From Greater Valley YMCA: (August 22, 2023) YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and Greater Valley YMCA in Pennsylvania, will enter into a management agreement for Zane Moore, President/CEO of YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties, to provide executive leadership to Greater Valley YMCA beginning September 1, 2023.
The boards of directors of both YMCAs separately voted to move forward with the agreement after several months of conversation between the two organizations. The conversations were initiated by Greater Valley YMCA anticipating the August 2023 retirement of their longtime CEO, David Fagerstrom.
“Once I announced my upcoming retirement, we began thinking as an organization about the best way to move forward,” said Fagerstrom, “Following an extensive period of due diligence, we feel that entering into this partnership with neighboring YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties will lead our Y toward a strong future of growth and service to our community.”
The management agreement provides a unique opportunity for the two Ys, who already have a shared mission and commitment to positively impact lives, to explore the possible benefits of merging the organizations. Exploration will include assessing organizational alignment, shared resources and efficiencies, and opportunities for learning from proven practices. Following a period of due diligence, the boards of both Ys will evaluate whether merging the two organizations provides operational benefits and strengthens their ability to advance their mission.
“This is an exciting time for both Ys and will provide us with a great opportunity to learn from each other and establish collaborative connections,” said Zane Moore, President/CEO of YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties. “Through this process, our goal is to strengthen both organizations, providing greater benefit and service to communities across Lehigh, Northampton, Hunterdon and Bucks counties.”
Both YMCAs are charitable, nonprofit organizations committed to strengthening communities through membership and programs that foster youth development, healthy living and social responsibility for all. Additionally, they support members of the community through food programs, residential and overnight sheltering services, educational resources, blood drives, and community service projects.
Blogger's Note: I'm surprised to hear these are "charitable" institutions when membershipfees are outrageous in comparison to for-profit gyms.
6 comments:
I used to believe in the YMCA/YWCA mission, and was a member at the Allentown location. Then they decided they were going to be a homeless shelter in the winter, and that was it for me.
Yes, the homeless need help but many or most) have underlying substance abuse or mental health issues. What the Allentown Y did in making the change wasn’t fair to members, and it certainly wasn’t fair to the neighborhood.
I’m sure grants were involved and the Y did what was in its best financial interests, just like everyone else. But I expected more from them.
If the leadership of the various YMCA groups is wondering why their memberships are dwindling and why they’re having to constantly combine their leadership groups, they should visit the Allentown site as a case study in what NOT to do.
There is a sign on Preston Lane near DeSales U stating "Future Home of Saucon YMCA"
The reason they are likely considered charitable is because of community programs that they offer to low income families and cheap if not free temporary housing they offer to low income folks. Your gym fees help with some of this as well as their fund-raising events.
I can only hope that anyone who thinks that they’re getting a gym or athletic center realizes that they’re also getting a rehab facility. It’s the old bait and switch.
The problem with the Allentown Y was not the winter homeless shelter in the basement. That was able to operate without causing any problems, mainly because the hours were limited, it had a separate entrance, and the persons who were served were not allowed on the property when the facility was not open. The problem was that the Y was almost never open for its members. The hours on the weekends were miniscule, and morning and evening hours were greatly reduced after the pandemic. It seems like a conscious decision was made that the Allentown Y would only function as a day care center, and nothing more. Then, more recently, the Y has been closed to members for months because of a rooftop fire on one side of the building. The day care is able to fully function.
The Y makes most of its money from daycare. Membership fees may or may not cover the cost of maintenance. The $45 or so month,y payment would buy me access to a pool, sauna, and steam at the Bethlehem location and access to any Y anywhere in the US.
Now I note that $45 is a lot more than the $10 Planet Fitness charges for a monthly membership. They bump up their prices to $29 for access to any club in their system and discounts on their refreshments - and a massage chair. Their hours are a lot better than the Y’s too.
What does the Y offer? For me, location - bikeable and walkable from my home. It’s near the food coop on Broad Street, which will be my new supermarket when it opens. The staff is consistent and friendly. The city health bureau comes in regularly to give free vaccinations. They offer wellness classes AND they have lockers. The pool is warm and accessible More than anything else, though, they offer a sense of community. My experience with PF is that it’s a place you go in and get out of.
For me, paying zero dollars a month through my 65+ health insurance benefit, it’s a steal.
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