Thursday, December 26, 2013
Channel 3 Editorial
Link.
I like that he agrees that the method of the Y's madness is incredibly ham-fisted. But he has buried (or completely missed) the lede among concern for refocusing the Y's mission. Refocusing is something you do after seeing to your obligations (legal and moral) to dues-paying members. You don't become aware of a problem in September, allow hundreds of families to sign up in good faith in September, and then rearrange the deck chairs on your sinking ship in November.
Again I have to ask: Why are dues-paying members of the swim team not actually treated with respect due all Y members? It's like they have two tiers of members: Swim Team (who pay for the service) and Others (who may or may not).
Incidentally, I've heard from more than one person that this is typical Y behavior, in that every ten or so years, the swim team is decimated because the swim team claims too much pool time. In due time, after Carrie Wall "retires" with a generous pension, a new Executive Director will come on board, and the swim team will increase in size (after all, the pool now languishes, empty, and what better way to fill it?), and then yet another Executive Director will arrive, and perhaps that one will feel threatened by the success of the swim team; after all, it doesn't reflect well on them (they didn't build it), and will the incredible ego of that new Executive Director be able to tolerate the success of a swim team when three or four people are complaining that they can't do 10 minutes of lap swim at night?
Monday, December 23, 2013
Cutting the cord
Today I stopped at the YMCA at 7:40 PM, and terminated the boy's membership. The parking lot was quite empty. There was no energy in the building. And there was 1 person swimming in the pool.
The Cap Times post that vanished
Late last week, the Cap Times ran a piece quoting both Carrie Wall and Betsy Huebel about the "unexpected" consequences of shifting around practice times that every dues-paying family on the Y bought and paid for and planned for. (They didn't think people would object?)
I can't find the article at the Cap Times anymore, but this being the internet and all, it's still findable in Google's cache, so I thought I'd reproduce the text here. This was written by Steve Elbow, and I'm not sure why it's gone. It's an interesting piece on an organization in full damage-control mode. I'm still waiting to see all the working families who have been clamoring for pool time, as Wall claims in the article.
I can't find the article at the Cap Times anymore, but this being the internet and all, it's still findable in Google's cache, so I thought I'd reproduce the text here. This was written by Steve Elbow, and I'm not sure why it's gone. It's an interesting piece on an organization in full damage-control mode. I'm still waiting to see all the working families who have been clamoring for pool time, as Wall claims in the article.
In an ironic set of unintended consequences, the exodus of 120 kids from the West YMCA swim team has allowed the organization to go back to its original practice schedule.
"Because it’s a reduced program now, there’s more availability in the pool to accommodate everyone," said YMCA of Dane County board chair Betsy Huebel.
Last month YMCA officials set off a firestorm of complaints from parents of kids in the 300-member swim team program by switching practice times for some kids from evenings to early mornings, which parents say made it difficult for kids to get to school on time. Other parents were faced with practices being moved from the west side facility to the east side one, which would have required a 20-minute after-school dash across town.
Animosity was magnified by the fact that the changes were to take place in early January — right in the middle of the swim season.
YMCA officials say the changes were necessary because members were not able to swim laps and kids were not able to take swimming lessons during the 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. "prime time" hours.
"All the lanes were being taken up by the swim team," Huebel said.
But because nearly half the swimmers left the team, the YMCA can keep lanes open for lap swimmers and for swimming lessons.
The YMCA has been caught in a fusillade of criticism from both swim team parents and members who say the swim team dominates the pool. When the Y changed practice schedules, angry swim team parents retaliated by pointing to problems with the YMCA's childcare programs, some of which have racked up a large number of violations in recent years.
YMCA officials and city regulators say the childcare problems have been addressed. But lingering resentment at the swim team changes — as well as the firing of 13 management staffers — still festers. A series of stories on the Cap Times website over the past couple of weeks continues to draw phone calls and emails from angry parents and former and current staffers.
"Her incompetence and God-like attitude is shocking," writes one swim-team parent, referring to YMCA president and CEO Carrie Wall in an email to the Cap Times on Friday. "She seems to answer to no one."
In an interview on Friday, Wall said the organization does all it can to support competitive sports programs. But she said the Y's core values of healthy living, youth development and social responsibliity come first. That means its sports programs need more of an emphasis on basic skills, like swimming lessons, instead of competition.
"We do it by teaching kids basic level sports so they can play the rest of their lives and be active," she said. "That’s really our goal. What they do beyond that, we’ll support it as much as we can."
Wall said the organization has geared itself toward tackling current issues, like youth obesity, academic readiness and promoting family health.
The swim team, she said, "is not our number one goal and mission."
"We did it, and we became this big entity because we have pools and we had the room to do it," Wall said. "But it grew to a point where having all those prime-time hours, we couldn’t just have the swim team have it."
The program changes come while the YMCA is reeling from a $500,000 deficit, which Wall said is attributable in part to members who have quit, or prospective members who won't join, because gym and pool space is limited.
"Why we did it is because we needed to do it," she said.
Wall said some of the deficit is due to a slow economy, which led to disappointing camp enrollments last summer as budget conscious parents, some out of work, kept kids at home. The Y also saw an increase in requests for scholarships, awarded to needy families, which amounted to $900,000 this year, up from $400,000 three years ago.
