west valley news

What the Future Holds:Vision for the ClubBy Brian Harr

The West Valley Boys and Girls Club hascome a long way. In its 20 years, it has gonefrom a transient Club with about 700 childrento a positive place for kids today with 3,400members.

Chairman Gary Thomas believes the Clubneeds to think bigger. With seven locations inthe west San Fernando Valley, Thomas believesthe Club can grow to be one Club that servesthe entire Valley. “We need to expand to thecommunities that need us most; Reseda andVan Nuys,” Thomas said. He envisions growingthe Club to three to four times its current size.

Growth for the Club has its challenges, Thomassays. But, he highlights the benefits the Cluboffers. “These days in this economy, most kidsare going home to empty homes. The hours from3 p.m. to 7 p.m. are critical hours. (The kids) aregoing to be left alone and it’s easy to make poorchoices. Our goal is filling these critical hourswith something positive.”

The Boys & Girls Club of the West ValleyCelebrates 20 Years of Impacting LivesBy Ed Crowe, Publisher West Valley News

The catalyst for the idea of “how to build acommunity beyond just building buildings” began inthe mid 1980s, early 1990s when a group of high levelexecutives, members of the Warner Center Association,got together to discuss their vision for creating asuccessful community. The area of Warner Centerwas undergoing major development at this time.

The common thread among these business leaderswas a fundamental commitment to building a commu-nity with a positive quality of life, that would supportthe projects that were being built—and vice versa.Just as important was an outreach effort to the broadercommunity to work together for the greater good—thus the germ of the idea about the Club.

Among the leaders of the Warner Center group wereBob Voit of Voit Real Estate Services, Jim Breadenof Kaiser Permanente, Bob Davis and John Bradleyof Pratt Whitney Rocketdyne, Roger Greaves ofHealthNet, Norm Kravitz of the Trillium Tower, BradRosenheim of Resenheim & Associates, Bob Grossof the Woodland Hills Homeowners Organization andClyde Porter, among others. It was the collaborativeeffort of these visionaries and the organizations thatpartnered with them, that laid out the foundation forfiling an application for charter from the nationalorganization and IRS non-profit status in 1992.

CONNECTING BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY SINCE 2004. CELEBRATING 9 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE WEST VALLEY COMMUNITY. Volume 8 Number 7 2012

www.westvalleynews-sfv.com

A Twenty-Year Journey of Positive Transformation

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(L-R) Brad Resenheim and Bob Voit at the Grand Openingafter the HGTV and RebuildingTogether renovation in 2007.

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The Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley main campus islocated at 7245 Remmet Avenue, Canoga Park, CA 91303.


IFYOU

CANDREAM

IT,YOUCAN

DOIT.

WaltDisney

The initial process took a while, putting together the focus, meeting with the folks from the BGC SanFernando Valley regional office, merging with them for a short period of time until realizing that the objectivesof both organizations were different. Then parting their separate ways amicably.

The challenge of finding a location to operate the after school programs began. In 1995 the Club openedat Calvert Street Elementary School, operating out of just one classroom. A timeline is included in thispublication, detailing the transition from Calvert Elementary to Columbus Middle School, to Pacific Lodge BoysHome, and finally moving to the Club’s permanent home on Remmet.

Purchasing the Club’s own facility was always in the minds of Board members from the start. “We had aconcern being subject to the uncertainty of schools needs and the relationship the new Club had with LAUSDat that time.” Says Brad Rosenheim, one of the Club’s founding board members, and current friend andsupporter of the Club. Finding a permanent home became a number one priority for the Club’s leadership atthat time and the names of Gary Thomas, Clyde Porter, Bob Voit, Rickey Gelb, and Rose Goldwater,among others, appear on the short list of the individuals who were generous with their time or resources tofacilitate the purchase of the Remmet property. Gary Thomas worked closely with Chairperson Rose Goldwaterand community contacts on that task.

West Valley News Volume 8 Number 7 2012

Looking Back At How The Club Was FoundedRobert D. Voit Vision for the Kids in the Community

By Gary Thomas

Robert Voit is the Founder and CEO of VoitReal Estate Services, a Founder of the Boys &Girls Club of West Valley, and has been aconstant and significant financial donor fromthe day the Club began. Bob decided to becomeinvolved with the Boys & Girls Club organizationwhen his company was developing WarnerCenter. Bob explained, “I wanted to do somethingbeyond our large-scale development that wouldhave a truly positive impact on the community.”After meeting with a group of the top executivesin the area, they all discussed the importance ofcreating a place for the community’s children toget the best start on life’s path. When the Clubfirst opened in 1995, Bob envisioned the Boys &Girls Club of the West Valley to be a permanentfacility that would continue for many years.

When the Club first began, there were manychallenges to which Bob was able to find

solutions. One solution to the biggest challenge in getting the Club started was getting significantassistance from multiple people. The national Boys & Girls Club itself, many local businessprofessionals, volunteers, and Bob’s firm, Voit Real Estate Services, all played key roles during theformative process. Local community business professionals supported the concept of the Club withfinancial assistance and volunteerism and Voit Real Estate Services gave many hours as volunteerson various committees and were eventually on the Club’s Board.

The Club is now celebrating its 20th anniversary. Bob is most proud of the “many,many children who have come through the program, gained great motivation fromit, and have gone on to strong educational careers, including college and beyond.”

Over the years, Bob has connected with many of the children and has learnedhow big an impact the Club has been for them and how much the Club hasmeant to them.

Along with Bob Voit, there were many other key people involved in foundingand helping the Club move from an idea to a reality. Several of the strongest

supporters included Roger and Erika Greaves, Bob Gross, Beverly Fittipaldo,Laura Chick, Norm and Glenda Kravitz, Norm Emerson, and BradRosenheim. If it weren’t for these people, the Club would not be where it is now.

Call Lisa or Rick!

See Robert Voit Vision on Page 3

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A Club member who participatedin the traditional Canoga ParkMemorial Day Parade this past May.

From the Publisher’s DeskIF YOU CAN DREAM IT, YOU CAN DO IT. Is what Walt Disney said

about making big ideas a reality.

This issue of the West Valley News, is for all intent and purposesdedicated to showcasing what the right group of visionaries canaccomplish when they put their mind and resources to work for agreat cause. The establishment of a safe place for underprivileged kidsto go after school.

It wasn’t easy but on July 27, 2012, the Boys & Girls Club of theWest Valley will be celebrating their 20-year journey of positivetransformation, with a Founder’s Gala at the Marriott Warner Center.

The success of the Club is symbolic for what has happened in theWest Valley since the mid 1980s, when a number of business leaders envisioned Warner Centeras an ideal place for the development of a major center of economic growth.

Imagine if there wasn’t a Clyde Porter who wanted to bring the arts and culture to the Valley. Wewouldn’t have The Valley Cultural Center and the Concerts on the Green and all the other culturalevents the community gets to enjoy for free.

Imagine if Voit, Breaden, Davis, Bradley, Greaves, Kravitz and their counterparts, would not havecreated a vision for building a successful, positive moving community. We wouldn’t have the WarnerCenter that it is today.

Imagine if all the community-based organizations that provide essential services to those in need,did not get the financial support from those stakeholders who make long-term investments and giveback to the community. We wouldn’t have chambers of commerce, Memorial Day Parades, FireworksExtravaganzas, family fairs, cancer walks, and any other community-building event, that brings folkstogether for a common cause.

We know there are a few people out there who think they are right and do not want anything built.But big ideas cannot be stopped. Maybe delayed for a while. But where there is a will there is a way,even if you encounter bumps along the way. The Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley had a slowstart but is moving now full speed ahead—with the help of visionaries with a strong will and verygenerous hearts. IF YOU CAN DREAM IT, YOU CAN DO IT.

West Valley News Volume 8 Number 7 2012 PAGE 3

Crowe Marketing Design PublisherEd Crowe Managing Editor/Creative DirectorJonathan Goldhill Contributing WriterAl Martinez Contributing Writer

The West Valley News is published monthly asan information and educational resource for smallbusinesses and community-based organizations.

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Robert Voit VisionContinued from Page 2

After many years of being involved with the Club,Bob has had many memories. His single most impor-tant memory is “working together to create the Clubwith the members of the Warner Center Association,homeowner representatives, business representatives,nonprofit leaders and religious leaders.” Bob believesthat for more leaders in the West Valley to support theClub, people need to recognize the significance of theClub and how much influence it has on children andthe community.

He said, “Ensuring that we have good citizens witha focus on education and goals for their lives is themost important thing to make certain the communitythrives in the future. The Boys & Girls Club of theWest Valley is one of the most effective ways to makesure we get there.” Leaders can help by volunteeringand donating money, while encouraging theiremployees and colleagues to do the same.

The Boys & Girls Club of West Valley is a greatplace for kids of all ages and for the community!

Founder Bob Voit and Jan Sobel, CEO/Presidentduring the Grand Opening after the HGTV and Rerbuilding

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PAGE 4 West Valley News Volume 8 Number 7 2012

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Agoura/Oak Park/Conejo Valley Chamber(818) 889-3150 | Fax (818) [email protected]

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The Growth CoachBecoming a Strategic Business OwnerBy Jonathan Goldhill and Daniel M. Murphy

Points to Ponder

• You never achieve real success unless you like what you are doing.Dale Carnegie

• To be what we are, and to become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end of life.Robert Louis Stevenson

• There is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way.Christopher Morley

• The best things in life aren’t things.Raven

• Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.Hayden

• He who knows enough is enough will always have enough.Lao-Tzu

• He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.Epictetus

After the first few years of business ownership, reality starts to set in. For most owners, the initial joy of “doingyour own thing” has most likely faded. Your supposed ticket to freedom has turned into a sentence of servitude.Your “baby” has become a “rotten kid.” What was once a very exciting mission has turned into a daily chore andgrind. Your one-time American Dream now seems to be an exaggerated fairytale incapable of being attained.

