From Y-USA Marketing Communications
New photos on YMarketPlace™
More than fifty new photos have been added to YMarketPlace! Visit the first three pages of the Digital Gallery to see the most recent additions. These photos focus on seniors, parents and kids enjoying themselves at their YMCA. You don’t need to search for them, just go to the Digital Gallery, browse and download. And don’t forget to watch YMarketPlace in March and April – we’ll be adding another 200 photos to the site!
YMCA Healthy Kids® Day survey seeks YMCA kids!
As part of our national media effort for this year’s YMCA Healthy Kids Day, Y-USA is conducting a survey to find out what kids at the YMCA think about play and how they put play in their day—and we need your help getting the word out and encouraging kids at all YMCAs to take the survey! To help spread the word, a downloadable poster and flyer have been created and are available on the Marketing & Communications home page of YMCAexchange at www.ymcaexchange.org . Simply print them out and make a few copies to hang and distribute at your YMCA. The survey will be on www.ymca.net and will be open from Feb. 19–March 4. Kids who complete the survey and submit their name and address will receive a free YMCA giveaway item. Survey results will be shared in a national press release in April. Questions? Please e-mail ymcahealthykidsday@ymca.net .
Register now for Expo Dallas - National Membership, Marketing, Health/Wellness and Aquatics/Scuba Conferences
Looking for new ideas? Ways to enhance your YMCA's marketing efforts? Would you like to network with other YMCA marketing professionals? Develop new skills? Share best practices? Registration for EXPO Dallas is now open! Expo Dallas is May 16-18, 2007 and registration is $395 through March 31.And for all you marketers and communication experts, we suggest you attend the marketing pre-conference and learn from Tom Carroll, senior vice president of human resources for a Fortune 250 company in Chicago, as he talks about Marketing to Generational Trends . Tom is known as an irreverent and engaging presenter and will explore the characteristics, beliefs and behaviors of the current four generations in America. This information will help you better target your marketing efforts and understand the communication styles of current generational demographics.
Expo Dallas will also feature five marketing workshops:
Program Marketing - Learn how to successfully recruit participants for your programs.Trends and Research - This "nuts and bolts" breakout will pack your toolkit with great resources for you to develop successful marketing campaigns.
Grassroots/Low-Cost Marketing Panel Discussion - Learn about time-tested guerrilla marketing tactics to free public relations efforts, word-of-mouth campaigns and using low- or no-cost services like social marketing.
Strategic Target Marketing - Move from flyer development to strategic thinking.
Web-Based Marketing - Learn to maximize your online effectiveness through a strategic approach including tactics like Web site development and usability, pay-per-click advertising and search engine optimization.
Visit YMCAexchange at www.ymcaexchange.org for more information and online registration or call (800) 872-9622. Copies of the Dallas Expo registration brochure were sent to every YMCA.
Market the mission with YMCA Member News
Share the unique character and spirit of the YMCA with your members! Every YMCA receives three colorful posters each month, addressed to the membership director, with short articles on health and wellness, the spirit-mind-body connection, YMCA work internationally, and YMCA history and trivia. Post copies of YMCA Member News—with or without frames—in locker rooms, fitness centers, studios, lounges, weight rooms, and near child care centers and front desks. Connect your members to the depth and breadth of the Y experience and build their pride in being a member, volunteer and supporter of their YMCA.
And on YMCAexchange (www.ymcaexchange.org):
Media toolsIt’s not too late to celebrate Black History Month. Black History Month serves as an opportunity to celebrate the rich contributions made to the YMCA movement—and to America—by African-American members and volunteers. An updated customizable press release is now available on YMCAexchange. Questions? Contact Leah Cunningham Pouw at (800) 872-9622 Ext. 8325 or leah.pouw@ymca.net .
New Media Toolkit: Day and Resident Camp—To support the new YMCA Day Camp marketing campaign, Y-USA has updated Day and Resident Camp media resources, including customizable press releases, key messages, an op-ed piece and a pre-written feature story. The new media campaign is available on YMCAexchange / Marketing & Communications / Media Toolbox section. For further information contact Leah Cunningham Pouw at (800) 872-9622 Ext. 8325 or leah.pouw@ymca.net .
Please feel free to e-mail YMarketPlace at ymarketplace@ymca.net with any questions or comments you may have on these topics. Thanks!
