Representatives from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati met with New Richmond area community members and families on Nov. 4, 2019, at the New Richmond Club to talk about the organization’s developing plans to change its presence in the area, which may include altogether leaving the village. Pictured, from left, are Bill Bresser, chief executive officer for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati, and Britton Martin, county director for the organization, who both facilitated the meeting.

By Megan Alley
Sun Reporter

Representatives from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati met with New Richmond area community members and families to talk about the organization’s developing plans to change its presence in the area, which may include altogether leaving the village.

Pictured is New Richmond native and community leader Robert Lees, who pointed out that there is a need in New Richmond for the Boys and Girls Club.

The open house style informational meeting was hosted in the evening on Nov. 4 at the Robert Williams Club in New Richmond, located at 213 Union St.

The meeting was packed with those anxiously waiting to hear the fate of their beloved local club.

Bill Bresser, chief executive officer for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati, and Britton Martin, county director for the organization, lead the meeting.

Bresser opened by saying that changes are going on within the organization, but that they don’t have all the answers, yet.

He said that a number of issues became apparent when he looked across the organization’s presence on the Eastside. He listed an aging building — the club has spent $60,000 in the last three years repairing the roof, walls, and more — the building size is small, the club serves “only” 45 kids a night, it’s not easily accessible to most of the attending kids — 75 percent of those who attend the site don’t live in the village, and, when compared to other club locations, kids spend “the least amount of time in the New Richmond club,” which Bresser attributed to limited access.

Bresser met with the organization’s Eastside board in June to discuss options for moving forward.

“We’d love to put our stake in the Eastside community; have our own building and a large presence,” Bresser said, noting that the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati recently purchased a 22,000 square foot building in Union Township. The club is planned to open in February 2020.

“We’re really excited about it,” he said, adding, “What does that mean for New Richmond? We do not want to leave New Richmond. We have a legacy here; we’ve been a part of this community since 1997 … it’s a great asset for the community, and we want to stay here.”

At this point, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati’s plan is to sell the New Richmond club’s existing building, and the club is in negotiations with the New Richmond Exempted Village School District to “lease” space to run its program out of one of the schools.

The organization, which claims to bring $150,000 worth of resources to the community with its tuition-free programming, is asking to be provided with a space rent-free.

Bresser explained that it operates many in-school programs without having to pay that school district rent, but with New Richmond’s financial woes — it’s had to cut staff, merge and close buildings, and now talks of a school levy are imminent — it’s unclear whether or not the school district can take on another responsibility.

“We think that we can serve as many, if not more, kids in a school-based program,” Bresser said. “It just makes sense for what we’re trying to do here in New Richmond, considering dollars and cents is a financial issue, too.”

Martin added his observations of the local situation.

“This isn’t a decision that was made solely because we have purchased a club in Union Township; I’ve been going through the numbers … the duration of time that the kids spend in this building is another issue, and I hate using this term, but in many ways, this club is a glorified bus stop. Kids get dropped off, and they are here for 15 or 20 minutes, and then a parent picks them up. That doesn’t allow us to really dive into the programming that we want to get.”

That programming, which was implemented in 2015, is the the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati’s core program, Graduate, Fit for Life, Ready to Serve. The program focuses on strong academic success, physical fitness and community service.

Previously, kids who visited one of the then Boys and Girls Clubs of Clermont County were free to spend their time shooting hoops, working on homework, doing arts and crafts, engaging in music and socializing.

Based on anecdotes from the audience, the club’s programming might not be the best fit for the New Richmond community. Some, even Martin, say that some kids who were club regulars have since left the organization, and are seen shooting hoops around town, rather than at the club.

New Richmond native and community leader Robert Lees pointed out that there is a need in New Richmond for the Boys and Girls Club.

“There are untold numbers of others in our community that need the service that this club was designed for,” he said.

While the future of the New Richmond club still hangs in the balance, one thing is for sure: the local club won’t be offering any summer programming this year.

“We will operate through the end of the school year, and then move out,” Bresser said.

Depending on how negations with the school district go, the club may, or may not, offer any summer programming in the future.

Many in the audience, upon hearing this news, were taken aback. It’s clear that many families depend on the club’s programs, and the thought of not having that as an option left many feeling stressed.

Bresser suggested that those families could commute to the new Union Township club, but that idea was met with realistic feedback that many in the local village don’t have the means (car, gas money, etc.) to transport their kids to Union Township.

At the close of the meeting, Bresser reiterated that the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati “doesn’t want to leave New Richmond.”

“We could possibly stay in New Richmond; maybe rent a building,” he added.

In the meantime, Bresser is still hopeful that he can work something out with the New Richmond School District.

He is scheduled to speak at the board of education’s next regular meeting on Nov. 18, and asked those in the community interested in keeping a local club in New Richmond to send him letters of support that he can give to the board members.

Letters of support may be emailed to bbresser@bgcbc.org.