Y's Words

A New Look, or "What's All the Fuss About?"

2010-08-13T11:58:00.001-07:00

You might have heard recently that the YMCA has recently launched a "brand revitalization campaign" nationally. There's even been some media coverage of this, with responses from the likes of The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Even the Village People have given their two cents on the matter.

Since the Y announced this intention, I've wondered to myself, "What does that mean to our members, to our participants, and to our community? What can the expect from us now?" And now that it's official, some members and people in our community are asking those same questions.

So here's the good news: We're not changing what we do, not one bit. For over 40 years right here in Chapel Hill, it's been our mission to strengthen the spirit, mind, and body of all people in this community through effective programs, strong leadership, and healthy practices based on Judeo-Christian Principles.

One of the things we realized is that what you might call us and what we call ourselves don't always match. I've heard people many times say, "I'm headed over to the Y." or "The kids are signed up for summer camp at the Y." So, moving forward, you'll hear us refer to ourselves much more often as the Y. Even though our corporate name remains The Chapel Hill - Carrboro YMCA, we recognized that, in conversation, we ARE the Y.

One of the things we've done is change our logo. But it's so much more than just that. At the Y, our cause is simply stated, but rich in meaning: Strengthening the foundations of community. And, in all we do, our focus is on Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility.

Over the coming days, we hope to share with you what these things mean to us, how they guide what we do, and how you can be a part of it all. Once again, I'd like to say that this Y has always been and will continue to be here to serve you and everyone in the community, regardless of the color of a logo, the words we use to describe ourselves or what the sign out front looks like.

Thanks for being a part of the Y and we look forward to working with you to make the community an even better one.

So what do you think? Have you seen the new Y logo and look? And how does the Y impact your life? Share your thoughts! We'd love to hear them.

The Bigger Impact of Summer Camp

2010-06-02T13:38:00.000-07:00

This is such a fun time of year at the Y. As school winds down and

summer approaches, there's a building frenzy toward one of our busiest times of the year - Summer Camp. Staff is hired and trained, sites are cleaned and prepped, registrations are made and all the like. I get the question asked of me daily - "Are y'all getting ready for camp?" I always answer yes and chat about all the preparations being made, when in all actuality, it's not so much me as the Youth Department Staff.

I suppose we do get excited about camp around here. We get to see kids all year long, but it's different at camp. I'm not sure if it's because of the setting, or the activities or simply since its summer, but things are so different at camp.

It occurred to me this morning as I was thinking about it, that Summer Camp has a really unique place in the collective memories and culture of a large part of our country. You can see it everywhere, from movies to TV shows and even commercials. Summer camp has become something of a rite of passage in the typical American kid's life. It seems that nearly everyone I meet nowadays has at least one great memory of Summer Camp that has stayed with them their entire lives. I love hearing them. I'm amazed that adults still remember the names of camp counselors, directors and lifeguards at the camps they where they spent their childhoods. Hearing people recount their stories always, and i mean ALWAYS brings a smile to my face.

I used to think that these memories were nothing more than simple things that stick in our memories for random reasons. But now, after being around Y camp staff for a few years, I'm thinking something different. It occurs to me that even when it looks to me like these young staff members are simply playing with kids, or loading buses or cleaning a scraped knee, they're actually choosing to spend Summer living with intention and making efforts to affect kids with their smiles, attitudes and character. Here's a little insight: I never went to Summer camp. So for me, watching this on a daily basis is like being at camp. And I love it. I know for me, a summer off in college was a time to shut my brain down, so, not to sound cheesy, but seeing these kids do what they do is inspirational.

It also occurs to me that those memories - the ones we keep all the way through adulthood - the ones from camp - those memories don't just happen to stick with us because they're fun, or we were having a good time. No, we carry those memories because someone, a counselor, or a lifeguard, or a camp director, was also living intentionally, working to affect us, and whether or not they realized it, helping to create the story of who we would become. The memories that stuck with us are those that someone helped us create.

So we're only a couple of weeks from creating some new memories that someone will be talking about 20 years from now. I can't wait to have the chance to get a glimpse of those special moments happening. Who knows, maybe I'll get to be a part of a new memory.

What about you? Do you have a special memory from camp? Was there someone who meant so much that you still remember his or her name? Tell me about it, share it. I'd love to hear the story.

April Fitness Tip - The Plank

2010-04-27T07:03:00.000-07:00

Here's the April fitness video. This one covers the Plank. It's an easy exercise for the core that you can do almost anywhere. Is there an exercise you'd like for us to cover on the blog? Let us know and we'll schedule it! To view the video full size on our Youtube channel, click here.

Exercising: Find your Fun!

2010-04-15T06:23:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about how physical fitness (or at least exercise) and spiritual well-being and true happiness seem to really go hand-in-hand. And yet, when we think of "getting fit," most of usually obsess over calories burnt, calories taken in, time on the treadmill, and the like. We never think about how exercise makes us happier people.

For a long time, my exercise routine and fitness regimen had the same meaning. As some of you know, when i started working at the Y nearly 5 years ago, I was substantially overweight. So I started to exercise with the simple goal of losing weight. I'd tried the whole "exercise" thing in the past, but could never stick with it. I think something clicked when I discovered something I love to do. Exercise should NOT be miserable, nor should it be something that feels like work. You gotta go out and find something that's fun. And that should be the very first thing you look for when you're looking to start a workout routine. Ask yourself: "Would I have fun if I _______ for exercise?" If the answer is no, move on. If the answer is yes, then you can start asking questions about target heart rate, calories burned, even what cute outfit you'll wear whilst doing said activity. But for goodness sake, start by having fun.

We're really good at attaching this idea to work. If I've heard it once, I've heard it a thousand times, "Find something you love to do, then figure out a way to get paid for it." No one ever questions this line of thinking, but it's not often that I've seen someone slogging through a treadmill run just stop and announce that "This is no fun, so I'm not doing it anymore."

It's time to change that. And if you want, you can start at the Y. Consider this my personal invitation. If there's a regularly scheduled fitness class that we offer that you've always wanted to try, come on! There's space for you. If you don't like it, you can leave. If it's fun, you might just be on to something. Here's a list of what we've got to offer. Check it out and choose one. And I want to hear what you chose. Tell me about your class in the comments on this post, or leave it as a comment on the Y's Facebook Fan Page.

I run. It's fun to me. So now how about you? What do you do to exercise that's Fun? I want to know! Let's hear it!

Today's healthy food: Quinoa (pronounced /ˈkiːnoʊ.ə/ or /kwɨˈnoʊ.ə/,). Quinoa is a grain-like crop grown primarily for its edible seeds. It is a pseudocereal rather than a true cereal, or grain, as it is not a grass. As a chenopod, quinoa is closely related to species such as beets, spinach, and tumbleweeds. I love this stuff. Check out this site to learn more about it and find great recipes.

March Fitness Tip - Standing Back Squats

2010-03-23T09:11:00.001-07:00

Here's the first of a new monthly fitness video blog series for you. This one covers the standing back squat. Is there an exercise you'd like for us to cover on the blog? Let us know and we'll schedule it! To view the video full size on our Youtube channel, click here.

A little taste of holiday cheer

2009-12-18T12:25:00.001-08:00

Our guest blogger this week is Drew Smith, our Development Director.

When is the last time you went caroling? I highly recommend it this holiday season…it will warm your soul on a cold December evening. Whitney Kahn, our senior program director and I took a group of 8 high school kids caroling last night and it was awesome! All the kids are active members of our Leaders Club. I mentioned to Whitney that I wanted to take a group of Leaders who can carry a tune (Lord knows I can’t!) on a little trip around town to go caroling to some of our donors. So the kids enthusiastically embraced the idea, went to work on learning three different songs to sing (Silver Bells, Angels We Have Heard on High, and Deck the Halls).

So we ventured out and stopped at about a dozen homes and I only wish more folks were home. About half the folks we went to see were home, so I guess in baseball terms we were batting .500 which is a great number…but when you’re out there caroling, you want to sing to actual people.. But it really didn’t matter…and I wish everyone could have seen the huge smiles on the faces of these kids when they heard this right after their first carol of the night, “I haven’t been Christmas caroled in years! Thank you, thank you, you guys were great!”

Even when folks weren’t home they sang anyway…and maybe the neighbors got to hear the harmonized vocals of these 8 high school students donning their Santa hats with mini flashlights and cell phones in hand to illumine the sheet of lyrics in the darkness of the night.

What really struck me was how these teens just totally immersed themselves in this endeavor. They were loving it…really having fun…going from house to house singing carols, joking with each other, and counting down the minutes until the post-caroling pizza party. (By the way the pizza at Carmine’s in Eastgate was amazing). While they scarfed down the pizzas they were talking about doing it again next year! And we’ve already got some plans in place to make it bigger and better, so stay tuned.

So if we didn’t get to your house this year, keep a lookout for the YMCA Leaders Club carolers in 2010.

So when's the last time you went caroling? And what's your favorite Holiday Song? Share your favorite memories and we'll pick the best one for a great YMCA Prize in January!

