​A Seat At The table-
Since it's founding in 1931, the NBGC has had a Board of Directors to guide the Club through the decades. The Board insures we stay true to our vision- a club for kids, run by kids, where everybody plays- and our Mission- "To enhance the well-being and develop the potential of our club members, their families, and the community For Better Men & Women". It also makes sure the Club is always on firm financial and legal footing; that we are growing and enhancing the kids' experiences; and we are adapting to and embracing the everchanging culture.

The Board has four officers that make up the Executive Committee. Currently, they are:
President-  Hall of Famer Tom Van Den Bosch
Vice-President- Todd Beeson
Secretary- Lori Novak
Treasurer- Diane Kelly
The Executive Committee works closely with Executive Director Jeff Sadowski and the staff to support the day-to-day operations of the Club.

The Board consists of from twelve to twenty-four members, generally serving a three year term, and they meet five times a year.

But much of the work of the Board happens in the committees, meeting about once a month:

Program- overseeing sports, clubhouse activities and afterschool/summer programs.
Resource Development- evaluating our current fundraising events and looking for new opportunities.
Finance- overseeing the annual budget, our funds and investments,  and compliance with financial standards.
Marketing- defining our brand, keeping us true to it and presenting the Club to the public.
Technology- updating our servers and systems, securing our data and insuring our compliance with industry
         standards. Also working to preserve our documents, publications and history.
Personnel- updating employee manuals and job descriptions, and keeping up with human resources best practices.
Compensation- insuring the staff's pay and benefits are fair and competitive.
Property- maintaining the building and grounds, and administering capital improvements.
Scholarship- overseeing the raising and distribution of scholarship funds; interviewing and selecting candidates.
Alumni- our liaison with former members and stewards of the annual Golf Outing.
Nominating- soliciting and vetting potential new Board members.
Parent's Club Representative- keeping us in touch with our members' families.
There are also numerous sub-committees and special event committees.

When our Executive Director, Jeff Sadowski, joined the NBGC in 2016, our Board was about at the minimum of twelve members. He quickly revitalized the Board, bringing it up to the current level of (about) twenty three. And, he re-energized the committees, helping them become more focused and productive.
Additionally, Jeff created an Associate Board of community members to help us expand our reach and increase our impact-
Associate Board Roles & Responsibilities (click)

The Club's By-laws require the Board's make-up to be a mixture of former members, current families and outside community members. Our Board members bring a wide array of personal experiences, professional skills, a legacy of service and an allegiance to our history.

​You can support the Club by taking a seat at the table. Join the Board or serve on one of the committees- share your voice, advocate for your vision and express your passion.
Contact Jeff to find out more.

John Chambers
John's family was NBGC from start to finish- Uncle Dan Lydon played in the 30's; John was a Tarantula in the 50's; his sons became members; and he was a long time Board Member and a Board President.

Cooney Family
Peggy Cooney wanted her kids to join the NBC so she convinced the Club to extend the boundaries! And join they did- there were Cooney's in every sport and every activity.

Frank Hashimoto, Sr.
Former Board member
​Father and Son Turkey Shoot (click)
Hosts Sting trip (click)
Chicago Rush (click)

Dolores Stahl
Former Board member
Thanks from the Mothers (click)
2000 eggs (click)
Beat Me Daddy Eight to the Bar (click below)

Fares & Jovi Zanayed
Former Board President and former Board Member
Girl's Program Staff Alumni (click)
Fares receives full scholarship (click)
Scholarship luncheon speaker (click)

THE GIRLS PROGRAM TIMELINE
Like the celebrated date of October 19, 1931, the day of the first football game of NBC, the girls programs proudly marks April 27, 1991 as its official start.  It was on that date that 32 girls came to a meeting to organize a softball league.  Teams were made, captains elected and a schedule was made. 
First Girls Softball Meeting (click)
​
All would agree, the NBGC has been the benefactor of many women since its beginnings it the 1930’s.  With the 2021 inductees, 20 of the 68 members of the Hall of Fame are women.  In 1994, the club welcomed its first young women to the Leaders Program. 
Girls join Leader Program (click)

Though the name “Neighborhood Boys and Girls Club” was formally adopted more than 5 years later (on January 29, 1997) the program was well on its way to decades of success.  As the club celebrates its 90th Anniversary, the girls program celebrates 30 years of activities.
Board Meets to Change Club Name (click)
A New Era Begins (click)

Participating in the Leader Program, the young women become eligible for “Leaders of the Future Scholarship”.   The “G” in NBGC is fully engaged.
1st Scholarships (click)
 
The Girls Program continues to grow fast…and go fast, as a Girls on the Run chapter has years of success
Girls on the Run...more than just running! (click)
...more running (click)
 
First members, then leaders, and now Alumni
Girls...25th Anniversary (2016) (click) 

More details of Girls Program history appeared in the 2016 Anniversary and Hall of Fame Program (link below).

