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Ripple Campaign Cabinet
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Boys & Girls Club Services
of Greater Victoria:

Delivers outstanding programs & services: We are recognized by our community as an expert provider of innovative recreational, educational and social programs and services.

Dedicated: We are dedicated to helping all children and youth, including those at risk. We serve approximately 2,000 people every year.

Knowledgeable: Boys & Girls Clubs has been serving this community for over 40 years. For the last twenty years our experiential or adventure based programs have been delivered primarily at the Camp. This provides the Agency unique insight into how the Camp might be enhanced to address emerging community needs.

Qualified: We employ a diverse and highly qualified group of professionals.

Supported: The Agency has a long history of community support and is guided by the steadfast leadership of a dedicated Board of Directors and management staff.

Resourced: Boys & Girls Clubs is served annually by over 250 volunteers, 61 full time and 67 part time employees – all dedicated and compassionate individuals.

Cost-effective: Research indicates that the types of preventative programs for youth, offered by Boys & Girls Clubs, reduce future costs to the community in adult crisis intervention. A motto from our early days: “IT IS BETTER TO BUILD BOYS THAN MEND MEN” remains apropos, although we expanded our services to girls decades ago.

Makes an impact: By addressing the developmental needs of children, youth and families, the work of Boys & Girls Clubs is a positive influence on the whole community.

Works to address a growing community need: Our experience suggests that the need for programs and services for children, youth and families continues to increase as budget pressures force other organizations to restrict preventative programming. By 2015 the number of children and youth in the Western Communities is expected to increase by 24%. That population increase will further drive the need for developmental services available in the West Shore.

Summer Camp Adventures

Remember that feeling when you conquered a fear, or achieved something you didn't think was possible? Remember how that experience made you stand a little bit taller and think differently about yourself and your place in the world. Suddenly you had a new outlook on life! Since our founding in 1960, Boys & Girls Club Services of Greater Victoria has been helping young people feel that sense of excitement and grasp their potential.

There is a growing body of research-based evidence that proves that the type of preventative programming offered by the Boy & Girls Clubs costs far less than a lifetime of adult crisis intervention. We help children, youth and families to develop the skills, attitudes, supports and self-perceptions they need to achieve their potential and success in this increasingly complex world. These "developmental assets" are powerful shapers of young people's behaviour and the more of these assets that children have, the less chance they have of engaging in high-risk behaviour.

The social, educational and recreational opportunities we offer to nearly 2000 children, youth and families in Greater Victoria each year incorporate assets like loving and caring support, individual empowerment, a sense of boundaries and expectations, a constructive use of time, a commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies and positive identities. These assets are the essential building blocks for developing caring and responsible people who are part of our community.

We create a ripple!


