|
|
|
A Message from our President and CEO
This past June, I had the honor and privilege of being appointed President & CEO of the YMCA of the Inland Northwest. During the interview process, I had the opportunity to attend a reception of community leaders, and was impressed at how many times I heard that when there was a problem in Spokane, the community came together to solve it. It speaks volumes about our collective caring and compassion - it was also one of the driving forces in my making the decision to accept the job and move my family to Spokane.
I have had the wonderful opportunity in a thirty five year plus YMCA career to live in some great cities across this country - Boston, Rochester (NY), Nashville, Denver and now Spokane. Interestingly, when you're considering a move, people will speak to the strengths of their community such as great schools, wonderful recreation, cultural opportunities, etc.
However, I've found that the true strength of any community is its collective ability to weave a safety net for the poor and disenfranchised. In order to weave this safety net, it takes a number of strong community threads - philanthropic businesses who realize that a rising tide raises all boats, individuals of compassion who generously support community causes, governments who realize that they are representative of all people, and finally, not-for-profits like the YMCA who live their charitable mission each and every day.
We are collectively weaving this safety net in our communities, and the YMCA is playing an integral role. Later on in this newsletter, you will read about our Partners For Youth Campaign - our annual endeavor which ensures that we will turn nobody away for an inability to pay. This effort allows us to give nearly $2 million in financial assistance and program subsidy making certain that individuals and families have access to YMCA programs and facilities, quality, nurturing child care and camp programs and teen programs that change lives.
Please read on to learn more about how both your time (as one of our "friendraisers") and generosity (as a donor) can help us continue the charitable mission that has served our community for 128 years!
Steve Tammaro
President & CEO
YMCA of the Inland Northwest
|
 | |  | | Improve Employee Well-being
Bring your lunch while we discuss and learn about multiple areas of wellness. Through these interactive and engaging sessions, your staff will learn and experience ways to lower stress, improve posture, eat healthier, and help their body function to its fullest potential.  | |
Click To Enlarge
|
Topics Include: Metabolism & Weight Management Important Aspects of Exercise Posture, Tension, and Body Ergonomics in the Workplace Nutrition Healthy Alternatives Nutrition Basics & Myths Chair Yoga at Work For more information, contact Eric Denney
at 509-777-YMCA (9622) or at
edenney@ymcaspokane.org
| |  | |  |
|
|
Glyph Language Services offers a wide spectrum of linguistic services specializing in translation, localization, geopolitical consulting and language teaching.
Committed to accuracy in content and tone, we have invested in a knowledgeable and dedicated team - linguists, language teachers, media engineers and world travelers. Glyph is proud to be a trusted partner extending the intercultural and global reach of leading Fortune 500 companies worldwide.
Glyph understands the value of investing in long-term mental and physical wellness. The company provides family YMCA memberships to full-time permanent employees. Additional benefits include bringing in a massage therapist twice a month, stocking the kitchen with healthy snacks and opening up our e-Learning language courses in-house to those interested.
"It's amazing that my employer has given my family such a great benefit like this. We mostly take advantage of the facilities on the North Side. My 3-year-old daughter loves the pool, as do my wife and I. The hot tub is a lifesaver after those hard days at work or from playing hard outdoors. We love getting together with coworkers and their kids after work or on the weekends. It's a great way to unwind and have some fun." - Cody
"Having a safe place to take our kids and let them swim, play and interact with others is invaluable - even for the parents! Sometimes it's hard to get out of the house and be active when you have young children, yet having a YMCA membership sponsored by our employer makes it that much more enjoyable. Who needs an excuse to get out of the house, hang out with your friends, and let the kiddos burn off energy and have a blast at the same time?" - Casey
|
|
|
|
|
In March of this year, we asked the Spokane community to vote online and lend support in our efforts to secure a LIVESTRONG Community Impact Grant. Receiving this recognition was a prerequisite to obtaining the great privilege of offering LIVESTRONG at the YMCA. We want to formally thank all friends of the Y who participated in this voting campaign. We received the grant in April and have been working hard for the last 6 months to build capacity and train staff for a successful and sustainable roll-out.
LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is a 12 week program whose mission is to empower adult cancer survivors to improve functional capacity and to increase their quality of life through an organized program of fitness and strength. Post-treatment cancer survivors work together in small groups to regain physical, emotional and spiritual balance. LIVESTRONG at the YMCA Coaches, who are specially trained in supportive cancer care, facilitate the program in a safe, non-clinical environment. Small class sizes with a maximum ratio of seven participants to one coach allow for program protocols to be personalized in a way that honors and respects the unique journey of each participant.
Seven survivors are currently participating in our pilot program which launched on November 7th. They will meet as a group two times per week for a total of 24 classes over the next three months. In March, the program will be available at all three of our branches. We hope to enroll and graduate 125 participants in 2013.
For more information on how you can participate in, or support LIVESTRONG at the YMCA, please contact Nicole Manus at nmanus@ymcaspokane.org or at 509-777-9622 ext. 119
|
|
If you haven't tried Group Exercise before, now is the time to start. With the variety of classes offered there is sure to be an interest for not only the most seasoned exerciser but also for beginners and everyone in between. You can try all different classes to find out what suits you best or just stick with what you know. Come with friends or make new ones along the way, either way you will have a great time and get your blood flowing. We are also always adding the newest and latest formats to keep things fresh and exciting. Below is just a sampling of the wide array of classes that we offer at each facility.
