West Bay YMCA Leader's Club Gears Up For Retreat

Residents gathered at Junction trattoria & bistro this week for an evening of carnival-like entertainment in support of the West Bay YMCA Leader's Club. 

Proceeds from the event will help finance the club's upcoming leadership retreat, said Krystina Roll, aquatics director and Leader's Club adviser for the West Bay YMCA. 

"We're going to New York the last week in July for a weeklong leadership retreat," said Roll. "We'll be busing the teens up there on a Sunday afternoon and they'll stay until Friday."

The Leader's Club is made up of young adults ages 12 to 15 and meets on a weekly basis for leadership development, community service, outreach, volunteerism and group work, Roll said. 

"We do as much as we can for the community and develop [the members] into young adults and teach them the fundamentals of being a young adult," Roll added.

Some in the program sang its praises during the event's fundraising activities, which included face painting and carnival games. 

"Leader's program helps teen development; it puts us through activities that build teamwork and all that, and also it's a bunch of fun," said Nancy Fabrizio, 14, a freshman at North Kingstown High School and a member of the Leader's Club. 

“We made a lot of friends,” said Grace Bovenzi, 12, also a member of the Leader’s Club. “We have a lot of fun."

And even though the young women have attended the same school, they “got closer through the Leader’s Club,” said Bovenzi. 

As for the retreat, Bovenzi and Fabrizio say they are looking forward to the trip. “It’s a weeklong, fun experience,” said Fabrizio, adding she will reunite with friends from various Leader’s Clubs throughout New England. “I’m very excited for it. You meet people from all over. I have friends from New Hampshire, New York, Connecticut."

For more information on the Leader’s Club, contact Krystina Roll at 295-6501.