Parent Perspective - Joel Taylor

Club Parent

For this week’s article, I am bringing you another interview from a Club parent whom I happen to know very well. In fact, I have known him for 31 years…you guessed it, it is my dad, Joel Taylor! My dad has been a Club parent to not only myself but also to my brother Matt; so who better to interview than a parent who has also been involved with the Black Canyon Boys & Girls Club (BCBGC) since its beginning 20 years ago.

Growing up in San Diego, my dad remembered attending a Boys Club in the summer (interesting fact to interject here, the Boys & Girls Club of America was still known as the Boys Club of America until the early 1990s even though girls were members by then) but was not a frequent attender. When the BCBGC opened 20 years ago, it was my mom who read about it in the newspaper and signed up my brother and me to attend. Both my parents worked, my mom working in Telluride often getting home late, so having affordable, safe after school programming for me and my brother was vital. The Club allowed my dad to pick us up after his work day ended.

When asked what he felt about his kids’ time at Club, my dad mentioned one major thing he noticed was the confidence that he saw build in both of us as we attended the Club throughout the years. Both my brother and I were Youth of the Years for the BCBGC which culminated in us participating for Youth of the Year at the state level. My dad highlighted how this process afforded us skills that would carry forth into the future; to give a speech in front of a room full of strangers about your Club experience really teaches you to get out of your comfort zone and to engage with those around you. He also mentioned how he liked how when he picked us up from Club, our homework was done so both he and my mom could spend time with us when she got home from work. He even remembers Regina, who was a retired school teacher, who helped us with homework and what a great lady she was to us. He had only positive things to say about his parent perspective of two of his children attending Club. He mentioned how he knew we made great, lifelong friends and were taught by caring staff, expressing what a vital organization this is for kids in this community. My dad is still passionate about the Club, volunteering to help at events and donating monthly. I will say helping with the Club has become a family affair as my wife and in-laws are also up for helping out. I joke that my future child is already on the wait list for Club because I cannot wait to have her experience what I have, and I am excited to add a new role to my Club resume in the future as a Club parent myself.

On a parting note, the BCBGC is doing a donor drive starting from November 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019. Anyone who becomes a monthly donor, for any monthly amount, during that time will be entered into a drawing to win two VIP tickets to the Montrose Wine & Food Festival (valued at $200). The winner will be chosen and announced on March 1, 2020 (existing monthly donors will be automatically entered to win). As an added bonus, any amount you donate to the BCBGC will be eligible to get 50% back of that donation on your Colorado state income tax as part of the child care tax credit. You can sign up to become a monthly donor today at https://bcbgc2.ddock.gives/. For more information on the Montrose Wine & Food Festival, please visit www.montrosewinefestival.com.

Bud Taylor is the Executive Director for the Black Canyon Boys & Girls Club (BCBGC) and had been for the past three years. Prior to that, he was a BCBGC kid, junior staff member, and board director. Feel free to contact Bud Taylor by e-mail at btaylor@bcbgc.org or visit the Club’s website for more information, www.bcbgc.org.