The LMY Community Connection

Kids had a beach-tastic time during last Saturday's Parent's Night Out "Spring Break Beach Party!" Attendees participated in "wipe out" freeze dancing, musical beach towels, beach ball bowling, shell painting, and more! With colorful beach balls on hand, towels around their shoulders, and surf rock on the stereo, some might say the only ingredient missing from kids' Spring Break experience was ocean waves lapping upon the beach. Then again... a number of kids swore they heard the ocean through their painted seashells!

On Sunday, while working at the Welcome Desk, I noticed a duck lounging outside the Longmont Y's main entryway. Unafraid of incoming members, this tenacious Mallard wandered amidst the bushes and bike racks, occasionally stopping to peer inside the front doors. Members informed me that her mate, a green-headed drake, was meandering toward the Educational Farm. Waddling lazily and soaking up the springtime sun... What a life!

Check out our great specialty classes!  The Specialty Class pass is $15/month and there are 7 Specialty Classes available perweek, which makes it an awesome deal per month compared to local yoga studios.

Between March 7th and 23rd, the Longmont Y participated in a nationwide voting frenzy! From Alaska to Florida, Y's across the nation conducted online voting campaigns in hopes of earning LIVESTRONG Community Impact Grants. These Community Impact Grants will fund 12-week Cancer Survivor Programs designed to help adult cancer survivors during the transitional period between completing cancer treatment and returning to "new normal." More than 450,000 votes were cast to bring cancer support programs to communities across the country!

A resounding THANK YOU to those who voted for the Longmont Y to receive a LIVESTRONG Community Impact Grant! Thanks to you, Longmont and its surrounding communities have an opportunity to help cancer survivors live with courage, dignity, and strength.

The Ed and Ruth Lehman YMCA was the only Y in Colorado to qualify for the LIVESTRONG Community Impact Grant. In order to secure the LIVESTRONG grant, the Longmont Y must receive more votes than its regional competitors in Texas and Montana. 

Stay tuned and find out whether the Longmont Y will host LIVESTRONG's Cancer Survivor Program!

Grant recipients will be announced Monday, April 9th.

Here at the Longmont Y, we are observing the first telltale signs of spring. The bushes outside are beginning to sprout tender, new growth. The sparrows have returned to the entryway rafters, greeting early arrivals with raucous song. Some of our feathered friends have even been spotted collecting nesting materials! Take a look:

The Longmont Y offers a variety of springtime programs and activities. Whether your interested in preparing for swimsuit season, training for triathlon season, cooling off by the pool, or finding youth engagement activities, we're ready to support your springtime plans! Drop by the Longmont Y today and learn how the Y can enhance your warm-weather endeavors! Our Welcome Desk staff are excited to greet you ... though the birds may beat us to it!

The Longmont Y has erected new signs along Lashley and 9th Avenue! These signs are "brand new" in more than one sense. Yes, they are brighter, friendlier, and more colorful than their predecessors. What's more, they also align with the "re-branding" of YMCAs across the nation, a process that has been underway since 2010.

As directed by YUSA, this national rebranding includes two seemingly subtle changes: The YMCA is now "The Y" and it is not an institution, it is a movement.

Branch Executive John Yeast played an integral role in securing the new signage. As John says, “The change in the logo signifies more than just rounded corners and dynamic colors. It is an opportunity to narrow our focus nationally to better serve the needs of our specific communities. The focus on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility is something that has helped our Y in Longmont to be a leader in the national movement and help underserved communities here in Longmont.”

The next time you are traveling down Lashley or 9th Ave, take a look at our new signage! We are excited to unveil these new signs, but we are THRILLED by the values and mission they represent!

Hello campers, camp alumni, and camp families! Camp, like many Y programs, is about learning skills, developing character, making friends, and just a dash of silliness. We’d love to hear about YOUR experience at Y Camp.  Dig up that photo from Y Camp or share a funny story or happy memory.  We’ll post it on our blog and Facebook page.  Don’t forget to register for another great year!

Bestselling author, political adviser and social and ethical prophet Jeremy Rifkin investigates the evolution of empathy and the profound ways that it has shaped our development and our society.

What if you do not "become happy" once you reach X,Y or Z? What if life is about being happy in the present...no matter what, what if being happy was the most important "thing?"

SUMMARY:

As a key member of the YMCA Team, the Educational Farm Coordinator will manage several aspects of the Farm including but not limited to planting and harvesting vegetables, coordinating volunteers, teaching youth about gardening and the benefits of healthy food.  Also, the Educational Farm Coordinator will work with non-profit organizations to set up a voucher program for the distribution of local fresh vegetables to qualifying low income families. The Educational Farm Coordinator will work with the YMCA staff team to impact the community in Longmont.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Must have previous experience in and supervision of staff.