Just because you own a business does not mean you must forego a fulfilling and active personal life. Quite thecontrary, your business should be a tool to help you get more life, not less. A business should free you up, nottie you down.

If you have implemented the strategic business owner concepts discussed (thinking and acting like a CEO;systematizing and documenting the business; leading, planning, managing your people, and marketing), thenletting go of the day-to-day and hour-to-hour operations of the business should be doable.

You Are Not Your Business

In order to build a business that functions without you (systems dependent), you need to think of yourself asseparate from the business. You are not your business and your business is not you. View your business as ameans to an end, a tool to help you create more fulfillment, freedom, wealth and options.

To let go and escape the tyranny of the details, you cannot be emotionally welded to the business. You are aworthwhile human being with or without your business. Do not let your ego, self-worth and self-esteem be tiedup with the business. The business is but one facet of your life. While it is an important component of your life,it is not the end all. It should not fully define who you are.

Your value and worth as a human being are separate from the value of your business. You must not take yourbusiness too seriously. Odds are, you are not curing cancer. While whatever you are doing is important, it is notmore important than your family, your friends, your health, your faith, your fulfillment and your joy in life.

For example, the time, attention, and love you share with your spouse, family, kids or friends are much moreimportant to them than your title, business, money, etc. While you can always make more money, you cannotmake more time or replay life. You do not get another chance to be a spouse, parent, friend, etc. This is not adress rehearsal. Get your priorities in order now!

Keep things in perspective. No matter how bad things get, never forget that you have options. You can walkaway from the business, sell it to someone else, or hire a professional business manager (Chief OperatingOfficer) to handle the day-to-day issues. Worst case, you can always get a job! Such options should prevent youfrom ever feeling totally trapped by or dependent on your business.

Before you can satisfy your employees, customers, investors, and business partners, you must first satisfyyourself with the business. It must serve your needs and wants over the long haul. If you don’t stay in the gamelong enough, you do no one any good. There should be joy in being a business owner. Learn to let go. Trustyour business system and trust your people.

Acknowledge Death

Stop the delusions. You will not live forever. You are right now using up your life force. You are not in control.You are not God. Time is running out. You cannot save time, invest it or buy more of it. You can only “spend” it.How wisely are you spending up your life force?

Be brave and be aware of you own mortality. Face facts, you have a limited time on earth. By acknowledgingeventual death, life becomes sweeter, more meaningful and more precious. By facing death head on, you are lib-erated to live life fully. Realizing that life is unmistakably finite, you make wiser choices, especially about how,where, and with whom you spend time.

Do a quick test. It’s called the tombstone test. Draw a tombstone and include your birth date, a dash, and yourbest guess for a death date. Do the math. Determine the years you have left. Now ask yourself, “What do I wantwritten on my tombstone?” “How do I want to be remembered?” “What’s my legacy?” “What really matters mostto me?” Odds are, you want to be remembered as a good spouse, parent, friend, provider, a person of goodcharacter, a caring leader, follower of your faith, or for making a certain contribution to society.

Does your present way of living match your desired epitaph? Any regrets? Are you leading the type of life youwant to be remembered for? No one on his deathbed wishes he had worked more hours, made more money,bought more things, etc. My suggestion, focus on your faith, family, friends and leaving a legacy.

Stop living life reactively, letting urgent yet unimportant matters dictate your days. Face death and live yourremaining years the way you truly want to, based on what is most important to you. What do you want to dobefore you die?

All in the Family

For many of you, you are also struggling to balance running a business with raising a family and nurturing amarriage or significant relationship. As a result, you are exhausted from treading water in a sea of multipleresponsibilities, obligations and expectations. Not surprising, divorce rates of entrepreneurs are very high. Beat

Jonathan Goldhill, The Growth Coach, coaches leaders of private companies to grow their business. To learn more abouthis unique group and individual coaching programs visit www.TheGrowthCoachLA.com. Jonathan can be reached at(818) 716-8826 or [email protected]. Daniel M. Murphy is CEO & Founder of The Growth Coach FranchiseSystem, www.TheGrowthCoach.com.

Editor’s note: Beginning with Volume 7 Number 1 of the West Valley News, we started publishing monthlyinstallments of the content of a book by Daniel M. Murphy, CEO & Founder of The Growth Coach. The book istitled “Becoming a Strategic Business Owner. A Proven Process to Enhance Your Strategic Mindset.”

__________

CHAPTER 9. STRATEGIC RELEASE – LEARNING TO LET GO

Editor’s Note: Chapter 9 continues on Page 11

Retirement felt like hitting a wall.By Sara Borczuk Applebaum

I had been fortunate to have a long, challenging and rewarding career in education that had also sometimesbeen frustrating and totally exhausting. When I retired, I decided that I wouldn’t overschedule myself, as somefriends had, to fill what was sure to feel like empty time. That approach didn’t last very long.

I was selective. My first treat to myself was checkingout a book I’d read eons ago, “Atlas Shrugged” byAyn Rand, a tome of some 1200 pages. I savored theleisure time I could take reading it. Then I started awater fitness program called “Hinges and Twinges”at the Y created by the Arthritis Foundation. ThereI met a number of ladies with a deep interest ingenealogy and a seemingly endless interest in hearingmy family stories. I’d been interested in genealogy inthe past but hadn’t had the time to pursue it becauseof a demanding career. Now I had time.

I did a little volunteer work and took occasionalshort interim assignments as principal and eventaught a couple of college classes just to keep myhand in the field. It probably also served to softenthe abrupt separation from the work I had loved.

Before I knew it, I was engrossed in genealogy tothe point that my husband insisted we’d have to buya second computer because I was monopolizing theone we had. I attended conferences, went to meetingsof local societies and met a lot of fascinating peoplein love with the same subject.

I didn’t know much family history to begin with. Likemany Holocaust survivors, my parents didn’t talk aboutit much. I was born in Kyrgyzstan during World War II after my parents got away from Siberia. I didn’t grow upknowing my grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins.

Both my parents were now gone. I didn’t know what I could expect to find, but I found a lot. I traced mymother’s family back to 1790 in Poland. Had less success with my dad’s. As I shared my stories, my finds andmy brick walls, people kept telling me...”You have to write these stories down!” I heard it so often that I beganto believe it.

One day, I sat down and started to write...and write...and write. The result was LOST AND FOUND, A FamilyMemoir. I really expected that only a small circle of family and friends would be interested in the book. I waswriting it down to preserve the memories for posterity before they were lost forever. I was delighted to findquite an interest in the book and it now is available at FASTPENCIL.COM and AMAZON.COM in print and asan E-book. I’ve even gotten a number of royalty checks. Last year I got an incredible kick out of seeing that myaccountant had written, “author” as my profession on my tax return!

Once the book was out and selling, friends asked me if I was going to keep writing. I told them frankly ithadn’t occurred to me to stop and now I’m delighted to have written a second book. This one is fiction andcalled POMORSKA STREET.

I’m learning about blogging and recently launched SARA’S BOOK BLOG that you can check out atsaraapplebaum.blogspot.com. You can see what I’m up to.

So there you are! I did end up filling up my time like all those I’d been concerned about, but I chose eachthing deliberately I didn’t charge mindlessly into it. My doubts about retirement only lasted a few months.Now I love it! As my husband Harvey said from day one when I asked him what he did that day (I was stillworking at the time) he said “Any dang thing I wanted!”

We travel, we’ve joined some groups and made lovely new friends and I even have time to occasionally dolunch with the ladies. It’s great. There is life after retirement!

West Valley Captain Egan and Rickey Gelb presented Steve Zubieta (Mercedes Benz of Encino) with a plaqueon behalf of West Valley BOOSTERS in gratitude for his continuous support and generous donations.

Thank you Mercedes Benz of Encino for supporting WV LAPD


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Club Evolution

The Boys & Girls Club Of the West Valley hascome a long way from when it first opened inJanuary of 1995. From one classroom at CalvertElementary School it now operate from its ownMain Clubhouse with satellite locations at severalschools and an affordable housing community.

The Club has grown from three staff membersto now 50 employees.

In the early years, just 50 children were memberswithin the first year; then the number tripled; afterthat it tripled again. Now we serve a membershipof more than 3,400 children each year.

Improving the Lives of Children

From its very start, the Club has made education apriority. "Power Hour" is the first hour each afternoonat the Club; it’s when the children take an hour to dotheir homework after school. For the staff, assistingkids with their homework is emphasized.

Over the years, the Club has added various programs, such as like science, math, reading, tutoring,and music. In 2002, the first Technology Center was set up, with 10 desktop computers, funded by theCanoga Park Neighborhood Council.

Now there are two Technology Centers at the Club; one serves the younger members, the other is forteenagers. The Technology Center (computer lab) has 12 desktop models. The Club replaced some of theoutdated computers with new ones through a generous donation from The LeBron James Foundation.

In 2009, "College Bound" was implemented and has been developing and growing since then.

