As readers of this Y Monday Mission Update know, I am quite attuned to Listen 360, our daily customer satisfaction tracker. The comments, both positive and negative, get my attention first thing every morning and are a window into the value of the Y in people's lives, as well as areas that warrant our attention. A recent comment by Moriah, a member of the Dancel Y in Ellicott City, resonated with me because it seemed to perfectly represent the feeling and "takeaway" we hope to engender through Y membership:
"The Y is a great place to engage with other families, have a good time and exercise also. I like that because it is a safe place to go and have fun."
The fact that Moriah specifically calls out how the Y facilitates her ability to engage with other families validates the intentionality we put into building community at the Y. True communities aren’t formed through fleeting encounters that might happen while out shopping or in a typical fitness center, where the primary objective is to get in and out quickly and with as few inconveniences as possible. In her comment, Moriah is pointing out that the Y is a place where true community is actually sought out and can indeed be found. The exercise is important as it is a means to a larger end, which resides in community. And, of course, I like that she references the feeling of safety. I take this to mean both physical safety and the feeling of safety that comes with feeling accepted and welcomed.
Moriah's Y membership experience is not accidental. As I referenced above, it's a result of a conscious, intentional effort by everyone here to build a Y membership experience that nurtures the human desire and need to be connected and to feel a part of something bigger than one's self.
Over the coming months, you'll hear more about how our new strategic plan intends to bring more people into the Y membership community. In the meantime, thank you, Moriah, for being an integral part of what makes the Y so special.
All the best,
John K. Hoey
President & CEO
The Y in Central Maryland