In addition, debt on the northeast YMCA of Dane County facility in Sun Prairie, which opened in 2007, continues to be a burden. The YMCA, which has an annual budget of about $13 million, still owes $6 million on the building, said Wall.
To balance the books, the YMCA cut 13 positions in November, including its vice president of business services, who earned nearly $140,000 last year, according to federal tax records. Wall said the staff cuts amounted to a total of $600,000 in savings.
She said changes were made to several programs, not just the swim team. And she said that they had to be made immediately so the organization could entice new members in its start-of-the-year membership drive.
"We’re always in the middle of somebody’s season, whether it’s basketball, whether it’s camp, whatever," Wall said. "We had to make the decision based on our budget year. And our budget year and our busiest time of the year starts in January."
She said the impact of members not having access to facilities last year was "devastating," and if left to continue could hamper efforts by the Y to right its financial ship.
"We had our members just clamoring, 'We don’t have lap swim time, we don’t have open swim time. That's why we joined the YMCA,'" she said. "And when it comes to working families, prime time is prime time."
"Because it’s a reduced program now, there’s more availability in the pool to accommodate everyone," said YMCA of Dane County board chair Betsy Huebel.
Last month YMCA officials set off a firestorm of complaints from parents of kids in the 300-member swim team program by switching practice times for some kids from evenings to early mornings, which parents say made it difficult for kids to get to school on time. Other parents were faced with practices being moved from the west side facility to the east side one, which would have required a 20-minute after-school dash across town.
Animosity was magnified by the fact that the changes were to take place in early January — right in the middle of the swim season.
YMCA officials say the changes were necessary because members were not able to swim laps and kids were not able to take swimming lessons during the 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. "prime time" hours.
"All the lanes were being taken up by the swim team," Huebel said.
But because nearly half the swimmers left the team, the YMCA can keep lanes open for lap swimmers and for swimming lessons.
The YMCA has been caught in a fusillade of criticism from both swim team parents and members who say the swim team dominates the pool. When the Y changed practice schedules, angry swim team parents retaliated by pointing to problems with the YMCA's childcare programs, some of which have racked up a large number of violations in recent years.
YMCA officials and city regulators say the childcare problems have been addressed. But lingering resentment at the swim team changes — as well as the firing of 13 management staffers — still festers. A series of stories on the Cap Times website over the past couple of weeks continues to draw phone calls and emails from angry parents and former and current staffers.
"Her incompetence and God-like attitude is shocking," writes one swim-team parent, referring to YMCA president and CEO Carrie Wall in an email to the Cap Times on Friday. "She seems to answer to no one."
In an interview on Friday, Wall said the organization does all it can to support competitive sports programs. But she said the Y's core values of healthy living, youth development and social responsibliity come first. That means its sports programs need more of an emphasis on basic skills, like swimming lessons, instead of competition.
"We do it by teaching kids basic level sports so they can play the rest of their lives and be active," she said. "That’s really our goal. What they do beyond that, we’ll support it as much as we can."
Wall said the organization has geared itself toward tackling current issues, like youth obesity, academic readiness and promoting family health.
The swim team, she said, "is not our number one goal and mission."
"We did it, and we became this big entity because we have pools and we had the room to do it," Wall said. "But it grew to a point where having all those prime-time hours, we couldn’t just have the swim team have it."
The program changes come while the YMCA is reeling from a $500,000 deficit, which Wall said is attributable in part to members who have quit, or prospective members who won't join, because gym and pool space is limited.
"Why we did it is because we needed to do it," she said.
Wall said some of the deficit is due to a slow economy, which led to disappointing camp enrollments last summer as budget conscious parents, some out of work, kept kids at home. The Y also saw an increase in requests for scholarships, awarded to needy families, which amounted to $900,000 this year, up from $400,000 three years ago.
In addition, debt on the northeast YMCA of Dane County facility in Sun Prairie, which opened in 2007, continues to be a burden. The YMCA, which has an annual budget of about $13 million, still owes $6 million on the building, said Wall.
To balance the books, the YMCA cut 13 positions in November, including its vice president of business services, who earned nearly $140,000 last year, according to federal tax records. Wall said the staff cuts amounted to a total of $600,000 in savings.
She said changes were made to several programs, not just the swim team. And she said that they had to be made immediately so the organization could entice new members in its start-of-the-year membership drive.
"We’re always in the middle of somebody’s season, whether it’s basketball, whether it’s camp, whatever," Wall said. "We had to make the decision based on our budget year. And our budget year and our busiest time of the year starts in January."
She said the impact of members not having access to facilities last year was "devastating," and if left to continue could hamper efforts by the Y to right its financial ship.
"We had our members just clamoring, 'We don’t have lap swim time, we don’t have open swim time. That's why we joined the YMCA,'" she said. "And when it comes to working families, prime time is prime time."
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Channel 15 story
Channel 15 is running a story tonight that says the practice schedule is back to normal.
To recap: Ms. Wall has driven away families, antagonized donors, and demonstrated (in my opinion) very very poor leadership.
