In this edition of Us!...
- Share Your Pearls of Wisdom
- Tell Us How You Got Here
- Camp Counselor Referral Bonus
- Career Opportunities
- Kudos to Y Associates
- Payroll Information
- Easy Verification
- Financial Wellness
- A Note from John Hoey
- Sad News
Y ASSOCIATE OPPORTUNITIES
Walk & Talk: Pearls of Wisdom
Join the Women's Leadership Resource Group (WLRN) as they combine a relaxing walk in the beautiful outdoors with an opportunity to share your "pearls of wisdom", including career success stories, challenges, tips, as well as general conversation around current women's issues as they relate to our Y.
You are encouraged to read the article, Women in the Workplace 2021, by McKinsey & Company prior to the walk. Light refreshments will be provided.
Two Dates Available
- May 24, 10am - 12pm: Cascade Falls Trail, 5133 Landing Rd., Elkridge, MD 21075
- June 3, 10am - 12pm: Little Gunpowder Falls, Rt. 1, Kingsville, MD
Register below. Please contact amyvendt@ymaryland.org with any questions.
Share Your Y Story
Every Y associate has a unique and interesting story to tell of how they came to be the [fill in the blank] at the Y. For example, your story of how you became a lifeguard, preschool teacher or executive director at the Y.
We would love to share your Y story on our new TikTok channel! Just create a "How I Got Here" story on TikTok (like this one), then share your video by emailing it to lindsaycrone@ymaryland.org. Feel free to email Lindsay with any questions as well.
Also, if haven't already, be sure to follow us on TikTok by clicking below!
Recruit a Camp Counselor and Earn $250!
Do you know someone who would be a great addition to our fun and energetic camp team? If so, refer them to the Y. They could receive a $250 sign-on bonus and you could receive $250 just for referring them!
Click below to learn more about the Y Associate Referral Program and to participate.
Learn More and Make a Referral
Looking for Your Next Y Opportunity?
The Talent Acquisition team would love to chat with you about the following opportunities for growth within our amazing association! If you have any questions, please email hrrecruitment@ymaryland.org.
Risk and Quality Manager
If you have a passion for administrative work, knowledge of Daxko, and a passion for organization and project management, the Risk and Quality Manager role may be for you!
TikTok Coordinator
If you enjoy social media and would like to help the Marketing and Recruitment teams attract talent in a brand new way, click below to view the TikTok Coordinator job description.
GOOD VIBES
Y Associate Shout Outs
Sadly, we do not have any new Shout Outs to share this week, but we know that is not a reflection of the incredible talent in our organization.
Your outstanding teammates deserve recognition! Please take a moment to nominate one of your colleagues so we can give them a Shout Out in the next Us! associate enewsletter.
COMMUNITY COMMENTS
The good work you do doesn't go unnoticed. Enjoy reading these real comments from our Y community and soak in the praise!
Cole, Swim Lessons at the Y in Catonsville
"We have found the swimming instructors to be very careful with the children while keeping them moving towards independence in the pool. This is a good program."
Scarlet, Y Chipmunks Preschool
“I love every single thing about the Y Chipmunks program. All three of my children have been Chipmunks and I am so grateful to have found a program filled with such caring teachers."
Timothy, Y Before & After School Enrichment, Ring Factory Elementary
“Our family loves everything that the Y offers. Their facilities, the associates at Before & After School Enrichment, and programs like Parents' Night Out. Our kids love the teachers and the Y has an incredibly positive influence on our family."
WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU!
The Us! associate enewsletter is published every other Thursday or Friday and we need to hear from you! Share your stories, what’s new in your Y world, and what you are proud of. We want to know and we want to share your news! The submission deadline is Fridays at 5pm.
RESOURCES, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Get Paid!
Pay Period: 5/8/22 to 5/21/22
Pay Date: 5/31/22
Payroll Adjustments Due: May 20, 2022 5pm
Timesheets Locked: May 23, 2022 5pm
Direct Deposits/Tax Changes Due: May 24, 2022 5pm
Click the button for more information and to make sure you get paid.
Easier Employment and Income Verification
Have you ever needed to verify your employment to obtain a mortgage, a loan, lease an apartment, or any other instance where proof of income or employment are required? We're happy to announce that effective June 1, 2022 the Y will be partnering with VeriSafeJobs to provide fast and secure employment and income verifications for all active and separated Y associates (up to 2 years).
