Why Atlanta Formed a Youth Bridge Program (and how to do it yourself)

Transcription

1 Why Atlanta Formed a Youth Bridge Program (and how to do it yourself) Atlanta Junior Bridge (AJB), a not for profit organization, was initially formed by a group of bridge players interested in teaching bridge to children and young adults in the Atlanta area. This group discovered there was a lack of organization and structure in the methods employed to identify youngsters interested in bridge, no methodology for teaching and an absence of a safe and happy environment for the youngsters to play the game with other children in Atlanta. There are groups such as Bridge at Schools, Duplicate Bridge Association of Atlanta, as well as individuals within the city and outlying areas, teaching children. Individuals taught youngsters in schools, home settings, programs in after school settings and Saturday classes at local bridge clubs, but there was no organized effort to reach youngsters. AJB recognized that many people were interested in teaching children, but for various reasons, they are unable to start the process. Such reasons included: 1) Could not afford the financial investment for supplies. 2) Did not know how or were uncomfortable in soliciting a school for a class. 3) Couldn t make the full time commitment necessary. AJB s function is to: Identify locations for classes, Provide a small stipend for instructors/teachers, Provide teaching supplies, Arrange for group teaching or substitutes for instructors/teachers who could not make the full time commitment, and Provide playing opportunities for our students. Locations for Classes: AJB teaches in churches, recreation centers and libraries, as well as in schools. Three of the major bridge centers in the metro Atlanta area allow us to hold weekly classes for the students. The parents of the students we teach in the bridge centers and at our summer camps have become some of our most consistent contacts for introducing bridge to the

2 schools in Atlanta. Our largest retention of students has come from the summer camps we teach (2 hours a day, for one week). I highly recommend a summer camp approach followed up by weekly, year round, classes. Teachers: Teaching supplies (boards, bidding boxes, table direction mats), advertising of classes (a portion of which is paid for by ACBL marketing), teaching posters (a set of 11 posters developed by AJB teachers) and moral support to our teachers is provided by AJB. If at first you can t afford supplies, check with your local bridge organizations. Many times they will be happy to loan you supplies until you can afford to purchase your own. Background checks are run on all teachers prior to their teaching a class. You don t need great bridge players to teach beginning classes, just good teachers. Although experience in teaching bridge is a very valuable asset, it is more important for the instructor/teachers to develop a rapport with the children and have a basic understanding of beginning bridge. For Intermediate and Advanced classes, our teachers will have a greater level of expertise. We try to get team teaching established for our groups, so that there is one lead teacher who teaches with another (or two) teachers. That way, if a teacher goes on vacation or has a conflict, someone is ready to fill in and it s someone the kids are familiar with. Lesson plans are available through the ACBL School Bridge Lesson Program and The Bridge Teacher for Youth website ( AJB prepared a budget and asked for funding from District, Unit, Local and National bridge organizations. AJB also solicited donations in our local bridge community and from the parents of our students. It is easier to attain financial assistance from members, corporations, trust funds and educational foundations, if you obtain the 501(c)3, tax exempt charity, status. AJB has done so. Games and On going Classes: AJB recognized that holding on going classes and games was a key component in keeping the children interested. Games are held at every local tournament, club games are held once a month at each of the facilities where there are lessons. AJB offers on going, once a week classes in every geographic area where we held summer camps.

3 Summary: For AJB this approach worked. It is easier to be part of a program than the whole program. A program supplies structure, help and an identity that your bridge community recognizes. A vital component for the development of this type of bridge program is key members who can easily speak with strangers, conveying commitment and zeal for the project. These individuals will find locations for classes, develop publicity, seek funding and perform the duties and responsibilities of a business. At a minimum, a program should include a President, Secretary and Treasurer to handle the business. At some point a Board of Directors for the corporation may be arranged. This is a process. It will not be fast or easy. It is hard. With the help of many people in Atlanta, it took us at least four months to really get everything in place, so that we could make the big push for the summer camps. The results for our first summer program follow. This document was originally published in Since its inception in 2006, AJB has taught over 4,000 children to play bridge. Many of those first students still play bridge and are active in the USBF junior program. Some have entered high school and college and are pursuing their academic and professional careers. Many of the original teachers and officers of the program have ceased to be actively involved. I believe that a unit run organization will have greater stability and ongoing success as much of the success of any project relies on a strong, active and growing support structure. Steps necessary to form a non profit youth program: 1) Find a lawyer who will volunteer his services pro bono to incorporate your group and apply for 501(c)3 status. 2) Obtain liability insurance and directors and officers insurance. 3) Go to your membership, tell them what you are doing and solicit help. Not only teachers, but teaching assistants, graphic artists, publicity people, snack providers and poster makers are needed for starters. There is a tremendous amount of work to be done. Involve as many people as you can. 4) Start a class at your local duplicate center or in other locations. Advertise a beginning class (about four weeks before you hold the

4 class) on a Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon, open the doors and teach whoever shows up. The next week someone will bring a friend. 5) Ask for financial assistance from your unit, district, local governing bodies and your membership. AJB was fortunate to receive some initial private funding which allowed us to create a brochure to get the word out and to give us validity when speaking with potential class sites. Identify geographic areas that have a high concentration of families, and go to your local library or recreation centers, schools and community centers to start a class. Find members who have connections within a school or church youth group to start a class. 6) Create a website gives the program validity and is a place where you can begin to post notices of classes. 7) Reach parents who support the development of their children s mind and math skills which are a major component of bridge. Start up Expenses: Non Profit Corporation Filing Fees $ State Non Profit Corp Filing Fees Liability Insurance Directors and Officers Ins Website Brochures Bulk Mail Permit & Application T shirts for the Students Lthd, Bus Cards, Donation Notes Total Expenses: $ State filing fees may vary from state to state. Though it is a large expense, we were advised strongly by our lawyer to have Directors and Officers insurance when dealing with children. It is not required to have a brochure. If you are not going to send out a mailing to request funding, you do not need a bulk mail permit and application. T shirts are not required, but the kids love them, and it is an inexpensive way to advertise the program. Letterhead, business cards, note cards and a card to send to people confirming their tax free donation are a necessity.

5 Summer Classes & Camp Program Summary May through August 2006 Camps Taught 12 Children Taught 153 Summer Camp Children Still attending classes or playing in games 96 Retention Rate: 62.7% Ongoing classes to teach these Summer Camp children and children from Winter/Spring programs: 8 Children attending Classes: 114 Average table count in Classes: 2 tables Expenses: Teacher Compensation $ Supplies * Fixed Expenses Advertising ** Total: $ *$ is a nonrecurring expense (Bid Boxes & Card Holders). More supplies will be purchased as we expand our class availability. ** 75% of this cost reimbursed by ACBL s Co op advertising program