Building Character

Sturgeon Bay Mayor Thad Birmingham was a hit with children taking part in the Boys & Girls Club afterschool program. He was at the school to proclaim Oct. 23 the official Lights on Afterschool Day in Sturgeon Bay. Also in attendance was Sen. Frank Lasee and Julie Tonkovitz of AT&T, who presented a $4,500 check to support the club’s academic endeavors. Photo by Jim Lundstrom.

Sturgeon Bay Mayor Thad Birmingham was a hit at the Boys & Girls Club of Door County when he stopped by on Oct. 23 to offer a proclamation declaring the day as the official Lights On Afterschool day in Sturgeon Bay.

Lights On Afterschool is a nationwide event begun in 2000 to celebrate afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities.

Sen. Frank Lasee (R-DePere) also stopped at the club, but the kids seemed to be more excited by the mayoral visit than the senatorial one. Both men were made honorary members of the club.

Also in attendance was Julie Tonkovitz, director of external affairs in Wisconsin for AT&T, who had a check for $4,500 for the club’s academic efforts for members, such as the Stride Academy, which attempts to motivate disengaged students.

The occasion was an open house at the new club headquarters in downtown Sturgeon Bay, at 55 S. 3rd Ave. The club has been in the quarters since last spring, but it remains a work-in-progress, said Mark Knapp, resource development and marketing director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Door County.

Knapp said the space was definitely needed due to the program’s growth. The club boasts 393 members, but averages 177 children per day at its two locations, the downtown location for older children and Sawyer School for elementary-ages.

Julie Davis, chief professional officer of the club, said the space at Sawyer School was rated for 88 children, and they average 97 kids there every day.

Davis said the club under her direction has made a point of emphasizing afterschool academics and character building of the kids who will be the next generation of leaders in Door County and elsewhere. She said a good example of this is the model of making the new downtown building workable for the club one step at a time. There isn’t the money to accomplish everything they want to do with the building, so it happens in stages, just like in real life.

“That’s a great life lesson for them,” Davis said.

While most of the club members are from Sturgeon Bay schools, There are also some Southern Door students who are bussed to the club.

“We could serve Sevastopol if we got the transportation, but that’s expensive,” she said.

For more information on the Boys & Girls Club of Door County, visit gbcdoorcounty.org.