Beating the Winter Blahs, YMCA Style

2009-12-01T13:00:00.000-08:00

As I sat and watched the rain fall in the parking lot, it occurred to me that this time of year, as the days get shorter and the temperatures get colder, it becomes easier than usual to slip into a bit of a funk and let your spirit start to droop a bit. With the winter weather, the lack of sunshine, the hustle & bustle of the holidays, and stress that comes with life's daily grind, we often find ourselves deep in a rut of winter doldrums before we know it.

Then it occurred to me that the YMCA is the perfect place to discover new tools for fighting the winter "blechs." Here are some great ways you can "Beat the Blahs."

1. Try a new Fitness Class.

There's no better place to try a new class than the YMCA. Here there's no reason to worry about what people think of you or to be concerned about embarrassment. We're all about beginners (and intermediates and experts) so go ahead, Zumba away, even if you have no rhythm. Try that Yoga pose, because falling means you're trying, and sign up for Bellydancing, because everyone will look kind of silly (except for the instructor). Check out our fitness classes here.

2. Volunteer in a Youth Program.

Want a guaranteed laugh? Come and be a part of one of the YMCA Youth Programs. There isn't a funnier, more positive group of people on the planet than the kids in our youth programs. It doesn't take any special talents necessarily (although hidden talents are always a bonus). If you can do elementary math or help with geography homework, you're good to go. We'll guarantee at least a giggle every day you come to volunteer, plus you'll be making a difference in a kids life.

3. Find a Workout Buddy - at the Y.

Even for the most dedicated of us, time spent on your own on the treadmill can eventually become like running in circles on a human sized hamster wheel, no matter how great your "World's Best Workout" iPod playlist is. At the Y, we're about relationships, and what's so important to us is that you're in environment where you can feel comfortable discovering people here to build those new relationships with.

4. Go for a swim.

Nothing's better for thumbing your nose at Old Man Winter than taking a dip in the pool when it's freezing outside. Now I know, our pool is indoors and climate controlled, but it's still pretty cool to take a swim when most of the water outside is frozen solid. There's plenty of time for lap swim, recreational swim and aqua aerobics in our pool. Check it out on our pool schedule.

5. Just hang out here.

One of my favorite things about working at the Y is the never-ending treasure chest of fantastic life stories our members bring. From World War II veterans to Best Selling authors, Pioneering Educators to Amazing Athletes, the stories abound. Simply ask and you'll discover a sampling of what makes our town so interesting and fun to live in.

So that's my list of great things to do at the Y to beat the winter blues. How about you? What's your favorite part of the YMCA during the winter?

Looking for more great lists? Check out this one by one of our newest CHCYMCA members Molly Buckley - 5 things to keep in mind over the holidays.

Connecting our community for the better.

2009-11-30T15:59:00.000-08:00

This week our guest blogger is Drew Smith, our Financial Development Director:

Greetings and Happy Holidays! My name is Drew Smith and I’m the financial development director here at the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA. What does that title mean? Well, I’m basically a connector. I connect investors to the CHCYMCA - a great nonprofit organization that is serving the community in so many ways on a daily basis. Did you know that we have a standing commitment to make sure that no one is turned away from the YMCA based on his or her financial resources? Anyone and everyone who wants to be a part of the CHCYMCA is welcome, regardless of ability to pay. You know, most people think of our community as affluent; with an abundance of highly educated people from all over the globe. That’s true, but it’s also true that there are people who live and work here who struggle each day to make ends meet.

By connecting investors with the YMCA, we have the funds available to award financial assistance to hundreds of people every year right here in our community. People who need afterschool care for their children, summer day camp for their elementary schoolchildren, or seniors who need a place to take water aerobics classes. Those are just a few examples of how a donor’s gift is invested.

This is arguably the worst economy since the great depression, but our YMCA has received a record number of annual donations totaling more than $132,000 as of this writing. Still, we’ll award approximately $250,000 worth of financial assistance to local children, families, and individuals…so you can see there are unmet needs.

During the holidays, many of us take time to give thanks for our blessings and reflect on how fortunate we are for health, happiness, and good fortune. But for some of our neighbors, the holidays might not seem as bright or cheery…there are financial woes, unemployment concerns, and a decision of whether to pay the rent, or buy groceries.

Looking to make an end of the year donation and want 100% of your gift to stay local without part of your donation going to administrative fees, etc.? Please consider a gift to the We Build People campaign. You can make a gift securely online through our website. Just click the Donate Now button on our home page. You can always send a check or use a credit card if you’d like.

I think this is a great time to be thankful for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA. Imagine what our community would look like without it? Imagine if the 250+ kids who attend afterschool at the Y had to find somewhere else? What about the dozens of children who learn the potentially life saving skill of swimming every year at the Y? I’m also very thankful for the hundreds of annual donors and volunteers who graciously donate their treasure, their time, and their expertise to help others. The YMCA is devoted to serving this community, and it’s awesome to see this community respond!

Another Great Run in the Woods.

2009-10-30T16:09:00.001-07:00

This past Saturday, we held the 8th annual Pumpkin Run at the YMCA. This great annual event is held, with the great leadership of the YMCA and SeeJaneRun, a local women's running group headed up by Joan Nesbitt Mabe. For 8 solid years, this event has been a unique race in a town and area FULL of races all year long. It's not long. It's not super hard. It doesn't have a great big prize purse. But what it does have makes it special and fun and unlike any other race in Chapel Hill.

The race is really a celebration of the Carolina North Forest, which is managed by UNC Land Management division. If you haven't been there, do yourself a favor and go. Go by yourself, or take a friend, or take the whole family. It's maybe the single most delightful locale in Chapel Hill. I myself have disappeared for a couple of hours on the over 10 miles of single track trails located there.

There are many things that make this race so unique and special. I'd say the biggest thing is that at any time you may find yourself running next to a 6-year old or a 60-year old runner. Also, that runner may be attired in common runners garb or dressed as a pumpkin or a member of a Boy Band. You see, we encourage everyone to come out and run with us, in an effort to show that fitness can be fun, but also in hopes that over 300 people can celebrate the beauty of nature with us.

After the run, there's plenty of pumpkin pie and great dancing at the Post-Race Party back at the Y. For 8 years, local running group SeeJaneRun has worked tirelessly to make sure that every participant gets his or her fill of pie. Open Eye Cafe has always been generous and donated great coffee for the event. Chick-fil-A at University Mall makes sure that our volunteers get fed and so many local vendors donate supplies and prizes.

Now don't get me wrong - All this fun and enjoyment doesn't mean there aren't fast times. This year, John Hinton run the 4K even in 13:15(!!) I myself finished in 17:01 officially (I will mention that my Garmin said 16:55, but whose counting), and was neck and neck with a young man who appeared to be around 12 years old for the last 1/4 mile.

If you didn't run it this year, be sure to mark your calendars for next year. The race is always the Saturday before Halloween, and it always fills up fast. If you did run it this year, thank you so much for making this race such a special event in Chapel Hill. And a special thanks goes to the volunteers who continue to amaze me with their skill, dedication and hard work.

In case you are wondering, proceeds for the race go to the Chapel Hill High School Cross Country Team, to efforts to keep the Carolina North Forest clean, and to the annual YMCA Strong Kids Scholarship Campaign.

Healthy Recipe of the Month: Takeout Fake Out: Sesame Chicken

2009-09-23T18:33:00.000-07:00

As school activities ramp up, life can get more hectic and your time becomes more and more valuable, pulled between homework and soccer, science projects and dance, finding the time to a healthy dinner can be tough. Here's a recipe from Fitness Magazine that's a take on a Chinese takeout favorite - Sesame Chicken.

Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients
12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons chicken broth
2 tablespoons chopped scallions
1 tablespoon snipped parsley
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons sesame seeds
1 garlic clove, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 1/2 cups carrots, cut into matchsticks
1 cup jicama, cut into matchsticks
1 package (6 ounces) frozen pea pods
2 cups cooked brown rice

Directions
1. Cut chicken into strips. Combine soy sauce, chicken broth, scallions, parsley, vinegar, sesame seeds, garlic, and ginger in bowl. Add chicken, stirring to coat; cover and chill for 1 hour.

2. Heat oil in wok over medium-high heat. Stir-fry carrots for 1 minute. Add jicama; stir-fry 3 minutes or until crisp-tender. Remove veggies from wok.

3. Drain chicken, reserving marinade. Add chicken to wok; stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes, or until no longer pink. Push chicken to outside edge of wok.

4. Add reserved marinade to center of wok. Heat until bubbly. Return vegetables to wok, adding frozen pea pods. Cook 1 minute more, or until heated through. Serve over brown rice.

Nutrition facts per serving: 309 calories, 25g protein, 35g carbohydrate, 6g fat (1g saturated), 4g fiber

Calorie Cutting Tips
Shake Salt
"Always use low-sodium soy sauce," says Sharon Richter, RD, a dietitian in New York City. "Two tablespoons of the regular kind contains almost a day's worth of sodium."

Chop To It
Swap your fork for chopsticks. You'll eat more slowly, because it's harder to shovel in food.

