Preparing the Young for the Future

I decided to take a look at the vision statement for the Boys and Girls Club as I worked with this organization a few years ago.

Provide a world-class Club Experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who walks through our doors, with all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle. 

I think that their vision statement is sweet, short and to the point. After working for this organization for about a year, I can see how this fits into the environment to which I worked. I can see structure within this statement because it discusses multiple areas of the children’s lives that we work with. There is a focus within academics, fitness and individualism. When it comes to synergy, although there is not a direct mention of it within the statement I know from experience that the outcome of the club is larger than the individual contributions. The point of this organization is to set youth up for success by providing resources and positive environments for them. By having a statement such as this and by enforcing it I feel as though there is able to be a constant sense of cohesiveness within the group members. Although the children may be “blind” to it because of their ability to understand, their parents are often able to understand the goal of the organization. Lastly, standards of excellence. Again, these are not bluntly listed in the vision, however I do not find that a negative thing. I think that if they were to touch on all areas of standards of excellence the vision statement would be too long and lose its “umph” if you will.