The All New YMCA

The following article was submitted to Oswego Patch by YMCA Excutive Director Brent Finlay.

The began offering services and programs in early 2001 in the Mason Square retail center on Douglas Road. Membership peaked serving 439 members with most Y members individual adults seeking wellness services and group exercise classes along with senior adult programs called Silver Sneakers. The Oswego center was a branch of the Heritage YMCA Group with facilities in Naperville & Aurora led by volunteers and staff delivering programs and services .

This was a great start for the YMCA to begin sinking roots into the communities we are serving; however, we knew from the beginning that much more was possible in this wonderful community.

The YMCA continued in the partial facility operation until August 2009 when the YMCA was able to complete a strategic move into the former Traughber Junior High School assuming  22,000 square feet of programming space .

“This was a very challenging economic time for everyone and the Y was called upon to step up services and deliver a new product line to kids, teens and families," said Mike Schoppe, Oswego YMCA Board Chairman. "We knew that Y could be so much more in a larger facility and it has exceeded our expectations." 

Thanks to the leadership of former 308 schools Superintendant David Behlow and YMCA President Tom Beerntsen during the spring of 2009 , the YMCA was able to secure a  new home to make a difference with life-changing programs in youth development, healthy living and providing for social responsibility.  

Current 308 Superintendent Dr. Dan O’Donnell is active and very involved as a YMCA Board member and leads by example. Dr. ODonnell is a valued wonderful leader and had a great vision for community service.

The Oswego 308 Center is home to a number of school district departments along with three anchor organizations;  the YMCA,  Oswego Senior Center and the Opportunity school . The center is 100 percent occupied and is one of the most active places in the community each and every week.  There is a tremendous spirit of partnership and collaboration between organizations at the 308 Center. We strive to make every day better for all individuals from the community and that aspiration guides our mission and purpose.

Since opening the All New Oswego Family YMCA on Aug. 31 2009 the Y has seen explosive membership growth  to over 4,200 members of  which over 70% come from area families which is the main demographic target of the Y. 

The Y has members from all communities in the region and anyone can join the Oswego Y. The YMCA service pledge is to never to turn anyone away due to their inability to pay for membership or programs , this is why the Y exists and annually,  funds are raised in the Annual Support Campaign to assist any family, teen or adult in need. In 2011 the Y has raised a record $57,000 led by Annual Fund Chairman Tom Nelson Stefond Harris and Dwight Baird.  These funds also support new programs and help keep services and programs affordable to all.  In 2011 over 7,000 different individuals will be a part of the Y in some capacity.

The Oswego YMCA has engineered a program plan to serve the whole family with classes for children ages  2 1/2 to teens. The Y has introduced sports skills at a young age to build a foundation and then offers sports leagues in soccer, T-Ball, Volleyball , Basketball ,flag football and floor hockey along with day camp and swimming lessons.  

All programs can be found in the program brochures available on line at www.oswegofamilyymca.org  or copiers can be picked at the Y. The YMCA also partners with local agencies to bring more classes to the Y to make ever more convenient for families such as the Fox River Music and Art center for music lessons, Gymquest gymnastics to all dance/gymnastics classes , ESP for sports conditioning , ATA Martial Arts for self defense programs and many more civic special events and 5k runs all held at the Y.

Since the grand re-opening the Y has provided employment for over 70 staff members and invested over $150,000 into the building to begin operations. Recently the Y has purchased $49,000 in new cardio vascular equipment to deliver programs that that keep adults and teens healthy and help reduce obesity and high blood pressure. The Y also added in 2011 to go with the 10 year celebration the new Activ Trax  computerized personal training program, free with every membership,normally a $ 30 per month additional charge.

"This program is just awesome for our members," said Lisa Cornelius YMCA Wellness Director. "It helps motivate and clearly helps people achieve great results, they just love Active Trax.”

In partnership with the Oswego Police Dept, the Village of Oswego , the Fox Valley United Way and the Oswego Rotary Club the Y directs services at area Teens to be apart of the Y. Everyday many teens can be found at the Y enjoying playing basketball, volleyball and working out in the Wellness center or in one of two beautiful especially designed centers just dedicated to Teens. One room is a larger game center with pool table, ping pong ,air hockey and computer games , the second is a Teen lounge with chairs, bean bag chairs and two computers all for Teens.

The rooms have cameras for security and Y staff work to develop other programs for Teens and build great relationships with the Teens in a mentor capacity.  The YMCA 1st Annual Teen Character Awards honored 37 area teens that lifted up the Y’s core values of caring, honesty, responsibility and respect along with being great kids and nominated by a community leader. The Club Friday program more Junior High teens begins in January, 2012  for its 33rd year giving younger Teens a great program at the Y on select Friday nights from 630p-9pm.

 The YMCA has a future home in mind with a site along Wolf Road behind Fox Bend Golf Course. We have dream to one day erect a beautiful new full facility YMCA that reflects both the generosity and desire of the community.  We can never thank the Blocker Family for their vision and donation of the land for what will become a most treasured asset in the community and be a destination for children and families.

The YMCA began a partnership in June of this year with the Pine Ridge Club to provide swim lessons and family open swimming to the members and everyone on it the community. With no  indoor pool at the former Traughber,  it just made great sense to work together  and it is a beautiful indoor pool that will able the Y to  offer year round swimming lesson for all children indicated Finlay.

On Jan. 1 2011 the Oswego Family YMCA was integrated into the YMCA of Metro Chicago with 23 locations across the region. This has been a very good merger for the Y , it will permit us to do so much more for kids and families and together we can achieve greater results noted Finlay.

It is tremendous honor to work with some wonderful YMCA volunteers and caring dedicated staff to deliver our mission, it takes a group of people that really care to make a difference and I think we are doing that very well and will strive to serve more individuals as we move into our second decade .