People, People People!

Wow, what happened to a positive place for kids? My daughter attended the Ballard Boys and Girls Club, my niece went there and later worked her way through school while working there and now my three grandchildren rely on the Ballard Boys and Girls Club. Mark has been there throughout.

I realize from a business standpoint that it may seem that moving Mark to Federal Way might help to raise more funds for their club but there is much more to it. Mark has established himself in Ballard and the Ballard community is passionate about their homes and their children. We feel safe having our children there because of the people. Mark does wonders but that works hand in hand with the community. One without the other may not achieve the same response.

You are asking a person who has been involved in our kids and families lives for over a quarter of a century to just get up and leave. I can't even begin to tell you how wrong that is on so many levels.

We will rally together as a community and fight for our home and families to remain safe and in harmony. This is supposed to be about the kids and the community so how can it be justified to make such a change and disrupt so many lives.

My grandkids have had a rough time of it for family reasons that are out of their control. The Ballard Boys and Girls club and their staff have been their safe haven and stability.

Listen to the community and the children and help do what is right. Money does not make things better or people happier. Don't get me wrong, it does help but this is something that is done together with our focal point being Mark Hendricks, the protector of our children and families.

As to address the comments made by the previous person, every organization that has a large amount of children attending has problems with lice just like the schools do so that really doesn't have anything to do with the subject at hand. The staff at the club has always been right on top of notifying families when lice has been dected along with the staff making sure the infected child stays out of the club until it has been properly taken care of. Dehydration? I do know that even away from the club on field trips there is always plenty of water available including the kids being taught the importance of staying hydrated. Maybe your child told them they were drinking and didn't. Come on, let's all take a little responsiblity for issue that happen whether in clubs, childcare, school. sports or anyother function that have children interacting.

As much as your comment matters, it really has nothing to do with the big life altering changes that are happening. You really think a place could continue with the same director and many of the same people if it was run as you portray? Wow!

I am a parent who has had two children at the Boys and Girls Club for the last 6 years. Those of us who are members of the Club think of Mark and all the wonderful, caring staff as our family members. They nurture and love my children, and all children in the neighborhood. It's a place where everyone is welcome and cared for. The staff share our joys and concerns, tell us the funny things our kids did or said while we were at work. During the summer, the staff at the Club often see my children more than I do. When you walk in the door you know it is a special place and that the people who work there want to be with the kids, and they earn the respect and trust of the children and families they serve every day.

So what has saddened and shocked our community is how this was handled. I found out that Mark, our Club's leader, was being transferred, on Facebook. Mark is an amazing person who year after year is an example of leadership, hires the best staff and allows the Boys & Girls Club to live up to it's "positive place for kids" tag line. There was not and still has not been any communication to families from the Boys and Girls Club leaders who made this decision about how and why this decision was made and what the transition plan is. Our calls and emails are going unanswered. Apparently Mark himself was only given about 2-3 days notice of his transfer. This is exactly the opposite of the values of respect and care that the Club teaches its members.

Adding to our sadness and confusion is the fact that Mark apparently doesn't want to go. If Mark wanted this transfer, and felt that he wanted to lead the Federal Way Club, I am sure that he would have the full support of the parents in Ballard. We would be sad. We would sorely miss him. But we would wish him well and know that the staff and children of the Federal Way Club were getting a gem of a person.

But that isn't how it happened, and that is why I will be at the rally tonight.

I am a parent who has had two children at the Boys and Girls Club for the last 6 years. Those of us who are members of the Club think of Mark and all the wonderful, caring staff as our family members. They nurture and love my children, and all children in the neighborhood. It's a place where everyone is welcome and cared for. The staff share our joys and concerns, tell us the funny things our kids did or said while we were at work. During the summer, the staff at the Club often see my children more than I do. When you walk in the door you know it is a special place and that the people who work there want to be with the kids, and they earn the respect and trust of the children and families they serve every day.

What has saddened and shocked our community is how this was handled. I found out that Mark, our Club's leader, was being transferred, on Facebook! There was not and still has not been any communication to families from the Boys and Girls Club leaders who made this decision about how and why this decision was made and what the transition plan is. Our calls and emails are going unanswered. Apparently Mark himself was only given about 2-3 days notice of his transfer. This is exactly the opposite of the values of respect and care that the Club teaches its members.

Mark is an amazing person who year after year is an example of true leadership, hires the best staff and allows the Boys & Girls Club to live up to it's "positive place for kids" tag line. He has dedicated his life to the Club, and is often there on evenings and weekends.

Adding to our sadness and confusion is the fact that Mark apparently doesn't want to go. If Mark wanted this transfer, and felt that he wanted to lead the Federal Way Club, I am sure that he would have the full support of the parents in Ballard. We would be sad. We would sorely miss him. But we would wish him well and know that the staff and children of the Federal Way Club were getting a gem of a person.

But that isn't how it happened, and that is why I will be at the rally tonight.