Welcome to Keystone
Welcome to the Keystone Club Planner! By following the step-by-step guidelines and using the forms and templates provided here, you’ll have everything you need to make your Keystone Club as successful as possible. The digital tool is divided into five sections:
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Welcome to Keystone – ways you’ll grow as a leader in Keystone
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Start your Keystone Club – help for starting a new club or charter year
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The Keystone Experience – all about planning and facilitating meetings
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Projects and Events – steps for designing service projects and events
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For Advisors – tips and strategies for the Keystone advisor
Through Keystone Club, you’ll become the leader you’re meant to be. You’ll practice leadership through real-world projects, you’ll be part of a team of members who help each other grow and learn and you’ll get practical guidance from an advisor who will challenge you to build on abilities you already have. As part of the next generation of leaders, you’ll be spearheading change in the workplace, in your community and even globally – doing your part to make the world a better, safer, cleaner, fairer and kinder place.
Welcome!
+ What is Keystone?
Keystone is BGCA’s small-group leadership club for teens ages 14 to 18. Each local Keystone Club is an affiliate of the National Keystone Program – the unifying body for all Keystone Clubs across the country and military installations around the world. Through its affiliation with the national program, your Keystone Club applies for and earns a charter certificate, is eligible to attend the National Keystone Conference (silver, gold and legacy-level clubs), has access to shared tools and resources through the online Keystone Zone and receives support from BGCA’s national staff.
+ You're already a leader!
You have leadership strengths because of who you are, the way you see the world and the experiences you’ve had. In Keystone, you’ll learn how to bring your unique voice, perspective and experience to everything you do. You’ll discover more about your leadership strengths, advocate for the things you’re passionate about, collaborate with other teens and learn from each other as you work toward a common goal.
Why join?
As a member of Keystone Club – a “Keystoner” – you’ll gain valuable leadership skills, connect and get to know your peers, give back to the community and have fun working as part of a team while doing something for the greater good. Here are a few good reasons to join Keystone.
+ Make a difference
Keystone gives you the chance to come together with other teens to build leadership skills, learn about important issues and take action. Through real-life opportunities to practice leadership – by contributing to the community through service and volunteerism – you’ll build the character and confidence you’ll need to inspire others and make a difference at school, in the Club and in the community.
+ Build your leadership
In Keystone, leadership is first about learning to lead yourself – being and doing your best, claiming your strengths, making positive choices and following through on them to reach your goals, being an agent of change in your own life and inspiring other people to do the same. Second, it’s about leading others, collaborating with them and sharing responsibility for getting things done. Finally, leadership means taking responsibility to improve your community. As a Keystoner, you’ll represent your Boys & Girls Club or Youth Center, your Keystone Club, your community and yourself – wherever you go. Keystoners are leaders who are willing to be a voice for other teens and who act as role models for good character and responsibility in all areas of their lives.
+ Have fun doing good
What will you actually do as a Keystoner? Here are some of the ways you’ll spend your time: plan, facilitate and take part in fun meetings; serve as a club officer; design and carry out interesting projects; recruit teens to join the Boys & Girls Club; get to know leaders in the community; plan and host engaging events; act as a link between groups and individuals; get other teens interested in Keystone; serve as ambassadors for your Boys & Girls Club and earn a chance to attend the Keystone National Conference.