AOA Gym Circuit: M, W, F 8:15-9am, T, TH 8:30-9:15am Central Y- Gym
Combine fun and fitness to increase your cardiovascular and muscular endurance power with a walking and aerobic workout. Total body strength, balance and flexibility work is alternated with non-impact aerobic choreography. Weights are often used at the end of class for overall body toning. This class is geared toward Active Older Adults, however, anyone looking for a low to moderate cardio workout would benefit from this class.
Zumba Toning: F 5:30-6:30pm Central Y- Studios 1 & 2 and Sun 3:45-4:45pm Valley Y - Studio
When it comes to body sculpting, Zumba Toning raises the bar. It combines targeted body-sculpting exercises and high-energy cardio work with Latin-infused Zumba moves to create a calorie-torching, strength-training dance fitness-party. Members use lightweight, maraca-like Toning Sticks or light hand weights to enhance rhythm and tone all their target zones, including arms, abs, glutes and thighs. Zumba Toning is the perfect way for enthusiasts to sculpt their bodies naturally while having a total blast.
Kids Yoga Storytime: M 4:15-5:00pm Central Y- Comstock Rooms and F 4:30-5:20pm Valley Y- Studio
Combining the art of storytelling with the healing practice of yoga, it's children's yoga like you've never seen it before. This is a monthly program with weekly sessions that start the first week of each month. This class teaches basic yoga poses and breathing to kids ages 3-8. The poses are then incorporated into a story or tale during the class. Improve your child's imagination, focus, mental and physical health, and self-esteem.
PiYo or Pilates/Yoga: Several classes offered at all 3 facilities.
These classes offer all the benefits of Pilates, adding in deeper stretches and relaxation of yoga. This is a unique class designed to build strength & gain flexibility. The moves fit perfectly together to form a class filled with intense choreography that's fun, challenging and will make you sweat. It's about energy, power, and rhythm. Think sculpted abdominals, increased overall core strength, and greater stability.
|
| Check out our BLOG and find great articles about Healthy Living, Youth Development and Social Responsibility! Think you have a great article for our blog? Send it to ncress@ymcaspokane.org. |
|
|
 | |  | |
PFY Campaign
When we give of our time and our generosity something happens, we begin to feel better about ourselves because life lived to the fullest happens outside ourselves.
The YMCA invites you to take part in this year's Partners for Youth Campaign. It is an opportunity look closely at how you would like to make a difference in the lives of those around you.
This message is an appeal to our corporate partners and members, we are asking for your involvement. We encourage you to consider lining up 2-3 champions; these are Partners for Youth Community Support Campaign "friendraisers" that are designated to be a leader of this campaign at your company. You will have the opportunity to be very creative and learn many creative ways of how to spur generosity in the work place throughout your workforce.
This past year we have provided nearly $2 Million in scholarships for children, individuals and families in our community. The Partners for Youth Community Support Campaign is how the YMCA fulfills its mission. Our 2013 campaign goal is to raise $600,000.
Here is a glimpse of how scholarship dollars impact lives:
- Provide a safe place for a teen that otherwise might be making poor choices out on the streets
- Assistance is given to a family to experience a nurturing environment for their child in our Early Childcare Program
- A blessing to be remembered for a lifetime! An under privileged child to attend a week at Camp Reed
- Offering an equal membership opportunity for families and providing needed support for our neighbors
Together we can make a difference and change lives. We look forward to your involvement to build upon and influence our community. Won't you join in and help us reach this goal together?!
| |  | |  |
| | | |
Healthy Living Tip & Recipe
Eating Together
As we enjoy and give thanks for having family and friends around the table during the holiday season, we might consider making family meals together more of a regular occurrence.
Despite busy schedules and competing priorities, sitting down together to share a meal and the events of the day is valuable time to connect, show genuine interest in and care for one another, create and share traditions, and appreciate one another's company.
Consistently sharing quality time together during meals as a family has been linked to better grades and less tobacco, alcohol and drug use by teens.
It's also an opportunity to talk about and model healthy eating habits like eating a wide variety of foods, especially fruits and vegetables.
* Start with one meal a week
* Try breakfast or brunch if dinner is difficult to schedule
* Keep the menu simple, but healthful. The point is to be together
* Turn off the TV, phones and other electronic devices
* Prepare the meal together and divide up tasks like setting the table and doing the dishes
* Try new foods and menu ideas - it's fun and will get you talking
* Plan meal dates, put them on the family calendar, and enjoy 'dressing' for the occasion
* As a family, search out a new healthy recipe, prepare it together and then have everyone grade the recipe - it may become a monthly regular
* Take your time. Relax and enjoy the food and each other's company!
__________________
Pumpkin Spice Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 box of Spice Cake mix (any brand)
- 1 15oz can of 100% pure pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
Directions
- Preheat oven according to spice cake instructions (usually around 350º)
- Combine cake mix and entire can of pumpkin
- Whisk mixture until smooth-will be a little thicker than normal, like a dough
- Line cupcake pan with paper baking cups
- Pour mixture into pan filling each cup 2/3 full
- Bake according to box directions.
| | | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