Create a Ripple Campaign Cabinet

	Dave Curtis, Co-Chair "I'm involved because the Boys & Girls Club makes a huge contribution in the community and does it under the radar screen, quietly and professionally with staff that are committed to helping children and families."
Dave Curtis is President and CEO of Viking Air Limited located at Victoria International Airport. He is past president of Aerospace Industries Association of BC. Dave is a member of the Victoria Chapter of the Entrepreneurs Organization. His talents have been recognized by the awards he has received including C-FAX's Business Person of the Year and recognition by the Air Force Association of Canada for Excellence in Civil Aviation. Dave was born and educated in Victoria. Dave married his high school sweetheart, Toni, in 1986, and they have two children, Danielle and Taylor. Dave is one of three children of former BC Finance Minister Hugh Curtis. He is active as his son's soccer coach and plays drums in a 4 piece band. Dave joined the Board of Boys & Girls Club Services in 2001 and was elected President in 2004, an office he still holds.
	Peter Spillette, Co-Chair "In June 2003, I attended the Boys and Girls Club AGM. A young man spoke about a program at the Boys & Girls Club that saved his life. At twenty years old, he had been able to secure his first full-time job. It did not seem that remarkable until he told us that he had worked as a male prostitute in Vancouver for the previous eight years. At that point, I was convinced this organization had a lot to offer the community. The Metchosin camp is just another step in helping kids get a decent start in life."
Peter Spillette was born in 1952 in Newmarket, Ontario and graduated in 1976 from Wilfrid Laurier University with a B.A. He worked in retail industry from 1976 to 1986 in Lethbridge, Dallas and Toronto. Peter became a Canadian Tire Dealer in 1987 in St Marys, ON and bought the Canadian Tire dealership in the Western communities in 1989. Peter lives in Oak Bay with his wife, Jill, and they have two sons, Chris (21) and Allen (25). Peter's volunteer activities have included: coaching, fundraising for youth sports, fundraising for community projects, and he was formerly a board member with the Greater Victoria Hospitals Foundation. Peter is currently on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Victoria Foundation.
	Mel Cooper, Honourary Chair "The long time Wilderness Camp will finally meet its potential through these exciting expansion plans. Your financial support will provide more opportunities for a wide variety of services that will help build character for youth in our community."
Mel Cooper is a consummate volunteer and community leader as well as a popular speaker on leadership and personal success. His business achievements have earned him multiple recognitions. When the Variety Club of British Columbia awarded Mel it's prestigious and coveted "Golden Heart Achievement Award", they noted that Mel had dedicated the last 35 years of his life to giving and supporting others. He has given of himself and his radio stations in such great measure that his personal honours include the Order of Canada, the Order of B.C., the Queen's Jubilee Medal, Honorary Citizen of Victoria, B.C. Broadcaster of the Year, and B.C. Broadcast Citizen of the Year. In January 2005 Mel was awarded the Victoria's Leadership Award for Lifetime Achievement.
	Alex Lemon, Chair, Youth Team "The Boys and Girls Club Wilderness Camp has been a major positive force in my life and I feel a duty to make sure that it can continue to be a force in the lives of many others, for years to come."
Alex Lemon has been involved with Boys and Girls Club of Greater Victoria for over eight years. He became involved in the organization through the youth leadership program and through volunteering at the Wilderness Camp in Metchosin. Alex continued volunteering at the camp and with the Central Saanich Club until he was hired to run programs at age 17. Since then, he has served in a variety of roles within the organization working as camp leader, evening program assistant and most recently as Summer Camp Supervisor. Alex received the Boys and Girls Club Future Shop Scholarship in 2001 and 2004 and is currently in his fourth year of studies in the faculty of Education at the University of Victoria. He hopes to take the skills he has acquired while working with the Boys and Girls Club and apply them to coaching and teaching middle school.
	Keith Bridge "I believe in and value a strong community. Strong communities grow and flourish when young people in the community are provided with strong, positive experiences and role models. I consider it my responsibility as a father, as a soccer coach and through the Boys and Girls Club to provide our communities youth with opportunities to succeed."
Keith Bridge was born Victoria in1957 and obtained a Bachelor of Commerce in Sports Administration from Laurentian University in 1984. Before founding Team Sales in 1985 he worked as the Team Administrator for the Vancouver Whitecaps. Keith has a lifelong commitment to the soccer community he currently coaches boys team and also continues to play. He has been married to his wife, Bridget, for 19 years and they have two sons Kyle (14) and Taylor (12).
	Meribeth Burton "As the super proud mother of a fabulous five year old girl, I understand the value of the programs that Boys & Girls Clubs offer. I take great pride in helping charitable organizations like Boys and Girls Clubs of Victoria."
Meribeth Burton studied Broadcast Journalism at Canador College in North Bay, Ontario. Meribeth is a well-known television journalist who has been on the airwaves in Victoria since 1993. She currently is the Senior Reporter in the A Channel newsroom and fills in for her boss, Hudson Mack, when he's unable to anchor A Channel News at 5. In the past year alone, Meribeth has been involved in 30 community events and organizations as a board member, emcee and participant including The Partnership Walk, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Cops for Cancer, the Breast Cancer Foundation, the United Way, BC Paraplegic Association and Boys & Girls Clubs.
	Lorne Campbell "I am excited to be involved in the Create a Ripple Campaign to establish a wilderness camp. I believe this project will have a lasting positive impact on the youth that experience the camp and will create a permanent legacy that all Victorians can be proud of."
Lorne Campbell is the Vice President of Business Development, Environment and Logistics for Thrifty Foods, the largest private sector employer on Vancouver Island. Thrifty Foods was named one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Private Companies in 1998, 1999, 2004 and 2005. For the past three years Lorne chaired the Monopoly Madness fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club and B.C.P.A.
