NEAH BAY — The wheels are in motion for developing a Boys & Girls Club of America in Neah Bay.
Wednesday’s meeting to discuss the feasibility of running the after-school program was successful, said Makah Tribal Councilman Blanchard Matte.
The council, along with about 20 Neah Bay residents, showed up at the Makah Tribal Council headquarters to talk with Lloyd Tolle, regional director of the Boys & Girls Club of America.
“I’m very impressed with the group of people out here,” Tolle said.
“How committed they are [and] how much infrastructure they already have in place to make this happen.”
The tribe has a functioning teen center on Bay View Avenue with video games, computers, pool tables and other activities that can house the program.
Having a facility in place is a major hurdle to overcome, Tolle said, and the usual 18 to 20 months it takes to get a club started may not be needed.
“These people came here with their shirt sleeves rolled up ready to work,” Tolle said.
Another meeting is planned for 9:30 a.m. today at the Tribal Council chambers to develop a steering committee, Matte said.
“We’re looking at key players to be on this Boys & Girls Club [steering committee],” he said.
This is the fastest turnaround Tolle has seen of a group getting together to organize the development of a club after the preliminary meeting, he said.
Tolle works as a consultant for all clubs being developed in Washington and Oregon.