Oil Change
We swapped sesame oil for canola, which has less saturated fat and more heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

The Perfect Cut
Carrots and jicama offer fresh flavor and crisp texture. Use a mandoline to cut them into perfect matchsticks.

Calorie Comparison
At a restaurant, this dish packs up to 1,000 calories. We ditched the deep fryer and used a wok to seal in flavor.

Cut Out Distractions - 5 Easy Steps to Better Focus

2009-09-16T17:57:00.000-07:00

Ever had one of those days? I'm talking about one of the days when you've got about a thousand things to do and it seems that everyone in the world knows it and is determined to keep you from your task(s). Today was one of those days for me and it got me to thinking about ways to reduce distractions and give yourself an advantage when it comes to tackling the day's tasks. We live in an age where communication is easier than ever and if you can't reach someone, you aren't trying.

But - sometimes this ease of communication turns into a roadblock for our productivity, preventing us from accomplishing the very thing that all of these tools are supposed to make easier. I was having one of those days today when I stopped, pushed my chair back from my desk and tried to survey the scene and discover how I could overcome and cut out some of the distractions preventing me from being productive. Here's what I came up with:

Email Notifications - You know that little "ding" that comes from your computer every time you get a new email? Turn it off. It's in your outlook settings. Just switch it off. Hearing that bell every time you get an email is an incredible distraction.

Keep a Schedule - Choose two times a day to check and respond to all emails, unless you are expecting an urgent one. You'll give yourself more time to focus on the task at hand without the constant bells and whistles of your email.

Become an Early Bird - No one likes to get to the office early. Use that to your advantage. Since no one else will be around, you'll get more done without phone calls, people stopping by, or an excuse to chat with your neighbor in the next office.

Don't Be Afraid to Close Your Door - It seems that it is a universal sign of politeness to work with your office door open, offering everyone the opportunity "come to me if you need anything." That's sweet. But the fact is, people are often distractions. Regardless of what message you may be afraid it is sending, there are times when one of the best things you can i simply close the door. Try it - you'll be surprised.

Tell Everyone - Take the time to tell everyone your intentions. No matter what plans you put in place, you'll want the support and cooperation of our co-workers and officemates if you want to be successful. Visit each person that you interact with and take 15 minutes to explain your plans to them and your motives behind them. You'll find that giving everyone the heads up will foster trust and earn you the space you need to be more productive.

Of course, don't forget exercise. Keeping yourself fit and healthy all the time will help you focus more at key times. And once you become more productive at work, you'll find yourself more calm, relaxed and centered at all times. Now that's Spirt, Mind & Body.

There are tons of great sites with tips on how to work through distractions at work. Here are a few:

The Blog of Tim Ferriss
Lifeclever
Life Organizers Blog
Studies of Office Escapology

Now, What did I miss? What's your best trick to avoid office distractions? How do you cope with the never-ending stream of information coming at us virtually minute-by-minute? Share your tips, tricks and thoughts in the comments.

20 questions, or what I learned from our YMCA members

2009-09-01T19:17:00.000-07:00

For about a year and a half now, we've been blogging here and trying to get the word out about the stuff going on at the YMCA. From post to post, our topics have ranged from updates about new programs to news about success stories and stories about lives we've touched. It's our hope that you've enjoyed the posts and that maybe you've learned a few things about your YMCA. However, we want more out of this post, and we want it to be even more useful to you.

Beginning today, we'll try to use the posts in this blog to engage you, our members and participants. We'll discuss topics and ask questions that we want you to answer. For over 150 years, the YMCA has been built on the idea of relationships, genuine and honest ones, with members and participants. Sure we have tons of programs and activities for kids and adults, and lots of opportunities for sports, fitness and service. But at the heart of it all, we're about relationships.

That's the reason we ask about grand kids or spouses. It's the reason we notice when you've been out for a couple of weeks. It's why we send flowers to new mothers or sick parents, and why we love celebrating birthdays.

With that in mind, going forward, I'm going to use this blog to pose questions to those of you who read it. The questions that I'll ask will sometimes be serious and sometimes be lighthearted, but they'll all have a purpose. As the Y moves forward we want to continue to be more connected to you, and so I want to find out things like:

-What you like most about what we're doing at the Y

-What's the most important part of your membership

-How we can do better to help you build a healthier spirit, mind and body

-What Y staff members are living our mission in their interactions with you

-When we're exceeding - and not living up to - your expectations

-Anything else you want to tell us

So as we go forward, let me invite you to come along, and help your Y reach it's full potential. We're prepared for honesty, as long as it's tempered with respect, and as long as it's focused on fairness and jives with our mission. We want to get better at what we do, and we need your help to get there.

With that in mind, let's start with an easy question, and you can leave your answers in the comments section or respond via email:

Q. What's the most important part of your YMCA membership? The part that brings you back, or that you couldn't live without? And why?

Thanks in advance for your honest, respectful answers and we'll get to work right not to make sure we learn from your answers.

-G

MVP

2009-08-20T05:07:00.000-07:00

We recently concluded a full summer program here at the Y called FitTeens. We took a group of overweight teens with an interest in discovering the fun in a healthier lifestyle and took them through the gamut of activities offered here at the YMCA. In addition, we talked with them about healthy eating and the simple ways they can substitute items and reduce portion size to improve their health.

Through the running, zumba, cycling, weight training, step classes and hip hop, we lost some of our participants, but in the end, there was a core group of kids who stuck with it. Yesterday was the last day of the program and I got to watch our instructor walk with the kids up the stairs from the Fitness Center as they were headed home.

You know that look on the face of the guy who just got named MVP at the end of the Superbowl as he announces he's going to DisneyWorld? How he's covered in confetti and wearing that cap with the team logo and the tag still on it and he's grinning from ear to ear and holding his kid and almost in tears. You know the look right? Think Jerome Bettis when he finally won the Superbowl in Detroit. Think Boston Red Sox in a giant pile at the pitcher's mound after finally breaking the curse.

The look on the faces of the handful of kids in this program blew that away. Now these are kids that have never been exposed to exercise before. Before the class, they'd have sat at home eating nachos and watching television. Now they've had the door opened to all these new and fun ways to live a healthier lifestyle. And I think that's the key. It's our responsibility - not just the Y but ALL of us - to introduce kids to the idea that health doesn't have to mean dull, difficult monotonous minutes on a treadmill or elliptical machine. It can be dancing, hiking or swimming. And while we're at it, it can be fun for adults too.

You know what else was cool - that same smile was spread across the face of our instructor. She talked about the experience for another 20 minutes after the kids left. So in showing these kids a new way, her spirit was fed too.

And now writing about it, I'm smiling too. Come to think of it, at the end of the game, the whole team was celebrating.

Play with a Purpose

2009-07-07T18:55:00.000-07:00

When's the last time you played? I mean just played with reckless abandon? I'm not talking about team sports, or a round of golf, or a musical instrument. I'm talking about wide open, silly, laugh out loud, ridiculous play.

So often, when I'm wearing my "YMCA Hat" I focus on play as one more way to promote physical well-being. And it can be. Countless studies have shown that families that play together tend to be more physically fit. Kids who take part in regular physical activities are shown to be less likely to be obese and run less of a chance to develop diabetes and other physical illnesses.

However, I recently found a great presentation on TED.com given by Stuart Brown. My friend @Zannieg pointed to it in a Tweet and I'm a sucker for a good TED talk, so I started watching. It was really enlightening. Brown discusses play and its importance in normal human development. He goes on to say that play is more than just an opportunity to rehearse and mimic actions we'll use as adults - more importantly, it's essential to and deeply involved with human development and intelligence.

I could talk about the presentation at length, and how I think it's a great insight into the importance of play, even as adults, and how this is one more way the YMCA is striving in its programs, and relationships and mission to better serve you - we're huge fans of Play! Instead, I'll invite you to watch the video below, and then when you're done, I'll challenge you to a game of freeze tag. I'll even be "it" first.

YMCA - We are Not a Health Club

2009-07-02T05:48:00.001-07:00

On almost a weekly basis, I field calls here at the Y that are from prospective new members. One of the first exchanges I have with a prospective member is almost always in the form of questions about how we compare to area health clubs. Sometimes it's a simple "Do you have the same equipment as Health Club X?" Sometimes, it's more direct, such as "Health Club X is offering a free month of membership. Are you running any specials?"

The caller at the other end of the phone line is usually pretty surprised when my response is "We are Not a Health Club."

This statement sounds a bit odd, but it lies at the core of who the YMCA is and what makes us different, and so important to the community. It's true that we have a fitness center with treadmills, eliptical machines and weight equipment. We also have fitness classes ranging from Yoga to Kickboxing. We offer aqua aerobics and even personal training. But for the YMCA, these are just a means to helping our members and the community lead a healthier life in spirit, mind, and body. It's one of the tools that we use, and that we offer in a uniquely YMCA way, to make our mission become reality.

