April 30, 2014 at 11:48 a.m.
YMCA of the Northwoods to celebrate 10th anniversary with open house
YMCA of the Northwoods to celebrate 10th anniversary with open house
For Rhinelander residents, 2004 holds special significance. It was the year the YMCA of the Northwoods finally opened its doors. A decade later, the YMCA staff is holding an open house to look back and thank the community that's made it such a special ride.
Marketing and Wellness Director Chris Cook said he sees the difference the YMCA makes every day and he's looking forward to sharing that with the world.
"We're constantly gathering stories about how the Y has made an impact in the lives of our members," he said. "We hold weekly directors meetings and every single week we're sharing impactful stories from every level about how the Y has made a difference. We've never been to a meeting without an impactful story that a member in the community has come to us with. That's part of the reason we wanted to throw the open house."
They've come up with an interesting twist to help members tell their stories and Cook said he's excited to see how it turns out.
"We wanted to have a big birthday card where members can share their little stories," he said. "We see it every day and some of those stories get shared with us, but we don't get to see them all. We wanted to give people the opportunity to jot down their memories or how the Y has impacted their lives. To witness that in writing and see the diversity of stories at every level is going to embody why we work at the Y."
Aquatics Director Melissa Nieman has experienced plenty of those impactful moments. She said they stem from more than quality programs though.
"We're trying to make it feel like friends and family," she said. "Everybody can come and everybody should feel welcome. We never turn anyone away from our programming. If you look at my 9 a.m. water exercise class for example, they're chatting the whole time and having a blast. It's a good way for them to get away and be with their friends at the Y. Then afterward, they all go out for coffee. It's more than a swim and gym."
Nieman can share stories of her own too. The YMCA has played a pivotal role in welcoming her to the Northwoods.
"There's so many friends here," she said. "I moved here from Colorado and didn't know anyone. I've made so many friends within these walls. People around town will recognize me as the lady from the Y and that's great. I've been here for six years and I started off as a swim instructor. Now, seeing some of the babies I taught in water babies who I'm now coaching in the Rhinelander Swim Club is incredible. To see how much they've grown and see they still love the sport is a wonderful feeling."
Ten years, countless laps in the pool, reps in the gym, 3-point shots and spikes over the net later, the YMCA has made an undeniable difference in the Northwoods. It's a place for people to get fit, compete, catch up and have fun. Cook said they're just getting started.
"I would say we're still very young," he said. "When you look at the history of the YMCA, it's 150 years old. In our 10 years, I'd say we've come a long way. The way we've evolved over those 10 years is by continuously adapting and filling gaps in the community. The reason we exist is to find those gaps and fill them."
An anniversary is an appropriate time to look back and reflect on the progress made. It's important to acknowledge the hard work. It's also a time to look forward to the future though.
"Ten years from now, I would like to see the Y being further entrenched in the community," Cook said. "Since the beginning, we've worked to establish roots in the community and our goal is to take that even further. We want to become synonymous with this community. We want to make our connections with Ministry and the School District of Rhinelander and all the groups we're with even stronger to create a better community."
The open house will take place on Friday, May 2 and will truly be an all-day affair. The events kick off at 6 a.m. with Zumba and Chisel programs. At 8:30 a.m., another Zumba class will start, followed by Rhythm and Weights at 9:30 a.m., Basic Zumba at 10:30 a.m. and the Arthritis Foundation Water Exercise Class.
A spinning class will start at noon and so will the Kentucky Derby Potluck and Auction where attendees are invited to really get into the spirit by wearing their biggest and best hat.
The programs will resume with Power Beats at 4:30 p.m. and another Zumba class at 5:30 p.m.
Then family night begins, complete with a bounce house for the kids, and everyone is invited.
"We're celebrating our members and as a community-based organization, we're going to open our doors and welcome in the whole community," Cook said. "If you're not a member of the Y and you've never been here, come on down and check it out. We're running our staple programs which are free to try. There's no pressure. We're running a membership deal that day so if you like what you see, you're welcome to sign up. We always want to give back to the community and the best way to do that with a one-day party is to open our doors, serve some cake, share some stories and hopefully have a great time."
Nieman said she's looking forward to introducing herself to more of the community and showing people just how beneficial the YMCA can be to the community as a whole.
"It's a good time to celebrate. We're always looking for an excuse to throw a party," she said. "We've been here for 10 years, but it's still amazing how many people have never been to the Y. They'll come in and say they've driven by a million times but never stopped before. We want to get the message out that it's a great place to bring the family."
Andy Hildebrand may be reached at [email protected].
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