The Club has provided not only arts and crafts, but dramatic talent as well. It partnered with the WestValley Playhouse and performed its first talent show in 2005; it is a tradition that continues today.

The West Valley Club received a grant to develop a digital arts program, including moviemakers, music,photography, and graphic design work. There is currently run an upgraded digital arts program, broughtabout with the purchase of digital video cameras and digital still cameras.

Programs for Mind, Body, and Soul

The Club uses the “Triple Play” model which is a holistic, three-pronged comprehensive health fitnessand wellness model that develops mind, body, and soul.

Now there is a skilled staff in the areas of art, dance, drama, and photography. One of the most popularprograms is called "Healthy Habits." It teaches kids how to make healthy meals and snacks so, of course,the food aspect is what draws them in.

Recently, the Club received a grant from Kaiser to expand its "Healthy Habits" room at the Main Site.

There are also programs aimed at leadership skills, like The Torch Club, and a leadership developmentprogram called Keystone, located at Canoga Park High School.

The Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley has strong support for sports, fitness, and recreation. Therehave always had game tables such as ping pong, caroms, bumper pool and so on. Currently, the MainClubhouse on Remmet Avenue has a large game room with two pool tables, foose ball, X-box, and othergames.

Donations Make It Happen

The organization’s Board of Directors’ main goal is to expand the membership numbers in the Club so itcan serve more children in the San Fernando Valley.

Over the years, expansion has been supported by partnering with local corporations and communityorganizations.

The donations of money, supplies, equipment, and materials have been essential to success of The Boys& Girls Club of the West Valley. The staff looks forward to continuing its events and programs so that thelocal San Fernando Valley community becomes a better place to live and work.

The Club invites the citizens of the San Fernando Valley to support its fund raising events. This willensure that its programs will meet the challenges of the future and add quality to the lives of the childrenwho are members.

To learn more visit www.wvbgc.org

The San Fernando Valley’s leaders from the worldsof public service, business, and entertainment havecombined to play a role in saluting the year-longcommemoration of the 20th anniversary celebration

of the Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley.

Chairing the Honorary Committee areLos Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

and Los Angeles Councilmember, 3rd District,Dennis P. Zine, in whose district the Club’s

Main Clubhouse is situated.

Members of the committee are:VICA Chairman David Adelman;

U.S. Congressman Howard L. Berman;California Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield;

Galpin Motors Owner Bert Boeckmann;Actor Hector Elizondo;

Los Angeles City Councilmember andBoys & Girls Club of the West ValleyBoard Member Mitch Englander;

Attorney and Community Leader David Fleming;Actor and National Spokesperson for the Boys &

Girls Clubs of America Mario Lopez.

Other Honorary Committee members:California State Senator Alex Padilla; State SenatorFran Pavley; Vice President, Government Relations

of The Walt Disney Company, Lisa Pitney;U.S. Congressman Brad Sherman; and President& CEO, Valley Economic Alliance, Ron L. Wood.

According to Club Chairman Gary Thomas,“We are so grateful that so many outstanding

leaders in the San Fernando Valley have recognizedour Club’s contributions to the community.

Their support is not only a testament to our pastaccomplishments, but also a recognition of

what we hope to achieve on behalf of our youthin the future.”

Boys and Girls Club’s Extreme MakeoverBy Brian Harr

Transforming an old mortuary into a positive placefor kids is no easy task. It was a real-life case ofgoing from Mr. Hyde into Dr. Jekyll.

In the fall of 2007, the Boys and Girls Club ofthe West Valley—a former mortuary—became acandidate for an HGTV makeover. One of the mostprominent projects during the transformation wasthe metamorphosis of the caretakers three-roomapartment upstairs into the Teen Center, which wasfeatured on an episode of HGTV’s “Over Your Head.”

The building’s deficiencies were glaring: airconditioning, heating, lighting, flooring, holes inthe ceiling, poor plumbing, and bathrooms wereall needed to make the building suitable for aBoys and Girls Club.

HGTV partnered with Rebuilding Together to tacklethe reformation. Hundreds of volunteers joined forcesto paint and renovate the Club. Over three months,the embalming room became the art room; the freezerroom was turned into the learning center; the viewingroom was transformed into the game room; and theold chapel became the basketball court.

When the makeover was complete, the Club had awrought iron fence, the church-like steeple was gone,new tile covered cold, hard cement floors and thebuilding had new air conditioning system.

“It was a dark, dank unusable building. It trans-formed the Club to a bright, cheerful place for kids,”said Jan Sobel, President and CEO of the Club.

The grand opening in November, 2007 was acommunity event with Los Angeles Mayor AntonioVillaraigosa on hand to celebrate the new Club.

“The kids hardly noticed how bad it was becausethey were happy to be here. But when it was all done,they were so happy to walk in and be so proud oftheir new home,” Sobel said. “ It changed the waypeople felt about walking through our doors.Volunteers, kids, staff, parents, everybody.”

A Renaissance Led bya Team of VisionariesImagine just six Board members of a non-profit

organization trying to keep the doors open and servemore than 1,300 young people in need of a positive,safe environment.

That was the challenge facing the half-dozen hard-working Board members of the Boys & Girls Clubof the West Valley. A daunting task indeed!

But thanks to their dedication and commitment tothe mission of the organization, Gary Thomas(Aaron Thomas & Associates), Chris Murray(Rosenheim & Associates), Dwight Odland(Pratt Whitney Rocketdyne), Andy Keowen(Unisure Insurance Services), Joel Pollack andJoe Anderson (Griffin Industries), did just that.

The year was 2006 and these six individualsrealized that if the Club was to move forward, theyneeded an experienced non-profit managementexecutive to run the Club; after months of searchingand deliberation, they brought on board Jan Sobelas President/CEO. Jan had spent more than 22 yearsas the President/CEO of both the Encino and CarlsbadChambers of Commerce and was a long-time Valleyresident.

And thus the Club’s renaissance began.

In that year, the Club added 13 business andcommunity leaders to its Board of Directors, including;Marty Cooper, Cooper Communications, Inc.;David Rainer, California United Bank; Eric Kentor,attorney and business consultant; Brent Guttman,FMS Financial Partners; Eric Schotz, LMNOProductions; Ellen Wang; Scott Sachs, JH Cohn,LL; Donald Weissman, Weissman Law Firm);Gordon Luster, Warner Center Marriott Hotel;Donna Deutchman, Habitat for Humanity; MitchEnglander, Los Angeles City Councilman; MichaelWissot, SymAction Communications; and SarahRichardson, Westfield Corp.

Of course, over the passage of time, Board membershave changed, but that first group of communityleaders set the vision for the new and improved Boys& Girls Club. The goal was to add more members,create and implement new programs and add additionalsites for our kids to attend.

Today the Club’s Board of Directors numbers 25dedicated individuals overseeing an organizationwith 3,400 young members, ranging in age from6 to 17 years of age. Quite an achievement!

BGC 20TH ANNIVERSARYHONORARY COMMITTEE

Others have helped along the wayThere are many people who have extended a hand

when needed through the formative years of the Club.In 1997-98 Gloria Pollack worked with TimeWarner and was responsible for working with schoolsand organizations involved with children. That’s howshe met BGCWV Executive Director Bob Gross.He had designated an area at Calvert Street Schoolas a Homework Room. After Mrs. Pollack had thearea cabled, the area was enlarged and certain showsfrom the History Channel, The Learning Channeland Discovery were scheduled for the youngstersto watch. Many of the programmers sent videosand a video library was created. In fact many of thechildren’s school projects were from content in thevideos of educational television. Thank you Gloria.


What the Future HoldsContinued from Page 1

As the Club embarks on a 3- to 5-year strategic plan, one of the primary goals is making the commu-nity aware of the clubs value and getting the word out. The Club offers child development, homeworkassistance, nutrition, computer labs and robotics. “We’re growing great kids,” Thomas said. “They’redreaming big and thinking of going to college. It’s a huge impact we’re having.” He points out theimproved grades and attendance as clear feedback of the Club’s success. “The more we can introducepeople to the incredible results and impact, the better.”

What is the value to society? Records show for every dollar invested in the Boys and Girls Club,there’s a $16.42 return. That shows up in jobs created and the value for a single parent to continue towork. “That’s a pretty great return on the investment,” Thomas says.

There are many ways the community can get involved. From volunteering on one of the Club’scommittees to supporting the Club financially, Thomas says that’s how the club is going to growis with local support.

For information on how you can get involved, call 818-610-1054 or go to www.wvbgc.org.


A Growing MembershipNo child is ever turned away from the Club for lack

of ability to pay. Every year, hundreds of youngsters areon “scholarships,” both for the Club’s after-school andsummer programs.

Club membership is just $20 per year, which includesall activities.

When the Club opened, there were about 100 memberswithin the first year. Eric Castillo was the first youngsterto join the new West Valley Club.

There were about 450 members when the Club movedfrom Pacific Lodge Boys Home to the Remmet building.Within the first year of moving to Canoga Park, member-ship doubled, to about 900.

Membership has been growing every year since. TheClub currently has more than 3,400 members, making itthe largest and most successful youth program in theWest San Fernando Valley.

Programs are the Heart of the Club

While games and sports may be the youngsters’ favoritepart of their Club activities, its formal programs are theheart of what makes it the Positive Place for Kids.

Education and Career Development

The Club has always made education an important partof its program.

Power Hour—homework help—has always been astaple of the Club’s programming and continues to be thefirst thing kids participate in after school. Bilingual staffmakes sure that homework is completed before anythingelse. For those who want it, tutoring is available.

