Exhibits such as a tower of leafy green lettuce and flats of other plants, wooden bowls and turned items, art pieces, and sewing projects were on display during last Tuesday’s Great Futures Luncheon, held by the Boys and Girls Club of the Flathead Nation and Lake County. The crowd of visitors was treated to lunch served in brown bags decorated by club members.

This marked BGC’s first Great Futures Luncheon, and replaced the Great Futures breakfasts served before the COVID pandemic.

A VIP at this event was Polson High freshman Brayden Rolfe, named BGC Youth of the Year. Rolfe moved to Montana in February of 2017 with his mother and his two brothers and has been a club member since then. About a year ago, he came on board as a junior staff member, according to Aric Cooksley, BGC Executive Director.

Local Boys and Girls Clubs recognize members ages 14 to 18 as Youth of the Month Winners and select a Youth of the Year, who then participates in state competitions, according to the Boys and Girls club national website.

Adam Theis, team coordinator at the BGC, worked with Brayden on his application for Youth of the Year.

“He had to write three essays, get a letter of recommendation from the BGC and another letter of recommendation from a community member, and write and memorize a three-minute speech,” Theis said.

It took a month to assemble all the components, and then Theis and Rolfe spent about a month working on the speech, not to mention the time Rolfe spent practicing and memorizing his speech at home.

Rolfe attended the Montana State Youth of the Year competition in Helena in February. In addition to delivering his speech, he was interviewed by judges.

Rolfe presented his talk at the luncheon, and spoke about moving to Montana with his mom and his two brothers to start a new life.

“The staff challenged and urged me to do things this last summer,” Rolfe said. Adventures included white water rafting and a backpacking trip.

“I just love public speaking,” he joked, since speaking before people had been a challenge for him, one he worked hard to conquer.

“He’s not a quitter,” Theis noted.

A huge basketball fan, Rolfe didn’t make his high school basketball team this year. Instead of quitting or moving to another school, Rolfe and his mother reached out to the school coaches asking what he could do to improve. One of the coaches knew a former Griz player who came to the BGC and coached Rolfe one-on-one to improve his skills.

This lines up with what BGC Director of Operations Amy Vaughan said when asked what she thinks about when someone mentions Rolfe’s name.

“He’s a young man who has really started propelling himself forward in aspirations for his life,” she said. “He’s involved in a workforce readiness program, and he has a good work ethic.”

Adults encouraged to volunteer

Before Rolfe’s speech, BGC Board Chair James Lapotka welcomed guests to the event and introduced Cooksley, who confessed he had misplaced his speech and then asked board members and staff to stand up. Half the gym stood up to applause.

“Because of these people,” Cooksley said, gesturing around the gymnasium, “we’re sitting in a place like this.”

He added that between club activities and sports leagues, BGC served at least 1,200 kids last year.

“The club has turned into a bit of a hub for things happening for kids in the community,” he added.

Both Cooksley and BGC Board Chair invited guests to tour the facilities with board members and urged them to volunteer.

A special table was set up at the rear of the room so people could sign up to volunteer – weekly or occasionally – to mentor youth or teens, a group or one-on-one. Brochures on each table made sure guests knew BGC was flexible and would strive to match each person with a volunteer opportunity that fits their skills, interests and availability.

For more information about volunteering, go to the website at flatheadbgc.org/volunteer.