Conference host Griff wraps it all up

Myclubmylife.com Teen Reporter Ciara (center) shows off her electric blue hair while having fun with her Club, BGC of Greater Houston.

Myclubmylife.com Teen Reporter LJ of Carson, Calif. Holds her Zune she won as the one of the top reporters at the Conference. Way to go, LJ!

A Keystoner goes “Beyond All Limits” as he poses action hero-like under the National Keystone Conference banner.

Teen Reporters: In Their Words

Kelsey, Laguna Beach BGC: The best part of the conference for me was seeing all of the familiar faces from previous conferences, and seeing all the new people who were eager to dive into all that this conference had to offer. The most memorable part of the conference was reading the letters from the prisoners at the Book 'Em project. The funniest part was when our flight back home was cancelled and we spent the night at the Hyatt along with the Garden Grove Club who had our same flight!

Ciara, BGC of Greater Houston: Keystoners traveling from all walks of life united in the City of Bridges, Pittsburgh, for the fun first day. After a few hours of playing pool, ping-pong and arcade games, most cCubs head to the Rivers room to videotape the firsts of many hilarious and interesting roll call chants. It’s a light sample of the excitement that awaits. The opening session began and the conference is introduced to the eccentric host, Griff. Carolina Correa, the 2009 National Youth of the Year, was also introduced.

But nothing was more charming than the musical appearance of the talented electric violinist Ken Ford followed by famous R&B artist Ne-Yo. Ken Ford went hard on the violin shifting the tune of the room from excited to ecstatic with an interfusion of hip-hop and classical music. The ballroom got steamy during Ne-Yo’s performance of "So Sick" as hundreds of screaming girls barricaded the stage with flashing cameras and reaching hands.

The party continued at the Hilton hotel with on-site events with talents shows, Keystone swag trading, art projects, sports trivia and more. Saturday at at the ridiculously huge Sarah Heinz House Boys & Girls Club was crazy!

LaJoyce, BGC of Carson (Calif.): What's cracking Keystoners?! Boy, was the 2010 National Keystone Conference a blast for me. Not only was it the best National Conference but it was my first. I remember the first night I got there and walked into the hotel with my Keystoners, people remembered me from the Pacific Regional's. It felt so great to hear people call my name.

As the days went on at the conference, I met plenty of new friends from Japan, Germany, Wisconsin, Texas, etc. The sessions were also really enjoyable to be in.

I felt honored to be able to get a great opportunity and be a teen reporter for myclubmylife.com and I was also named "Best Reporter" that weekend! I really hope I can connect with Kelvin in the future about being a reporter beyond the conference.

Community Service: No Walk on the Beach!

I would say the best thing I did at the conference, other than the entertainment, was the community service. I was in a group called "Beechview" and I was all excited like "yay, we're going to the beach" - but I found out as I got there it was a neighborhood. When I got there, I couldn't believe how much trash was on the ground. Not to mention cigarettes. OMG!

It felt so great to help clean up that neighborhood with my new friends Jessica, Art and Alex. I knew I was doing the right thing by cleaning up and I felt even better when the residents were coming out thanking everyone. I even got a cookie! I really hope I can do more things like this in the future, because if you help one place, it doesn't hurt to help more places.

One thing I really can't forget about the Keystone Conference is the Sarah Heinz House. OMG! -- is that place HUGE? I've never been to a Club that big with 4 levels, a pool, and more. I felt like I reached Boys & Girls Club heaven. That night, I met the most amazing guy ever from Texas: Christian. Even though I only talked to him for 10 minutes that night, I knew I was gonna be best friends with that guy.

But when it was the last night of the conference and Young Joc performed, I actually became closer with him. I never thought I'll be so close with a Keystoner like that. And a Keystoner from out of my state!

If I have to say what I can't forget about the conference, it would be meeting my new friend, Christian, and Keystoner's from all over the U.S. If this year's conference was amazing, I can't wait to see what's in Florida next year. GO KEYSTONE!