Ultimate Journey, an environmental education programthat teaches kids about the world they live in and how toprotect and appreciate it, has also been provided since1995.

Over the years, the Club’s program department, headedby Kelsy Maruyama, has added various programs suchas science, math, reading, and tutoring.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America created a programcalled Goals for Graduation, which continues to beimplemented at all of the sites.

The Club has partnered with the organization PeopleOffering Reading Teaching and Literacy (P.O.R.T.A.L).The organization’s members come to the Club and tutoredkids who needed special help in phonics and reading.

In 2002, the Canoga Park Neighborhood Councilfunded the Club’s first technology center with 10 desktopcomputers. Throughout the years, additional sponsorsand funding have provided the opportunity to expandtechnology programs and upgrade computers. There arenow two technology centers at the Main Site, downstairsfor the younger members and upstairs for the teens.Each computer lab has approximately 10-12 desktops.Recently, a number of older computers were with newones, thanks to a grant from the LeBron JamesFoundation.

In 2008, thanks to the support of Time Warner, arobotics program is being offered to Club members,while in the following year, a College Bound programwas implemented. This program has led to a significantlyhigher graduation rate among Club members at CanogaPark High School than is the case for the city’s overallsenior population.

Arts

From its beginning, the arts programs have been basedon the talents of the Club’s staff. There have been variousdance classes (including tap, hip hop, modern dance,Irish/Clogging); drawing and painting classes; arts andcrafts; photography; and many more.

The Club has produced an annual talent show everysummer since 1995, with the caliber of performancesimproving every year.

The Club’s first play was produced at Calvert StreetElementary School; later, then it partnered with the WestValley Playhouse where a modern version of “Cinderella”was produced. A few years later, the Club used thePlayhouse again and performed “Into the Woods”.

In 2005, the California Consumer ProtectionFoundation made a grant to implement the Club’s DigitalArts Programs, which now include: Movie Makers, MusicMakers, and Photography, and Graphic Design. The grantwas renewed for three consecutive years to provide forcontinuing expansion of the program, and the Club iscurrently underwriting the Digital Arts program, includingthe purchase of cameras, video cameras, two Apple Maccomputers, synthesizers, and software.

Currently, Club’s art, dance, drama, and photographystaffs travel to all the sites and teach those skills.

Health and Life Skills

Among the Club’s programs that have been providedsince its first year are: SMART Moves, Street SMART,SMART Girls, Passport to Manhood, Goals for Growth,and Kids In Control.

In 2002, the Club began its long-standing partnershipwith the Girl Scouts; there are now Girl Scout troops atthe Main Clubhouse and Blythe and Reseda ElementarySchool sites.

The national Boys & Girls Clubs organization created aprogram entitled, Triple Play, which is a philosophy and

approach to healthy living that the West Valley Clubadopted as soon as it was developed.

Healthy Habits is a program that teaches healthy eating,which is a part of Triple Play, is one of the most popularprograms at the Club, as it teaches kids how to makehealthy meals and snacks; of course, the food aspect iswhat draws them in.

Kaiser Permanente recently provided a grant to expandthe Healthy Habits room at the Main site, so there is nowa better facility in which to cook and prepare food.

A few years ago, The Club was approved by the LosAngeles Food Bank to provide free snacks daily andmeals during the summer to all Club members at theMain site.

Character and Leadership

Since its beginning, there has been a West ValleyTorch Club, which is the leadership group for middleschool students. The Keystone program was added atCanoga Park High School, which is the Club’s highschool leadership program. The leadership groups havebeen very strong, having conducted and participated incommunity service projects and other projects. At Calvert,the Torch Club raised money to go to the DisneylandHotel and theme parks for a weekend.

There is currently a Torch Club at every site. The TorchClub at the Main Site conducts fundraisers to fund theiractivities, which vary from field trips to social gatherings.

The Club has participated in the Canoga Park MemorialDay Parade since 1995 with the exception of a few years,winning first place, second, and third place honors forseveral years.

The Club has held a Youth of the Month program,which recognizes Club members for their outstandingleadership, participation and, good character, since 1995.

In 1998 and 1999, the Club honored one membereach year with the Sir Lipton Sportsmanship Award,which was an award to recognize teens who showedoutstanding sportsmanship. The award was presentedat the Valentine’s Day Dinner Dance. That program endedwhen the national organization discontinued the program.The West Valley Club began participating in the NationalYouth of the Year program in 2010. Each year there is aformal process to pick the Youth of the Year, who isentered into the Los Angeles Alliance’s competition.

Sports, Fitness, and Recreation

The Club has always had a strong program in outdoorrecreation, social recreation, and athletics. There havealways been game tables, including pool, ping pong,fooseball, and bumper pool, whether the facility waslocated in a classroom or a big Games Room, as iscurrently the case at the Main Site.

In the Club’s fourth year, it hired an Athletic Coordinator,who implemented various outdoors programs, such asbasketball, football, baseball, softball clinics and teams.Club members have participated in various tournamentsand leagues. In 2002, the Club formed a soccer team thatenters into leagues and tournaments. There are now twoteams in different divisions.

This year, the Club implemented a futsal league inpartnership with Canoga Park High School. Futsal is amodified, arena soccer.

The national organization developed the Triple Playmodel, which the West Valley Club has adopted. TriplePlay is a holistic three-pronged comprehensive health,fitness, and wellness initiative designed to address thepoor eating habits, physical inactivity, and alarmingobesity epidemic that are threatening the health andwellness of youth in the community.

The three major components of Triple Play andits goals for youth are based on Mind, Body, and Soul.

Programs under the Triple Play model are offered fivedays a week, two to three hours per day. Members havea variety of Triple Play programs to choose from at everyhour of programming so they are participating in at leastone or two programs every day.

Programs include:

MIND “Healthy Habits” – Nutrition education coveringthe power of choice, such as reading food labels, calories,vitamins, minerals, the food pyramid, appropriate portionsizes, and eating away from home. We're on to You isdesigned to educate elementary and middle school youthabout diabetes, the importance of good nutrition and dailyphysical activity.

BODY – Fitness activities including: team sports,(soccer, basketball, football, kickball, and baseball);sports clinics; yoga and hip hop; dance dance revolution;physical challenges, (jump rope, obstacle courses, relayraces, aerobic activities).

SOUL – Social recreation engages children in a varietyof activities that encourage achievement, cooperation,positive relationships with others, and age-appropriatepositive social skills. This type of nurturing and educa-tional environment fosters children's self esteem and apositive body image, which are qualities that facilitatehealth-promoting behaviors.

Twenty years is a long time, but for the Boys & GirlsClub of the West Valley, the best is yet to come!

To learn more visit www.wvbgc.org

2011The Club opened a fee-basedprogram at Hale Charter Academy.

THE STORY OF THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE WEST VALLEYTwo Decades of Growth and Service to Youth

1992The Boys & Girls Club of the WestValley applied for both a charterfrom the national organization andits IRS non-profit status.

1995The Club opened at Calvert StreetElementary School in January, inroom 20, operating out of just oneclassroom. Eventually there were threeclassrooms, which served as theClub’s administrative offices, gameroom, tech center and an education/program room. When the Clubopened, it had three staff members.Executive Director Greg Holdenand Program Director Suhail Mulahjoined the fledgling organization inJanuary, and a month later, a youngwoman named Kelsy Maruyama—today the Club’s Vice President—became the Education Coordinator.

1996In its second year, the Club held itsfirst summer camp, at Calvert; oneof the neighbors graciously let thestaff and Club members use theirpool for swimming and cooling off.Bob Gross, a Board member sincethe Club’s opening, became theExecutive Director. In February,Ruben Rodriguez joined theClub as Athletic Coordinator.

1998The Club added its first middle schoolsite, Columbus, in Canoga Park. TheClub received grants to renovate themiddle school’s drafting room into atwo-story teen program. The Clubstayed about two years at the school.At that point, the school’s principaltook the nicely improved room backand decided not to renew the lease,so the Club reverted to a one-siteprogram in 2001, at Calvert.

2001That summer the Club operated asummer camp at Parkman MiddleSchool. In September, there was nolocation for the Club, so its leadershipran moveable programs on variouscampuses, based on relationshipswith school leadership; not a veryeffective approach. The administrativeoffices were located above RoseGoldwater’s print Shop in WoodlandHills.

2002The Club moved into the PacificLodge Boys Home and rented thevacant residential house on thecorner of the property. During itstenure there, summer camps wereoperated in two locations, atParkman Middle School andthe Lodge.

2003Encino business leader Rickey Gelbpurchased a well-worn mortuary fromPierce Bros. Mortuaries for $846,000,agreeing to sell it to the Club for hispurchase price when the Club couldraise the funds to do so.

2004Finally, a place of its own! In January,the Boys & Girls Club moved into theformer mortuary building on Remmet,after obtaining a grant from the Stateof California. Staff did its best to paintand make the location comforting andinviting to kids.

2005The beginning of true additional siteprograms, with the support of theadministration of Blythe Elementaryschool, funded through 21st CenturyCommunity Learning Center funds.

2006On November 15, the Club officiallypurchased the Club’s building fromRickey Gelb.

2007Over the summer, with the help ofthe “Over Your Head” HGTV programand the non-profit organizationRebuilding Together the buildingwas a true construction site. A com-pletely renovated Main Clubhouse wasunveiled in November, with L.A. MayorAntonio Villaraigosa speaking. Athird site was added, Reseda Elementarythrough After School Education & Safety(Prop. 49). That same year, a CanogaPark High School program was started.