There's so much more going on here that you won't see at a health club. Every day, dozens of children are learning to swim. Each week, kids are getting after school care. Seniors are taking part in programs specifically designed to meet their needs. Teens who've been short-term suspended are getting the chance to rediscover their strengths and learn to succeed in our Boomerang program. But even more importantly than that, every day, we're developing relationships with our members. We're discovering who they are and how we can better serve them in ways that health clubs don't do. I watch groups of men play racquetball and then go out to lunch together each week. The same goes for our aqua aerobics ladies groups.

This year, the Chapel HIll - Carrboro YMCA will give out over $200,000 in scholarships to individuals, kids and families who otherwise couldn't afford to take part in YMCA programs or memberships. One of the most important pieces of the YMCAs core beliefs is that no one will be turned away from our services based on their ability to pay full price. It's just one more way we're different than a health club.

Let me stop here and say that differentiating ourselves from a health club doesn't mean that we don't like or are "against" health clubs. There are some great health clubs out there and they offer great programs and services for their members. We applaud the work that health clubs do to improve the physical fitness of their members.

I once heard the YMCA described as a movement. I really like that description in that we don't measure our successes in analytical terms. For us it's not about pounds lost or games won or how fast the next lap is sum. For us, we measure our success by the impact we have in people's lives: A single parent is able to keep his or her job because of our after school care program. A child makes new friends because he's on a soccer team. A senior discovers a new hobby through a relationship developed in our Walking Club. These things are what make all the work we do worthwhile.

So if you're a Y member and someone asks you what gym you go to, be sure to tell them that you don't belong to a gym, but you are a part of the YMCA. Tell them about the great stuff that's going on here. And if you want to find out more about what we do, contact me . I'd love to share.

This is not the end of the line.

2009-05-14T13:09:00.000-07:00

Often when people ask me about programs I’m particularly proud of or that seem to be really unique at our YMCA, I have to take a moment to think through all of the dozens of great programs that touch and change lives here each day. One of the programs that is unique and different, and that I am always impressed by is called Boomerang. Boomerang was created to provide short-term suspended middle and high school students with a supervised, positive environment during their time away from school.

Boomerang is resiliency-based. Resiliency is a strength-focused concept that aims to increase a student’s protective factors. This attitude involves searching for, nurturing and reinforcing the gifts and strengths in every student. It strives to provide students with a sense of self, goals, spirituality and other factors so that these students can be the best people they can be.

Boomerang has translated this research into programming that values interpersonal connections with the students they serve. Students who come to Boomerang are offered a fresh start and an opportunity to use the time to reflect on their lives: what choices are working well and which people, both in their families and at school, are supporting them.

Simply stated, from what I’ve seen, this program takes kids who may have been left with the idea that they’ve reached the end of their road, and helps them to discover their strengths, and see that making a mistake doesn’t mean that there’s no hope. Below is a first-hand account of one teen’s experience at Boomerang.

My Experience at Boomerang

Kent

While I have been at boomerang, I learned so much. Before I was suspended from East Chapel Hill, I was smoking marijuana daily and drinking every weekend, but going to boomerang and talking with the staff made me realize how I needed to structure my life.

When you first enter the program, the staff shows you that you are not as alone as you think. Everyone who is in the program is going through the same thing as you are. So you can relate to what everyone is talking about. In the mornings there is food provided if you didn’t eat breakfast and everyone just talks and gets to know one another. The point of boomerang, as explained to me by the staff, is not to punish you but to show you what your strengths are, and how to use those strengths to further yourself in life.

There are several activities done throughout the day that show you what your strengths are. One such activity is to draw a tree. This might sound insignificant and childish, but it is structured in a way that shows what your obstacles in life are and what you can use to your advantage. While in the program you also construct a timeline of your life. This timeline is meant to show you how you ended up in boomerang and maybe how to avoid getting back into boomerang in the future.

During the duration of time your in boomerang, you will get 1 on 1 time with several staff members, who talk with you and try to help you. They ask you several questions about your family and friends. They also teach you to avoid risky situations. There is a specific schedule you follow everyday.

At the end of the day there might be a guest speaker who comes in to talk about a wide variety of things such as dating, drugs and violence. When everyone in the room participates in the activities you really find yourself in deep and engaging conversations that you learn a lot from.

I learned so much while in boomerang. It really showed me what I was doing wrong, and how to fix it in a fun and constructive way. I feel like everyone no matter what they do should spend a week in boomerang, because it teaches you how to get your life on track. I feel like if I hadn’t gone to boomerang when I did, I wouldn’t have been able to get my life together until it was too late.

For more information on the Boomerang program, visit http://www.boomerangnc.org or email Julie Wells at jwells@chcymca.org

the little things.

2009-04-22T09:26:00.000-07:00

You've probably seen me mention the YMCA's core values a time or two in this blog or in conversation. Our four core values, Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility, are the building blocks for all that we do. Often I find myself thinking of these values in a grand fashion, with a hope that something we're doing here at the YMCA will miraculously change the world overnight. Now I'm not saying we shouldn't think on a grand scale. Surely some of the most successful entrepreneurs, spiritual leaders and great accomplishers have thought on a scale and scope that is bigger and grander than some of us can even begin to comprehend (me included!).

The thing that I forget about though, and by working here at the Y, am often reminded, is that you can witness really great things in the small acts, or in what can be perceived as something simple. Our Assistant Youth Director, Jeff Lloyd, is quite a well-known at our YMCA. He has for the past few years, been the director at Camp Clearwater, and can be seen with our afterschool kids on a daily basis, among other things. He's a great asset to our Y and to the community. Jeff has the unique opportunity to spend lots of time with our kids in programs here and occasionally will share a story from his experiences. Some are cute, some are hilarious, but they're all entertaining. Recently he shared this one with me:

Our Core Values are taught to our YMCA After School participants each day through a devotion time. Our counselors use quotes and stories to give the children examples of how to implement Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility in their lives. Just when I start to wonder if the kids are catching on, if they're listening to the lessons we teach, they up and surprise me. Several weeks ago, as I walked six kindergarten children to the playground so that they could get a drink of water from our cooler, I noticed that there were cups and snack wrappers on the ground, so I started picking up some trash without saying anything to the kids. I noticed that each child was drinking their cup of water when they started seeing what I was doing. As I was picking up the trash on the ground, some of the children began to talk about “Mother Nature” if she were an actual person. One child said, “Mother Nature is so disappointed in us right now, we are harming her.” They all started giving real, honest statements about “Mother Nature.” At this point, I was hooked. They had my heart. The children then began walking around and picking up trash, without me asking. I told them that I was so proud of them and that they were displaying the responsibility core value and I walked them back to their group. This brightened my day, and reminded me of why we do what we do.

Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility. For some people, these are simply words. But at the YMCA, they are the core values we teach and practice each day. Not just a way of thinking, but an integral part of who we are - as natural as opening our eyes each morning to greet the day.

To find out more about the YMCA, who we are, and what we do, visit our website or stop in for a visit.

Answers to an infamous question

2009-04-14T04:55:00.000-07:00

This week's guest blogger is Abby Dennis, Health Enhancement Director at the Chapel Hill - Carrboro YMCA. On any given day Abby can be found teaching aqua aerobics, an indoor cycling class or a step aerobics class. She might even be in her office building a new fitness program or simply giving advice to a member about his or her fitness training. Stop by the fitness center and say hello to Abby, or email her at adennis@chcymca.org.

About this time of year I usually get the infamous phrase, “I work out all of the time and I’m not seeing any results. What do I do”? My first initial reaction is to always ask “Do you ever change your workout”?

For the most part, many of us are creatures of habit. We fall into our own comfort zone expecting to see changes. If you’re not toning up, trimming down or feeling any fitter, you probably need to make some changes in your exercise routine. Below are just a few examples of what could be sabotaging your workouts in the gym, at home or outside.

Diet: All the miles you put in on the treadmill, yoga classes you endure, and 6am Spin classes you wake up for won’t matter if you don’t put the right ingredients into your body. It comes down to eating healthy meals and drinking plenty of water. Think of it as fueling your body for the work that it is about to partake in each day. A healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner are key with healthy snacks in between.
You only focus on cardio to shed pounds: Adding resistance training twice a week for every major muscle group will increase metabolism which in turn allows you to burn more calories at rest. Resistance training increases bone mass and creates a longer/leaner/stronger you.
You speed through your reps: Your weights are either too light or they are too heavy (and you’re using momentum or gravity to help you through the movement). Regardless, your muscles aren’t being used efficiently. The second to last and last rep of each set should be challenging. If they aren’t, you need to increase slightly. Always focus on correct form. If you notice that your form is slacking, go back to a lighter weight and work up.
You stick to the elliptical machine for all your cardio needs: Change your routine up. It’s that simple. Swim on Monday, Tuesday take a Spin class, Wednesday go for a hike outside and Friday come to my 8am Step class. Variety is your best friend!
Your workouts are strictly endurance based: If you do the same thing day in and day out, STOP! Switch your cardio up with sprints, hills, high resistance, low resistance, circuit routines, etc. Anything you can do to ‘shock’ your body and mind will shake you in to ‘calorie burning’ mode.

There are a few more techniques that could make a difference, but these are the most common. Try focusing on changing just ONE and see what results you get!