	Kris Charmley "My involvement at the board level and with the "Create a Ripple' campaign is predicated on the basis that our youth are our future. It is inspirational to watch and here the stories of the youth that pass through the Boys and Girls Club and how the incredible dedication of our staff and the services we provide made a difference in their life -- I know it did to mine."
Kris Charmley has been a resident of Vancouver Island for 33 years and is married with two teenage children. His interests are sailing and squash. Kris joined the board of Boys & Girls Club Services in 2003. He is current Senior Vice President & Branch Manager, Aon Reed Stenhouse Inc. with whom he has been for 20 years.
	Mark Dickinson "One of the reasons for my participating in the 'Create a Ripple' campaign is that research has clearly shown that by spending $1 today on preventative programs, we will save $7 later in remedial costs. This simply makes good business sense."
Mark is long-time resident of Sidney and is owner and President of Van Isle Marina. Van Isle is observing its 50th year in November 2005 as a family-owned and operated business and is now transitioning to a third generation. Mark is also a principal of The Flood Company of Canada, a national manufacturer and distributor of paint specialty products. He is involved in numerous community activities including the Board of the Mary Winspear Foundation. Mark is married with three children.
	Robert Harman "I am a long time supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs because they offer a practical, long term plan to help all youth complete their schooling and reinforce or, where necessary, change their skills and attitudes. An accessible “Wilderness Camp” provides a locale and environment which adds immeasurably to their ability to continue with their work. Investing in prevention is the best and most cost effective way of helping our youth and our communities."
Robert Harman was born in Victoria and educated at Monterey Avenue School, Shawnigan Lake School, Victoria College, and obtained his law degree from UBC in 1959. He practiced law at the firm known as Harman, Mckenzie and Murphy, which became Harman & Company with the name continuing today as Crease Harman & Company. He retired from law in 1991. Bob was a past Chair of the Lawyers' Division of United Way appeal and past Chair of the Real Estate sub-section of the Canadian Bar Association. He is presently the Treasurer of the Vancouver Island Retriever Club and was one of the founders and past presidents of the club past-President as well as being the Canadian Kennel Club Retriever Representative for the Southern BC. He is active in training and running retrievers in field trial competition a well as recreational bird hunting golfing, reading and keeping current with current world and national news. Bob joined the Board of Directors of Boys & Girls Clubs in 1963, served as President and is Hon. Chair of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Victoria Foundation.
	Allan Mactier "I have a strong belief in the overall work performed on behalf of families and children within the GVRD by Boys & Girls Club Services Of Greater Victoria & this campaign further supports specific great opportunities for us to do even more!! Help us “Create A Ripple” in your community!"
Allan Mactier was born in Winnipeg, educated in Manitoba. He worked for 30 years in the financial services industries in Vancouver, Nanaimo, Toronto and Victoria. In 2002 he joined Van Isle Marina as Manager of Brokerage and Yacht sales. Allan is a member of The Union Club of BC and Sidney By The Sea Rotary Club. He joined the Board of Directors of Boys & Girls Club Services in February 2001 and served as President from 2002 to 2004. As well as remaining on the Services board he is now Chair of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Victoria Foundation. Allan lives on the Saanich Peninsula with his wife Brenda.
	Rick Pettinger "I got involved with the Boys & Girls Club because I have four children of my own and believe in the out of school recreation and education programs the Club provides for young people. I enjoy giving back to my community and helping to provide a fun and safe environment for kids."
Rick Pettinger is the Vice-President of J.J.Barnicke Victoria Ltd. which he formed in December, 2000. He spent the previous 12 years as a senior sales negotiator with Colliers International Victoria office. Rick specializes in investment sales and has been involved in the listing and sale of many of Greater Victoria's high profile commercial properties. He is perhaps Victoria's best known commercial realtor and has extensive experience in the sale of office, industrial and retail properties in addition to hotels and development sites. He is the past president of the Victoria Racquet Club Minor Hockey Association and has been involved in sports and business in Victoria for many years. He and his family own and operate the Pacific Sands Beach Resort in the Tofino/Long Beach area.
	David Shaw "Giving back are not just words to me. I have encouraged my son, Michael, to get involved with Boys & Girls Clubs in a fundraising capacity and, in turn, he has inspired me to to be part of the team for the camp project."
David Shaw has been a practicing lawyer in Victoria for thirty years. His firm, Shaw Sauder, operates a boutique business, property and Estate oriented practice. Wealth management, charitable and family foundations and trurat/estate clients allow for the direction of monies to "worthy" causes. Raised in a military family he had the opportunity to see many communities. His prairie background and years of coaching teams, right back to the late 60's when he owned Sidney Sporting Goods, have given him a heafthy social conscience.
	Tom Siemens "The Boys & Girls Club is a critical piece of the fabric of our local community. The Create a Ripple campaign's objective is the next step to enhancing the strength of that community fabric and fulfilling a much needed service."
Tom Siemens holds an MBA from the University of Manitoba, together with designations from the Institute of Canadian Bankers (ICB) and the Canadian Securities Institute (CSI). He joined Royal Bank in 1982 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His career has encompassed roles across a broad range of disciplines and customer bases, in a wide variety of locales, including Winnipeg, Calgary, Toronto, Saskatoon and Victoria where he is Vice-President of Commercial Banking. Tom resides in Victoria with his wife and three children. He has served on the Patrons Council of the Greater Victoria Hospitals Foundation; is a member of the Board of Advisors, Faculty of Business, University of Victoria; sits on the Advisory Committee for Ballet Victoria and is the Finance Co-Chair for the United Way of Greater Victoria's 2006 Campaign.
