“It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.” – 2 Timothy 2:6
Periodically, Brian Flattum will message me to request that we dedicate time during the weekly Staying Connected call to let staff recognize the great things they see from their peers on a daily basis. Brian has an uncanny ability to know when we need the inspiration and energy this staff recognition brings to our team; receiving recognition from your teammates is a powerful source of inspiration for each of us. Setting aside that time for our team has played an important role in keeping our spirits high throughout the pandemic.
Resilience In The Face Of Many Obstacles
Resilience has definitely proven to be a critical element of our journey throughout these past 17 months. We continue to face obstacles in our effort to rebuild our Y, the reinstatement of the mask mandate by the Governor being the most recent. Though I may have bristled when I first read the announcement, my frustration was temporary as I quickly reminded myself that we have been here before and our team knows the drill. It truly is impressive to watch. Stephanie Roberts is at point to lead the operations team through the careful interpretation of the state guidelines, with everyone gleaning total comprehension of the expectations as well as the plan for execution. Michelle LaRue and her marketing team are walking alongside the process every step of the way to design a cohesive communications plan that is perfectly in step with the operations team. It truly is inspiring to witness our team respond to the next obstacle, and though it may cause us to grind our teeth a little, the ability of our team to work as One Y lifts us up and enables us to navigate painlessly through the storm. (Well, maybe with a little pain.)
Stepping Up In A Staffing Shortage
During this month’s meeting with the board of directors, Brian incorporated the current staffing picture into his monthly operations report. The number of vacancies throughout the association has reached a critical level, but, once again, our team has demonstrated tremendous resilience in its ability to adapt to the challenge; over and over, we have seen staff step up when needed. Robert Hammond and Marcel Le Grange have shown the ability to oversee two community centers (Robert oversees the Mel Korum and Gordon Ys, and Marcel oversees the Haselwood and Tom Taylor Ys). It has not been easy to attract new facility managers in the current labor market, but Robert and Marcel have demonstrated expertise and capacity to meet the demand and help the organization adapt. The ability for us to adapt is strengthened by the support from our entire facilities team, from the expertise of Loren Johnson and Ed Bressette to the extraordinary work of the maintenance techs and custodians at our centers. It is another example of how our team has met the challenge.
Though we are being challenged to attract new talent into our organization – an issue faced by all businesses throughout the country – it has also been an opportunity for our current staff to grow in their careers. Recently, Toby Roberts earned the promotion to become the executive director of the Lakewood Y; it was a position that drew a number of quality candidates from our current team. Though only one person could be selected, the other internal candidates earned valuable experience from the process, and their performance has drawn everyone’s attention for future opportunities. The expertise Toby gained through his role in financial development and leading the annual campaign prepared him for this opportunity. His departure from financial development then triggered growth and performance impact from Carol Kowalski and Jessie Palmer. They have both been performing at an extraordinary level, allowing our Y to continue to raise crucial funds that will sustain our organization.
In addition to Robert and Marcel, both Harold Shea and Michael Marquez have helped our organization by taking on more responsibility. Harold is the executive director of both the Bremerton and Haselwood Ys. He is also helping lead the association effort to strengthen the development of our advisory councils, and he is the point person for critical negotiations with the City of Bremerton to determine the future of pool management in Bremerton. Michael is the executive director of both University Y and Tacoma Center, and is the point person for virtual programming and the health and well-being cabinet. Both Michael and Harold are exhibiting tremendous capacity and leadership, but are asking and needing others to step up as well. Annie Doyle has taken on the critical role of leading the development of virtual programming, a role that will help transform our Y. Annie is also overseeing health and well-being for both University Y and Tacoma Center; with her expanded duties, she is leaning on Hannah Martinson at Tacoma Center and Roberta Runion at University Y for support.
Developing Staff To Grow In Their Careers
We are currently working to fill the position of learning and development director for our association. During the interview process, we have been discussing the importance of investing and developing our own team. Yes, attracting new employees is vital to inject new skills into an organization, but loyalty and institutional knowledge are every bit as critical to the success of our Y. We have seen that given the opportunity, staff within our ranks have continued to embrace the challenge and helped our Y navigate these extraordinary conditions, while at the same time exhibit tremendous abilities and capacity. Witnessing these extraordinary efforts by our team is yet another example of the resilience and the commitment from each one of you. Our Y is truly fortunate to have you on its team. You are the difference-makers for our Y.
#StayStrong #StayWithUs