In this edition of Us!...
- Your Voice, Your Opportunity
- Send a Kid to Camp Resources
- Associate Wellness Fair
- New Job Title for Universal Associate
- Y Associate Podcast
- Hot Jobs
- Help Grow Our Team
- Shout Outs
- Community Kudos
- Payroll Information
- A Note from John Hoey
Y ASSOCIATE OPPORTUNITIES
Y ASSOCIATE ENGAGEMENT SURVEY
As a Y associate, your happiness and engagement in the Y is critically important. This is why we have partnered with Gallup, an independent research-based consulting company, to conduct a confidential associate engagement survey.
On Monday, April 17, 2023, all Y associates will receive an invitation in their Y email box from "support@mail.gallup.com" with a link to complete the survey. Your email is specific to you so please do not forward it to another colleague. The survey will take no more than 10 minutes to complete.
The survey is focused on measuring the individual needs of each associate and the degree to which we are providing clarity, support, encouragement, and development for all. Measuring organization and team engagement is a key step in our journey together in building a better workplace at the Y.
Thank you for all that you do!
SEND A KID TO CAMP RESOURCES
The Y's Send a Kid to Camp campaign officially kicked off yesterday!
Send a Kid to Camp (SKC) is an annual campaign that raises funds to help children whose families otherwise couldn’t afford it to participate in Y Camp.
Click below for SKC resources and information.
Y ASSOCIATE WELLNESS FAIR
We are excited to invite you and all of your Y colleagues to the Y associate wellness fair!
All In On Associate Wellness
Wednesday, May 24, 10am - 1pm
In addition to refreshments, games and giveaways, our Y benefits partners and other health and wellness providers will be available to answer questions about Y benefits and provide on-the-spot services such as dental cleanings, Y retirement consultations, biometric screenings, and massage.
Some services require reservations and space is limited. Click below to see a list of providers and book your on-the-spot appointment(s) today!
RENAMING UNIVERSAL ASSOCIATE
We asked for your help and you did not disappoint! Thank you to all of the associates who submitted job title suggestions to replace the title, Universal Associate.
Congratulations to Tyler Stitcher at the Greater Annapolis Y in Arnold! His submission of "Family Center Operations Associate" was selected as the new job title to replace Universal Associate. As an associate actively performing this role, the odds may have slightly been in his favor to submit the winning title!
Thank you Tyler!
Y PODCAST FOR Y ASSOCIATES
The All In Podcast brings you enlightening conversations with Y colleagues discussing what they are most passionate about in their work; the things they are "all in" on! Hosted by Riquelle Harris, Manager of Learning and Development, these entertaining podcasts are sure to make your day and give you new perspective on your work at the Y.
Click below to listen to the first three episodes.
- EPISODE 1: "All In On Community" with Derryck Fletcher, COO
- EPISODE 2: "Turning Change Into Opportunity" with Zalanka Jones-Anderson, Sr. Director Teen Programs
- EPISODE 3: "Day in the Life of a Family Center Operations Associate" with Brian Bartlett, Regional Membership Sales Director (formerly a Family Center Operations Associate)
HOT JOBS! HOT JOBS!
We are currently searching for internal associates to fill the positions listed below. To view these positions in Dayforce: log into Dayforce, select Careers > Search Jobs in the upper left menu, and search by keyword or requisite ID#.
- Senior Executive Director, Learning and Development (search req. ID #2566)
- Lifeguards (search for Lifeguard)
WE NEED MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU...
...more smart, talented, and caring Y associates like you! If you know someone who would be a qualified candidate for our Y Head Start, Y Family Centers, or Youth Development teams, please refer them to the Y and potentially earn a referral bonus of up to $500 if they are hired. Click below for details.
Learn More and Make a Referral
GOOD VIBES
Y ASSOCIATE SHOUT OUTS
We have several wonderful Y Associate Shout Outs. These Y associates show initiative, compassion, teamwork and commitment to the community and the Y’s mission.
