RVC Youth Council plans busy spring

  The newly incorporated Rockville Centre Youth Council will host its second Friday night Youth Bowling event at RVC Lanes on Maple Avenue on May 7, from 10 p.m. to 12:30 am. 

All Rockville Centre youth between the ages of 14 and 20 are invited. The cost is $8 per person for two hours of bowling, shoes and dessert.  

Last November, the Youth Council partnered with RVC Lanes to host its first teen Bowling Night, underwritten by RVC Lanes, which was an overwhelming success. Over 80 teens participated for the two hours of “midnight” bowling.

Beth Hammerman, RVC Youth Council chair explained that Bowling Night is an attempt to provide substance-free socializing opportunities for local teens. In addition to participating in substance-abuse prevention programs, such as the Phoenix House presentation in December, and the Student Lifeline card program, which provides free taxi rides to students who find themselves in dangerous or risky situations, the RVC Youth Council is committed to providing alternative recreational opportunities for teens, so children of the community can have fun without the pressure to engage in risky behavior. 

To reserve enough lanes, the RVC Youth Council is asking that any teens interested RSVP as soon as possible to Nick Aldana at naldana1991@gmail.com. If you are interested in Student Lifeline cards, contact Mike Caffrey at mcaffrey15@verizon.net.

The Youth Council is working to underwrite the reduced cost bowling event by seeking sponsors from the community. To become a sponsor, you can send a check made out to the RVC Youth Council, PO Box 193, Rockville Centre, NY 11571. Any amount would be helpful in supporting the reduced cost of the event for local teens.  All sponsors will be thanked with signs at the event, and sponsors of $100 or more will be designated as “Bowling Lane Sponsors."

Several days prior to the bowling event — on May 1 from 1-5 p.m. —the council is sponsoring Operation Medicine Cabinet at Rockville Centre Police Department headquarters, 34 Maple Ave. Members of the community are encouraged to drop off unused prescription medications, so often the first step toward addiction, with no questions asked. All pharmaceuticals will be disposed of in an ecologically responsible manner.

The council is also looking to recruit new student and adult members. Members are needed to work on the many committees being formed, such as social events, social action/ community service, membership, communications and strategic planning. All residents of the Rockville Centre school district are welcome, as are all students including those who attend private or parochial high schools and live in Rockville Centre. Contact Beth Hammerman at bfhammerman@gmail.com if you are interested in becoming a member.

The RVC Youth Council, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation, having received incorporation under New York state nonprofit law in 2009. Local pro bono attorney and former village trustee Jeanne Mulry filed for 501c3 status for the organization late last year, and that status is pending. 

“According to recent communications from the IRS, they expect to make a final decision about the tax exempt status by mid-April, but the status would be retroactive from the date of incorporation in October,” reported Mulry.  “We would inform any contributors of their tax exempt status, and contributions could be deducted in this year’s taxes.”

The RVC Youth Council is working toward providing a “drop-in” center for teens, a place where they can socialize safely in a substance-free environment. Sometime soon, a survey will be distributed to most high school students in the village to gauge their interest and potential use of such a facility if it were available. Anyone interested – teens or adults — are welcome to attend any of the group’s upcoming meetings, all at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Rockville Centre Public Library’s downstairs meeting room: April 13, April 27, May 11, May 25 and June 8.