Seeking greater rewards

MOSES LAKE — Jarred Rendon walks around the Boys & Girls Club at a brisk pace, checking on kids in different rooms, tidying up the clubhouse common areas, talking with staff and doing other duties as the program director for the downtown branch of the club.

With the new school year just underway, Rendon is currently in the process of enrolling kids into the club, a process that must be done each fall.

The crowded, loud work environment is one that many people would find difficult to work in, but for Rendon it is all part of a job where the rewards are different from those gained in a more mainstream line of work.

"It's a very rewarding job," said Rendon. "It's not a job you do for the money. You do it for the passion, for the kids."

His passion began to grow 18 months ago, when Rendon started at the Boys & Girls club as a program staff member working directly with kids on a day-to-day basis. A year into his tenure, the program director position opened up and he moved into the role that gives him both greater responsibilities and greater opportunities to help local youth.

While Rendon still has his afternoons to be out in the clubhouse interacting with the kids, much of his time is spent doing the things necessary to keep the club strong and to keep membership growing.

"The greatest accomplishment we can have is to have our club at full capacity," said Rendon of the importance of bringing new kids into the club.

Rendo confronts the task of recruitment in a variety of ways. He calls and visits schools, meets with parents and sends out information about the club in hopes of attracting new members. One strategy that has been particularly successful for Rendon is simply visiting kids at school and talking to them about the club.

"Just visiting one week, our membership went up by about 50 kids," recalled Rendon, who hopes to spend more time this fall talking directly to kids about the benefits of the club.

Those benefits include a vibrant atmosphere with games, crafts and other activities to keep kids entertained in the afternoon hours. As fun as the club can be for children, Rendon said it can still be a challenge to get children out of their homes and down to the center on a regular basis.

"It's not an easy job entertaining kids three to four hours a day, when they know they can be at home playing video games," said the program director.

Making that job easier is the staff at the downtown clubhouse, which Rendon cited as the key to the club's smooth operation.

"I'm just real lucky to have the staff I have," said Rendon. "A lot is owed to them, and they aren't praised enough."

In addition to the basic programs and activities the staff put on, club members are rewarded regularly for good behavior and self improvement. The youth of the month program, which recognizes club members for excelling in character and leadership development, arts, education and career development, health and life skills as well as sports, fitness and recreation, has been well received by club members.

Monthly honorees are placed on a large board in the clubhouse so their peers will be able to see their accomplishments.

This program is just part of an overall philosophy of guiding children to better themselves and make good choices in life.

"My mentor Ryan Davenport told me 'they are not bad kids, they just make bad choices,'" said Rendon. "I really believe in that."

"We try to instill in them that life is about choices," Rendon added. "Hopefully, in the end they do make those right choices."

Other than the immediate goal of increasing membership, Rendon has future plans to offer more programs and help the downtown Boys & Girls Club become an even greater asset to the community. Before expanding the club's offerings, Rendon wants to make sure the club is doing a great job with what it is currently offering its members.

"You have to perfect the small things before you move on to the big things," offered Rendon.

One thing Rendon has perfected already is finding a rewarding career that allows him to pursue his passion, which is helping kids.