Click the blue "Shout Out" icon above to read about Denise Pate, Tarisha Swarles, Ryan Mechlinski, Dawn Chrystal-Wolfe, Markeis Pritchett-Simmons, Brendan Maddox, Sarah Hornor, Ty Hornor, Cece Anderson, Nour Farah, Alarikus Hernandez, and Jenn Lerew!
If you have a colleague you'd like to "Shout Out", simply click below to fill out the nomination form.
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!
Rayven, Out-of-School-Time at Sandalwood Elementary
“What I love about the Y experience is that the children come together and they enjoy fitness and they have fun doing so in a safe space amongst their peers. They also learn about food and nutrition and make the foods that they talk about. I have already gotten my friends children to join and some children that I don’t know. I love the program and I hope they have it in 6th & 7th grade for my child. She is special needs and will not understand a change in routine. Thank you for what you do! 💗"
Shyne, Y Head Start in Anne Arundel County - Freetown
“I really appreciate the Head Start program at Freetown. The teachers are super supportive and accommodating. My child literally gets school sick at home because his experience is so elating and wonderful for him. I also appreciate that they correct him and encourage positive reinforcement, especially on his tough days. He actually loves going to school everyday and misses his teachers and friends when they are not around. He also is learning many things that I single handedly could not teach him on my own. I think this program is great!"
Kairo, Y Preschool at UMBC
"My daughter has been going to Y Preschool for about a week now. She already has a best friend and a teacher she really likes, Ms. Malee. Before my daughter left for the day she ran back to give Ms. Malee a hug. It immediately warmed my heart! I knew that she MUST be super nice and caring for my daughter to have an immediate connection. Everyone is super nice and friendly. I love the updates throughout the day. The communication is top tier! That was very important for me as well. As a first time mother, I feel more than comfortable leaving my baby there! It has been an easy transition. I now see why it was so lengthy to get off the waitlist! :)"
Ainsley, Y Before & After School Enrichment - Bel Air Elementary
"The teachers are fantastic! Erica runs a great program and our kids have been so happy since transferring into the Y's Before & After School program!"
Reagan, The Ward Y in Abingdon
"I love the associates and all the amenities, and I love that my little girl has a place to have fun and socialize while mommy gets a workout in!"
WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU!
The Us! associate enewsletter is published monthly 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 next Us! enewsletter will be published on May 18th. The submission deadline is Monday, May 8th.
RESOURCES, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
GET PAID!
| PAY PERIOD | PAY DATE |
|---|---|
| April 9 - 22, 2023 | May 2, 2023 |
| April 23 - May 6, 2023 | May 16, 2023 |
| May 7 - 20, 2023 | May 30, 2023 |
OUR WORK TOGETHER
Dear Colleagues,
In yet another senseless and horribly tragic act of violence, Donovan Flood-Mims, a 19 year old senior at the Academy for College and Career Exploration (ACCE, a Y Community School), was killed by gun violence in his community this past Sunday. Donovan was an active member of the Y’s Youth & Government program for the past two years; his twin brother Dontai also attends ACCE.
In a country and region deeply in the grip of gun violence, it’s essential that Donovan’s death not be viewed as normal. There is nothing normal about young, vibrant, purposeful people being gunned down in the course of simply living their lives. This doesn’t happen with this regularity anywhere else in the free world. But it has happened now more than a few times this past school year at Y Community Schools.
I know how distressed our Y community is as we all deal with yet another trauma. Working in an environment in which violence is visited all too frequently upon our community is very hard to endure, despite the incredible impact of that work.
On Wednesday social workers were deployed to support the ACCE community. Anyone wishing to get help is encouraged to call our Associate Assistance line at 887-622-4327. It’s free, confidential and operates 24/7. Additionally, here’s a good resource from NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): 7 Tools for Managing Traumatic-Stress.
As we grieve, I hope associates will also take comfort in thinking about our own roles as an emotional first line of defense in the communities we serve. The work you do each day provides comfort and a real sense of well-being to thousands of people. That is no small thing. And it is essential in this world we all occupy.
May Donovan Flood-Mims rest in peace.
All the best,
John Hoey
President & CEO
The Y in Central Maryland