​Jim McNulty 
Joins NBC/NBGC as Wildcat (click)
Named Executive Director (click)
We Applaud You... (click)

Tony & Bea Coppola
"One Night Fund Campaign" for New Clubhouse (click)
Pancake Breakfast (click)
​Turkey Day (click)

On October 30, 2021 the Neighborhood Boys and Girls Club will celebrate its 90th Anniversary 
and induct seven new members into the Hall of Fame. The event will be at the White Eagle
Event and Convention Center in Niles, Illinois. Be sure to save the date. Look for event
details on NBGC's website, social media posts, emails and other sources.

This blog entry highlights the 2019 class of Hall of Fame inductees (below is a link to the
program for that occasion). We also take time to reminisce about some of the history
the NBGC has created over the decades. Enjoy the memories...more importantly, make plans 
​with your family and friends to join teammates for a wonderful night to celebrate the NBGC!

 Making History

The NBC/NBGC was founded in 1931 by Robert Buehler and Dick Valentin as a club run by kids for kids. This unique philosophy, and the founding principle that "Everybody Plays", insured that the Club would flourish for ninety years and counting.
Something unique to this organization is the incredible amount of documentation that has recorded the progress of our Club, our community and, indeed, our nation. In this blog we will feature the many ways the NBGC has preserved its history, and how we are working to make that history available to everyone.

On September 9, 1932, the NBC published its first weekly newsletter, and it has been published weekly for nine decades (except for a few weeks off every summer!). The first newsletter didn't have a name yet so they just titled it with a question mark. The newsletter kept members and their families informed about games, schedules, special events, fundraising and the weekly activity in the Clubhouse.

First edition (click)

In 1933 the newsletter finally got its name- the "Monkeyshines". According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, "Monkeyshine" means "mischief or playful activity" and directs one to "pranks". Founder Robert Buehler's mother would listen to the antics in the Clubhouse, and came up with the name.

Since the "Monkeyshines" mostly reported on sports and clubhouse activities, another publication was developed to keep families and the community up to date on Club news- The NBC Reporter.

The NBC Reporter (click)

During World War II, Robert Buehler's brother was serving in the Navy and was participating in a letter exchange with former classmates. Mr. Buehler discussed with Dick Valentin starting a newsletter for NBC Servicemen, and the bi-weekly Service Paper was born. Driven by Dick Valentin and Jim Desherow, but with the help of many others, the Service Paper reported on Club activities, and included letters from NBC members serving overseas. It also included the mailing addresses of servicemen and alumni, helping everyone stay in touch. And, it was mailed to our soldiers all over the world!

Service Paper (click)

After the war, NBC alumni wanted to continue to keep up, so the Alumni Chatter evolved out of the Service Paper.
Still published today, the Chatter prints several times a year, keeping our community informed about Club activities, special events, fundraisers and alumni updates.

Alumni Chatter (click)

In addition, there are countless programs from special events, plays and entertainment, the Mom's Club and Dad's Club, fundraisers and anniversary celebrations.
And, of course, terabytes of team pictures, personal photos and videos.

​

Team in front of first Club House.                                                 2015 Pebble Panthers.

In 2006, the NBGC was preparing to celebrate its 75th Anniversary and wanted to create a yearbook and a slide show for the event. The Club enlisted the help of Alumni (and future Hall of Famer) Ray Sugrue. Ray had been collecting memorabilia and digitizing it, especially the WWII letters and photos. Ray carried on independently, preserving the history of the Club, until joined in 2020 by two other Hall of famers, Tom Krier and Peter Maxfield. With a goal of digitizing all of the NBGC past and present, they have been working to build a searchable database. Currently, all of the Monkeyshines from 1950 to the present are scanned, and the 30's and 40's are next. We will add Alumni Chatters, Reporters, programs, etc, in the next few years. In 2022 we hope to put the database onto our website so that anyone can search for a member or event, and discover a world of memories.

In the meantime, you can contact the Club by emailing info@nbgc.org or commenting on the post here and our Archivers will create a USB drive for you. If you would like to help, especially with identifying people in photos, the Archive team would love to hear from you!

2019 Anniversary and Hall of Fame Program (click)

​

Sue Fahey
Summer, Sun and Shower Fun (click) 
Credit and courage (click) 
Choreography and direction (click)
Visiting the Club (click)

Mary Gallery 
Undefeated Panthers (click)
​Senior Leader (click) 
Joins Staff (click)
National Merit and Princeton (click) 
​Keynote speaker (click)

Dick Schroeder
Dick and his wife Arlene were avid golfers, and could always be counted on to help out at the Alumni Golf outing or Family Fest.
1940s Bears back (click)

Glenn Stahl
Glenn was part of an NBGC dynasty- his father, Ralph was an original Hall of Fame inductee, and Glenn's children followed him into the Club. He played football on the indominable Wasps, and went on to coach. As a member of the Program Committee, Glenn helped create the Clubwalk.
Blocks of granite (click)