Local mentor program regroups

A new director has been appointed for the Big Brothers-Big Sisters program of Curry and Roosevelt County.

Christine Zamora said she started working in the office at 105 E. Grand on Aug. 16, 5 1/2 months after it closed over disputes with Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Pecos Valley, the Roswell-based branch of the agency and central location for the eastern New Mexico branch.

The Clovis and Roswell boards were set to work out an agreement on April 15, but when Jill Dennis, the director of the Roswell branch, never received word from the Clovis board — other than four resignation letters — the turnover occurred.

Dennis said the Big Brothers-Big Sisters organization never stopped in Clovis even though the office was closed. She said Clovis-area calls were taken at the Santa Fe and Roswell branches.

No one from the previous Clovis advisory board remained involved in the organization after the turnover, Dennis said.

“We’re building a brand new advisory board,” said Dennis, who said there are already three members and two others who have expressed interest.

Dennis said she interviewed a qualified group of applicants , but found Zamora the most qualified because of her experience with organizations and her personality.

“We felt like she was the type of energetic person who could go into the community and represent Big Brothers-Big Sisters,” she said.

Zamora said she applied for the position six years ago and decided to apply again. She said she has never been a big sister in the organization, but she always has children at her house.

“My house had been the one that kids come to or like to hang out at,” she said.

Since the office has been closed for so long, Zamora has been spending much of the past two weeks going through files, she said.

But the program is already bringing in volunteers and children, she said.

“I hope I can help some children so they can get some kind of mentorship,” Zamora said. “The more kids I can help, the more I can do, the better.”

•••You can volunteer•••

Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Curry and Roosevelt County:

• Director: Christine Zamora

• Address: 105 E. Grand, Suite 104 (in Wells Fargo building)

• Phone: 742-3337

Source: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Curry and Roosevelt counties