to joanne@thecoaster.net.
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