Welcome to the Website of the YMCA in Greenfield
The YMCA in Greenfield is working through out Franklin County. We provide a wide range of programs that include: aquatics, youth sports, fitness for all ages, Camps, school age Child Care and a Full Day Preschool with early and late care. Our Programs emphasize the four character ideals of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
Highlights
The YMCA, with every fitness program you and your family need to achieve your personal goals, is also the best recreational value in Franklin County. For our Family Members we have “Y-Family Fun” and “Y-Time” programs that keep your kids busy, either with you or in youth programs held at convenient evening and weekend times when you can schedule your own workout. We have a fantastic structured Child Watch (babysitting) Program so younger children can be supervised and engaged while parents exercise. And for both adults and kids, we have games, social events and other recreational activities for a variety of interests.
The Y offers a range of programs for all ages. Kids love our Game Room, Kid-Fit Center, sports programs and, of course, swimming, gymnastics and now dance! Adults favor our Nautilus, or free weight room and Cardio centers as well as our Water Fitness classes. And with a whole range of aerobic, yoga, strength- and weight-training classes, we have something to appeal to everyone, whether it be low-impact stretching and lifting or faster paced bench step or Muscle Pump. Strength-training and weight management are important for everyone to maintain strength, flexibility and overall good health. Forming an exercise habit is not always easy, but two or three visits to the YMCA each week puts you in a place where you will be supported by neighbors and friends who have similar goals. We are here for everyone in our Franklin County communities and we want to get to know you.
Our YMCA has a great staff, with talented, supportive individuals in all program areas to help you achieve your goals every step of the way. Our facilities are very clean and well maintained. We have plenty of parking (over 120 spaces on our property and another 100 spaces in adjacent public parking lots). We have locker rooms and two secure entrances for your families safety, but and best of all we are family focused and value oriented, offering at the lowest prices possible an awesome array of wellness programs to keep your spirit, mind and body balanced and conditioned.
Why join the YMCA? Quite simply: The YMCA is an incredible value, healthwise and dollarwise. And we offer you a true No Risk Membership that guarantees total member satisfaction. If you are not pleased with your membership for any reason at anytime we will refund the unused portion of your fee upon request. We wholeheartedly believe you will enjoy and benefit from your YMCA membership and we back our belief so you can’t lose. If you are not yet a member of the YMCA in Greenfield, join today and take advantage of all we have to offer. We care about our members and do all we can to satisfy their wellness needs. We will do the same for you.
The Meaning of a YMCA Membership
Your Y membership also represents an investment in the local mission of the YMCA as we seek to serve our members and community by enhancing the quality of life in Franklin County. The YMCA in Greenfield is the largest locally supported not-for-profit social service agency in our county. Your membership and program dollars, along with contributions, provide the resources necessary to make our services and programs available. Many people also help to support our Sustaining Campaign for Youth & Families and annual “Kids to Camp” Golf Tournament so no one in our community is ever denied YMCA services due to lack of funds.
Most important, your membership represents an investment in yourself. We want to help you reach the goals which you have established, provide a wholesome atmosphere and the opportunity to make friends. By joining the YMCA you will not only be benefiting yourself, but also supporting a noble cause.
Your Membership Card is Valid at 2,200+ YMCA’s A.W.A.Y. - “Always Welcome At the Y”
This is a great benefit for members away on vacation or on business. As an A.W.A.Y. Program participant, our YMCA’s members can visit any other A.W.A.Y. facility and receive a discount or eight free visits each year. Many of our members take advantage of this benefit to keep them feeling “at home” by keeping to their disciplined fitness habits.
Facts
The YMCA is the largest youth-serving agency in Franklin County. In the past 12 months the Y served 3,504 youth or 27% of the 13,075 youth in the county.The YMCA is the largest provider of childcare in Franklin County. We serve over 100 children, ages 3-12, each week at two locations.
The YMCA serves people of all abilities. Each week over 100 adults and children with physical, mental or emotional challenges strengthen their bodies and spirits at our YMCA.
The YMCA serves people of all economic levels. Over 1,500 low-income youth and families participate at the YMCA each year.
Financial assistance has doubled in 6 years ($88,790 to $185,000).
