Builders Club set to start up again here

Students in Grades 6-8 are invited to join the new Builders Club, which is being resurrected here thanks to a partnership between the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre and the local Kiwanis Club.
An international student-led organization affiliated with Kiwanis International, the Builders Club provides members with opportunities to perform service, build character, and develop leadership.

“It’s about fostering leaders in our community,” said Andrea Avis, the library’s program director.
“And working towards a healthy environment both in our schools and community,” she added.
A Builders Club ran at Robert Moore School for many years. But after it fell by the wayside, it was thought basing the group at the library, and incorporating students from the entire community, would be much more beneficial.
“Kids from all schools can participate,” explained Shanda DeGagne-Begin, past president of the Kiwanis Club, noting it would have been difficult to host individual clubs in each of the schools.
“This way, the students can get together and meet kids from the other schools before high school,” she reasoned.
“It’s great to meet new people.”
Avis stressed the club is run by the students. They determine what activities or events they’ll be involved in.
Things that have been done in the past include food drives, bake sales, a waterfront clean-up, volunteering at community events, and participating in local parades.
The original club also sponsored families at Christmas and visited residents of Rainycrest.
“It’s all about helping our community to be a better place for all of us,” remarked Sarah Freeman-Kivimaki, who was a teacher representative when the club was based at Robert Moore School and will continue to be involved.
“You can do anything,” Avis told the eight students that attended an open house pizza party last Wednesday evening.
“You find a need at fill that void.”
While there always is adult supervision, the students are in charge.
“You make the decisions,” Avis stressed. “It truly is your club from start to finish.”
Students will elect an executive but Avis noted they are not forced into the positions.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to jump into a position right now,” she said. “You might grow to be more comfortable to hold a position.”
“The members are just as important as the executive because without them, you wouldn’t have a committee,” echoed Freeman-Kivimaki.
“Besides, it’s a lot of fun and you are doing a lot of good,” she enthused.
“It really opened the door from me,” confessed Tanner Bell, a former member of the Builders Club at Robert Moore School.
“I love the feeling of giving and giving back to the community.”
He told the students they are taking the first steps to becoming leaders.
“You are going to be building our community’s future,” he remarked. “And you’ll make memories that you’ll never forget.”
Bell added the Builders Club can be just the beginning for these young students, noting they can get involved in different clubs in high school and beyond.
“There are so many things you can pursue and be a leader in them,” he said.
While only eight students turned up for the initial information session, three different schools in the area were represented.
And there is hope more students will be encouraged to join.
Advisor Robert Lidkea indicated a group of about 20-25 would be ideal.
“We want as many members as we can,” he explained. “The more there are, the more they can do.”
He added participating in the Builders Club is not a big financial commitment since even though there is a membership fee, it is paid for by the Kiwanis Club.
Parents are not required to attend meetings, which will be kept to about an hour.
They plan to meet every second Wednesday, beginning Jan. 23, at the library starting at 6 p.m.
For more information, contact Avis at 274-9879.