HOWARD BANKHEAD
Blog: September 2012
I am in high spirits and encouraged because Huntsville’s Tennessee Valley Youth & Golf Development (TVYGD) achieved what we intended to achieve when we launched the Three Cities “Reading, Math, Science and Life Skills Thru Golf” Youth Development program in Florence, Decatur and Huntsville. The success of the program is due to pure “Providence”!
Building the infrastructure for youth golf developments programs in underserved communities (underserved does not mean poor) is the most challenging thing we face! We need to educate the adults and caregiver on the value of golf; provide mentors to families with children who wish to learn and develop their life and golf skills; forge partnerships with area golfing facilities and as usual secure funding. Building this infrastructure will help to address family structure and historical norms that is hindering opportunity for countless youth.
Our next phase in building the infrastructure for youth golf developments is to create and develop Elementary & Middle Schools Golf & Life Skills Team.
These teams will consist of: Students who do not make the sport team– Students who make C’s and D’s. However, this program will benefit the “star athlete and the A and B students” as well!
There are eight criteria for students to make the Golf & Life Skills Team (GLIST?)
1. Proficient, below or above their grade reading level;
2. Proficient, below or above their grade math level;
3. Ability to hold the golf club;
4. Ability to swing the golf club;
5. Understand the importance of good manners;
6. Show respect for others;
7. Commit to giving their best efforts;
8. Work hard to improve their personal (par) best
It will take several years for GLIST to develop into an effective and sustaining program. We will partner with area educational school systems to develop GLIST for pre-juniors ages 7-11 and juniors ages 12-14. After several years of programming, GLIST will become a feeder program to high schools golf teams.
60(a) + 40(g) =100(pi) formula is used to insure that the participant will experience quality academics and athletics in their development. 60 % (academics) + 40 % (golf) = 100 (positive impact).
The Tennessee Valley Youth Golf Development program introduces and instructs students a set of golf and life skills that will do the following:
· Increase and motivate their interest in reading, math, science and education;
· Introduce them to the game of golf and golf’s intrinsic values;
· Reinforce life-skills, such as etiquette, integrity, respect, responsibility and perseverance.
As you can see, I am directly involved in additional efforts to empower our youth, families and communities. With long-term financial commitments and perseverance, these empowerment efforts will help solve poverty and build character (key ingredient). TVYLGD Life-Skills include:
· Good Manners and etiquette practices such as proper introductions and speaking;
· Environmental and energy consciousness such as recycling, preservation, thinking Greenl
· Work Ethic such as mastery, preserving, critical thinking, punctuality.
Just think of it… getting more youth to exercise these three life-skills will help change the world!
As you know, some needy families and individuals in our community go without proper food, shelter, and essential medical care every day due to a variety of factors, including low wages, job loss, injuries, illness, age, domestic violence, or divorce and in some cases making bad decision and poor choices.
While a growing number of us are susceptible to hard times, children in poverty and underserved communities are at the most risk, and they are the population we serve.
With adequate support, we will be able to help many of these children not only to meet their educational requirements, but to work toward a brighter future with programs in mentoring, job-training, and spiritual counseling.
For more information on how to donate to help make a difference in the lives of so many in our communities, we invite you to visit our Web site at http://tvygd.dms-graphics.com and or call 256-886-0579.
Give Youth A Gift For Life: Youth Golf Development!
Howard Bankhead
Executive Director
Tennessee Valley Youth Golf Development
604 Jordan Lane
Huntsville, AL 35816 USA
256-604-8172