2008The affordable housing communityof Tierra Del Sol became the siteof the Club’s fourth program.

2009Enadia Way and Topeka ElementarySchool’s fee-based programs began.The Enadia way program operated foronly one year.

By Kelsy Maruyama and Martin M. Cooper

Twenty years is a long time,but for the Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley,

the best is yet to come!


VOLUNTEERISM: THE LIFEBLOODOF THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBBy Michelle McCue

The Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley servesmore than 3,400 youth at seven school and commu-nity sites throughout the western San FernandoValley. Seventy-six percent of Club members livebelow the poverty line, leaving many unable to affordthe fees for after-school and summer programs…even though a full year of membership in the Clubis just $20.

That means support and volunteerism by the WestValley community is essential to success of both theClub and its members.

Fortunately, the relationship is a two-way benefitfor both the Boys & Girls Club and the surroundingWest Valley community. A November 2010 ImpactStudy conducted by Damooei Global Researchdemonstrated that every dollar spent by the Clubgenerated more than $16.42 of positive impact forthe community, both in terms of increased earningspotential for Club members and their parents andtax-payer dollars saved by reducing pre-teenpregnancies and criminal justice expenditures.

Ronda Wilkin, a member of the West ValleyClub’s Board of Directors, is all too aware of theneed for volunteerism and community engagementwith non-profit organizations. As the Manager ofCorporate Community Involvement at Blue Shieldof California, she receives numerous requests dailyfrom organizations seeking volunteers, donations,sponsorships, and other means of support. The keyto choosing where to put her time and resources,she says, is results.

“Personally, the results we see day in and dayout drive my passion for continued involvementand enthusiasm for the Club and its programs,”says Wilkin.

“Blue Shield is proud to be a West Valley Boys &Girls Club supporter for more than five years throughour employee volunteerism, matching gifts andcorporate sponsorship programs. But it doesn’t stopat the corporate level. Through my involvement withthe Club, my own kids have seen how much it helpsyoung people their age. They relate to what the Clubkids are going through, and have chosen to personallyget involved as volunteer summer counselors. I canhonestly say that this Club is now part of my every-day life, and because we all care, the Club wins!”

The Club’s 52 staff and countless volunteers areessential to both the daily administration of core pro-grams and to securing support through fundraisingevents, marketing efforts, and political action.

For information on volunteering with the WestValley Boys & Girls Club or making a donation,visit www.wvbgc.org or call (818) 610-1054.



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Annual Survey Shows Club’s Continued GrowthUnder the regulations of the National Boys & Girls Clubs of America, each of its more than 4,400

constituent Clubs must take a census of its members annually.

The recently completed 2011 survey provides a good snapshot of the West Valley Club’s progress.Among last year’s highlights:

• The number of Club members continues to grow, up to a record of 3,100 young people.

• The number of Club families living below the poverty level has decreased slightly, from85 percent in 2010 to 76 percent in 2011.

• Another positive sign is that the number of single-family households has decreased from43 percent of the total Club membership to 38 percent in

2010

Number of Members 3,062

Ethnicity

African American 8.5%Asian 8.7%Hispanic 63%Native American .8%Caucasian 13%Multi-Racial 6.3%

Gender

Male 48%Females 52%

Economics

Below $30,000 annual

Income for family of 4 85%

Single Family Households 43%

2011

Number of Members 3,100

Ethnicity

African American 6.9%Asian 7.4%Hispanic 71%Native American 1%Caucasian 8%Multi-Racial 6.6%

Gender

Male 48%Female 52%

Economics

Below $30,000 annual

Income for family of 4 76%

Single Family Households 38%


SUCCESS CENTER

Think for a moment of some of your fondest dreams—becoming a success in the career of yourchoice. If you are in your own business, imagine making your business the kind of success you dreamedof when you first started. The possibilities are endless. Each of these goals can be accomplished throughthe will to learn and the determination to make your goals a reality.

To be effective, this desire to learn must be channeled—geared towards your specific needs rather thenthe gluttonous devouring of a library. Make a list of everything you want. Leave nothing off this first list,no matter how improbable it seems at the moment. Whether your dream is making a million dollars insales this year or winning an Oscar, write it down. Be specific.

Draw a sketch or find a picture of each goal. If a goal is not something you can picture, ask yourself“Is it abstract, or is it just too vague?” A goal (rather than a dream) must be concrete. Specify a date foreach accomplishment. Write down dates for specific action-steps for each goal—month and year. Decidehow time-consuming each will be, and whether it would be worth the effort. Is becoming a doctor wortheight years of graduate and medical school, and the accompanying huge debt? If not, cross it off. Theaction-steps for accomplishing each goal must be specific enough to go in your appointment calendar—and if you don't have an appointment calendar, get one now.

You must have an evidence procedure for knowing when each action-step and the goal itself has beenaccomplished. Will you see a balance of $50,000 dollars in your savings account? Will you receive thekeys to your new home? Will you step on a ship for a cruise around the world with someone you love?Delight in the accomplished goal. Feel it. Build on that success to reach new goals.

You want to own your own business. What kind of business? Will establishing it require book learning,experience, money—all three? How will you get these? Inquire into the steps used by somebody whoalready accomplished this particular goal. Get that information from biographies, autobiographies or,best yet, an interview with the person himself.

Take as much time as necessary for making the list, researching it, modifying it. Include only thoseitems you are positive you desire and are willing to strive for. Be sure your goals are in completealignment with your values and your highest vision of the YOU that you want to be, so that, you canmove towards accomplishing those goals with a feeling of rightness, meaning, and purpose in your life.

Terry Brussel PhD, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, in practice since 1969, created Seven Keys toSelf Actualization a system to reach your highest potential—physical, mental, emotional, spiritual as wellas financial. Go to www.acesuccess.com. Download our gift Abundance Your Money and More Magnet,guided meditation.

Private hypnosis/coaching sessions also available by phone or in person.

Call 800-GOAL NOW (800-462-5669).

Goal Setting and the Will to Learn

By Terry Lee Brussel Ph.D., Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist

Editor’s Note: Chapter 9 Strategic Release-Learning to Let Go will continue on the next issue.

Strategic Business OwnersContinued from Page 5

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the odds by talking to your spouse or significant other about your business, your highs and lows, dreams,fears, challenges and feelings. Don’t build a business yet destroy a marriage or key relationship. Stop beinga lone ranger. Stop suffering in a silent shroud of secrecy. Again, share this book and your feelings with yourspouse or significant other. Let them better understand your situation so that they can help you, support you,and challenge you.

While on the subject of relationships, be sure to schedule one-on-one time with your family members eachweek and schedule dates with your spouse/significant other at least twice a month. Running a business is bothtime and attention consuming. Fight against this trap. Allow for sufficient time and energy to be an engagedspouse, parent, and/or friend.

Define Your Life

Want more life? To change, you must change your mindset. Begin now to set a goal to work less, make more,and have more life! These are achievable goals. To be truly fulfilled, you cannot be focused solely on financialgoals. Set personal goals to have more fulfillment, balance, and joy in your life. Fulfillment is an inside game.Examine your heart. Know what you truly want. According to Socrates, “The unexamined life is not worth liv-ing.”

While you probably have a vision for your business, you most likely don’t have one for your personal life.Without a personal vision or game plan, your personal life will always be an afterthought, haphazardly conduct-ed, chaotic. If you fail to plan, you will plan to fail in your personal arena. Work on your life. Be proactive, notreactive.

The solution is simple, get a vision and get a life! Know who you are and what you want. Don’t live your lifebased on the expectations of others. It’s your life to live. Success is getting what you want; happiness is wantingwhat you get. Now is the time to stop whining and complaining. It’s time to create the life you want. However,you must decide your heart’s desires. No one can do this but you. You get to invent your life and set the termsand conditions. Who and what are most important to you? What do you want your personal life to look and feellike in one year, three years and five years? Once you know what you want, be true to yourself and live the lifeyou want, not what others want.

Begin by asking many questions:

• What’s most important to me in life?

• In my heart, gut, and soul, what do I truly want for my life?

• What don’t I want?

• What are my deepest values (emotional states you desire most)?

• How do I want to spend my remaining time on earth?

• What activities do I want to participate in?

• What relationships are critical to a fulfilling life?

• Where is my life out of balance?

• What do I want to do with my greater freedom and personal time once I function as a strategic businessowner?

• What relationships am I failing to nurture and develop?

• If I only have six months to live, what would I change?

What would I focus on?

Also, never confuse things with values. For example, no one really values money itself (a “means” value).Rather, people value money for what it represents or fulfills on an emotional level (an “end” value) —freedom,

The word was out in the community about the need for a permanent home for the fledgling Boys & Girls Club.One day the phone rang and Rose was informed about the Pierce Bros. property on Remmet going on themarket. A visit of the property was coordinated with Gary Thomas and both envisioned what the former mortuarycould become as a permanent home for the Club. The Board made a decision to purchase the building and aneffort to find the $80,000 down payment ensued. Rose called fellow Rotary Club member Clyde Porter andasked if he could lend the money until they could raise the funds. He agreed and immediately wired the$80,000. The deposit was made and the waiting began. According to Gary Thomas, the property went off themarket for a period of time since the mortuary didn’t have the proper zoning to relocate the embalming to theirnew facility. It took about a year to get their proper zoning and the facility went back on the market. Even thoughthey had multiple offers and real estate values had increase in the meantime, the owners really wanted it to bea Boys & Girls Club and offered it to sell it at the original price. Finally the waiting was over and the transactioncould move forward.