VeriSafeJobs is a web-based service designed to protect the security of your confidential information. You are in control of authorizing the release of your data. VeriSafeJobs also supports immigration, social services, and government-related inquiries. All processes are in accordance with state and federal regulations.
Click below for more information and instructions on how to obtain a verification of income or employment. For more information, please contact HRIS@ymaryland.org.
Fuel Up on Financial Wellness
Membership at First Financial Credit Union is included in your Y associate benefits. During the month of May, if you join First Financial, you will receive a $50 gas card!
OUR WORK TOGETHER
Dear Colleagues,
Many of you know that I possess a nagging sense of restlessness in my ongoing search for knowledge and innovation, in my annoying habit of continuously questioning assumptions, and in forever looking for better ways of doing things.
I recognize that this can get a bit exhausting, but I do believe that having a “growth mindset” is what differentiates great organizations from mediocre ones. History is littered with examples of once great organizations that failed to evolve and are now on the scrap heap (anyone remember Sears? Pier One? Borders?).
Here at the Y in Central Maryland we are not exempt from the forces of nature, but I also think our growth mindset, dormant for a good deal of the past two years as we’ve battled through incredible obstacles, is re-emerging.
I can point to several organizational developments which are helping us recover our growth mindset:
- Breaking down silos across the organization - recently we announced a number of organizational changes that underscore our commitment to cross-organizational development.
- Matt Lewis added Camp leadership to his existing role at the helm of the Y in Pasadena;
- Jovan Custis moved from Community Schools to leadership of the Y in Parkville;
- Tiffany Reinhardt returned to the Y, where she had previously led our mentoring work, to take on the leadership of the Y in Druid Hill;
- Donald Eaddy rejoined us as well, moving from School Partnerships to lead our association’s strategic partnerships and civic engagement work;
- Dana Ashley has added sales and the leadership of several of our Y family centers to her portfolio of consumer youth development operations.
- Planning for a more secure future - the Y’s board, through its committee structure, and dozens of Y leaders from across the association have been involved in an intense strategic planning process, which will create the roadmap for our work together over the next three and a half years. While that work is still in process (and will be further accelerated by the input of our entire Y exempt associate team at a leadership session on Monday), I can share with you that our strategy will be centered on expanding our understanding of membership and creating a deeper sense of belonging among all those who engage with the Y, regardless of their point of entry. Stay tuned!
- Widening career development opportunities for Y associates - it’s no secret that our greatest asset is all of you; our Y associates. In fact this is so important that it is the focus of our recent 2021 annual report which shares the career and personal stories of nine extraordinary Y associates (namely Rachel Walsh, Victor Smith, Cheryl Rosendahl, Matt Lewis, Alexis Perkins, Ryan Novo, Ameka Smith, Amanda Griffith and Stephanie Okonkwo). We’ve also launched many exciting new leadership and professional development opportunities, all of which build on a foundation of both formal and informal ways to grow as a Y professional.
- Thinking outside of the box - virtually every employer across the country is struggling to hire talent, and we are clearly no exception, with over 500 openings currently. Stepping up to the challenge, our Talent Recruitment and Marketing teams have developed innovative new ways, like personal interest quizzes (Y Camp Jobs, Y Career Quiz), to engage prospective associates and match them to the right position at the Y. Give them a try; they’re fun and the early results are excellent!
I’m very proud of all the excellent thinking, energy and passion these examples represent. They are indicative of a workforce alive with ideas and a growth mindset, never settling for conventional wisdom in search of a better way forward.
All the best,
John K. Hoey
President & CEO
The Y in Central Maryland
SAD NEWS
Please join us as we keep our Y friend and his family in our prayers.
Our Friend, Shannon Gibbs
Shannon Gibbs was a middle school science teacher who worked in our Y Out-of-School-Time program at Graceland Park/O'Donnell Heights. We lost Shannon earlier this year in January.
As we all know, caring is one of the four positive character values of the Y. Mr. Gibbs was indeed a kind soul who demonstrated his care for students by doing all he could to help them succeed. He helped students and families who were in need of resources, formed connections with various colleges to expose students to STEM activities, and provided additional coaching and tutoring to students during his planning and lunch periods. He was one in a million and is greatly missed by students, parents and associates.