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www.ReporterNewspapers.netl SEPT. 6 —SEPT. 19, 2013 | 15 MAKING A DIFFERENCE Young Leaders “volunteer backbone” of the YMCA BY MELISSA WEINMAN melissaweinman@reporternewspapers.net MELISSA WEINMAN From left, Micah Hurt, Alayna Orr and Lindsey Starr help their friends do sit ups during a Leaders Club meeting. Alvarez Stampley believes volun teers make the Cowart Family YMCA in Brookhaven successful — teenage volun teers, in particular. Stampley leads the Leaders Club, a group of about 50 high school students who do everything at the Y, from refer eeing soccer games to babysitting kids. “They serve as the ‘volunteer backbone’ of our branch,” Stampley said. Founded in 1995, the Lead ers Club is the only group of its kind in Atlanta. Part service, part social and part athletic, the club is open to eighth grad ers through 12th grade students. Stamp- ley said the annual open enrollment pe riod just ended, and new members of the leaders club are beginning to attend their first meetings. “They have a three-month trial peri od,” Stampley said. “At the end of that trial period, they must be voted in by current club members.” Stampley said the selection process is based on sweat equity. Those who show up at meetings and put in their volun teer hours are invited to stay as perma nent members, he said. This year, there are 55 leaders from nine area middle and high schools. Leaders are required to perform 15 hours of community service each month, a big commitment for busy stu dents juggling school, sports and other social activities. But they say it’s a lot of fun, too. “It’s definitely worth it. It doesn’t feel like hard work,” said Emily Agadzhano- va, a junior at Chamblee Charter ITigh School. Eric Llaurador, also a junior at Cham blee, said “Volunteering is actually pret ty cool. I love reffing soccer and basket ball.” Stampley said because of the Leaders Club volunteers, the YMCA is able put more money into activities that would otherwise have to go toward paying staff. “They do it strictly on a volunteer ba sis, so they don’t get paid anything for it,” Stampley said. Leaders Club members serve as coaches and referees for youth sports and provide “parents night out” pro grams to babysit children, among oth er efforts. Do you know an organization or individual making a difference in our community? Email editor@reporternewspapers.net Stampley said the Leaders Club meets once a week, in addition to oth er activities. Fie said the time commit ment, taking leadership roles, and as suming responsibility is a positive thing for the Leaders. “We’re empower ing teens,” he said. While the mem bers of the Leaders Club support the YMCA, they also support each other. At a recent Lead ers Club meeting, the members sat around the room in a big circle. They shared what they call “pats on the back” — things like winning soccer games or get ting good grades on a quiz. At the end of the meeting, they did “spirit fingers,” asking their friends for good vibes. One member shared that he was waiting to hear about a scholarship application, and everyone waved their fingers in his direction. “It really serves as a big mentoring tree,” Stampley said. “It really becomes one, large family unit.” The word “family” comes up a lot at Leaders Club. Llaurador said he’s very close to his friends in Leaders Club. “I like to think of it as my second family,” he said. “We definitely mesh very quickly as one big family.” Agadzhanova has been a part of the Leaders Club for years.“It’s been a big part of my life. It’s helped me make friends,” she said. “It helps me give back and it gives back to me.” Go to www.atlantaroofcleaners.com to see dramatic before & after photos of homes that once looked like yours! 1 - WE CLEAN ALGAE STAINED & STREAKED ROOFS SAFE LOW PRESSURE CLEANING OF: • ASPHALT SHINGLE ROOFS • CONCRETE TILE ROOFS • CLAY (BARREL/FLAT) TILE ROOFS • CEDAR SHAKE ROOFS • SLATE TILE ROOFS 2 - “SOFT WASH” CLEANING OF YOUR HOME S EXTERIOR SURFACES • CLEANS DISCOLORED STUCCO/HARDI PLANK/DRYVIT/VINYL SIDING • CLEANS DIRTY PAINTED TRIM (GUTTERS/SOFFITS/FASCIA/WINDOWS/COLUMNS/PORCHES) • A SOFT SPRAY GENTLY COVERS YOUR HOME’S SURFACE, DISSOLVING DIRT & GRIME WHILE KILLING MOLD, MILDEW & ALGAE! 3 - HIGH PRESSURE WASHING (HOT/COLD WATER) • CLEANS ALGAE/MILDEW COVERED CONCRETE, BRICK, NATURAL STONE STEPS, WALK & DRIVEWAYS, RETAINER WALLS, POOL AREAS Buckhead - Brookhaven - Sandy Springs - Dunwoody - Intown References available and provided upon request VISA DISC VER CALL 404-509-2913 - RODNEY SAGERS/OWNER - LICENSED & INSURED “Volunteering is actually pretty cool.” - ERIC LLAURADOR CHAMBLEE JUNIOR