It seems to me that a better tack would have been to raise swim fees. I think that will happen next year because the Y team cannot raise money by having meets because no one is left behind to run them! So either they will raise fees or families left behind will have to do things like sell magazines or cookware to find the extra money.
How NOT to do things. That is what we've seen of late.
The good news to come out of this is that Shane is back coaching Madison-area swimmers!
To recap: Ms. Wall has driven away families, antagonized donors, and demonstrated (in my opinion) very very poor leadership.
It seems to me that a better tack would have been to raise swim fees. I think that will happen next year because the Y team cannot raise money by having meets because no one is left behind to run them! So either they will raise fees or families left behind will have to do things like sell magazines or cookware to find the extra money.
How NOT to do things. That is what we've seen of late.
The good news to come out of this is that Shane is back coaching Madison-area swimmers!
Carrie Wall finally speaks
I'll be back later to comment more fully.
Here is the latest article in the paper. At first glance, I see a lack of foresight. I suspect they talked to zero swim families before the changes. (I've not heard of any, at least).
[updated, later, below]
120 swimmers have left, and 36 family memberships -- dues-paying members -- have stopped. Some swim team families had 2 swimmers -- I can't think of any with three. So 36 family memberships gone, plus a number of individual memberships, and their dues, gone. (My son, for example, just is an individual member; we were family members for a year or two after he joined way back when, but we didn't use the facilities and cut back). All of these reductions in memberships, and in incoming dues, cannot be helping the bottom line. It's possible that people will see the open pool now and join. But I rather doubt there will be a net gain.
I'm left wondering how the number of people who, in exit interviews, cited the lack of pool space compares to the number of swim families who have left. But apparently there's a cadre of swimmers now -- we're assured they exist! -- that is happier now that they can swim unimpeded. Better to have 10 happy lap swimmers, I guess, in Carrie Wall's view, than a pool full of dues-paying members (with 10 swimmers per lane!). That's very odd reasoning, and it might reflect why there is a substantial deficit right now.
The comments in that article are kinda blistering.
It does make me want to swing by the Y to look at the Pool when the swim team kids would have been swimming.
Here is the latest article in the paper. At first glance, I see a lack of foresight. I suspect they talked to zero swim families before the changes. (I've not heard of any, at least).
[updated, later, below]
120 swimmers have left, and 36 family memberships -- dues-paying members -- have stopped. Some swim team families had 2 swimmers -- I can't think of any with three. So 36 family memberships gone, plus a number of individual memberships, and their dues, gone. (My son, for example, just is an individual member; we were family members for a year or two after he joined way back when, but we didn't use the facilities and cut back). All of these reductions in memberships, and in incoming dues, cannot be helping the bottom line. It's possible that people will see the open pool now and join. But I rather doubt there will be a net gain.
I'm left wondering how the number of people who, in exit interviews, cited the lack of pool space compares to the number of swim families who have left. But apparently there's a cadre of swimmers now -- we're assured they exist! -- that is happier now that they can swim unimpeded. Better to have 10 happy lap swimmers, I guess, in Carrie Wall's view, than a pool full of dues-paying members (with 10 swimmers per lane!). That's very odd reasoning, and it might reflect why there is a substantial deficit right now.
The comments in that article are kinda blistering.
It does make me want to swing by the Y to look at the Pool when the swim team kids would have been swimming.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
What the...?
I just saw this.
What the heck is going on? Why on Earth should anyone donate to the Y if they are using money so people are prevented from talking?
If true (and it is all unsourced, mostly), this is absolutely wrong on so many many levels.
Another article in the Paper
From the Cap Times. I also think the 85 number quoted is inaccurate, so I agree with Sharon Baldwin, the spokesperson for the Y.
I think the actual number is greater. 65 to SWAT, 20 to BAC, 5 or 10 to MSS, and a few that I know of to Waunakee.
Friday, December 13, 2013
The refund process
The latest email tells me swim team refunds are being processed, and that there are a large number to get through. (Emphasis added by me). The email also mentions, elsewhere, a high volume of refunds right now.
What a shame. Thanks Carrie.
Tonight the boy is swimming against some Y team-mates, so that'll be fun to watch. And we can talk to the parents. I think we're about the last ones left, it feels like, who haven't jumped off the sinking ship.
Will the last family out please turn out the lights?
What a shame. Thanks Carrie.
Tonight the boy is swimming against some Y team-mates, so that'll be fun to watch. And we can talk to the parents. I think we're about the last ones left, it feels like, who haven't jumped off the sinking ship.
Will the last family out please turn out the lights?
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Today's E-mail
Getting an email from the YDC swim team is now kind of like finding a ticking time-bomb in your inbox. But today's email was instructive.
The Y team typically sponsors a Winter Splash swim meet in January. This is what used to be (I think) the MEYO Octopus meet, and it's the weekend of the 11th and 12th (I'll be out of town). The problem is that most of the people who used to run the meets -- they volunteered to do this -- have left the team, so replacements for the Volunteer Coordinator, Head Scorer, the person who runs the Colorado, Head of Clerk of Course, Head of Awards, and Officials all have to found!
