L.R. Jackson Girls Club gets their money

L.R. Jackson Girls Club gets their money

WM City Council releases Southland funds following come- together

news@theeveningtimes.com

City Council voted to release $18,000 to the L. R.

Jackson Girls club during its last meeting in April. In the work session before the meeting councilors reached consensus to fund the club but vowed to revamp the ordinance governing club reporting and lease agreements this year. The L.R. Jackson Club in particular has been embroiled in community controversy over its youth programming intensifying over the last two years.

City council took a wait and see attitude for at least another quarter to see what new promised programs materialized at the club.

At the invitation of club director Chancy Rainey a handful of council members toured the club for a show and tell after they initially withheld the quarterly distribution. Both Ward 5 representatives, Willis Mondy and Helen Harris took the walk through. James Pulliaum, Marco McClendon, Lorraine Robinson, and Wayne Croom met the clubs board of directors.

Two other city council members said they weren’t aware of the April 18 meeting and no invitation was extended to the media. The visit left some impressions on the councilors.

“They seem to want to make positive changes,” said Pulliaum.

But program changes and positive community relations have been hard to come by for the L.R. Jackson Club. While Rainey has led the club for five years, a new board at the club is in its rookie season.

“Four of the five board members told me it’s their first year,” said Croom.

“The only thing we can do is wait and see,” said Pulliaum. “There is a lot of things that need to be done. I think they need the opportunity to prove themselves.”

“Every time this comes up this one center has issues,” said Croom.

“It has been like that, nothing new,” said Harris.

But the group pulled up short of poking into club operations.

“The administration of the club is dictated and governed by its board of directors,” said Tracy Catt. “If they are not happy with their leadership they can replace it. That is their decision not ours. Now we could say we are not going to fund your organization; we can do that.”

In council chambers the vote to approve funding came in a unanimous voice vote with no further discussion.

After the meeting a grateful Chancey Rainey expressed relief for the funding and promised to keep lines of communication open with city council.

“I’m glad it moved forward,” said Rainey. “On both sides we need to open the lines of communication better. I know I have been protective and they have their side of things, but if we are not discussing then we don’t get resolution. Moving forward our communication should be better. They got a list of board members.”

City Council looked forward to promised improved youth programing and Rainey indicated it is on the way.

“We are doing Girls Scouts from Daisies to Brownies all the way up to 8th grade with Juniors and Cadets,” said Rainey. “We just got our troop number.

I think we will go ahead and start it this summer because the girls will all be there.”

Rainey said the club application with 4-H is pending. The club director hopes to augment offering at the L.R. Jackson club for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) tutoring are available through 4-H.

By John Rech