Cheers,
Abby

Abby can be reached by calling 919.442.YMCA or via email at adennis@chcymca.org.

This is what we do:

2009-03-25T08:01:00.000-07:00

I've had a few people ask me recently what the "Strong Kids Campaign" is all about. While many of our members and friends know about all of the sports, fitness and aquatics programs, fewer are aware of the great work the Y does making sure that no one is turned away from our programs based on his or her financial means. Here's a story of what we do, and how it works:

In the spring of 2008, as Summer Camp season approached, our assistant youth director, Jeff, was busy planning camps and checking camp rosters, and he noticed one name that had been on camp lists for quite a few years was conspicuously missing. "Sarah" was enrolled in the Y Afterschool program and had been a faithful summer camp attendant for a few years running. But this year, she wasn't signed up for any weeks of camp. Jeff made a few phone calls, including contacting the parents of the child, and the story he heard was heartbreaking:

Seems that within a few weeks, the child's family had dealt with more than one challenge. First, Sarah's father had been diagnosed with cancer. The subsequent medial treatments and planning had put an increased financial burden on the family and required Sarah's mom to work even more hours. That would be enough for any family to handle, but shortly after that, Sarah's grandmother was forced to move in with her when the grandmother's house was lost in a fire. Once again, increased burden for a family. Sarah's mother was left with no choice but to determine where the family could cut costs. She was trying to determine whether or not Sarah could go to camp when Jeff called.

It only took moments for Jeff to know what to do. He immediately contacted the appropriate directors and secured funding from our Open Doors scholarship program so that Sarah could go to camp. He contacted Sarah's mom and told her that there was no reason Sarah would need to change her summer plans, and that the Y was going to make sure she got to attend Camp Clearwater. Through the generosity of our members and the community, the YMCA was able to help Sarah and her family when they needed it most.

That's what we do. It's often said that the Y is here to be what you need when you need it. I get to watch these things happen every day right here in our building, and it's a privilege that constantly reminds me to be thankful for blessings. For more information on what the Y does, or to be a part of it, you can contact me at glee@chcymca.org.

The funding for our Open Doors scholarship program comes from donations from our members and community. Each year, those funds are used to help hundreds of kids right here in our community take part in afterschool, summer camps and programs. It also helps adults, seniors and families. To learn more or to make a contribution to the Strong Kids Campaign, visit our website.

Exercise - a Family Affair

2009-03-13T05:12:00.001-07:00

There are a couple of families who come into the Y that I notice and sometimes stop and watch when I'm walking through the building. Whether it is their intention or not, they impress me with the way they seem to purposely play together as a family. Watching them play together, and as a result, take part in a healthier lifestyle, it strikes me that we are fortunate to be in a community with so many opportunities for families.

Whether you and I realize it or not, kids are looking to us as role models, even from the perspective of a healthy lifestyle. Liz Neporent, personal trainer and fitness consultant, talks about the importance of setting an example to our families in the way we approach fitness. "If you spend most of your time plopped on the couch and rarely exercise, you can expect more of your clan to do the same. So pack up the kids, leash the pooch and make exercise a family affair," says Neporent.

Some suggestions she makes:

Always make exercise fun and enjoyable for everyone. Try activities that will raise heart rates, such as a game of family touch football or sack races. Even consider taking a family cycle around the neighborhood.

Take a family stroll around the neighborhood. Empower your kids by letting a different child choose the route each time. Consider choosing a theme for each walk, like pointing out wildlife.

Once a week, go to the park for a family affair. Play games, swing on the jungle gym and explore trails. If you go with several other families you can play team activities such as kids vs. adults to promote teamwork and make friends.

Neporent's last comment got me thinking about how great a community we live in and how many (FREE!) opportunities we have to take advantage of as families. There are so many options within a short drive that I dare say it would take weeks to duplicate any trip.

Here are a few of my favorites: (All titles are links to more information)
The Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area: Located off Cole Mill Road in Durham, this park features the highest point in Orange County at 867 feet. It covers 190 acres and has nearly 3 miles of trails, including a few high bluffs that provide great views of Hillsborough during the winter when leaves don't impede the vista.
The Trails of Carolina North: Covering over 750 acres, this land is also known as the Horace Williams Tract. It's rich in historical and archaeological significance. UNC Chapel Hill's Grounds Services Department does a great job of maintaining the land and there are miles of trails, some wide enough for groups, some designed for single track running, biking and hiking. This is also the home of the YMCAs annual Pumpkin Run.
The Coker Arboretum: The UNC Arboretum was first developed in i1903 by Dr. William Chambers Coker as an outdoor classroom for the study of native North Carolina fauna. It covers 5 acres and is abundant in learning opportunities.
Umstead Park: Though a bit further away, Umstead Park is a true treasure. It covers nearly 5,600 acres and offers the opportunity to disappear into wilderness. The park offers 20 miles (!) of trails and range from short strolls to extensive hikes. There's also camping, boating and educational events.
Last but certainly, not least, there's your very own Chapel Hill - Carrboro YMCA! We work every day to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities. We offer open family gym time, recreational swim, family strengthening programs like YGuides & Princesses and you can even volunteer to coach your kids soccer, basketball or Tball team.

Regardless of what you choose to do, go ahead and get out as a family. Play, explore, learn and have fun! There's so much to do, and so much of it is free, which in this economic climate, is an added bonus.

What's your favorite local family adventure? Share it with us here. And as always, thanks for stopping by!

Christian Conservation - thoughts on Human, Technology and what we're doing to our planet

2008-10-10T06:54:00.000-07:00

Today's guest blogger is Nicki Smith, the Aquatics Director of the CHCYCMA:

I have never written a blog before but I am guessing it’s like a diary that everyone can read. Interesting; so, now you will get a glimpse of the battle I have in my brain as I drive the interstate home most days.

There is something out there called Christian Conservation. I am sure you have heard of it; it is becoming more popular in mainstream churches attended by younger people. Excessive consumption and disregard for our environment has left us empty and devoid of feeling toward those of God’s creatures that have no voice and cannot compete with the works of man, his bulldozer, and his lust for “things” and his pollution.

My husband and I watched the BBC’s documentary Planet Earth a couple of months ago. It is amazing, the landscapes, climates and animal diversity that has been God’s creation for millennia captured on film for us to view. The unfortunate conclusion after watching such a documentary series seems to be that the hands of man pollute the beauty and purity of the earth. How sad that some of the creatures we watched on this video, in time, will disappear forever from the planet and our children will only be able to see digital imagery of what once was. Perhaps we need to go back and read the Old Testament: The very land itself becomes polluted by the sins of its inhabitants (Jer. 3:1-3), and its beauties are destroyed by human pride (Is. 2:12-17). There is a Christian responsibility for nature that has been forgotten that we as a people, with our intelligence and resources need to reclaim.

Forget the polar bears not being able to swim from ice shelf to ice shelf and drowning; forget the primates of Africa, our closest relatives, becoming extinct; I hope to one day see these creatures of strength and resiliency for myself but for now let’s come back to my drive home every night; this is the season that the DMV and other agencies remind drivers to watch out for deer. I know that many regard deer as vermin, like rats, and I know they like to eat everything out of the garden; but I also know that they were here first. How can they compete with hulking mass traveling down an asphalt roadway at 65 miles per hour? Sometimes I wish we could just press pause on the recording of life and take a look around to what we have done to our earth.

So, when I drive the interstate at night, the lights of the vehicles brightly, weaving and winding on the path, like snake on course to please its desires. I look on the grassy banks and see groups of deer grazing, then a little while later a corpse. Does anyone stop and think about the spirit of this creature, that God made, where does it go? As a society we keep pets on our terms. In nature, we corrupt and spoil the land so creature and plant cannot survive. What would happen if we as a people redirected our frantic forward movement to technological advancement was redirected preserving our planet? Perhaps in the future the thread of the idea of Christian conservation will continue to develop within the body we call church, true harmony to pass on to generations to come.

a cure for the common control freak

2008-09-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

I'm that type of person who always gets worried when projects I start at work have to be put in others hands. For whatever reason, I suppose I'm a bit of a control freak and would just as soon deal with things on my own because I know I can depend on me. In my years of experiences before working for the YMCA, I think I must have gotten "burnt" on more than one occasion, which lead me to take this stance. Or not. Who knows.

The refreshing thing since joining the YMCA is that I'm discovering some interesting things about how things can work and should work when the right people come together. This week is National America on the Move Week and YMCAs across the country are trying to walking 10 billion steps. The idea is that if we can encourage each other to walk 2,000 extra steps a day and eat 100 less calories a day we can start to move people toward an "energy balance" and make a dent in the obesity epidemic in our country.

At our YMCA, we have a goal of 6 million steps. We've planned a great week and the events have started, including some special classes like Zumba and fun programs for kids at our afterschool program, seminars for families and other great stuff for our members. Our members have responded to the challenge with great excitement. We have nearly 200 people signed up, which is more than I can ever recall being involved in a fitness challenge at our Y.

