During 2007, Boys & Girls Clubs coast to coast celebrated their 100th birthday and, according to Rush County Boys & Girls Club CPO Chet Walker, the willingness to change with the times and an effort to meet the needs of youth has been a major factor in the organization’s longevity.

Locally, the club operates with two full-time staff members, Walker and program director Keitha Miller, and five part-time high school employees.

The Rush County club was ahead of the curve in the mid 1980s, when it opened its doors to girls. Nationally, it was not until the early 1990s that the organization accepted girls.

Although games and recreation remain available and are a primary reason many area youth attend the club, the emphasis locally in recent years has been on promoting academic success.

During the previous school year the local club assisted more than 200 children through the “Power Hour” homework club.

Boasting a county membership of more than 1,000 members, roughly 150 area youth visit the club on a daily basis during August through May.

“We are currently putting the new programs for the fall together. We are seeking ideas from parents and school administrators they feel are beneficial to club members. We will look at all the suggestions and ideas and see if there is a way to implement them,” Walker said.

He continued by saying maintaining current programing and adding new programs frequently comes down to a financial decision of some kind.

“We can not and do not receive all of our necessary backing from city and county government. We also do not and can not get all of our needed funding from the United Fund. We need to be creative and continually seek new financial avenues we can walk down,” Walker said.

The club will host a chicken fry dinner from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Knights of Columbus, 227 East Third Street, Rushville.

Earlier this year the club sponsored a wine tasting and dinner that was quite successful. The club also sponsors an annual golf outing and the ongoing “Sponsor A Child” program.

According to Walker, “Sponsor A Child” has a goal of generating $50,000 and currently the club is roughly 25 percent of the way to meeting that lofty figure.

“We hope that by trying different fundraising ideas we will reach different segments of the community,” Walker said.

He continued by saying that fundraising efforts are continuing and are an ongoing project. Generated funds provides programming such as Power Hour (homework help), career development, Ultimate Journey (nature), sports and fitness, special events (Christmas party, dances), the Smart Moves program aimed at dealing with alcohol, other drugs and early sex prevention programs and the Newsletter Club — just to name a few.

There are currently more than 3,700 clubs nationwide with a national membership of over 4.5 million youth.