It had been a long wait and now Clyde Porter needed his down payment money to help another non-profit.Rose had met Rickey Gelb through the Fernando Foundation. Both Rose and Gary knew of his expertise inreal estate and requested a meeting to ask for advice in handling the transaction. During the meeting, to theirpleasant surprise, Rickey picked up the phone and called the broker and arranged to purchase the building.He agreed to sell back the building to the Club for the same purchase price when they could raise the funds.Gelb assumed all responsibilities and prepared all paperwork so the Club could officially move in as of January2004. It took nearly two years for the Club to secure a grant from the State of California. Money was tight forthe Club for a while and key contributors stepped in to help.

On the board since 1997, Gary Thomas recalls that “over the years a lot of board members left. In 2006 wewere down to six, Joe Anderson as chairman, myself, Andy Keowen, Chris Murray, Dwight Odland and JoelPollack. It would have been easy to let the whole thing go, good thing we didn’t.”

“The purchase of the Remmet property would not have been possible without the timely financial assistanceof Clyde Porter and Rickey Gelb in their respective ways.” Says Goldwater.

In November 2006, finally the grant money came in and Gelb was reimbursed for the funds he had facilitated.The property ownership transfer was completed and now the Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley could callthe Remmet property their permanent home!

A permanent home required a new plan of action and the new Board had one ready to go. Previously, Thomashad developed a long term plan: 1) purchase their own facility, it was too hard moving from location to location;2) beef up the staff by hiring a qualified Executive Director; 3) build a large board of community leaders; and4) get the Club financially stable so it could grow, adding more kids and more locations. He arranged a meetingwith Bob Voit and along with Brad Rosenheim and Joe Anderson, presented this plan for growth along with arequest for a $100,000 investment. Voit was going out of town sailing in Maine for two weeks and told themhe would let them know when he got back. “It was a YES and the rest is history.” Remarked Thomas.

The board hired Jan Sobel as CEO/President and expanded the Board of Directors. As faith would have it, asecret wish for a extreme makeover was answered when HGTV and Rebuilding Together came together to launcha new nationwide program “Over Your Head.” The Club was selected because the organization embodies thebroader definition of home, offering young people in the community a safe place to learn and play.

The Club was renovated inside and out. Hundreds of volunteers pitched in from local corporate partners.They cleaned, painted, worked on landscaping, fixed the roof, installed new air conditioning, and remodeledjust about every room in the two-story building. With a new facelift of the main structure, the parking lot andplay area needed some facelifting as well. So additional work was added with the assistance of RebuildingTogether and business partners and the Club ended up with a brand new concrete parking lot and a basketballcourt complete with new bleachers.

Thanks to the talent and professional expertise of members of the Board and the various committees thatvolunteer for the Club, the 20-year journey of positive transformation is well on its way. But more is needed.The Club is experiencing growing pains but the kind of pain that is manageable with the continued support ofgenerous donors and the sponsorship of the business and residential communities.

To learn more about the Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley, visit www.wvbgc.org.

Journey of Positive TransformationContinued from Page 1


FROM COUNCILMEMBER ENGLANDER’S E-NEWS

Incentive for L.A. Auto Dealerships Approved in Council...The proposal that I co-authored to eliminate the business tax for new car

dealerships in Los Angeles to help boost the economy and create jobs, wasunanimously approved on Tuesday July 3 by the City Council.

The move, co-authored by Councilmember Garcetti, in collaboration withMayor Antonio Villaraigosa, will create an incentive for new car dealerships tolocate in and remain in the City, which has lost 95 dealerships over the last25 years. In 1986, there were 147 new auto dealers located within Los Angeles.In 2011, only 52 were left.

Los Angeles must do more to compete with other cities for good, job-creatingbusinesses like new car dealerships. New auto dealers generate large amounts ofsales tax revenue to the City, create large numbers of quality jobs, and generate

additional business for other local small companies.

According to the City Office of Finance, in the 2011 Tax Year, new car dealerships generated taxable sales of$3.2 billon. This represents approximately $32 million in sales tax and only $3.9 million in business tax, orgross receipts tax. That $32 million in sales tax goes to the City’s General Fund, which translates directly to theCity’s ability to provide crucial services, such as police, fire, and infrastructure.

According to the Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association, car dealers in the City of Los Angelesemploy 5,200 employees and generate $640 million in wages and benefits.

Representatives from L.A.-based car dealerships were on hand to support the ordinance, including David Ellisof Ellis Chrysler/Jeep and President of the Greater L.A. New Car Dealers Association; Shammas Group;Downtown Chrysler Fiat; Volkswagen of Van Nuys; Universal Mini; and Keyes Motors.

MESSAGE FROM WASHINGTON

Sherman’s Valley OutreachIncluding Town Hall & Seminar on Refinancing& Foreclosure PreventionOnly part of my job is working on legislation in the House of

Representatives, and in the Foreign Affairs and Financial ServicesCommittees. An equally important part of my job is my work here in

the San Fernando Valley, communicating with Valley residents and helping to resolve problemsthat people are having with federal agencies.

We have helped thousands of San Fernando Valley residents resolve problems regarding immigra-tion and citizenship, applying for visas, the Internal Revenue Service, and Medicare and SocialSecurity. All services provided by my office are free of charge. Whether you are seeking assistancewith a federal agency or looking for assistance in arranging tours of the U.S. Capitol and otherWashington attractions, I hope you will not hesitate to contact me at (818) 501-9200. My website,bradsherman.house.gov, also provides helpful information.

Over the years, I have held over one hundred and sixty Town Hall Meetings in the San FernandoValley. These Town Hall Meetings are a great chance for me to listen to your comments andrespond to questions. Town Hall meetings are critical to the public policy process, providing anopportunity for me to hear about the most pressing concerns in our community and to elaborate onthe work that my colleagues and I are tackling in Congress.

Our next Town Hall meeting will take place on Sunday, August 5th, at SOCES on 18605 ErwinStreet, Tarzana, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. (Although SOCES stands for Sherman Oaks Center forEnriched Studies, the campus is located in Tarzana).. There I will discuss the economy, taxes,housing, the national debt, education, Social Security and Medicare as well as other issues facingCongress. Most of the meeting will be devoted to listening and responding to questions from Valleyresidents. My district office staff will be on hand to help constituents resolve any problems theymay have with federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration and the Departmentof Veterans Affairs. The event, refreshments and parking are free. We are also having a Town Hallmeeting on Sunday August 26. See my website for more information.

My office has also helped many residents receive assistance with mortgage foreclosure andrefinancing. In addition to my Town Hall meeting, I will address housing issues on Saturday,August 4, 2012, at a seminar on refinancing, home purchasing and foreclosure avoidance at theSherman Oaks/East Valley Adult Center located at 5060 Van Nuys Boulevard from 10:00 a.m. to3:00 p.m. The seminar is open to all Valley residents.

If you want to be notified of both the in-person town halls and telephone town halls we hold in thefuture, you should sign up to receive e-mails from my office. You can do this by visiting my website:BradSherman.house.gov. If you go to the website and “sign up” to receive emails, I promise to keepyou fully informed. You can also follow my activities on Twitter at Twitter.com/BradSherman or onFacebook (“Congressman Brad Sherman”).

Again, please call my office if I can be of assistance at (818) 501-9200.

FROM COUNCILMEMBER ZINE’S WEEKLY UPDATE

The Reseda Park Pool is Now Open!After one year of construction, the pool and bathhouse is now open to the public and just in time for some

reprieve from the summer heat! The rehabilitation of the pool consisted of the demolition of the existing pooland construction of a new 75-foot by 120-foot pool with new pump house, decorative pool deck, perimeterfencing, shade structures, shade towers, stadium lights poles, pool and bathhouse heating system, parking lots,

landscaping and irrigation. Pool hours are from 11:00am-6:00pm on weekdaysand 1:00pm-5:00pm on weekends. Free swimming for Youth 17 and under,seniors, and disabled. Adults showing a Los Angeles City library card get adiscount admission price of $2.00 per entry rather than the regular admissionof $2.50.

The official opening ceremony for the pool took place on Monday, July 23rdat 3pm. Councilman Zine was a good sport as usual and jumped in the pool onopening day, with the help of Mayor Villaraigosa. It was a warm and beautifulsummer day.

Councilman Zine would like to thank the Bureau of Engineering, the LosAngeles Depart. of Building and Safety, the Bureau of Contract Administration,

the LA County Health Department, the Department of Recreation and Parks–Aquatics, and Morillo Constructionfor their special effort in helping open the pool in time for the summer. The estimated costs was $5 million butthe project was completed under budget, saving the City a few hundred thousand dollars.

A WORD FROM OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS

Blumenfield Honors Valley Student Champions in State Capitol(Sacramento, CA) - Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield (D-San Fernando

Valley) recognized Granada Hills Charter High School's Academic Decathlonteam on the Assembly floor today for its second consecutive win at the NationalAcademic Decathlon competition. The team earned the highest score in thecompetition's 31-year history, and became the third team to have a consecutivechampionship win.

“These students are the pride of the San Fernando Valley,” said Blumenfield.“They share this incredible accomplishment with their teachers, families, andcommunity. I look forward to seeing what they achieve in the future.”

