Saratoga News
News
Venue to open its doors for 'Awareness Evening'
By Emilie Doolittle
Take adults--who listened to albums on record players and watched videotapes--and combine with teenagers--who listen to music on MP3 players and watch videos on You Tube--and you have organizers of The Venue, A Place For Teens' center.
Despite the age difference, the faculty of A Place For Teens incorporates modern technology such as a professional recording studio, computers and even an Xbox for video games at The Venue. On the faculty, each of eight adults has a teen mentor and vice versa.
However, A Place For Teens is recruiting new adult members to help with fundraising and management. It invites community members to participate in "The Venue Awareness Evening" to learn about the services provided for teenagers at the facility and in the surrounding community on Feb. 28, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
"We are refreshing ourselves in terms of adult leadership, reaching toward a broader base in the community," said board president Lee Fagot. "We're looking for people who are experienced at fundraising, public relations, financial management and facilities management.
"It's an opportunity for adults to give back to the community and work with teens in a different way from how they have in the past, with shared responsibilities on projects and to provide governance to the organization," said Fagot.
A Place for Teens is a nonprofit organization, unaffiliated with the school or town. It started in 1989 and in five years raised enough money to build The Venue.
It includes pool tables, a big screen television, games, a snack bar and tables for students to do their homework, as well as a space for Friday night concerts. The venue is a safe environment, always supervised by an adult. It also has teenage development programs and activities like barbecues, the concerts and food fests for various teams.
Georgia Riley, who has been on the board for three years, said, "The Venue is a place where all teenagers can hang out, whether it's the football team or whoever. It's available for the jocks or the kids who want to play music."
As an adult, Riley learns a lot from the teenagers who frequent the venue.
"I learn that they're a lot more tech-savvy than I certainly am and that they have a variety of interests from sports to digital music," she said. "They bring to me a different way of looking at things, a younger way of looking at things."
"I bring an adult experience to the venue," said Riley. "I know what is idealistic and what is practical and I'm there to give my input."
At "The Venue Awareness Evening," board members hope to inspire community members to help sustain The Venue with increased volunteering and fundraising.
The Venue is located at 4 New York Ave., behind the high school, past the football field and the tennis courts.