YMCA Family,
I am excited to be sending the first of an ongoing email series we are calling the First Friday Report. I have felt that we needed to improve our communication to our members about the YMCA. Thus, on the first Friday of each month, you will get an email from me letting you know about the YMCA. However, I also want to hear back from you! I want to hear your thoughts, suggestions, ideas, bragging points or frustrations about the YMCA. Simply reply to this email with anything that is on your mind.
More information can be found on the right. Certain topics and reports are listed. Just click on the link to read more about the topic. Next month's email will answer some of your questions under the topic column.
The biggest question I have received in recent months is "How is the YMCA doing in this economy?" The answer is easy, we are doing great! Over the past 5 months, we have had a net increase of 411 new members which brings us to a total of 9,391 members. On this day in 2004, we had 4,904 members. (See membership chart)
Programmatically, we are still strong. All programs have increased in participants, except for our afterschool program. Our average weekly attendance this time last semester was around 355 children. This week, it was 290 children. This decrease in afterschool is a trend across the state with our sister YMCA's. Other programs such as soccer, tae kwon do, and swim team have all increased participants over the past year.
Even though we are doing well in membership and programs, the Board of Directors and I felt it wise and prudent to reduce our spending until the overall economy has picked up. We have found savings in areas such as reducing a number of contracted services, suspended a couple facility upgrades and cut back some of our excessive uses of supplies. The YMCA is still strong financially during this tough economic time. We have not had to reduce staff or cut services to the community nor do we plan to.
I thank you for your commitment and loyalty to the Pickens County YMCA. I look forward to hearing from you and keeping you up-to-date on your YMCA!
In His Service,
Sid Collins, CEO
|
