European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 5, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Monday augusts 1991 the stars and stripes Page 9 education club working out for youngsters ads gives Youthful staff work and pay by Jimi Jones education writer Ramstein a Germany a Serena Harris joined the dads club because her Friend in the organization said it was fun. That was 3v years ago. Since then Serena now 15, has worked her Way up to supervising other children at the Ramstein Exchange for dads the chartered dedicated adults and dedicated service club. The dads club is a Volunteer organization founded about 12 years ago by a Ramstein chief master sergeants group to combat teen age mischief in the Community where few Money making opportunities existed for youngsters. A there was nothing for the kids to do a said Sherrel Harris Serena smother and current vice president of the Ramstein dads. A a it a not like living in the states where kids can mow the club puts 10 to 17-year-Olds in the communities to work around base year round at the local exchanges Convene hence stores Post offices youth centers and libraries among other activities. Ten year Olds deliver free monthly magazines such As off duty to housing areas. But hiring a dads club youth does no to add to the agencies payroll because the club itself pays the children. Some Revenue is generated through tips that customers at local exchanges and convenience stores drop in specially marked boxes for bagging services supplied by dads club kids. But the bulk of the clubs Money comes from family Volunteer events such As bake sales car washes and mini carnivals that the army and air Force Exchange system permits the club to conduct Sher Law it. A a i a a a v a amps Dave Casey members of dads help keep the mail flowing at Ramstein Abs North Side Post office. From left they arc Noel Ecland 14 misty Rohrbaugh 13 supervisor january Shelton 16 Bryant Hudson 13 and Gregory Temple 12. A amps pave Casey Trivell Coleman 11, sweeps a Green at Ramstein Abs min Golf course As part of his Job with the dads program. Rel Harris said. A the Money then is used to pay the children so rewards a As the club prefers to Call their wages. Dads started by taking Over Ramstein a min Golf course in 1979, a morale welfare and recreation facility that was unprofitable. A it Wasny to making any Money so the fathers got together and renovated the min Golf course so that the kids had someplace to work and give their services a Harris said. Soon there was an overflow of children interested in a having something to do while getting a Little pocket change so cafes took us in a Harris said. The Ramstein program alone employs about 300 Young people. Nearby Vogel Weh has its own Branch and plans Are under Way to expand to Miessau which is located Between Kaiserslautern and Wei Brincken. An Exchange official at Ramstein who asked that her name not be used said she finds dads kids to be a pretty responsible Young adults. I Haven to had any complaints from customers that they feel obligated to give and if the supervisors Are properly supervising we done to have any disciplinary a a in a glad to offer the Opportunity for them to learn the work ethic and that a what they have derived from being Here. Its a Job a the Exchange official said. A i think a forum for kids to learn about working is really important. Its our future growing up to work in the program a child a parents must be members of dads. Club membership is free but parents must donate at least 25 hours of Volunteer time each year. About 500 families Are enrolled in the Ramstein club which meets once a month. Students Are paid on either a supervisory or a non supervisory level. Supervisors such As Serena Harris earn $3.75 per hour and others $2.75 per hour. Sherrel Harris said she did not have club financial figures and preferred a not to discuss Money since Lis not the basis of the program but rather giving the kids something meaningful to she did say however that pay a tends to keep steady a and a raise for an individual child depends a on what we have in the Box and a total membership rather than a pay raise for students with jobs the club tries to a spread the wealth a she said adding a if we done to have enough Money to keep the kids employed As parents we go out and put on a the rewards May not be As hefty As the paycheck a youth might earn at a More traditional Job such As at a fast food restaurant. But Harris said a a it a enough to go to the movies and to buy some school Many youngsters also prefer to work the hours that dads offers. The group limits its Young people to 10 hours of work per week during the school year of sit there and you usually have to Tell them again and then they usually do what you Tell them a said Webb who takes Home about $150 every two weeks. They also learn the value of Money. The clubs adults encourage the youngsters to open Bank accounts and As Harris said a Sec their Money they then can appreciate what goes into buying those fashionable air Jordan sports shoes. A when they realize its three months work they learn what mom and dad give up to buy these things a Harris said. But there a been More than a financial payoff for 16-year-old january Shelton who first started with dads at the age of 10, when she helped out in the Library. A i was a bookworm. I loved it a she said. She now works at Ramstein a North Side Post office doing a just about every its a great Job Good experience. Getting to work in a Job like environment. In be Learned a lot. A january Shelton and 20 hours per week during vacations. A we do no to want to interfere with Good grades or after school activities a Harris said. The children work in teams with older youths As supervisors. Adult monitors periodically Check on the Young workers. A the kids actually operate the program themselves. We just administer it a Harris said. The teen agers major goal is to make Money. But they also learn responsibility Basic skills and on the Job creativity. And Christopher Webb a 15-year-old who supervises the min Golf course is among those learning the ups and Downs of overseeing others. A Well its hard sometimes when you Tell them what to do and they just kind thing a she said. Monitors said january truly is dedicated to so much so that she spent Christmas eve pitching mail. And even after she works her allotted 20 hours each week this summer her work ethic takes Over. A i come in and Volunteer a she said. A a it a a great Job Good experience. Getting to work in a Job like environment. In be Learned a and besides she added a i want to be slinging the club has grown so much Over the past few years that the Supply of workers greatly exceeds the demand Harris said. The club is seeking new positions that will be of educational value to Young people. Harris can be reached at commercial 06371-42026 Between 5 and 7