It will surprise me if this meet runs.
This weekend I'm meeting with parents of other HS swimmers to talk about what we'll be doing at the end of the season.
Monday, December 9, 2013
From the Cap Times
I know, I know, it's just the Cap Times, an online paper.
Link.
Imagine, Carrie Wall, if you worked *with* Swim families instead of antagonizing them. Then maybe the energy that is going towards exposing the shortcomings of the Y (not that it takes much to find this information out) might have been put towards helping it out of its present difficulties.
How shortsighted!
Again, this is definitely a First World problem, but I think it points out how the Y is not following YMCA core values, principally honesty. If you aren't honest with your dues-paying members, do you deserve to run the YMCA?
Link.
Imagine, Carrie Wall, if you worked *with* Swim families instead of antagonizing them. Then maybe the energy that is going towards exposing the shortcomings of the Y (not that it takes much to find this information out) might have been put towards helping it out of its present difficulties.
How shortsighted!
Again, this is definitely a First World problem, but I think it points out how the Y is not following YMCA core values, principally honesty. If you aren't honest with your dues-paying members, do you deserve to run the YMCA?
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Welcome back Carrie Wall!
She's been out of town since this whole things started. I wonder if any damage control will be done when she gets back in the office on Monday.
No one I know who is still hanging on at the Y -- yes, there are a few of us who haven't pulled the trigger, so to speak, and left -- trusts her one iota.
No one I know who is still hanging on at the Y -- yes, there are a few of us who haven't pulled the trigger, so to speak, and left -- trusts her one iota.
A little update
So the new SWAT team is full. That was fast. Thus, 70 swimmers have left the YDC for SWAT. Others have left for MSS or BAC.
I think -- just guessing -- well over 90% of these swim team members were also dues-paying members of the Y. Sometimes, only the swimmer was a member (that's the case with my swimmer). Often, the whole family was a member, paying dues. I don't think there are many financial hardship cases on the swim team (I'm not sure, but I don't think there are).
So the Y has lost revenue -- monthly dues revenue -- from these departed families. They have had to reimburse families who left because of the new schedule that didn't work for them. They have lost a willing pool (apologies for the pun) of volunteers. The swim team in the past has held a swim-a-thon to benefit kids at the Y. I wonder if that will go on. And as I said earlier, some of the people who left include admin refs and starter refs, critical cogs for running a meet. I don't see how the Dane Co Y can run a meet now.
And three coaches are gone. One was let go (he's been down at Winter Nationals coaching two stellar (former) Y swimmers). Two others have left this week.
There was going to have been a meeting on Sunday for remaining families to see about salvaging things. That's been cancelled, as it's obvious that people have voted with their feet.
On the plus side, I guess, the pool isn't very full anymore. The one at the west Y had mechanical issues this past week. I think that's fixed now.
I think -- just guessing -- well over 90% of these swim team members were also dues-paying members of the Y. Sometimes, only the swimmer was a member (that's the case with my swimmer). Often, the whole family was a member, paying dues. I don't think there are many financial hardship cases on the swim team (I'm not sure, but I don't think there are).
So the Y has lost revenue -- monthly dues revenue -- from these departed families. They have had to reimburse families who left because of the new schedule that didn't work for them. They have lost a willing pool (apologies for the pun) of volunteers. The swim team in the past has held a swim-a-thon to benefit kids at the Y. I wonder if that will go on. And as I said earlier, some of the people who left include admin refs and starter refs, critical cogs for running a meet. I don't see how the Dane Co Y can run a meet now.
And three coaches are gone. One was let go (he's been down at Winter Nationals coaching two stellar (former) Y swimmers). Two others have left this week.
There was going to have been a meeting on Sunday for remaining families to see about salvaging things. That's been cancelled, as it's obvious that people have voted with their feet.
On the plus side, I guess, the pool isn't very full anymore. The one at the west Y had mechanical issues this past week. I think that's fixed now.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Enter SWAT
SWAT has expanded into the Madison swim market.
SWAT is the Southwest Aquatic Team. I think that's what the acronym stands for. Southwest refers to southwest of Milwaukee, I think, not SW Wisconsin. SWAT is actually east of Madison.
The Head Coach at SWAT, Shane Ryan, is the former Head Coach at MWY, and then YDC; he oversaw the merger of the different YDC Swim Teams -- MWY, MEYO and Lodi -- into one. He was my son's coach for years after we moved over from BAC following a year with Jerrod (I think that was his name) who just wasn't a good match, especially after having had Charlie and Cheezer at BAC, who were great
I digress.
Shane and Michael Hanson will be coaching in Madison. It will be interesting to see how many YDC parents leave for this new team (some who can have left YDC already for BAC or MSS, but these teams have limited room).
Everyone who leaves is taking their extra swim fees that would have gone to the Y with them. In addition, most of them are not financial hardship cases, so they were paying membership dues to the Y as well. Maybe I don't see the big picture, but it seems to me that an Executive Director of a non-profit who makes decisions that drive away people who support the institution monetarily is not necessarily making the best decisions for that institution.
One of the swimmers tweeted a picture of the westside Y pool as it existed during dryland practice yesterday, when the pool is open for general lap swimming. Empty.
