Lakewood Branch - the YMCA of Greater Cleveland

Lakewood
Branch
Connecting members, contributors and friends.
Spring 2010
Holiday Hours
Easter Sunday: Closed
Memorial Day: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Family Fun Nights
Every Friday night is Family Fun Night
at the Lakewood YMCA. Families are
invited to use the gymnasium from
7–8 p.m. and then go to the pool from
8:30–9:30 p.m.
Parents with a child between the ages
of 9–12 are permitted – from 7:45 to
8:30 p.m. – to go upstairs and work
out together. The ratios must be one
parent to one child upstairs and the
parent must remain with them. Come
check it out!
Lakewood Names New
Executive Director
Robin R. Jordan joined the
YMCA of Greater Cleveland
as district executive/Lakewood
Branch executive director on Tuesday,
Feb. 2.
In her role, Jordan will supervise
the West Park-Fairview and West
Shore Branch executives and have
direct oversight responsibility for the
Lakewood Family YMCA.
She comes to us from the Valley of
the Sun YMCA in Phoenix, Az., where
she spent eight years as vice president
of health and wellness and managed
the Activate America initiative. She
also worked as a district executive,
supervising three full membership
branch operations with a combined
Strong Kids Campaign
The annual Strong Kids Campaign
kicked off on Feb. 23 with a special
branch presentation on exercise and
cardiovascular health by cardiologist
Marcello Mellino, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Through the generosity of donors
just like you, the annual Strong Kids
Campaign provides membership and
program scholarships for more than
4,000 adults and children each year.
Stop by the front desk to learn more
about this program and how your can
help us reach our $75,000 goal for
2010!
budget of $6.5
million.
Jordan’s varied
career includes
serving on the
Y-USA staff
as associate
director – staff
of development Jordan
and executive
director in Baltimore, Md. She holds a
degree in organizational management
and leadership from Concordia
University.
Join us in enthusiastically welcoming
her to our YMCA of Greater Cleveland
family.
Who’s Who
Executive Director, Robin R. Jordan
Membership Director, Karah Vance
Business Manager, Sam Kincaid
Program Director, Paul Rogerson
Program Coordinator, Tyler Sekerak
Health and Wellness Director, Jennifer McDonough
Health and Wellness Coordinator, Meghan Loeffler
Group Exercise Coordinator, Shelley Mellino
Child Care Director, Tammy Schroth
Child Watch Coordinator, Jessica Barlow
Maintenance Director, Robert MacKay
New Youth Sports Classes Announced
Beginning this year, the Lakewood
YMCA will be changing the format for
our Youth Sports Classes. We currently
host Tot, Rookie and Winner classes for
ages 3–12. With the new format, we will
include a Tot Beginner for ages 3–5, Tot
Advanced for ages 4–6, Rookie Beginner
for ages 6–9 and Rookie Advanced for
ages 8–12. All classes are 30 minutes
long. At the end of the session, each
child will be evaluated on their skill
level to determine his/her eligibility for
enrollment in an advanced level class.
Along with the change in format, we
will also lower the class ratio from
a 1:10 ratio to a 1:6 ratio. This will
allow us to dedicate more time to each
individual participant.

STAFF PROFILE
Lakewood Welcomes
New Membership
Director
Karah Vance
has accepted
the position of
membership
director at the
Lakewood Family
YMCA. She holds
a bachelor’s
degree in political
science and theatre from Baldwin
Wallace College and a master’s
degree in nonprofit administration
and entrepreneurship from Full Sail
University in Orlando, Fla.
Before coming to the Y, she was the
assistant manager of five Caribou
Coffee stores in the Greater Cleveland
area and was certified in Ohio Legal
Research by the Cleveland Marshall
Law Library. She also worked in
marketing and public relations for
Cain Park in Cleveland Heights and
several nonprofit arts organizations in
Orlando.
Karah is also a classically-trained
pianist and loves to play and sing in
her spare time. Please welcome her to
our Greater Cleveland YMCA family.
New Non-Member
Sign-In Policy
Because of our recent increase in members and guests,
we will be implementing a new policy to keep track of everyone
who walks through our doors. This new policy will
ensure the safety and security of our members, guests,
and staff. Starting Monday, March 1 st , we will be requiring
all non-members to sign in at the front desk. We will also
be scanning in members by hand to ensure that every
member is accounted for and that all maintenance on
member profiles is promptly addressed. Not only will this
ensure better safety, but it will also provide heightened
customer service that our members and guests deserve.
Register Now for
Summer Camp
The YMCA of Greater Cleveland provides full-day, licensed
child care programs during the summer for children ages
5-12. Campers are provided with the opportunity to
challenge themselves, develop new skills and build new
friendships in a safe, fun learning environment. With
weekly themes such as Sports Mania, Under the Sea,
Slime Time and Fiesta Fun, your child will enjoy field trips,
swimming, and science activities while making friends
and building character. Please contact Tammy Schroth at
216-521-8400 ext 211 for more information.
Health & Wellness Notes
Two new and exciting classes have
been added to the Health and
Wellness schedule. Here is a brief
description of Children’s Yoga and
Dumbbells for Beginners.
Children’s Yoga: This class introduces
yoga to children ages 7–10 using
creative themes. The use of props and
games help teach poses, breathing
awareness and meditation. The
children build self-confidence
and trust while having lots of fun.
ChildWatch Services
As a convenience to our members,
the Lakewood YMCA provides
babysitting for children ages 6 weeks
– 12 years. This benefit is free with
a family membership and $2.50 per
child for guests. Parents are reminded
they must remain at the YMCA at all
times. Pre-registration for children
under 12 months is required and
spaces can be reserved by calling
(216)521-8400. This service is available
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–noon and 4–
9 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m.–1 p.m.
MEMBER PROFILE
Alex Moore, this year’s Lakewood
Family YMCA Triangle Award
recipient, will always spark the
imagination of those who meet
him. Alex is a living celebration
of enthusiasm, commitment and
dedication. These traits are often
neglected as a force; yet without them,
there would be few achievements.
We know Alex best as the ever-smiling
desk greeter. It was no surprise he
was selected for this YMCA’s Triangle
Award. The award is bestowed
annually upon a volunteer who has
made a direct, positive impact on the
members of the Lakewood branch
while being a model example of the
Dumbbells for Beginners: Never been
to the free weight area because it is way
too intimidating? Now is your chance
to release your fears. Each week we
will work on dumbbell exercises for
various areas including arms, back and
chest. At the end of the class you will
be given laminated cards which you an
use to create your own exercise library.
Visit our website at www.
clevelandymca.org or pick up the latest
program guide for program locations,
costs and registration information.
Scholarship Program Provides Help
T
he YMCA scholarship program is a sliding fee scale that is designed to provide
services for any family, adult, youth, or senior who desires to participate and
understands the benefits, regardless of their ability to pay the prescribed fee. The
changing economy has negatively impacted many families’ financial situation.
Those who are not able to pay the full fee are invited to inquire about scholarships.
Applications are available at your local branch members service desk.
Alex Moore – Winner of Lakewood’s
2009 Triangle Award
mission and core values of the YMCA.
The continuous love and support from
Alex’s entire family and vocational
trainer Denise Eplin have paved the
way for Alex’s future success as he
continues his focused career training
next month. The friends Alex has
met, YCMA staff and members
alike, have faith in Alex and the
endless possibilities of what he might
accomplish. It is our sincerest desire
that this award rightfully draws
attention to the enlightenment and
inspiration Alex carries within his
humble heart. Thanks and good luck,
Alex. We appreciate your faithful years
of service at our Lakewood branch.