“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” – Hebrews 11:1
Putting Our Best Foot Forward In The Face Of Adversity
Last Friday, I received my 2020 performance evaluation from our board of directors. The assessment was a look back on the past 13 months as well as a look forward to what I see as our Y’s path through the rest of 2021 and beyond. I am grateful for the support I receive from the board; they have been an invaluable resource to me, sharing their expertise. Time and time again, they provide critical input that has benefited our organization. Though none of them can say they have been through a pandemic, the men and women who serve on our board bring a broad array of skills and experience that have been a strength to our Y, particularly to me.
Overall, the board is proud of how we have performed, recognizing the unique challenges we have faced. As I shared on Friday’s Staying Connected call, the board truly believes that were it not for the devotion and commitment exhibited by all of you, we would be in a much more precarious position. I think this is a very important point for all of us to acknowledge and draw upon. We have been leaning in hard for 13 months, operating in a crisis, trying desperately to find ways to sustain our operation. It is has been an exhausting climb, and though it has been difficult to see amidst the storm, all the hard work is paying off. You are succeeding, and the board recognizes how extraordinary you all are. You are humble servants, and you are saving this Y. Your performance is truly otherworldly.
Projects To Strengthen Our Y
A good portion of my session with the board focused on my plan to advance our organization forward. As I shared with them, having a plan has been challenging throughout this period. We have had to adapt many times, but as I shared with them, I believe it has become a strength for us. Clearly, it has not been business as usual; throughout the 13 months, we have had to seek alternatives just to survive. Nevertheless, I did share my current thinking with the board. In addition to identifying my plan to rebuild our Y, the board wanted to know what I was proposing concerning the new Y on Pearl Street project. It has been a year since we paused on that project, and at the time, it was the association’s number one priority. We have spent over $3 million on design work and have raised $16 million to help build the new facility. Understandably, the board wants to know where we stand and what we plan on doing.
New Y On Pearl Street
The new Y on Pearl Street project is not the only part of our strategic plan that was paused because of the pandemic. Last year, we suspended building fields at the Gordon Family YMCA. The City of Sumner deeded us the land with the expectation the project would be completed by 2023. Understanding our circumstances and being a strong partner, the City is working with us on the completion date. Nevertheless, they are trying to expedite the timeline; politics can complicate matters, and the City expects the fields to serve the greater Sumner community. On Friday, I met with a prospective donor who is very interested in funding a good portion of this project, which brings me hope that we can still meet the 2023 deadline. Having outdoor space for the Gordon community center would bring great value to the membership base as well as to the greater community.
Tom Taylor Outdoor Fields
For the past two and a half years, Jessie Palmer, Loren Johnson, and I have been meeting with officials from the City of Gig Harbor to execute an agreement that would bring outdoor space to the Tom Taylor Family YMCA. It has been a very challenging process, but we are close to reaching an agreement with the City, which promises a 2024 completion date for the fields. This is a much more complicated agreement, and it is contingent upon us raising 100% of the funds to proceed. Jessie, Steve Triller, Carol Kowalski, and I – along with volunteers – will commence on this effort shortly. We will need to raise nearly $7 million to build two turf fields, additional parking, and restrooms. Again, having outdoor space at this center will bring great value to our membership base as well as to that community.
Bremerton Roof Repair
As I have shared with you in previous messages, we are currently engaged in negotiations with the City of Bremerton to repair the roof over the pool. When we merged with the Bremerton Family YMCA in 2010, we also reached an agreement with the City to manage the pool, which at the time of the merge was a separate facility. Prior to the merge, the Y leased access to the pool to provide swim lessons and lap time to its members. The swim facility is a historic building in Bremerton, constructed in 1978, and is an important part of the community. The high school swim teams have use of the pool for their training and competitions. As part of the current contract, we are responsible to maintain this 43-year-old building. Prior to the pandemic, this was not a problem for us, but now it is. The fact that the cost of the roof repair is extraordinary enabled us to be relieved of the burden, per the contract, but it complicates the current negotiations of the extension of the lease agreement with the City. We have a 10-year lease agreement in place, which expired in December 2020. This is a critical negotiation for our organization as we work with the City to maintain the use of the pool.
Building A Better Future
The new Y on Pearl Street, outdoor space for the Gordon and Tom Taylor centers, and the pool for the Bremerton center are critical to strengthening our Y. I see them as being important to our future, and I have been compelled to stay engaged with each of these projects. I know each of them is significant unto themselves, but we cannot turn back on any of them. Each of these communities sees them as being vital to their residents, and are looking to our Y to carry them to fruition. It is a challenge, one I feel we must embrace. I also recognize we need to strengthen our core operations, expand our footprint in early learning, invest in the partnership with school districts, continue developing the virtual experience, and invest in our current capital assets. Yes, I know this is daunting, but this is our path forward. These projects are vital to each of the communities we serve. They offer hope and vitality to people, particularly in this time of need. Plus they represent new ways to engage our members, opportunities that are essential in this time of uncertainty. Yes, it is a formidable undertaking, but as Board Member Steve Gordon said, “It is the character of our team that has driven this organization forward through a mighty storm,” and it is the character of this team that will carry us to the mountaintop.
I am in awe of all of you. Thank you.
#StayStrong #StayWithUs