During the Academic Decathlon, students are tested on art, economics,essay, interviews, language and literature, mathematics, music, science, social

science, and speech. Granada Hills Charter High School’s Academic Decathlon team placed first in California’sAcademic Decathlon out of 65 schools from around the state, and beat teams from 30 other states in thenational competition. The team is the first ever to break 54,000 points in the history of the Academic Decathlon,scoring 54,081.8. The high school team is made up of seven seniors and two juniors—of the seniors, six willbe attending the University of California in the fall.

Photo below depicts Blumenfield and Assemblymembers Mike Feuer, Cameron Smyth, and Felipe Fuenteswith the Granada Hills Charter High School’s Academic Decathlon team. Grand Opening of the Canoga Ave. Orange Line...

We were proud to cut the ribbon on the recentlycompleted Metro Canoga Ave. Orange Line Extensionlast weekend. The four mile busway started takingpassengers between Chatsworth Depot MetrolinkStation and the Warner Center endpoint of the OrangeLine Busway, on Saturday, June 30.

We have supported and worked on the Canoga Ave.Orange Line Extension from its inception in order tooffer fast, safe, convenient public transit and make theentire regional public transit system more available toNorthwest Valley commuters, while alleviating trafficcongestion and pollution.

The busway features four new stations at ShermanWay, Roscoe Blvd., Nordhoff St. and ChatsworthDepot Metrolink Station, with public art, bicycleparking and other amenities. A beautiful bike andpedestrian path landscaped with native, drought-tolerant plants runs parallel to the busway, and willconnect to the long bike and walking path along theoriginal Orange Line. There is also a new park-and-ride lot at the Sherman Way Station and additionalparking at Chatsworth Depot.


Business Education/WorkshopsBUSINESS SOLUTIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESS — FREE ONLINE WEBINARS

MULTIPLY x 20,000 THE VISIBILITY OF YOUR BUSINESSADVERTISE IN THE WESTVALLEYNEWS

Tuesday, Aug 7 – 8:00-10:30 AMFinancial ManagementTo Register Go To:http://www.eventbrite.com/event/3696608656

Thursday, Aug 9 – 5:30-8:00 PMWebsite Developmenthttp://www.eventbrite.com/event/3696638746

Tuesday, Aug 14 – 8:00-10:30 AMPurchasing & Inventory Managementhttp://www.eventbrite.com/event/3696666830

Website Development Webinar

The Website Development course lays the foundation for the successful integration of a website into normalbusiness operations and introduces the best practices of web development to the small business owner. Inaddition, the information offered presents the building blocks to challenge small business owners to furtherresearch, understand, utilize, and master emerging technologies. The World Wide Web has become a majordelivery platform for web development. However, among web professionals, "web development" usually refersto the main non-design aspects of building websites. Web development can range from the creation of thesimplest single page website of plain text to the programming of the most complex web-based applications,e-commerce, or social network services.

Online Financial Management Webinar

The Online Financial Management course exposes small business owners to tools available to them online toaccess and manage their financials from anywhere, at anytime. The course should include information on lend-ing strategies, loan packaging and structuring, how to secure financing, financial statements – balance sheets,income and cash flow spreadsheets, ratios and industry comparisons, post-loan strategies, and using financialanalysis software.

Purchasing and Inventory Management

The Purchasing and Inventory Management course explores the new applications and technologies availableto small business for implementing supply chain management practices which drive down costs and improvecustomer service. Today's software-as-a-service (SAAS) and cloud computing phenomenon have made bigcompany enterprise resource planning (ERP) functionality available to smaller companies. In addition topurchasing and inventory management, this course will also explore software to automate other supply chainprocesses, including warehouse management systems (WMS), point-of-sale (POS) systems, and retailmanagement systems (RMS).

Social Media for Small Business

In the Social Media for Small Business course you will learn the importance of social networking as anintegrated marketing tool for your business. Are you curious about all the buzz surrounding social media butnot sure where to start, and not sure if it’s worth the time and effort? Find out how to market your businessusing social networking tools, such as Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, and LinkedIn. Learn how to establish a truedialogue with your customer base. This course will help you decide the best social networking tools to use in abusiness context, and how to leverage existing social networks to market your business. Website DevelopmentThe website development course lays the foundation for the successful integration of a website into normalbusiness operations and introduces the best practices of web development to the small business owner. Inaddition, the informaiton offered presents the building blocks to challenge small business owners to furtherresearch, understand, utilize, and master emerging technologies.

Thursday, Aug 16 – 5:30-8:00 PME-marketinghttp://www.eventbrite.com/event/3696676860

Tuesday, Aug 21 – 8:00-10:30 AME-procurementhttp://www.eventbrite.com/event/3696700932

Thursday, Aug 23 – 5:30-8:00 PMSocial Media for Small Businesshttp://www.eventbrite.com/event/3696714974

Call to verify dates and codes 818-907-9977

Habitat for Humanity held a grand opening for its new “ReStore” location on Saturday, June 30 in Chatsworth.

ReStore is part of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles and is meant to be a self-sustaining fundingsource and also offer our community a place to find low-cost building and home improvement materials.

The ReStore sells donated materials including new and gently used furniture, appliances, lumber, hardware,vintage and other unique items. All prices are at least 50% off retail value and all proceeds go toward the Habitatfor Humanity mission to end sub-standard housing and provide high quality housing for struggling families.

ReStore is located at 9606 DeSoto Ave., Chatsworth. For more information call (818) 914-8633.

Habitat for Humanity "Restore" Grand Opening

By Marc Tapper

Recently, the Boys & Girls Club of the WestValley retained an independent research firm—Damooei Global Research of California LutheranUniversity— to perform a study on the impact ofthe Boys & Girls Club on our community, as partof a larger study commissioned by the 27-ClubAlliance of all Los Angeles County Clubs.

What they found and will surprise you.

The Boys & Girls Club of the West Valleyprovides a safe place for children to go afterschool, until their parents return home from work.

Damooei research fund that the Boys & GirlsClub actually provides much more.

Yes, it does provide a safe place.

Yes, it does provide help with homework.

Yes, it does provide physical activities andthings that are fun as well as educational for thechildren. Beyond that here's what the childrenthink about the Club;

• 93% of them feel safe at the Club.

• 73% of them spend at least 30 minutes a dayengaged in or other physical activities.

One of the important reasons for improvedschool attendance is the children's participationin the Club.

• 75% of the children say that the Club staffhelps them with their homework most ofthe time.

• 93% agreed that going to college is veryimportant for their future and success.

The parents of the children realize that there are

many benefits for them, not the least, including thefact that they can keep their jobs instead of havingto leave work early to care for their children in theafternoon, or possibly be forced not work at all.

Without The Boys & Girls Club many of theseyoungsters would get into trouble after school andperhaps begin a life of crime. The Boys & GirlsClub has proven to be a juvenile delinquencyprevention program.

• 7% of the parents agreed that their child'sgrades have improved since they started goingto the Club and almost all the parents agreedthat their child has a greater ability to makefriends now than before they became a memberof the Club.

• It costs approximately $500 per child each yearto have them in the Club. Compare that to thecost of approximately $25,000 to $75,000 ayear when a child is incarcerated.

The Club is one of the best bargains in America.

The Club serves 3,400 children in the SanFernando Valley each year. Supporting theBoys & Girls Club of the West Valley is a valuableinvestment in the lives of these children, and inthe safety and wellness of our Valley community.

You can participate in the Boys & Girls Club ofthe West Valley in a number ways: you can volun-teer, donate money, and spread the word about thegood things that the Boys & Girls Club contributesto our Valley community. Join us by investingyour time, your money, or by volunteering.

To see the full Damooei report go tohttp;// www. wvbgc.org.

Independent Study Shows the Boys & Girls Club’sReal Impact on the Community

Sports and Athletics: The Club’s Rich HistoryBy Trevor Tauber

Chances are, if you live in Canoga Park you know Ruben Rodriguez.

Everywhere he roams, he’s guaranteed to run into someone he knows. But this is no accident. Ruben has hisroots in Canoga Park, spending the last 16 years at the Boys and Girls Club of the West Valley. He is now theProgram Director, but held the Athletic Director position long before that.

The Boys and Girls Club is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. An anniversary as momentous as thisoccasion is an appropriate moment to look forward to the future of the Club, but also provides an opportunityto reflect on the Club’s history.

The Boys and Girls Club has a rich history inits athletics department. Ruben enjoyed his timeas Athletic Director and wishes the importance ofexercise and sports would return to what it once was.The advancement of technology and the internet, inRuben’s opinion, has taken time away from playinggames and running around.

“You’d be surprised,” he said, “at how many kidsdon’t know how to put on a baseball glove becausethey spend all the time with a [video game] controllerin their hands...Now we have computer labs andvideo games taking away from physical activity.”

Ruben also wants to see some old programs comeback. “We had a cheerleading squad that would cheeron our basketball team...They would travel aroundand play games all over the place.” Ruben also saidthat they used to played rugby at the Club.

There are, however, new athletic programs startingup at the Club. Now, at Canoga Park High School,games of indoor soccer, called futsal, are played.

If you were to walk into the Club today, you would see posters on the wall about nutrition and exercise, aswell as pictures of special guests who have donated time or money to Club, such as current Lakers Matt Barnesand Los Angeles Kings Mascot Bailey the Lion.

Also, thanks to the LeBron James Foundation, the former chapel in the long-gone mortuary that has beentransformed into a safe and positive place for young people has been renovated into a first-class indoorbasketball court.

