The Youth and their progress

[kim Willis54]

As everyone knows I was attending the after school LEAP Program and was their all year. Now that schools is out we have started our summer training for Nationals. The local newspapers have came and enterviewed me and the kids which they thought was exciting to have been able to talk about what they had learned. Now we have taken it to another level. In the next week we will be enterviewed for KOMU TV station. The broadcaster is going to come and tape all of us as we train. My kids are really excited.

I hope to be able to place a link for everyone so you all can watch this happen. I want to get more children to get involved. This will be across the state of missouri.

I also have taken on another job so i can pay for a place kids can come and play instead of roaming the streets. With all the donations of books and boards,etc. I have enough to make a library of knowledge.

There is a never ending dream for me to see this happen. I just hope someday someone will take my place.
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I would like to tell you of 1 child I taught he was a very shy and never said much. He sat in my class with his eyes on me and watched. He would lose every game and never say a word. I asked him if he liked checkers. He finally looked up at me and said *yes I do*. He then in a very serious fashion spoke out and said, I may not win a game but I am learning that no matter the out come I am still a winner. And someday my bad moves will run out and I will win a game. Then he cracked a smile and from then on he has learned that his first step was being a good sport and never giving up. And he has learned 5 games both sides and he is a gem.

If you know of any children that would come and play in the Youth nationals please let me know. For I would like to invite them.

thank you for taking time to read this:
kim

[Alan Millhone]

Hello Kim:

Kudos to you and for all you are doing to get youth involved in a wonderful game .

Sincerely:
Alan

[Irma Sierra]

How nice Kimmy....good job!