SWAT is the Southwest Aquatic Team. I think that's what the acronym stands for. Southwest refers to southwest of Milwaukee, I think, not SW Wisconsin. SWAT is actually east of Madison.
The Head Coach at SWAT, Shane Ryan, is the former Head Coach at MWY, and then YDC; he oversaw the merger of the different YDC Swim Teams -- MWY, MEYO and Lodi -- into one. He was my son's coach for years after we moved over from BAC following a year with Jerrod (I think that was his name) who just wasn't a good match, especially after having had Charlie and Cheezer at BAC, who were great
I digress.
Shane and Michael Hanson will be coaching in Madison. It will be interesting to see how many YDC parents leave for this new team (some who can have left YDC already for BAC or MSS, but these teams have limited room).
Everyone who leaves is taking their extra swim fees that would have gone to the Y with them. In addition, most of them are not financial hardship cases, so they were paying membership dues to the Y as well. Maybe I don't see the big picture, but it seems to me that an Executive Director of a non-profit who makes decisions that drive away people who support the institution monetarily is not necessarily making the best decisions for that institution.
One of the swimmers tweeted a picture of the westside Y pool as it existed during dryland practice yesterday, when the pool is open for general lap swimming. Empty.
Michael Hanson nominated for Coach of the Year!
He deserves the plaudit.
Nomination form.
Now, I have no idea who votes for these. Coaches, I'm guessing? I don't think Officials do -- I've never seen an email about it.
The timing reminds me of the TV show that gets nominated for an Emmy after it's pulled off the air.
YDC swimmer Elizabeth Nelson is swimming very well at the Winter Nationals this week in Tennessee. She won her heat and is in the 'B' finals for the 200 IM tonight. Swim fast!!! Michael is down there as her coach. She's swimming unattached, so I guess she's technically a former YDC swimmer.
Nomination form.
Now, I have no idea who votes for these. Coaches, I'm guessing? I don't think Officials do -- I've never seen an email about it.
The timing reminds me of the TV show that gets nominated for an Emmy after it's pulled off the air.
YDC swimmer Elizabeth Nelson is swimming very well at the Winter Nationals this week in Tennessee. She won her heat and is in the 'B' finals for the 200 IM tonight. Swim fast!!! Michael is down there as her coach. She's swimming unattached, so I guess she's technically a former YDC swimmer.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
People leaving the Y
Perhaps they aren't important to the Y's bottom line, but they were critical people who were highly involved in the running of meets, so therefore important to the financial stability of the team, because running meets is a way to make money for Swim Teams.
Now the team is down a super highly-qualified Admin Ref/Starter Ref, and someone who can run the timing system. Great people that I will miss seeing on the deck for Y meets.
One of these was a family of long-time Y members (we're talking 10+ years). Out the door. (Don't know about the Timing System person, but they've been at the Y for at least 3 years).
Now the team is down a super highly-qualified Admin Ref/Starter Ref, and someone who can run the timing system. Great people that I will miss seeing on the deck for Y meets.
One of these was a family of long-time Y members (we're talking 10+ years). Out the door. (Don't know about the Timing System person, but they've been at the Y for at least 3 years).
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Good Bye Winter Open
For the past 5 or 6 years, MWY, and then YDC have sponsored the Winter Open, a prelims-final meet (Most swim meets are swum such that the swim is the finals). It was a nice taste of the State Meet format for swimmers.
Yesterday, this year's version was cancelled. In the past, the Winter Open was held at the Middleton/Cross Plains pool, but this year it was scheduled into the Natatorium on the UW Campus (Finally! I could bike/walk to the meet!) I wonder how much money the Y still has to pay the Nat for the pool rental. Maybe they got lucky and the Nat decided to forego charging the Y for the space, because it's not being used, but I'd be surprised about that, since the Natatorium has to run as a business too.
I have a good lot of sympathy for the Swim Coaches at the Y. It's like they're captaining a sinking ship, or something like that.
Yesterday, this year's version was cancelled. In the past, the Winter Open was held at the Middleton/Cross Plains pool, but this year it was scheduled into the Natatorium on the UW Campus (Finally! I could bike/walk to the meet!) I wonder how much money the Y still has to pay the Nat for the pool rental. Maybe they got lucky and the Nat decided to forego charging the Y for the space, because it's not being used, but I'd be surprised about that, since the Natatorium has to run as a business too.
I have a good lot of sympathy for the Swim Coaches at the Y. It's like they're captaining a sinking ship, or something like that.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Energy
I see all the time and effort being put forth in adjusting to the Carrie Wall edicts, and I can't help but marvel at it. And then I ponder the fact that all of this energy is *not* being used to better the YMCA, not at all.
If Carrie Wall were a better Executive Director, I think she would have recognized this potential and harnessed all this energy for the good of the YMCA. And then I ponder why this hasn't been done. Why has there been this dreadful oversight of such a committed group of potential volunteers? Why the blindspot? Hundreds of them!
Instead Carrie Wall has antagonized almost all of them! Why? What a sad, sad waste and what a commentary on her leadership.
smh, as my texting son would say.
