YMCA Leaders Share Vision
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Kristine Fulford
YMCA leadership went over future plans for the Ste. Genevieve County Community Center on Oct. 28, then took questions from the audience.
The public forum, put on by the Ste. Genevieve County Commission at the Progress Sports Complex, drew a decent crowd.
Matt Clark, a regional YMCA vice president, who has served as acting director of the facility, spoke. Meanwhile, Kristine Fulford, the incoming executive director, was introduced.
Randy Ruzicka, presiding commissioner, opened the approximately 45-minute gathering by saying he “can’t say enough good things” about the YMCA leadership and praised them for their “level of professionalism.”
“Their level of professionalism, their vision for where we can go forward and their plan is just fantastic,” Ruzicka said, “and I have every confidence that when you listen to what they present to you this evening, I think you’ll be as excited as I am, as we all are. This is really a truly a great time.
“We’ve been through some rough times here but rough times are OK if you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I feel like you can see that light and it’s really makes me feel good. It’s exciting because it’s a chance to make it better. And that’s what’s going to happen.”
Fulford gave some YMCA history, including its founding in London in 1844, and its American debut in Boston in 1851. The Y is now in 120 countries.
Fulford emphasized that YMCAs in various locations are different, tailored to meet local needs.
“Our goal is to work with the community,” she said. “What are the needs of the community? What can we serve that may not be being served?
“So an example might be if you were looking at a YMCA in Belize, they may be focusing on vocational opportunities and education for individuals in their community. Or like the Ukraine right now is focusing on focusing on basic needs and mental health for individuals within Ukraine. So it’s what is the need in that community and how can we help serve that.”
She went over the YMCA’s three areas of focus: youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
Youth development includes safety around water, youth sports, wellness programs and teen leadership.
Healthy living includes a diabetes prevention program, the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program, and blood pressure self-monitoring.
Social responsibility includes Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) programs, community gardens, book fairs, volunteerism and inclusion services.
Fulford emphasized the YMCA’s long commitment to sports, noting that YMCA instructors James Naismith and William G. Morgan invented basketball and volleyball, respectively.
YMCA commitment to youth sports, to teens in general, and to community health were all stressed.
They also went over the YMCA governance setup. This includes a board of directors for each location, apparently similar to the former community center board.
Community center memberships will transfer over to YMCA memberships. Each person, though, will be screened against the National Sex Offender Registry.
The YMCA took a local survey to determine what was most important to local; patrons and what they would like to see added. A total of 586 people took part.
Of those, 84% had been community center members.
Expanded fitness and wellness center opportunities, and expanded group exercise classes were the top two priorities, followed by free childcare for parents who were working out.
“So mom or dad are coming in, you need a place, a safe, friendly place for your toddler to go while you go and expand your spiritual and mental wellness,” Clark said. “And so you’ll see later on that we’re going to act on that one sooner than later.”
Clark also stressed that the Bloomsdale facility is not going anywhere.
“You did a great job of advocating for your love of that facility,”he said. “So I can assure you that we have no plans to change anything at Bloomsdale. I know there’s some whispers out there, but there’s nothing on the radar to change anything. So if you’re a Bloomsdale user today, you’ll be one on Saturday, Nov. 1 and into the foreseeable future. So that came through very loud.”
Finances were also discussed, including how the YMCA’s “economy of scale” will help things be purchased at lower prices.
Clark went over plans to gradually turn last year’s approximate $24,000 loss on the community center to a $3,544 gain the first year, and the to continue increasing each year.