Patience needed as YMCA works to define mission

Published 12:00 am Saturday, April 13, 2002

The decisions by Bowling Greens YMCA to sell its building on Lovers Lane and to reorganize are beneficial to all involved, if all involved can have a pinch of patience. For the community as a whole, the decision by the YMCA to continue its planned programming especially this years eight-week summer camp is a relief. Working with the Warren County Parks and Recreation Department, the organization is close to sealing a deal that will allow it to use Basil Griffin Park for the camp, which is expected to be better than ever. With programs like the YMCAs judo classes, the community will continue to benefit from programs that contribute to the quality of life and opportunities for recreation for our young people. Keeping programs like these which serve to keep kids active are critical, especially in light of the latest studies on child obesity.In return for these valuable offerings that benefit a wide range of ages and groups, the YMCA needs community help. Jason Claycomb, chairman of the YMCA board, has said all of the programs can be offered without a full-service building as long as they can find places to use. Claycomb, a local financial investor, has shown his commitment to the Y by donating some space at his place of business to be used by an operations director and office manager. Selling the building on Lovers Lane has allowed the association to drop some heavy debt that had come attached with the previous building. Proceeds from the sale also will provide some seed money for a new facility to be built somewhere down the road and most importantly enlist the help of YMCA of Middle Tennessee to formulate a clear vision of how the Bowling Green Y should operate. The group is uniquely qualified, as indicated by the fact that it is one of the top 10 Y agencies in the nation and has such quality managers as Betsy Shelton, who has been director of the Clarksville, Tenn., YMCA for 10 years the first eight without a building. Shelton, who has agreed to serve as the part-time CEO for Bowling Greens operation, knows how to have youth sports, youth-in-government and aquatics programs all those activities for which the Y is known for without a building. Its as important for nonprofit groups as commercial enterprises to take inventory of their effectiveness in fulfilling their missions. Claycomb and his fellow board members are to be commended for selling a building not conducive to the organizations activities so that the community could continue to have quality programs. The Y also is to be commended for recognizing that there are times when outside consultants who already have walked the road can bring others along. Sheltons experience and leadership will have the added benefit of freeing up YMCA officials to make more connections with the community, including raising funds for that new building of the future complete with a full-size pool. That will be worth the wait.

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