Welcome to the reality of a Boys and Girls Club in Seymour.
Several interested people attended an event Monday evening in Seymour at the home of Jim and Judy Arwood for a great cause.
It was the Kick-Off for the formation of a Seymour Boys and Girls Club.
Mark Ross, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club for nearly the past ten years said, "Seymour has needed a Boys and Girls Club for a long time."
According to Ross, in order to actually start the club, they need three things. They need $100,000 in the bank, a location with adequate facilities and at least two board members that live in the community.
Recently Dr. Bill Fry and Rob Ailey stepped forward to be the two local board members.
"We've got to appreciate having two good solid supporters that live in Seymour that have taken up the task and responsibilities of assisting in the birth of the new club," stated Ross.
Several board members and staff were on hand at the event as well as State Senator Raymond Finney and State Representative Richard Montgomery.
It was reveled at the meeting that a generous donation of $20,000 was given by Tim Williams, a former Seymour resident, and a $10,000 donation was made by Judy Arwood, who was born and raised in Seymour. Senator Finney and Representative Montgomery are collectively lobbying to direct $25,000 from the state to new Seymour club.
"We've got a real start and it's got us moving in the right direction and the only question is, not when, but what month is it going to open," stated Ross.
This would be the 6th club operated by The Boys and Girls Club.
Ross said they targeted Seymour earlier but didn't have any key leaders that were willing to step up. "We had a lot of interest but we needed those people that were willing to make the commitment and we have that now."
Seymour will be a satisfying facility to see develop for Ross as he lives in Seymour. Ross says that unlike Sevierville, Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg, Seymour has no community center or any such facilities - there is more urgency now than there has been before as the growth of Seymour continues unabated.
The tentative location of the Seymour club is either the Seymour First Baptist Church on Chapman or the Seymour Heights Christian Church.
Property has already been ear-marked and ready for donation to the club once it is an established Seymour club. The church will be a temporary starting point.
For further information or to donate time or money, contact Mark Ross at 428-5437 or on the internet at http://www.bgcsmoky.com/index.asp