There was quite a bit of history in the room when a large group of past presidents of the YMCA gathered recently to reminisce and tour the new Teen and Family Center at the Easton Family YMCA. Of the 32 past presidents, nine are deceased and five live out of state. An impressive 12 of 18 available were in attendance to be updated on the YMCA’s accomplishments and collaborations to date. In addition, the past presidents learned of the Y’s name change to YMCA of the Chesapeake to reflect the organization’s growth in Talbot County and its recent reach into Caroline County.
Jerry Jana, current chairman of the YMCA of the Chesapeake Board of Directors, took attendees back in history, sharing such historical landmarks as: the YMCA began in Talbot County as a reading club in 1857; the YMCA’s first home was the old Calvary Methodist on North Washington street in 1956; the new YMCA facility was built on Peachblossom Road in 1968; the Wellness Center and warm water pool expansion occurred in 2000; and the St. Michaels YMCA opens in 2007.
Jana went on to share the Y’s impact on the community, including such statistics as there are over 400,000 visits to the Y annually; over 6300 households enjoy Y membership; one in every two children Talbot County are members of the Y or involved in Y programs; over 2,500 members of the Y are over the age of 65; and $269,000 was awarded in financial assistance in 2010 to 2,916 children and families at the Y.
Waller Hairston, president of the YMCA board of directors in 1979, and a two term member of the YMCA’s board, commented, “What has impressed me most from the changes I have seen are the improvements that have developed at the Y over the years. From the abandoned Methodist church to today’s modern facility, the Y has grown to meet the needs of the community, making the Y available to everyone, including people who can’t afford it. The Y’s endowment is certainly helping the organization accomplish this goal.”
In the past 57 years since the YMCA was chartered in Talbot County, there have been five chief operating officers. Hairston, who worked with YMCA CEO Ken Barton, credited Barton with the key role he played in significantly expanding YMCA membership – a model that the YMCA is building upon today.
Hairston stated, “I was so impressed with the energy Ken Barton brought to the Y. He was older than I was, but he was very athletic and played sports with other Y members, which had an impact on the Y’s energy overall.”
Delia Denny, president of the YMCA board in 1978, and in 1982-1984, was the Y’s first woman president and also the first woman president of the United Fund. She stated, “When the YMCA was in the church, our annual budget totaled $17,000, and we were totally funded by the United Fund. When the demand for the Y increased, we began to fund our own programming. Philanthropy has played an integral part the YMCA’s success.”
Robbie Gill, CEO of the YMCA of the Chesapeake concluded remarks by outlining future opportunities currently being considered by the organization. The first is the possible purchase of Wye Woods from Aspen Institute for a permanent YMCA outdoor camping facility. Other possibilities include building a full-facility YMCA in the St. Michaels area; further developing Queen Anne’s county after-school programs and developing a permanent facility there; and holding discussions regarding a merger with the Mid-Delmarva YMCA in Salisbury.
The past presidents were then offered refreshments cooked by teens in the Y’s Dinner Table Club and then were led on a tour of the new Teen and Family Center at the Easton Family YMCA.
After the tour, Hairston quipped, “I was a past president of the YMCA, but I didn’t know where I was in the building with all of the changes that have occurred. It is all very impressive.”