General knowledge and experience in gardening, teaching, programming, active listening skills, and understanding the change process. Prefer previous experience in working with multicultural clients and under represented populations.

Bilingual Spanish/ English required.

SCOPE:

30- 34 hours per week.  Hours subject to program operations, and may include nights and weekends. This position reports to the Branch Executive.

SALARY:

Part -time seasonal position. $12- $15 an hour based on experience.

HOW TO APPLY:

Send cover letter, resume and list of 3 professional references to:

John Yeast

We need your help!  Our YMCA is applying to be a part of a LIVESTRONG program.  This program will help people that are dealing with cancer and have gone through cancer treatment to readjust to life.  It will focus not only on the physical aspect but also support people emotionally.  I think it is a great program and we would love to help.  So, here is what we need, a vote.  You only have to vote once, but we need all the help we can get.  Please just click on the link below to vote.  Also, feel free to share this link with anyone else that might want to help this program come to Longmont.  Thank you for helping us make this happen!

VOTE FOR THE LONGMONT Y!

Last Saturday, March 3rd, the Longmont Y hosted its 8th annual Indoor Fun Triathlon! Fourteen men and women participated in the triathlon, ranging from age 30 to age 69. Each participant spent 20 minutes swimming laps, 20 minutes pedaling a stationary bicycle, and a 20 minutes running on our indoor track. The triathlon was tackled by newcomers and seasoned triathletes alike, all of whom completed the event with gusto!

The proceeds from the Indoor Fun Triathlon raised significant funds for the Longmont Y's Community Support Campaign for Youth Development. In addition to promoting fitness, fun, friendship, and healthy competition, our triathletes have enabled struggling and low-income community members utilize the Y and its programs.

The Longmont Y would like to congratulate all Indoor Fun Triathletes! We are inspired by your spirit and hope you've enjoyed your triathlon experience. Also, a resounding THANK YOU to the volunteer coordinators and timekeepers who made this wonderful event possible!

If you participated in the 2012 Indoor Fun Triathlon and would like to know your score/rank, please contact the Longmont Y Welcome Desk at 303-776-0370.

Child Watch has received a mighty makeover! Reorganization, deep-cleaning, and a few layers of fresh paint have revitalized the space, making it a lighter, brighter place for children to learn and play! Thank you to the directors and staff whose time and elbow grease made this facelift possible.

In addition to a more organized, aesthetically pleasing appearance, Child Watch is excited to introduce weekly themes! Each week, Child Watch will unveil a new, kid-friendly motif with accompanying toys, activities, and decorations. Last week's theme was DINOSAURS!

Did You Know: Members of the Longmont Y may utilize Child Watch for up to two FREE hours of child care per day! Non-members are also welcome to use Child Watch for a modest fee. Enjoy a stress-free, kid-free workout. Our friendly, well-qualified staff are prepared to help your child stay safe, happy, and entertained. Visit Child Watch today! You can also find more information about Child Watch HERE.

If you visited the Longmont Y on a Friday night or Saturday afternoon in January or February, you experienced firsthand the boundless energy and staggering quantity of local kids participating in youth basketball league! Each Friday and Saturday, eager participants (ranging from four-years-old to sixth-grade) donned their Y jerseys and prepared to showcase their skills. Accompanied by parents, extended family, and friends, these youngsters demonstrated, not only their developing basketball skills, but their confidence, teamwork, and sportsmanship. While winter basketball has drawn to a close, there's no doubt the program's positive impact upon local youths will last a lifetime.

This fantastic program is made possible by the hard work, dedication, and compassion of volunteer coaches! On behalf of parents, families, and program participants, the Longmont Y would like to extend a resounding "THANK YOU" to these unsung heroes!

Please read the following message formSports Director Darrin Cole, as he delivers heartfelt words of gratitude:

“Volunteers are the backbone of the sport and recreation industries. Across Longmont and the surrounding communities, there are hundreds of coaches that devote their time each week to ensure that children of all ages have an opportunity to participate in the activities they enjoy.  Thank you, coaches, for your time and involvement. It means a great deal to me, the Longmont Y, and the community. Most importantly, it means a great deal to the children.”

Thank you, Volunteer coaches!  You're changing lives; on season, one team, one player at a time.

Last week three staff members at the Longmont Y were able to experience the YMCA Program EXPO in San Antonio, TX.  Giselle Lehmann, Jessica Fernandez and John Yeast joined over 900 YMCA professionals engaged in learning about the incredible impact that The Y is having in communities across the U.S.

There were several highlights that I would like to share.  In a keynote speech delivered by Dr. Adolph Brown, he demonstrated that character is what happens when no one is watching.  Y staff are not in if for the income, but for the outcome, and that relationship and attitude are the most effective and underutilized resources that don't cost a thing.

The Longmont Y was featured several times throughout the conference in presentations focused on our programs, our community partnerships, and the positive changes and  overall impact that we had on our community.