So the deal is, I'm in an airport in Birmingham, just finishing up a conference as I write this. I'm hundreds of miles away, completely not in control of the event. I've left it in the hands of our Membership Director, our Health Enhancement Director, and our Youth Director, each of whom have only been in their positions for a matter of weeks. Here's the cool part - it's going GREAT! As of this morning, our YMCA had walked 3.8 million steps. Our introductory fitness classes had great attendance. Our seminars had really good attendance numbers. The Afterschool Program has contributed almost 1 million steps. The Health Enhancement Director just sent this great email out to the staff that was so well stated and encouraging, it made me so proud I wanted to cry (corny).

It's so refreshing and invigorating to be working in a place where so many of my co-workers passionately believe in our mission. It's eye-opening to know that I'm not alone working to achieve the goals we have in place. You see, what I've realized is this - all those other times, I was in the wrong place. The times I was let down, it wasn't a clear representation of what all people were like, only those around me at that moment. In other words, when you can put together the right people, with the right set of beliefs and convictions, and similar drives and dedication, and they really are all working for the same reasons towards the same mission, what I've discovered you CAN trust them. And that's what it's all about really. We all want to surround ourselves with people we can trust, no matter what the setting. It feels so right to be a part of the YMCA as a staff member, and it's my hope that our members can trust that we're trying to do the right things for our community each day. I want you to be able to trust us too.

Special thanks to Darcy, Abby and Ryan. You guys are rocking the YMCA world. Great job!! Thanks everything! Till next time....

-G

"Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community."

--Anthony D'Angelo

Building a better world, one relationship at at time

2008-09-23T14:27:00.000-07:00

I'm writing today from a conference in Birmingham, Alabama that is hosted by the software company we use at the YMCA and that several other YMCAs and JCCs use throughout the country. Each year I get to come to this conference and learn about the latest technologies offered by the company and how they might help us as a YMCA. I also get to catch up with and network with old YMCA friends from Y's all over the place. We have to the chance to talk about best practices and challenges that we each face and about ways to better serve our communities and deliver the mission of the YMCA. It really is a good conference and I always enjoy it.

This year, the hosting company, Daxko, took a step to bring in some great speakers to speak on some really interesting topics. One of the speakers was Shane Benson, of Chick-fil-a. He spent some time with us and talked about how his company has been so successful and what they do intentionally to find and keep great people who deliver such great service, and in turn, deliver their mission on a daily basis.

He talked about the basic desire that people have - one of wanting to be a part of something bigger than themselves. I think this is a true statement in that we all work, whether consciously or unconsciously to be a part of a collective "thing" that is bigger than us, that makes a difference, that shapes and changes the world. He also talked about trust and how trust is really why people choose one company. It's that they trust that company just a little bit more than the others.

So the question he posed to us was: How do you establish a relationship of trust? Chick-fil-a does it by Connecting, Discovering and Responding. I've thought about this today and I really like this philosophy. The really interesting thing is that it's what we should be striving to do each day at our YMCA and even something that I want to strive to do each day as a person. Here's what he said to us:

Connect: Get to know people. Now for our discussion, he focused on customers and talked about not being afraid to begin a dialogue, a conversation. As I sit here right now, I'm wearing earphones and listening to iTunes (James Taylor if you're wondering). I find that more and more, the technologies that are designed to set us free are becoming roadblocks to the converstation Shane was talking about. We should talk more. And I don't mean debate, or argue, or try to impress. What I got from Shane is that we ought to talk, and find out about each other. That seemed to be what he was getting at with his second point.

Discover: Become someone's problem solver or promoter. We ought to focus daily on discovering what goes on in peoples lives. What challenges or issues or successes they're experiencing right now, and if we can, how we can help. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Again, for his purposes, he was relating these points to the business of Chick-fil-a and how they've worked for them, so he gave this great example of a store owner (called an operator) who approached some customers one evening and started a conversation as they had dinner. He discovered that this group of 3 young women were college students at the local community college and that they were there to celebrate one of the girls birthdays. It was her favorite restaurant. So - he'd connected to them simply by engaging them in conversation - not for any gain, but simply to Discover something about them. Now he wished her a happy birthday, but here's where his third point came into play and what I think really makes the chain such a success and what we can learn as an organization and what I can learn as a person from them.

Respond: Leverage your unique assests in a personal way that can impact that person. Once that operator had discovered that the girls had come to the restaurant for a birthday, he responded this way - he invited the girls to come back the following night to celebrate "on the house" and to invite as many people as they would like to the restaurant. I know, right? To most of us, that would be a pretty risky thing to do, considering how easily and quickly word can spread electronically these days. 55 people showed up the following night and they all ate and had shakes and brownies and danced and had photos made with the Chick-fil-a cow and had a great time. That owner/operator even passed out free sandwich coupons and had the kids promise to use the coupons to bring friends back to the restaurant.

He found out that of the 55 kids there, only 12 had ever been to the restaurant before. So the question was then posed to us: Do you think he earned any new customers that day?

Shane went on to tell more stories of employees and owners leveraging their unique assets to become someones problem solver, like the owner who discovered one of his customers was in financial troubles and her washing machine had quit. He got the money together to buy and deliver her a new one. That customer came to him in tears when she found out. That's huge and not only did it represent the company well, but it impacted someone's life on a level that is beyond a typical retail relationship.

I've always been impressed with Chick-fil-a's philosophy and stated purpose -"That we might glorify God by being a faithful steward in all that is entrusted to our care and that we might have a positvie influence on all the people that we might come in contact with." The insight I got today really revealed to me a couple of things. First, how they do it. How it's not something they take lightly or hope to do while selling a lot of chicken sandwiches, but how it's their purpose and how they try to put it first, and allow the rest to happen. Second, how the values they as a company have are very similar to those we strive for as an organization and those I view as admirable and worth striving for as a person. Wouldn't we all want to be a part of a group like that? One that we can believe in and be proud of? It gives me more to work for as a person and more to work for at our YMCA. Special thanks to Shane for sharing and prayers that we can use his lessons to make the world a better place. Until next time...

-G

I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good thing, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow human being let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.

--Addison Walker.

Valencia 826 - Dave Eggers

2008-08-19T18:29:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching Dave Eggers on TED.com. Dave wrote the book "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" which won critical praise and was a New York Times Bestseller. Eggers currently teaches writing in San Francisco at 826 Valencia, a nonprofit tutoring center and writing school for children that he co-founded in 2002. I have to highly recommend this video. I'm amazed when I am exposed to people who not only know what our roles in the community are, but go out and give to the community they are a part of. The concept of 826 Valencia is fascinating, and in the video, his recollection of idea strikes me at first as serendipity, and then as a concept that was perhaps meant to be. I think it's a perfect example of what's possible in any community. I am particularly impressed with the fact that it was all locally designed, financed, and supported. The following video is pretty long, but it is one amazing example of what's possible when the right people come together with a mission and the right way to deliver it. You can find out more at 826valencia.org or at onceuponaschool.org. Enjoy.

Courage

2008-06-21T04:40:00.000-07:00

The news was heartbreaking to me. Last Thursday, according to CNN.com, a tornado swept through the Little Sioux Ranch in Iowa and killed 4 boy scouts. They were Josh Fennen, 13, Sam Thomsen, 123, and Ben Petrzilka, 14, all of Omaha, Nebraska; and Aaron Eilerts, 14, of Eagle Grove, Iowa.

According to one scout, the boys were sitting near the entrance of the camp near a bluff at the time of the storm, and they saw the tornado come around the corner of the bluff. The scouts immediately activated the tornado siren at the camp. The scoutmasters there ordered all of the scouts under tables. One scout said it was over quickly and he saw a scoutmasters car tossed 150 into the air.

One scout recounted his experience on the Today Show and described trees bent completely horizontally to the ground. Once the F3 tornado, carrying 135 mph winds blew through, no tents were left standing - they were torn apart and thrown into trees. A chimney from a building had collapsed on some scouts trapping them. The scene was, no doubt, utter chaos.

Then, among these young teens, something truly remarkable happened. As those injured and trapped cried out for help, the boys who could, stood up and moved into action to try to help their friends and fellow scouts. The strongest boys worked as best they could to free those trapped. They set into action first aid training and performed CPR. They set up a triage to treat the most seriously injured first.

Imagine - 12, 13, 14 years old. Pure terror of being trapped in a major tornado - outside mind you, in the elements, with no more than a table to protect you - and then, without thinking, they got up and only thought of what needed to be done to help the people around them.

That's Courage, with a capital C. The initial shock of hearing this story turned to inspiration and amazement as I read about their actions, and I wondered what it was that moved them into action, that lead them to do the things they did, in the wake of disaster.

I think my favorite example of courage from the Bible is the story of David and Goliath. For many of us, this story is one we could paraphrase from memory pretty quickly, but I think it bears really looking at to realize how courageous David was in battling Goliath. The first thing to remember is that David was only a teenager when this happened. He was maybe the age when most of us were getting our drivers license, or getting our first part-time job. Now Goliath-according to the Bible, he was over 6 cubits tall. That puts him somewhere between 8.5 and 11 feet tall. That's freakishly, scary big, right? Now here's how the battle went down, according to The Message, 1 Samuel 17: (A foreword - The Message takes some liberties in what some of the dialogue between the two men would have been and goes into clear detail on what some of the details of the battle may have been.)