If Carrie Wall were a better Executive Director, I think she would have recognized this potential and harnessed all this energy for the good of the YMCA. And then I ponder why this hasn't been done. Why has there been this dreadful oversight of such a committed group of potential volunteers? Why the blindspot? Hundreds of them!
Instead Carrie Wall has antagonized almost all of them! Why? What a sad, sad waste and what a commentary on her leadership.
smh, as my texting son would say.
Friday, November 29, 2013
More on the Pool Time Changes
A new link, from Channel 3. This is something of a first world problem, to be sure. Still, when someone tells you something, and then goes back on what is said, that's a problem. They aren't being honest with you. You expect honesty from the YMCA.
So, the after-school practices at the West Y, populated by Y Members, are shifted all the way over to the East Y. This is at Cottage Grove Road and Hwy 51. On a good day, 20 minutes of driving. This presumes that your kid is ready to go right as they are dismissed from school. That never happens (I have to wonder if the Executive Board who made this decision actually has kids in middle school).
High Schoolers get to swim at 5:15 AM -- requiring a parent to drive them there. They are out of practice at 7 AM. Classes start at, say, Edgewood just after 7:30. So in that 30 minutes, the student has to shower, change, eat, drive 15 minutes to Edgewood, find a place to park (or be dropped off). If you are a parent and have to be at work at 7:30? (Like, say, a teacher?) Tough. Find someone to take your kid. (Let's just ignore the ridiculous notion that high schoolers will get up before 5 for swim practice).
Again, these changes have been sprung without warning on the entire team, after having been finalized a long time ago. Why the delay? Why not tell us when we are signing up for swim team that the possibility existed for such an extremely intrusive change?
In other words, why don't we have HONESTY from an Executive Director of an organization for which four values are HONESTY, CARING, RESPONSIBILITY and RESPECT?
So, the after-school practices at the West Y, populated by Y Members, are shifted all the way over to the East Y. This is at Cottage Grove Road and Hwy 51. On a good day, 20 minutes of driving. This presumes that your kid is ready to go right as they are dismissed from school. That never happens (I have to wonder if the Executive Board who made this decision actually has kids in middle school).
High Schoolers get to swim at 5:15 AM -- requiring a parent to drive them there. They are out of practice at 7 AM. Classes start at, say, Edgewood just after 7:30. So in that 30 minutes, the student has to shower, change, eat, drive 15 minutes to Edgewood, find a place to park (or be dropped off). If you are a parent and have to be at work at 7:30? (Like, say, a teacher?) Tough. Find someone to take your kid. (Let's just ignore the ridiculous notion that high schoolers will get up before 5 for swim practice).
Again, these changes have been sprung without warning on the entire team, after having been finalized a long time ago. Why the delay? Why not tell us when we are signing up for swim team that the possibility existed for such an extremely intrusive change?
In other words, why don't we have HONESTY from an Executive Director of an organization for which four values are HONESTY, CARING, RESPONSIBILITY and RESPECT?
Staff Advancement at the Y
So this whole things has got me wondering: Are the hard-working staff at the Y given opportunities to advance, professionally?
I ask this because when the Son started, there was a coach who was very well-respected by his peers. He coached the Midwest Zones team, for example, when the Son swam down in Pleasant Prairie, and won National Recognition. Michael Hanson, recently sacrificed because of cost-cutting, also was a Zones coach. So historically the Y has had quite excellent, well-thought-of coaches.
Is that still the case? Son does like the coaching staff, and I have no complaints about them. But are they as highly regarded state-wide as the past coaching staff who have left/been let go?
Do the coaches that are there have the opportunity to go to off-site coaching clinics to enhance their abilities?
I hope so.
I ask this because when the Son started, there was a coach who was very well-respected by his peers. He coached the Midwest Zones team, for example, when the Son swam down in Pleasant Prairie, and won National Recognition. Michael Hanson, recently sacrificed because of cost-cutting, also was a Zones coach. So historically the Y has had quite excellent, well-thought-of coaches.
Is that still the case? Son does like the coaching staff, and I have no complaints about them. But are they as highly regarded state-wide as the past coaching staff who have left/been let go?
Do the coaches that are there have the opportunity to go to off-site coaching clinics to enhance their abilities?
I hope so.
Talk about poisoning the Well!
Today we got this letter from Carrie Wall, CEO. I have three comments:
I suspect before all of this Ms. Wall could've easily raised, simply by asking, 5 figures from YDC Swim families. Maybe close to 6. Now? Good luck getting anything from me, at least. The well of good will is well and truly poisoned. There certainly will be no swim team next year; what family is going to want to stay in these conditions? (And who is going to run their meets?)
So the Y finds itself in precarious financial straits, and is trying to fix said straits. That it has reached this nadir in funding reflects very poorly on the leadership of the Y. If this was known to be occurring when swim team sign-ups were occurring (3 short months ago), it simply was not honest to take our money without mention of the pending changes. And if this was a sudden change, then the Executive Board has not been doing enough to protect the Y from the vagaries of finances. Either way, the Y and its leadership comes off looking extremely poorly. They either have not been honest (one of the core principles of the Y) or they lack foresight. Perhaps there is a better explanation. I'm willing to hear one.