The YMCA is the largest provider preventative health and fitness programs in Franklin County, serving over 9,400 people last year. The Y is financially stable with steady growth in facility members. The YMCA is the largest provider of youth fitness and sports options in Franklin County.
Keeping youth active in swimming, gymnastics, sports leagues, dance, ballet, summer camps or the Y’s Kid Fit Center helps prevent obesity.
The YMCA is a major provider of teen recreation and leadership development programs. The YMCA is an economic force in the county. We are among the top 12% of employers in Franklin County, with a current payroll of $1,300,000 (115 employees, FY’06-07). The Y spends over $600,000 in local goods and services each year. Volunteers are the backbone of the YMCA. 50+ trustees, board and committee members 500+ program volunteers
The YMCA is Wheelchair Accessible
We have an elevator that makes all program areas wheelchair accessible. Individuals in wheelchairs can participate in the Nautilus Center, Cardio Center, Water Therapy classes, Chair Fitness (Stretch & Lift) and Y-Family Fun activities. Parents and grandparents in wheelchairs can watch children in basketball, gymnastics, swim lessons, Healthy Kids and more. We have wheelchair accessible locker rooms where a spouse or aide can help with changing. Participation in any program depends on an individual’s ability. Please ask at the Front Desk for a key to our lift if you choose to use our back entrance.
Our Mission Statement
The Mission of our YMCA is to provide opportunities for our members to develop character and leadership, to grow in mind, body and spirit through program participation and service, and to improve the quality of life in Franklin County.
History of our YMCA:
November 1889 Greenfield YMCA first started in GAR building, now present site of the County Court House.
1906 Went out of existence.
May 22 1939 132 civic leaders signed a charter membership roster. The Greenfield YMCA was resurrected because of a community need for wholesome recreation brought on by the post WW1 era and the depression. An office was set up at 278 Main Street and schools and community facilities were used for programming.
April 15 1943 the membership had grown, so a larger site was searched for. The barn behind the William Washburn house at 451 Main St. was donated.
February 1950 Old P.E. section of the YMCA was opened. This was one of the finest P.E. facilities in the Northeast.
1954 13.4 acres of land was donated for Camp Apex. An endowment fund drive was held, raising $190,000 to provide ongoing income for the YMCA.
1969-1970 Building fund drive was started to raise money for the front part of the YMCA (Main Street).
1971 Washburn Mansion was torn down and new front portion of the YMCA was built; $150,000 mortgage was taken out to cover the construction when the pledges came up short.
October 1989 YMCA held a 100th Anniversary Dinner celebrating 100 years of YMCA programs in Franklin County.
December 1995 Board voted to kick off a $1.6 milliion capital campaign to be conducted over an 18-month period. Robert Reid and Lew Taylor are co-chairs of the campaign.
July 1997 Murphy/Davenport Construction Co. broke ground on our YMCA's 15,000 sq. ft. addition. This is the first expansion of our YMCA in over 27 years.
January 2000 $400,000 in new endowment principal was contributed, making this the best year for endowment contributions since 1952.
June 2001 Completed 13th year with a balanced budget. Stratetic Plan was 80% completed. Board approves a $1,800,000 budget ($1,000,000 payroll). YMCA signs rental contract for its first permanent childcare site (Conway St. School in Greenfield.
June 2004 Broke ground on the 2nd major expansion in 7 years. The East Side Addition will have a Pre-School, expanded Nautilus Center, expanded Cardio Center, improved east/west pedestrian traffic in the building plus staff offices and conference room.
June 2005 East Side Addition was built and opened on time and under budget. The ESA added 6,000 sq. ft. of program space to our YMCA. A new pre-school, extra Nautilus Center space and the new Farr Fitness Center on the top floor. Over $116,000 in grant money was raised for this addition. Kids to Camp Golf Tournament - July 2004 was the 2nd year for our Golf Tournament which raises funds to help send more children from low-income homes to one of our 7 day camps. In 2004 the tournament netted over $11,500, up from $1,200 in 2003.
For more information about how YMCA's are working throughout the United States, click this image to go to the website of the YMCA of the USA.
Contact Information
Email: info@ymcaingreenfield.org
Phone: (413) 773-3646
Fax: (413) 774-4312
YMCA in Greenfield
451 Main Street
Greenfield, MA 01301