32 "Master," said David, "don't give up hope. I'm ready to go and fight this Philistine."

33 Saul answered David, "You can't go and fight this Philistine. You're too young and inexperienced—and he's been at this fighting business since before you were born."

34-37 David said, "I've been a shepherd, tending sheep for my father. Whenever a lion or bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I'd go after it, knock it down, and rescue the lamb. If it turned on me, I'd grab it by the throat, wring its neck, and kill it. Lion or bear, it made no difference—I killed it. And I'll do the same to this Philistine pig who is taunting the troops of God-Alive. God, who delivered me from the teeth of the lion and the claws of the bear, will deliver me from this Philistine."

Saul said, "Go. And God help you!"

38-39 Then Saul outfitted David as a soldier in armor. He put his bronze helmet on his head and belted his sword on him over the armor. David tried to walk but he could hardly budge.

David told Saul, "I can't even move with all this stuff on me. I'm not used to this." And he took it all off.

40 Then David took his shepherd's staff, selected five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pocket of his shepherd's pack, and with his sling in his hand approached Goliath.

41-42 As the Philistine paced back and forth, his shield bearer in front of him, he noticed David. He took one look down on him and sneered—a mere youngster, apple-cheeked and peach-fuzzed.

43 The Philistine ridiculed David. "Am I a dog that you come after me with a stick?" And he cursed him by his gods.

44 "Come on," said the Philistine. "I'll make roadkill of you for the buzzards. I'll turn you into a tasty morsel for the field mice."

45-47 David answered, "You come at me with sword and spear and battle-ax. I come at you in the name of God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel's troops, whom you curse and mock. This very day God is handing you over to me. I'm about to kill you, cut off your head, and serve up your body and the bodies of your Philistine buddies to the crows and coyotes. The whole earth will know that there's an extraordinary God in Israel. And everyone gathered here will learn that God doesn't save by means of sword or spear. The battle belongs to God—he's handing you to us on a platter!"

48-49 That roused the Philistine, and he started toward David. David took off from the front line, running toward the Philistine. David reached into his pocket for a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine hard in the forehead, embedding the stone deeply. The Philistine crashed, facedown in the dirt.

50 That's how David beat the Philistine—with a sling and a stone. He hit him and killed him. No sword for David!

Pretty impressive right? A couple of images jump out at me. The first is in verses 38-39, when David is wearing all of this armor. I get this image of a thin, gangly teenager, with a bronze helmet falling down over his eyes, stumbling about under the weight of this armor. It's a humorous image. The second is in verses 48-49. As Goliath, this 11 foot giant of a warrior begins to move toward David, you'll notice that without hesitation, he too begins to move too, running toward Goliath. There's no note of hesitation or fear, because David, in that moment, was filled with courage. He never considered doing anything but facing this giant. That's an amazing image to me, and it must have been such a strange sight in that moment. I imagine what the other soldiers on the battlefield must have been thinking as they watched this small, maybe frail-looking teenager and this huge giant of a man racing toward each other in that moment.

Eleanor Roosevelt said this about courage - You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do. I really like this quote. I appreciate the fact that Roosevelt recognizes that courage doesn't mean not being afraid, but rather recognizing that fear and grasping what growth you gain by facing it each and every day.

Now most of us will never face the type of fear or be required to summon the same kind of courage David or the Boy Scouts in Iowa did, we shouldn't discount that we're called upon each day to summon courage in simple, daily tasks. Maybe it's having the courage to stand up for a personal belief that doesn't jive with something going on where you work. Perhaps it's being willing to stand up to someone mistreating a co-worker, family member or friend. Maybe it's being brave enough to be honest with a loved one, no matter what the consequences may be. I'd say that these little moments of courage are what give us the ability to summon courage in the wake of crisis. As a community, its important that we support each other in the little moments of courage, because without support every day, we won't have the opportunity to build that courage we may need in moments of great fear.

It's my hope that every day at the Y, people find it easy to have the courage to do what's right and say what's right every time. We are working to sustain an environment and create a community where courage is a cornerstone of its citizens. Through our mission, we strive to help build strong people, and part of that strength is courage.

I get my strength through many places, the most important being my personal relationship with God and my ability to lean on His word in every situation. I also recognize that every persons source of courage is different, and so I hope your fountain never runs dry and that in some way the YMCA is a place to renew that source for you. That is so important to us and we'll continue to work toward making the YMCA a place that will do that for everyone.

In the aftermath of the Iowa tornado, the courage of the scouts involved was heralded as those impacted mourned the loss of those lives taken. Surely several factors led to that courage, including those young men's families, hard work, belief in scouting and the influence of their community. For some it may have been how they believed God was acting in their lives. Thomas White, an 18-year old Eagle Scout who lay on the ground through the storm with several younger scouts said "The grace of God helped us for sure."

hmmm...Grace...that's for another day.

So may you find strength - strength from God, from your community, from your family or from each other. And may your source of courage never run dry so that you can face the giants in your life and defeat them and be healthy and strong in spirit, mind and body.

If you get the chance today, stop and be still, and say a prayer for the families of those four boy scouts, and hug your kids.

I'll see you at the Y...

Take Care

2008-05-22T15:26:00.000-07:00

"Take Care!" It's a parting comment I hear often and use myself. I never really thought about what it means, as it seems that most of the time greetings are not really meant to carry any weight or actually mean what they say. I'm sure you know what I mean. I can't count how many times someone has asked me "How are you doing?" and not even taken a second to hear my answer. Most of us are probably programmed by now to simply say "I'm fine." without even thinking of it. As a matter of fact, after asking the question, I'm often shocked when someone actually tells me how they really are, and then I find myself embarrassed and disappointed in myself for being so shocked.

I'm sure there was a time in our world when that question, "How are you doing?" was asked not as simply a greeting, but because we were genuinely concerned how our neighbors were. Things seem to move so fast today that we are hard-wired to move through our days without taking the time for the relationships we need in life.

I'm an admitted technophile. I love the internet. I use a blackberry. I want an iPhone. I read blogs. I know what a "Wiki" is. In his web article "Technology isolates and brings us together" Jamie LaRue talks of a society with Attention Deficit Disorder. The article describes the coffeehouse, an American Classic - a place where people gather for a good cup of Joe and social interaction. A place where politics, sports and local gossip can be shared. Then he looks around and points out the kid on his laptop, listening to his iPod and waiting for a text on his cell phone. He even goes as far as to say that the technology of automobiles isolates us from the once social act of riding a bus or train.

As little as 20 years ago, a poll in the U.S. showed that people had what they considered 10 "close" friends in their lives that they could share their dreams, hopes and intimate secrets with. In the past 3 years, the same survey was taken and that number was down to 3. Three. Almost every day, a new product is introduced that will bring us closer, help us communicate faster and give us opportunity to be as close as the push of a button. Yet we're still isolated.

So as I thought of this, and sat here typing on this computer, I thought of the stories I used to hear of kids playing in neighborhood streets until sundown and neighbors sitting on front porches and visiting each other, sharing stories, laughing together and leaning on each other in hard times. When was the last time you stopped to visit your neighbor or invited them over for dinner?

I know it's been a while since I took the time to visit with the important people in my life. I want to know how they are doing, know what's happening in their lives and how I can be a part of it. And I want to find out face-to-face, not via email or text message.

So let's commit to it. Let's commit to caring for each other, in real life, one-on-one, in the moment. Let's remember that the energy gives us all life is shared among all of us and that we can recharge, energize and inspire each other through our relationships together.

Matthew 18:18 says "I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there." If that isn't enough motivation to find time and be with the ones you love, then I don't know what is.

I'll see you at the Y. Now I need to check this email before bed....

May the Force Be With You

2008-04-15T08:45:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, I was relaxing on Sunday afternoon and came across a portion of one of the great American Movies - Star Wars Episode V - the Empire Strikes Back. I can't tell you how much I loved and still love this series of films. As a child of the 80s, I'm able to claim this as part of my history, as I grew up watching this epic come to life.

In Star Wars, according to Wikepedia, the force is defined as "an energy field created by all living things, that surrounds and penetrates living beings and binds the galaxy together." I couldn't help but smile as Yoda talked to young Luke Skywalker about the Force. In the scene where Luke is training with Yoda, and he says he'll try to move his X-Wing Fighter out of the bog, Yoda says "Try not. Do or do not, there is no try...." That's one we've probably all heard, and know well. It's been used as a motivational phrase for a long time and I think you can get a lot of mileage out of it. He also described the force this way:

Yoda said "For my ally is in the Force. And a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. It's energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we...(Yoda pinches Luke's shoulder)...not this crude matter. (a sweeping gesture) You must feel the Force around you. (gesturing) Here, between you...me...the tree...the rock...everywhere!"