Again, the most vexing part of this is the timing. It simply is not possible to find a new swim team at this time of year. I feel very badly for the girls, who swam two meets (Turkey Meet and GLO and thus are committed to swim for YDC (ha!) at the State Meets, but now they can do so only under the most horrible conditions!) Note that Carrie Wall says these decisions were made weeks ago. But they very dishonestly kept everyone in the dark about it. She says she knows the timing of this is bad. I don't think she quite understands just how bad it is.
So we'll be requesting a full refund from the Y. We signed up for a year, we expect a full year, not something like what we've been given.
Addition: Ch. 27 talks about it: Link
As we prepare for our
2014 Budget year we had difficult decisions to make and our priorities need to
be on all 25,000 kids and adults we serve.
The decisions we will continue to make prioritize our core programming
in Youth Development; swim, sports, child care, and camp. We will focus on the
early years of youth development, which means instilling our core values while
preparing children to be ready for school, teaching them water safety and
learning to swim, and teaching them the basics of sports. We will also continue
to support the needs of kids and families during out of school time and do our
best to balance our facility schedules to meet all these needs. With 3 full facilities we looked at how we
can optimize our space to accommodate everyone without canceling programs like
Swim Team.
I suspect before all of this Ms. Wall could've easily raised, simply by asking, 5 figures from YDC Swim families. Maybe close to 6. Now? Good luck getting anything from me, at least. The well of good will is well and truly poisoned. There certainly will be no swim team next year; what family is going to want to stay in these conditions? (And who is going to run their meets?)
So the Y finds itself in precarious financial straits, and is trying to fix said straits. That it has reached this nadir in funding reflects very poorly on the leadership of the Y. If this was known to be occurring when swim team sign-ups were occurring (3 short months ago), it simply was not honest to take our money without mention of the pending changes. And if this was a sudden change, then the Executive Board has not been doing enough to protect the Y from the vagaries of finances. Either way, the Y and its leadership comes off looking extremely poorly. They either have not been honest (one of the core principles of the Y) or they lack foresight. Perhaps there is a better explanation. I'm willing to hear one.
Again, the most vexing part of this is the timing. It simply is not possible to find a new swim team at this time of year. I feel very badly for the girls, who swam two meets (Turkey Meet and GLO and thus are committed to swim for YDC (ha!) at the State Meets, but now they can do so only under the most horrible conditions!) Note that Carrie Wall says these decisions were made weeks ago. But they very dishonestly kept everyone in the dark about it. She says she knows the timing of this is bad. I don't think she quite understands just how bad it is.
So we'll be requesting a full refund from the Y. We signed up for a year, we expect a full year, not something like what we've been given.
Addition: Ch. 27 talks about it: Link
November
29, 2013
Dear YMCA
of Dane County Swim Team Families,
I am very
sorry that many of you are unhappy with the business decisions that we have
made that affect you and your children. While
I understand that moving swim team practice times and locations may cause
difficulties to some of the families, please understand the Y is also in a
difficult position. The Y is no
different than many other businesses in our community needing to balance a
budget and find efficiencies. As a
non-profit organization, we must be fiscally responsible so that we can
continue to meet our mission focused on core programming related to Youth
Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility.
I know
the timing of this is bad for swim team families. We needed to make decisions for the 2014
calendar and winter programming sessions as this is our busiest time of the
year and demands are highest for all YMCA space. I heard from some of you that we have plans
to stop offering Swim Team after April and I guarantee that it is simply not
true. We will continue to meet the needs
of kids and families in this community that fits into our core
programming. Swim is a core program but
I do admit our priority is for the youth developmental programs. Our competitive programs like Swim Team and Tri
County Basketball will continue, but as in all healthy Y’s pool and gym time
are business challenges we face as they tend to be the highest demand.
I
understand many of you have reached out to my volunteer Board of Directors but please
know that the decisions concerning operations are my responsibility with input
from my Sr. Leadership, not the Board. Together
we are the responsible servant leaders to assure the mission of this
organization continues for future generations.
They are supportive and actually partner with me on the need to find
efficiencies which also includes the elimination of a few positions across the
association. The decision to eliminate
both Aquatic Director and Swim Team Director positions and create one position
at each branch to oversee Swim operations was actually made weeks ago. The Swim Director position at West was
eliminated as part of the reduction and has nothing to do with performance. Again, I’m sorry that this decision has
affected you and your children but it was a necessary business decision and the
Swim Directors remaining are very qualified.
I hope
that you will give your Swim Director a chance to work with your child and that
you continue to be involved with the Y. We
have listened and heard your comments and pushed back the date to the week of January
6, 2014 to help, but I must inform you that this decision is final. We need to accommodate the needs for Winter 1
session. We hope you will be able to accept
and work with these changes but if that doesn’t fit your family plans then we
will refund the unused portion of your season.
I hope we
will to continue to serve you and your family.
Sincerely,
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
2013: The meeting
There was a meeting last night at the West Y. It was hastily called, and the people who made this lamentable decision about the swim team were not there. But a token Management person (Paul, from the west side) was there. I didn't go -- couldn't, 'cause I had to work (and the meeting had about 2 hours advance notice). But I did hear from a reliable source a couple interesting things.