And if Ruben Rodriguez has his way, there will be a lot of running up and down that court.



Madrid Theatre

Clyde Porter West Valley Playhouse

www.ci.la.ca.us/cad/madridtheatre

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2012 SEASONPERFORMANCE SHOW CATEGORY DATES

Black Coffee Mystery Feb. 3 – Mar. 4Stage Door Drama Apr. 13 – May 6The Odd Couple Comedy June 1 – June 30Fiddler on the Roof Musical Comedy July 27 – Aug 26The Front Page Comedy/Drama Sept 21 – Oct 21Moon Over Buffalo Comedy Nov 16 – Dec 16

Visit our website for abstracts about each show. Show titles subject to change.

www.wvplayhouse.com

Box Office: (818) 884-1907

Community News / Calendar

WE INVITE YOU TO MAKE EFFECTIVECOMMUNICATION A REALITYIf you ever had to stand up in front of a groupand make a presentation about your business—YOU NEED TOASTMASTERS!

If you ever had to introduce an important person ina public meeting and panic at the thought becauseyou don’t know how—YOU NEED TOASTMASTERS!

If you are involved in your community and need tospeak out about what you are passionate about—YOU NEED TOASTMASTERS!

If you are in a position of leadership and want toimprove your communication skills—YOU NEEDTOASTMASTERS!

Welcome to “Spirit Speaks” Toastmasters

We invite you to attend one of our meetings.No reservation is required, just show up. You won'tbe pressured to speak or join, and there is no cost.Come prepared to enjoy yourself!

Meetings: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the monthTime: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

TV Motion Picture Fund CenterEducation RoomCalabasas Road at Mulholland Road(Right off the 101 Fwy at Valley Circle)Calabasas, CA 91302

For membership information contact:Ed Crowe VP Public Relations (818) 231-4454

Stage Door Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman. The play concerns a group of younggirls who have come to New York to study acting and find Jobs. The scene is MissOrcutt’s boarding house, where the hopes and ambitions of sixteen young women arerevealed in scenes of entertaining comedy. The central plot has to do with courageousTerry Randall, who fights against discouragement in the theatre where we are sure shewill conquer. This is a wonderful story, that will pull you in right from the start.

Runs Apr. 13 – May 6 Thurs. Fri., Sat. 8:00 pm, Sun. 2:30 pm

Ticket Prices are $25.00 Reg. $23.00 Seniors and Students.

Group Discounts are available.

Clyde Porter’s West Valley Playhouse 7242 Owensmouth Ave., Canoga Park, CA 91303

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Adult Education Classes, SFVGet your GED or HS diploma. Upgrade your jobskills. Learn a new trade. Computer Op/repair,parenting, culinary, ServSafe Cert. ESL, construction,healthcare. Evening & Sat. classes. For informationor to enroll, call: Hughes Edu. & Career Ctr. at818-587-4335, El Camino Real Comm. Adult Schoolat 818-610-5600, Canoga Park High School Campusat 818-673-1391, Reseda Adult School at818-758-3700, or visit our website at:http://elcamino-lausd.ca.schoolloop.com

AUGUST 2012

www.valleycultural.org

WHEN YOU ADVERTISE IN THE WEST VALLEY NEWS, YOU’RE ONLINE 24/7

SFV Youth Chorus Holds Auditions for 21st Season

The San Fernando Valley Youth Chorus, comprisedof youngsters from 3rd to 12th grade, is conductingauditions August 19th and 26th for its twentieth yearof singing. Auditions and rehearsals for the fallseason will take place at the Canoga Park MethodistChurch. Under the leadership of Musical DirectorYohan Partan, the SFV Youth Chorus participatesin various performances and community eventsthroughout their two choral semesters, Septemberthrough December and January through June.

The enrollment fee is $150 per semester.

Call 818-212-9356 for information and auditionappointment, or [email protected] more information on the SFV Youth Chorus visitthe website at www.valleyyouthchorus.org.

Ever Wonder How to Become a Live Theater Producer?By Shayna KasbeeDoes the economy get you down? Have you invested time and energy into study and effort and now feel as if it is going

nowhere? Due to the current nature of our economy one may ponder how they are ever going to reach their goals. With hiringfreezes typical and lack of corporate opportunities the future can look awful dim. Yet I choose to look at ambitious people whodid created their own possibilities. This is about an ambitious live theater producer, who has not turned blue and let the terri-ble economy stop her progress, instead she got creative! I hope that by sharing this story I can nurture hope and excite you.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a Live Theater Producer?

Recently I had the pleasure of working with a producer named Shelli Miller, she owns and operates a company calledGolden Performing Arts, located in West Hills, California. Shelli did not grow up obsessed with being a producer nor did shedevote years of study to this field, she kind of stumbled into it.

Shelli saw a flyer in 1990 for Golden Performing Arts and thought her six year old daughter may enjoy performing, so shechose to look in to it further. Shelli was delighted to see her daughter grow in spirit and confidence as a result of her partici-pation with Golden. Shelli was impressed with the code of ethics that was instilled in these children. Golden became a safeplace for these kids to learn about history, music, dance, theatre and friendship. These kids learned to withstand bullying andendure stress. So in 1994 when Golden ran into financial trouble, Shelli and her husband, Tim, chose to take a more activerole and made sure the program continued.

As a Producer managing all the daily aspects of a production company is the Producers major focus. Producers raise capi-tal, develop schedules, locate performance venues, hire creative staff and are even involved in casting. A live theater producersecures the rights to perform specific plays and musicals and they also market and budget the entire production. Producersalso assigned the performance dates and times along with ticket prices.

Today producing in the creative arts is a high risk game, however; some would argue well worth the risk. The arts are veryimportant to our development as a culture and community. Producers have an eye for developing talent such as: actors,signers, directors, choreographers, set makers and so much more! They have the courage to invest in playwrights, designcostumes and trust in their creative teams.

A Producer cannot rely on ticket sales to finance a production company. Successful production companies develop greatmarketing and publicity strategies. The Producer also needs to be in tune with the community. Shows need to spark interestand be inviting to the local community in order to generate ticket revenue. Many production companies create committeeswho develop partnerships with other businesses that will benefit from the shows. This way they can embark on joint venturesso that all the partners invest and reap the profits. Often production companies have fundraisers and cultivate a successfulsponsorship campaign. Another area where production companies generate revenue is by offering workshops and classesto the community.

A brilliant thing Producer Shelli Miller did to reduce costs and secure a venue, was to be the Madrid Theatre’s residenttheater company. This agreement allows cost savings on rental rates, however; the agreement states that she will produce sixshows a year at the Madrid Theatre. Shelli has produced many successful shows at the Madrid Theatre and has sold out thehouse a number of times. Shelli also invests in great directors, choreographers and has aligned her self with top vocal andacting coaches to ensure that Golden produces quality shows. She has also implemented a great direct mail campaign to keepsupporters notified of up coming shows. Golden also continues to be a safe place for kids and teens to learn about history,music, dance and cultivating friendships.

Whether you prefer serious theater or fun and heart warming performances Golden has something for everyone. Come outand support this local production company and see how Shelli Miller’s labor of love has had a positive impact on so many.Not only will you enjoy the shows but you will be contributing to a wonderful cause that adds vitality to our community andour youth.

Come see Seussical July 27th- 29th and also the weekend of August 2nd-5th at The Madrid Theatre 21622 Sherman WayCanoga Park, CA 91303. This is a heart warming Dr. Seuss tale great for people of all ages. Golden Performing Arts Kidsshowcase their talent and shine. This is a great event that will inspire the whole family.

Shelli, thank you for getting creative and continuing to provide opportunities for those in the creative arts and inspiringacting right here in Los Angeles where Hollywood was born. As you can see volunteering can lead to awesome possibilitiesand there are so many ways to volunteer with a production company. You can get involved in the marketing, planning andorganizing, creative component or the educational side. I encourage all of you reading this article to volunteer at somethingyou are passionate about; you never know where it will lead you. You may end up living the life you dream of!

New Horizons Yard SaleBenefits Developmentally Disabled

New Horizons’ FRIENDS will hold a Yard Sale onSaturday, July 28, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at the NorthHills Campus, 15725 Parthenia Street. Proceeds willbenefit New Horizons’ programs for individuals withintellectual and developmental disabilities. Donateditems will be accepted the week of July 23-27 from8:30-4:30 p.m., however, no furniture, appliances orcomputers/computer equipment will be accepted.

For more information on the FRIENDS Yard Salevisit the website www.newhorizons-sfv.org orcontact New Horizons, 818-894-9306 [email protected] 1954, New Horizons has empowered individuals withdevelopmental disabilities such as mental retardation, cerebralpalsy and autism to fulfill their dreams. Through partnershipswith individuals and the business community, education, andadvocacy, New Horizons creates a brighter future for its clientsand the community. New Horizons is located at 15725 PartheniaStreet, North Hills, CA 91343 and serves the greater San Fernandoand Santa Clarita Valleys.


WEST VALLEY CHRISTIAN CHURCH“An Oasis in the Wilderness” Jn. 7

22450 Sherman Way (west of Shoup), West Hills, CA 91307

Morning Worship / Sunday Life Groups / 9AM & 10:45AMEvening Worship / Journey at 5PM

Evening Worship / The Rock at 6PM on Saturday night

818.884.6480WWW.WVCCH.ORG

GLENN KIRBYSenior Minister


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