Now stay with me here...this morning, I sat down before work and watched one of a series of NOOMA videos by Rob Bell. In the video, called "Open," Rob talks about prayer and the origins of prayer. In one part of the video, Rob talks about how Jesus prayed and how Jesus took seriously what he called the "creation poem." In the book of Genesis, God creates. But he creates things that are capable of creating more. So, God created trees, but he gave them the capability to create more trees. He created animals and plants and fish, but then empowered them to create more. And then God created people, and gave them the ability to create more. So everything is basically unfinished and we are invited to take part in this amazing, ongoing creation of the world. Now here Bell says that prayer is the tool God has provided to us to take part in that creation. He says that God's inviting us to take part in how the world continues to be created through open, honest, one-on-one prayer. In James 5:15-16, it says:

"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

Bell goes on to say that when someone prays, then "somebody who believes that the God who created the universe is at work here and now...Somebody who's aware, who's watching, who's listening...Somebody who's looking for their role to play in the ongoing creation of the world, well, that is going to be powerful.

Interesting that what this fictional wise character, Yoda, has to say is really very similar to what Bell interprets for us. I see Prayer as our "Force." It's the opportunity to use a great gift God has given us to take part in the ongoing creation of the world.

It's easy to imagine prayer as passive, as a simple request and answer, but if we see our role in Prayer and this continuing creation as one that is bigger, we can become aware of Prayer as an active use of a power that lives between us and around us all the time, always working, creating and changing. And we can use Prayer and its power to impact our world for the better.

So, may you grow to know and feel the power of Prayer, and may the force, our Force, one strong and effective, given from our Creator, be with you.

-G

NOOMA is a small nonprofit company working to do things for the right reasons. (taken from the NOOMA website, http://www.NOOMA.com.

I suppose it might be the best....

2008-03-12T17:56:00.000-07:00

I'll admit that one of my guilty pleasures is America's Funniest Home Videos. Cindy and I usually sit down to dinner on Sunday night about the time it comes on. I know it's low-brow and silly and really cliched, but I find that the humor is easy. As a matter of fact, it's probably the biggest belly laugh I have each week. I think of it now as a great way to prepare for the work week. As any of you, some of my interactions at work mean some disagreement, heated discussion or debate. Being able to let go and just laugh at silly things seems to put me at ease.

A friend of mine recently sent me a link to an article from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer about laughter, and how it's becoming a popular piece of the puzzle in fighting illness. The article talks about hospitals that have created "laughter groups" as a piece of a larger treatment regiment for a variety of sicknesses. I tend to believe in the positive power of laughter. To me it's pretty simple - at least as far as how it works for me - I laugh, sometimes wildly, until my eyes water and my gut hurts, then I - at least temporarily - forget about my worries. Here's the link to the article about laughter.

When you think about it, laughter is an important part of the YMCA mission to build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all. We're not just striving for stronger bodies or a more fulfilling spiritual life or more enlightened mind. We hope to encourage all three. And if laughter can improve you body's ability to heal, it's a key part in that mission.

Laughter has been an important part of lives since the beginning of time, in all walks of life. Laughing is even an important teaching in the Bible. In Romans 12:14, Paul says "Bless your enemies, no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody."

Victor Borge said "Laughter is the shortest distance between two people." At the Y, we're working hard to build relationships and shorten the distance between you and me, and the person next to you on the treadmill.

So remember, live well, love often and laugh. Laugh loud and hard, bent over with your hands on your knees. Laugh until stuff comes out of your nose. Try hard to find something to laugh at today, and if you can't find anything, be sure you can laugh at yourself.

Thanks to Zach for the article, and I'll see you at the Theater.

New water restrictions coming to our community...

2008-02-23T06:10:00.000-08:00

Well it looks like new water restrictions are coming to Chapel Hill - Carrboro. OWASA's website reports that their board will meet on February 28 to discuss the possibility of moving the community to phase 3 water restrictions. The expectation is that they will move the area to phase 3 restrictions. Stage 3 is really a step up from stage 2 and will have quite an effect on all of us. Here's what stage 3 restrictions mean:

No irrigation except with hand-held hoses or watering cans, limited to 3 days per week and no more than 1/2 inch per week.
No outdoor use, except for emergency fire suppression or other activities necessary to maintain public health, safety or welfare.
No refilling of ornamental fountains, ponds, etc.
No washing of vehicles
No filling, refilling or topping off operating swimming pools.
No pressure cleaning of building exteriors.
No flushing or pressure testing of new mains unless water is recycled.
Water use for heating and cooling to be reduced to the maximum extent practicable.
Residential water use terminated for use over 600 gallons/day in a billing period.

In addition, non-residential customers will see the charge for water more than double per 1,000 gallons.

So, as a group, the leadership team at the Y has been talking for some time about what we can do to lessen our impact on the shortage and on the environment as a whole, while trying not to reduce the services we're providing to members. The process has been pretty excruciating, as our goal is always to take care to provide you with the services you need. As far back as the fall, we began to talk about what the future might hold for us, and we've put off any decisions simply in an effort to continue to offer the services our members have become accustomed to. There has been some hand-wringing, and actually, some fairly heated discussion what we should do.

This past week, our Aquatics Director meet with a member of the OWASA staff to discuss what possible stage 3 water restrictions might mean to us. He was incredibly cordial and set up for us some scenarios that we may face. Greg Feller took time to go over most all of our operations, explain how the new restrictions might affect what we do and make some suggestions to us.

After much discussion and thought, keeping in mind the balance between what conveniences we like to offer and what is the right thing to do, we've made the following decisions:

Effective March 3, we'll be ending all towel services at the YMCA, thus eliminating the use of 500 gallons of water per day or 15,000 gallons of water per month from being used. The logic is this: Most everyone who comes for a workout or to swim will wash their clothes when they get home. Currently, water is being used for that wash as well as the towels washed at the Y. Surely each load of wash that members are washing has room for one more towel, thus eliminating the use of 500 gallons of water from being used at the YMCA while not increasing water usage in each home.
We will install new low-flow showerheads (1.5 GPM) in all showers.
We may not be able to fill or top-off our pool.
We may not be able to fill or top-off our whirlpool.
We may not be able to continue operation of the steamroom.
Prolonged stage 3 water restrictions may result in suspension of all aquatics operations.

It's completely understandable that we all become accustomed to certain conveniences and that those conveniences become important to us, some in different ways than others. I can tell you that the Y staff works hard every day to serve the community as best we can. Every staff member I come in contact with does what he or she does because there's a belief among us in our mission, and in our goals of serving all of our members. We do it because we want to effect change in the world however we can. Keeping that in mind, these decisions are being made because we believe that they fit in with our mission and goals and can be real ways that the Y can affect change in our community from an ecological standpoint.

As we move forward, we'll be taking a closer look at how we can lighten our impact on the environment in other ways too. We're built on four core values at the Y and one of those is Responsibility. I believe that our responsibility includes being stewards of our planet and community too, and so I for one will champion our efforts to lighten the physical effects we have and hope that you will too.

Again, we're making these moves with the future of our community in mind and look forward to your support and suggestions as we do. Thanks for all you do!

Y Member in the news

2008-02-20T07:20:00.000-08:00

I saw a great article in the Chapel Hill News yesterday. Seems a long-time Y members is doing great things here in Chapel Hill. Terry Crook, a loyal member of the morning workout crew here, is the Realtor of the Year for Chapel Hill. I know Terry from seeing him here, like clockwork, for his workouts. He always asks for the same radio (he likes the black ones, not the blue ones).

According to the article, Crook moved here in 1999 from Boston where he was Realtor of the Year for the Greater Boston Area in 1994. He moved here to escape the cold winters and be closer to his daughter and their family. Crook has served on several boards, including the local Certified Residential Specialist Board for the last 6 1/2 years.

I'm always surprised at the "hidden gems" we have here at our Y. Every day, I discover more amazing and interesting things about our members. I think these unique stories, talents and experiences are what make this such a great place to work and to be a part of. Often we get so caught up in serving the over 6,000 members here and trying to keep things flowing smoothly, we forget to stop and get to know you better. I'll be making efforts this year to do more of that. If you know of a member who's received special recognition in the community, or who has an interesting story to share, feel free to stop by and tell me, as I'd love to spread the word. In the meantime, if you see Terry, be sure to congratulate him. Way to go Terry!

Welcome to the CHCYMCA Blog

2008-02-19T06:15:00.001-08:00

Hi!
Welcome to the CHCYMCA Blog. In the coming months, we're hoping that you'll be able to visit this blog to keep up with some of the things going on at your YMCA. One of the things our members have told us is that we need to continue to try to communicate with them better, so it's our goal to stay in touch with you in a more informal and personal way through this blog. We'll post on a regular basis and we'll take feedback from you for topics and news to pass on to everyone.

This won't be official, or formal, or by-the-books. It's our belief that the best things happen when people talk honestly, and share ideas, disagreements, successes and failures. Although one of our goals is to make sure you know what's going on, we're also looking forward to learning about you and from you.

As we continue to grow and offer more programs and services, we'll talk about them here. We'll also look for topics that relate to our mission and to our promise of helping to build healthy spirits, minds and bodies. We think that this will be fun and we hope you will join us on this journey as we strive to improve what we do for you and how we deliver on our commitment to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities.