To the editor:

BETA (Brown County Enrichment for Teens Association Inc.) would like to sincerely thank all the following individuals and organizations for its successful programs during the first quarterly period of the 2017-18 school year.

BETA recently has implemented many exciting programs in its active collaboration with many wonderful individuals and organizations, as follows:

BETA would like to thank Emmy Blackwell and the Brown County Public Library for their generous donation of games and cards; Lory Winford for facilitating a free Emerging Poets and Writers Group on Thursdays; Dr. Laura Hammack, superintendent of Brown County Schools, for her special visit to the BETA center and sharing a great discussion with our BETA teens; the Brown County school board for their great support for BETA; Kids on Wheels and its events; Nathan Dillon, director of Everybody Rocks, for his free guitar lessons for our BETA teens on Tuesdays; and the After School Arts Committee (ASAC) for funding this free music program at BETA and also funding free keyboard and recorder lessons at the intermediate school where our BETA teens participate.

BETA also thanks artist M.K. Watkins for her generous invitation to her studio and sharing her time with BETA teens; Liz Stauth of Blue Cross Anthem Medicaid for throwing a fun photo booth session; Nancy Crocker, owner of 4th Sister Vintage store and president of the Nashville Arts and Entertainment Commission, for her tour and workshop session with BETA teens; artist Sue Lacey for her special visits and bracelet-making session; artist Brad Cox for his generous donation of free train tickets for BETA teens; Hoosier Hills Food Bank for their great support of food for the BETA center; Pam Boer, Connie Casey and Abby Smith for their fabulous fun cooking sessions with BETA teens; Guy Knaus for repairing and organizing all the computers and electronics at the BETA center; Bobbie Knaus for providing a delicious chili; Julie Davis for her Ronald McDonald grant writing; Pastor Kenneth Alip and Paul Landry of The Salvation Army for their special visits and spending time with our BETA teens; and Keith Fleener, Suzannah Couch and Sara Clifford, The Democrat newspaper, for their ongoing support for BETA and Kids on Wheels projects through generous publications.

BETA also would like to thank the following donors and donor organizations: Kathy Anderson, now president of the Indiana Arts Commission, for her generous donation of $1,500; the Brown County Drug Free Coalition for their $1,200 grant; Nashville Town Council for $500 and the Brown County Commissioners for $2,000; and Columbus Sam’s Club for their generous gift card donation.

BETA also thanks the Brown County Community Foundation for a $650 grant and $10,000 matching fund for Kids on Wheels, and other wonderful administrative support for the funds and events.

BETA also would like to thank the Brown County Community Network (BCCN) for sharing of BETA and Kids on Wheels events; Brown County Rotary Club for sharing BETA and Kids on Wheels events with its club members; the Fabulous 50 Women for their generous offer of a BETA presentation during their annual report meeting; Nashville town offices and the Area Plan Commission for their support in resources and information; Kim Robinson and YMCA for their generous donation of a fitness session for BETA teens; Amy Imming, Mark Shields and the Brown County Parks & Recreation board for supporting BETA and Kids on Wheels; Christy McGinley, Farmers Insurance, for taking care of BETA and Kids on Wheels’ insurance matters; Hoosier Art Gallery and Fallen Leaf Book Store for graciously putting up with our BETA teens on Tuesdays; and Jim Railing and the Brown County Art Guild board for their constant caring and supporting for the BETA center and our teens as the landlord.

BETA is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization whose mission is to provide the safe place and enriching environment for our junior high and high school students after school. BETA is open Tuesdays from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at 45 S. Jefferson St., across from the United Methodist Church.

BETA offers free guitar lessons on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 5:30, and also free writing sessions in the Emerging Poets and Writers group on Thursdays from 3:15 to 4:30.

Please visit our Facebook page “BETA Teen Center” and follow and like us. Also, feel free to send your donation to BETA, P.O. Box 1194, Nashville, IN 47448. BETA also has established a BETA Endowment Fund at the Brown County Community Foundation for your generous donation.

Please contact Clara Stanley at 312-310-3617 or [email protected] with questions or to inquire about volunteering. BETA is constantly looking for responsible, reliable and caring adults to help with teens, programs, office work or to serve on the board.

BETA is growing and thriving thanks to your love and care, as a sure proof that it takes a whole village to bring up our children.

We truly thank our great Brown County community!

Clara Stanley and the BETA board

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