	David Spaven "I have a strong sense of community and feel it's important to support those who are less able to help themselves. My belief is that the future is in the hands of our children and that we should do all possible to give them the opportunity and assistance to succeed. The Boys & Girls Clubsis an organization that does just that."
David Spaven is a native Victorian who was born in the shadow of Vic High in 1949. He remembers the opening of our first Boys & Girls Club on Yates Street very well and has fond memories of his time spent there. His family moved to Esquimalt where he attended Esquimalt Junior & Senior Secondary schools. He has been in the travel business since 1973 and has been an owner of the Victoria Travel Shoppe since 1984. David is a long term member of the United Commercial Travellers and Harbourside Rotary and he served in a fundraising capacity in both organizations. He was the Chairman of the Advisory Board for the CNIB off and on for 15 years. He worked on the BCPA fundraising committee that brought Monopoly Madness to the community, an event he has been proud to sponsor for 13 years. He is single and a proud grandfather.
	Gail Stephens "I am involved in this important project because I believe that youth in our community are our future leaders and the Wilderness Camp offers children the opportunity to learn, to explore, to grow and to develop."
Gail Stephens is the Chief Executive Officer for the BC Pension Corporation, one of Canada's largest pension administrators and winner of the Premier's Award for Excellence in 2004. Prior to accepting the position of CEO in 2003, Gail was the first Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Winnipeg (1998-2003) and helped lead a diverse team of departments to become one of the most cost effective city governments in Canada with a citizen satisfaction rating of over 92%. She was the City Auditor for Winnipeg before becoming CAO and has worked in both the private and public sector as Chief Financial Officer. Gail received the Manitoba Gold Medal for the highest level of excellence in the CGA Program and graduated on the Dean's Honour List from the Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba. Most recently she was named as one of the 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada.
	Ralph Hembruff, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Club Services of Greater Victoria "Over the past 30 years I have had the privilege of interacting every day with more dynamic, caring and passionate people than most folks meet in a month. Boys & Girls Club staff and volunteers are truly inspiring. Their energy, creativity and compassion are boundless. The “bottom line” in this business cannot be quantified. It can only be captured fleetingly in the gleam of pride in a child's eye when they successfully complete a project; in the expression of comprehension when a youth actually understands and accepts responsibility for his actions; when a young woman abstains from using substances to protect her unborn child; when a father actually hugs that defiant teenager because he has searched for and then discovered all the other things they are doing “right”; when the kids who attend camp express their feelings about the relationships they have forged with both tears and laughter."
Ralph Hembruff was originally from Ontario but Vancouver Island has been his home for 26 years. Ralph has degrees in Physical Education, Biology and Education (teaching certificate). His education contributed to his direct work with children and youth and at various times he was an Outward Bound Instructor, a contracted corrections worker, a youth employment counselor and he participated in a variety of other programs from summer camps, to school counseling and supervision of residential facilities for adjudicated youth. Ralph and Linda have been married for over 30 years and they have two grown sons ~ Robin and Graeme. Ralph has been Executive Director since 1992.
	Kate Mansell "The Create a Ripple Campaign is just as much about raising awareness of our work with children, youth and families as it is about raising funds! While our name is well known the programs and services that we offer are not – in addition to increasing our capacity to serve our community the campaign will go a long way to addressing that issue."
Kate is Director of Development for Boys & Girls Club Services of Greater Victoria, a position she has held since 1997. Prior to working for Boys & Girls Club she worked at Pearson College for 16 years. Kate was on the Board of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners but apart from her deep commitment to Boys & Girls Clubs, her current community passion lies with Leadership Victoria. She is Vice Chair of the Advisory Board and sits on both the Public Relations Committee (formerly Chair) the the Fundraising Committee. Kate also sits on the Steering Committee for the Victoria's Leadership Awards.
	Kathryn Lansley "The Wilderness Camp in Metchosin is an amazing place where kids can be kids and where we have the opportunity to shape their values and support them to dream just a little bit larger. I'm so proud to be a part of a promise and commitment to the children and youth of our community."
Kathryn Lansley is the Development Assistant for Boys & Girls Club Services of Greater Victoria. Kathryn has a degree in International Development and Women's Studies and a diploma in Recreation and Wildlife. After spending 8 years as a naturalist and wildlife researcher, Kathryn has committed herself to building a stronger community in Victoria. Over the past year Kathryn has volunteered her time as co-chair of Marketing for the Leadership and Mentoring Conference for Young Women, participated in Bridges for Women Society's Volunteer Circle and evaluated a youth project to raise awareness about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

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For more information on the Create A Ripple campaign please call:

Ralph Hembruff, Executive Director at 384.9133 ext. 204
Kate Mansell, Director of Development at 478.3872 or 384.9133 ext. 115
Lois Gabitous, Development Assistant at 384.9133 ext. 215
Or email us at development@createaripple.net

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