Celebration of the opening of the new Boys and Girls Club in Rhea County

State Senator Adam Lowe and State Representative Ron Travis address the group

Derrick Kinsey and Chuck Swafford

Brandon Miller

Logan Summit

Department Head Nicky Bentley and Rhea Chapter President Dustin Henderson

Britt Debusk

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Less than six months after its founding, the Rhea County Chapter of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Ocoee Region held the grand opening of the Dayton Chapter.

Britt Debusk, area director for Rhea and Bradley counties, began the program by praising what has been accomplished in such a short time in Rhea County and the Dayton area.

“We registered all of our participants during the Strawberry Festival and then created a waiting list. On May 28, our first day at the Chattanooga State Building, 42 kids showed up. That was the largest number of participants on the first day of any club. The previous record was 33,” said Mr. Debusk.

He said the groundwork was already laid in November 2023, when he and board member State Senator Adam Lowe, who also serves as the Boys and Girls Club’s ambassador for relations and resource development, met with Dustin Henderson, board president of the Rhea Chapter, to see if he would be interested in pursuing the project.

Mr. Debusk praised Mr. Henderson and the board members of the Rhea County Chapter, saying, “Without the hard work of the board, we would not have been able to complete this project in such a short period of time.”

Mr. Debusk said it was reminiscent of the words of a former president of the Cleveland chapter: “They are on the ground. They (the staff) inspire the kids to achieve more.”

Mr. Debusk recognized not only the board members, but also many organizations in Dayton and Rhea County.

The first to enter the booth was April Curtis, the current president of the Dayton Chamber of Commerce.

Ms. Curtis said, “I want to thank all the people who have been involved in this endeavor. Our children are our future and our future leaders. It is an honor and a privilege for the Dayton Chamber of Commerce to support this great cause.”

Derrick Kinsey, executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Ocoee Area, thanked everyone who contributed and volunteered for the program.

“We get more out of it than we put into the program. That’s the difference you make when you make it a reality rather than just a thought,” Mr Kinsey said.

Chuck Swafford, president of the Boys and Girls Club of Ocoee Area, told the group that the Boys and Girls Club literally saved his life. “I grew up in the Boys and Girls Club of Cleveland. My life has been enriched by working at the club. Although Mr. Swafford is from Cleveland, Tennessee, he has many ties to the Dayton community.

Mr. Debusk then introduced Rhea County Board President Dustin Henderson.

“He’s a ball of fire moving at 100 miles an hour. He’s the hardest working person I’ve seen at the Boys and Girls Club in a long time,” Mr. Debusk said.

Mr Henderson said he was not alone in this project.

“The board and other volunteers have done a great job. Being here six months away from the state is incredible. “I thank everyone who pitched in and helped,” Mr. Henderson said.

Mr Henderson singled out Head of Department Nicky Bentley. “When we first started she asked how she could help. We had a fundraiser for Price is Hot coming up and I brought it to her attention. She was a great success and helped us a lot. When it came to choosing a Head of Department she was top of the list,”

Ms Bentley was emotional at times as she spoke to the crowd. “As department heads, we have many different roles. We meet with the families and the children who come to us. I think of the roles I play most often, meeting with the children and young people is one of the best.”

She added that there are currently 92 people on the register, including 17 teenagers, and another 20 children are on the waiting list.

Two of the teenagers in the group, Brandon Miller and Logan Peak, spoke to the group to explain what it means to them.

Thirteen-year-old Brandon spoke about his first meeting with Dustin Henderson and Jared Goins, the youth services director: “I was a little scared at first and hesitant to come along. But every day got better and better. I will have memories of this for the rest of my life.”

Logan said she was very grateful for the donations to the club. She said she was very nervous at first, but after talking to Miss Marah and Miss Nicky and making lots of connections, things got better. “I plan to stay through high school and become a youth leader one day.”

Mr. Debusk then joined State Senator Lowe at the podium.

“Rhea County is what I like to take to Nashville and talk about what’s going well in the state. There are so many great volunteers in this county,” said Senator Lowe. He added that the world “has gotten so bad lately and it’s about our children, our future is why we’re doing this.” He pointed out several things, but said the most important thing is that “our future depends on it.”

He was joined by Rep. Ron Travis, who said he and his wife, Laura, recently went to Nashville with a group of Boys and Girls Club members to learn more about state government and tour the capital. “It was amazing how they behaved and acted, and most importantly, they really enjoyed it,” Rep. Travis said.

He said many people have donated time and money to this project. “Without your help, none of this would be happening today.”

Senator Lowe and Representative Travis then presented Chapter President Henderson with a proclamation from County Executive Jim Vincent, who was unable to attend the event due to a meeting in Nashville.^th June is Boys and Girls Club Day in Rhea County.