In this edition of Us!...
- Our Next Y Town Hall
- International Women's Day
- Hiring from Within
- Help Grow Our Team
- Black History Month Reflections
- Shout Outs
- Community Kudos
- Payroll Information
- What's Your Plan for Retirement
- Financial Wellness Benefits Webinar
- A Note from John Hoey
Y ASSOCIATE OPPORTUNITIES
Y ASSOCIATE TOWN HALL
Please join John Hoey and several of your Y colleagues on Facebook Workplace for the next Y Town Hall, next Tuesday, February 28, from 11am to 12pm. We'll be focusing primarily on the new strategy and structure for Y membership, but we'll also cover other aspects of our work and organization. Given that we recently completed a Y associate survey using our Gallup tool, we will use comments from that survey for our associate questions.
The associates joining John for this Town Hall discussion are:
- Dana Ashley, Senior Vice President, Operations
- Shannon Martin, Regional Membership Sales Director
- Lindsay Meyers, Operations Director, The Y in Druid Hill
- Marc Perry, Senior Director, Youth Sports
- Ikeia Prince, Senior Executive Director, Youth Development
To participate virtually, follow this link to Facebook Workplace: https://ymaryland.workplace.com/ at or right before 11 am next Tuesday.
AMPLIFYING WOMEN
Celebrate International Women's Day with the Women's Leadership Resource Network (WLRN) as they participate in YUSA's Amplify Women's Conference via livestream!
Wednesday, March 8
10:30am - 3:30pm
Y Engagement Center
Attend all or part of the event! Lunch is included and will be served from 11:30am - 12pm. To participate, please register in Dayforce (go to Learning > Course Catalog > search for "watch").
Questions? Please contact AmyVendt@ymaryland.org.
Y CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Browse the open positions in Dayforce to see available career growth opportunities.
1. Log into Dayforce (open web browser > Managed Bookmarks > Dayforce)
2. Click the menu icon in the upper left corner, select Careers, select Search Jobs
3. Scroll through the list or search by job title, keyword, location, or req ID#
Current openings include:
Teachers (search for Teacher)
Group Exercise Instructors (search for Instructor)
Lifeguards (search for Lifeguard)
Membership Associates (search for Membership)
MAKE AN ASSOCIATE REFERRAL
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
BLACK HISTORY MONTH REFLECTIONS
We asked Y associates to reflect on Black History Month and share what it means to them and why it is important. Here are a few responses.
"For me, Black History is everyone's history. Black History Month is recognizing the hardships and celebrating the achievements of those who helped build this country and supporting the advancement of the Black community today. It's an opportunity to reflect and make sure I am the best ally I can be."
"Black History Month is a reminder and awakening of everything my ancestors endured and overcame...some of which we are still experiencing and trying to overcome in today's society. Black History Month is a time to rejoice and celebrate the essence of Black culture, a time to educate those who are not in the know of the makings of me, and a time to commemorate, rejoice and glorify our freedom, our customs, our causes, our achievements, and our pride in being Black."
"Black History Month is an opportunity to reflect on our shared history, celebrate impactful accomplishments to our country and culture, and it always serves as a reminder of our society's mistakes, disappointment, and embarrassments."
"To me, Black History Month is about celebrating and honoring the legacy and appreciating the accomplishments of African American people."
"Black History Month is a time to celebrate the rich history and contributions of those in the African Diaspora. We honor those who struggled for freedom, made advancement in industry, and furthered our understanding of the world, but received little recognition."
Black history cannot be relegated to a month, but as these responses demonstrate, this time can be a reminder to keep our focus on learning, sharing, and celebrating Black culture.
Y ASSOCIATE SHOUT OUTS
We have more great 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 Astare Cochran, Ashley Kramer, Shannon Martin, Natasha Bentzen, Ahmad Collick, Paige Coressel, Ramona Dowdell, and Justin Hunt.
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!
Myles, Y Head Start - Belair Site
“I love how attentive, patient and personable the associates are at the Belair Rd location. They are very caring and want nothing but the best for the students. I know for a fact that my son will have a hard time transitioning to elementary school because he loves Y Head Start so much. Great job!"
Zachary, Y Before & After School Enrichment - Fountain Green Elementary
“Ms. Patrice and the associates at the Y make the program fun and engaging. My son never wants to leave. He has made so many friends and is always engaged with crafts, movement, and activities after completing his homework. Teaching children about helping others through community service and special events are an added bonus. I would recommend this program to anyone."
Sharon, The Y in Pasadena
"Friendly front desk associates (Carrie!). Friendly members who are respectful and kind on the gym floor. Great new equipment...thank you!"
Anna, The Betty Sterner Y Preschool in Catonsville
"I love it! Everyone is so helpful and insightful."
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!
This Pay Period: 2/12/23 to 2/25/23
Pay Date: 3/7/23
Click below for more information.
Y RETIREMENT FUND
It is never too early to start thinking about the future. As a Y Associate, you are entitled to a unique retirement benefit that rewards a career of service to the Y with lifetime income in retirement. Click below for more information.
FINANCIAL WELLNESS WEBINAR
Join Andrea Rapp from First Financial Credit Union to learn about accessing the credit union and the financial wellness benefits that are available to you as a Y in Central Maryland associate.
Click below to join the webinar on March 8 from 10:00am - 10:30am.
OUR WORK TOGETHER
Dear Colleagues,
February is Black History month, and for those of you who know me a little bit, history is one of my deep interests. The history of African Americans in our country is indeed a complex one, including the deep moral stain of slavery. It’s also a rich and fascinating history, and one with so many enriching threads to follow if you have the interest (and hey, history is definitely interesting!). If you're interested in watching some very good documentaries on Black history, PBS recommends these.
The Y also has its own complex Black history. The first YMCA established to serve African Americans came into being in 1853 (the same year, I might add, that our Y was established), eight years before the American Civil War and ten years before the institution of slavery was officially ended in the United States. Anthony Bowen, a formerly enslaved man who went on to become the first Black clerk in the U.S. patent office, organized the "YMCA for Colored Men and Boys" in Washington, D.C.. It opened just nine years after the founding of the Y globally, which occurred in London, England and less than two years after the first North American Ys came into being in Boston and Montreal.
The Anthony Bowen Y, now part of the Metropolitan Washington Y association, moved a few times over the years, and was completely redeveloped in 2013. If you get an opportunity, it’s located at 1325 W Street, NW, and definitely worth the visit. Within our own association, we celebrated the 100 year anniversary of the historic Y in Druid Hill in 2016. Its rich history in many ways parallels the history of the city and the neighborhood it is a part of, one of segregation and redlining, but also one of a thriving African American community that has produced more than its fair share of great and good Americans. The Baltimore Sun published this story on the 100 year anniversary of the Druid Hill Y at the time.
For a better understanding of African American history and the Y, we’re fortunate to have much of that maintained by the University of Minnesota. Follow this link to read a brief history, as well as to explore some of the fascinating archival material they’ve assembled.
In honor of Black History month, I encourage and invite you to read widely on this subject. I firmly believe that we’d all be better citizens and better humans if we understood our history better.
All the best,
John Hoey
President & CEO
The Y in Central Maryland