Wilton Family YMCA Engages in Strategic Planning

Thirty-six members of the Wilton Family YMCA governing boards (Directors and Advisory Trustees) gathered this evening at Silver Spring Country Club in Ridgefield, Connecticut to advance the process of strategic planning for the Association. Mark Dengler, Vice President of SEER Analytics, presented an overview of the Primary Market Analysis, Fundraising Focus assessment, and Membership Satisfaction Survey to the assembled YMCA leaders.
Small group discussion, facilitated by strategic planning committee members, focused on The Big Question for the Wilton Family YMCA.

Naugatuck YMCA Enters Phase 3 of Facility Upgrade

The Naugatuck YMCA is currently engaged in Phase III-B of a $3.0 million capital improvement program, which work has spanned five years. Primary funding sources for the capital development enterprise have been federal funding ("Small Cities" and Department of Transportation), state funding (DSS), and major corporations and foundations.
From the sidewalk in front of the Naugatuck YMCA the community can see one element of the capital enhancement - the access to an elevator, providing accessibility to persons with disabilities to the YMCA wellness facilities as well as the YMCA residence. Wellness facility , childcare center, locker room, and fire code compliance have been included in the project. Natatorium improvements are planned in the coming months.
The elevator features "green" technology (belt-driven) and provides stops at four elevations in the facility.
Pictured are: (L-R) Todd Genovese, Project Manager with Rose-Tiso & Company (architects), and Bill Kane, Naugatuck YMCA Executive Director

Newport County YMCA Embraces Health Seekers

Newport County YMCA Executive Director Pete Milinazzo and Member Relations and Wellness Director Dawn Gardner strategize around improvements in their YMCA's culture, aimed at embracing and addressing the wants, needs, and interests of health seekers. The Newport County YMCA is one of seven YMCAs in the Northeast Gulick Collborative.

Dawn Gardner To Chair NE Gulick Collaborative Steering Committee

Dawn Gardner, Member Relations and Wellness Director for the Ocean Community YMCA, has volunteered to chair the steering committee of the Northeast Gulick Collborative, a consortium of seven YMCAs in the Northeast committed to transforming their YMCAs' cultures to one that clearly embraces and addresses the wants, needs, and interests of health seekers.
The Northeast Gulick Collaborative met in an Executive Strategy Session on October 28th at Save The Bay overlooking Naragansett Bay in Providence. The YMCAs which form the Collaborative are: Hockomock Area YMCA, YMCA of Greater Nashua, Newport County YMCA, Rye YMCA, Greater Providence YMCA, Valley Shore YMCA and the YMCA of Central Massachusetts.
Kelly Kressler from the Rye YMCA leads the Childcare affinity group in the collborative.
Pictured are: (L-R) Karen Leslie, President, Greater Providence YMCA, Dawn Gardner, and Cindy McDermott, Northeast Gulick Collaborative Director.

Connecticut BEAN Organizes Advocacy Workshop

The Connecticut YMCA Alliance's Branch Executives and Associates Network (BEAN) organized today's YMCA Advocacy workshop, as part of the continuing series of professional development experiences for YMCA professionals in the state. The Connecticut BEAN is chaired by Chris Pallatto, Executive Director of the Wheeler Regional YMCA Branch of the Greater Hartford YMCA. (right in photo). Serving with Chris on the BEAN steering committee are Jeff Williams, Executive Director of the Hamden-North Haven Branch of the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA (left in photo). Philip J. Dwyer, President of the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA, is Vice Chair of the Public Policy Committee of the Connecticut Alliance of YMCAs (center in photo). Not pictured is BEAN steering committee member Mark Pasquarello, Executive Director of the Berlin Branch of the New Britain-Berlin YMCA.

Neighborhood Pride Evident in North Hartford

Talk to a person on the sidewalk in front of the new Wilson-Gray Youth and Family Center YMCA in the North End of Hartford, and you will readily sense the community PRIDE in this spectacular new YMCA full-facility branch, featuring a gymnasium, community rooms, child-watch, locker facilities, and a Read To Succeed literacy center.

YMCA Member Ambassadors

YMCA Member Ambassador Dean Jones and Senior Director of Membership and Marketing Susan Campbell represented the Greater Hartford YMCA in stellar fashion, as they conducted tours of the handsome new Wilson-Gray Youth and Family Center in the North End of Hartford. Jones and Campbell are pictured in front of the historic mosaic mural in the lobby of the new facility. The mosaic was preserved from the old YMCA building across from Bushnell Park in downtown Hartford.