Paul was surprised at the turnout. (!) I've seen on various facebook posts that it was more than 50, about 80, so that was the size. Swimmers of different ages talked about the impact the change would have, and I was told they were quite eloquent. They were exemplars, therefore of the YMCA core principles of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility (Far more, IMO, than the people driving this campaign).
The YDC Swim team is quite large: 200+ families. Compared to when the son started, it's HUGE. There are so many people I don't know (especially now that the son is older). This decision is directly affecting 200+ YMCA Members (Swim team members are YMCA Members...I repeat that a lot because I think the Management of the YMCA forgets it sometimes) and their parents, many of whom are also YMCA members.
How is it in the best interests of the Y to antagonize this group of members? The timing of this change could not be worse from the standpoint of Club Swimming. You are in the middle of the season, and space on other teams is extremely limited. If the Upper Management of the Y knew this change was on the horizon -- even potentially -- they had a duty to report that to Swim Team families so the families could make an informed decision about their plans for the year. That is what honesty means, and honesty is one of the 4 core principles of the Y.
Paul was surprised at the turnout. (!) I've seen on various facebook posts that it was more than 50, about 80, so that was the size. Swimmers of different ages talked about the impact the change would have, and I was told they were quite eloquent. They were exemplars, therefore of the YMCA core principles of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility (Far more, IMO, than the people driving this campaign).
The YDC Swim team is quite large: 200+ families. Compared to when the son started, it's HUGE. There are so many people I don't know (especially now that the son is older). This decision is directly affecting 200+ YMCA Members (Swim team members are YMCA Members...I repeat that a lot because I think the Management of the YMCA forgets it sometimes) and their parents, many of whom are also YMCA members.
How is it in the best interests of the Y to antagonize this group of members? The timing of this change could not be worse from the standpoint of Club Swimming. You are in the middle of the season, and space on other teams is extremely limited. If the Upper Management of the Y knew this change was on the horizon -- even potentially -- they had a duty to report that to Swim Team families so the families could make an informed decision about their plans for the year. That is what honesty means, and honesty is one of the 4 core principles of the Y.
2013: The second email
The next day, we received the following email. Apparently, there has been considerable push-back. Here the further bombshell is that Michael Hanson is out (I suspect he went out protesting the changes for his swimmers). The rather mangled syntax of the letter makes me think it was written in haste.
Note the quick offer of money -- only a day after this change has been introduced! (Take this money and shut up, is how I read it.) My opinion is that this is a contingency that was planned for. There was considerable planning put forth into this schedule change that will effectively kill the swim team, including contingencies on how to deal with the inevitable backlash.
In three weeks, the Dane County Y Swim Team is hosting a very large prelim/finals meet. Most of the people running this meet (the officials in charge) have High School Swimmers. If Senior parents are pushed out (and it really does seem to me like they are trying to show us the door), who will be running the meets in the future?
Note the quick offer of money -- only a day after this change has been introduced! (Take this money and shut up, is how I read it.) My opinion is that this is a contingency that was planned for. There was considerable planning put forth into this schedule change that will effectively kill the swim team, including contingencies on how to deal with the inevitable backlash.
In three weeks, the Dane County Y Swim Team is hosting a very large prelim/finals meet. Most of the people running this meet (the officials in charge) have High School Swimmers. If Senior parents are pushed out (and it really does seem to me like they are trying to show us the door), who will be running the meets in the future?
| News Title: | Additional Swim Team Changes |
| News Date: | 11/26/2013 |
| Description: | Attention YDC Swim Team Parents:
We appreciate all the concerns that you have passed along in the past day as it relates to the new swim team practice schedule changes. We also appreciate you understanding that the YMCA needed to make this business decisions based on meeting the needs of all of our 9,000 members. That said we have heard you concern and will be delaying the new practice schedule to the week of January 6, 2014 to hopefully better assist you in this transition. We are also informing you today that along with the swim team practice schedule changewe have had to make some difficult staffing changes and reductions. We have developed a new position titled Youth Development Director of Swim that is all inclusive to our safety and risk, swim lessons, and our YDC swim team. With the consolidation of these areas within this position we have had to make a decision to eliminate our Swim Team Coach, which for west Michael Hanson currently is no longer working for the YMCA. Michael Rudie will now be relocated to West as the Youth Development Director of Swim. Robin Berg will the Youth Development Director of Swim located at East. Becky Whiting will be the Youth Development Director of Swim located at North East. We will arrange a meeting for all YDC Parents to discuss these matters further. The time and date will be forthcoming. We understand that these changes may be an inconvenience to you and your family. We hope that you will consider continuing on with our Swim Team, but based off the feedback that we have received thus far we understand that ultimately this may not work for you and your family. If this is the case we will be happy to reimburse you for the remainder of the swim team season. We will be on location this evening for practice with our Youth Development Director of Swim. Thanks Paul VanderVelde Gunna Middleton Senior Executive Director Senior Director of Operations |
2013: The letters
The bombshell email we received on Monday the 25th mentioned two letters. The first (both came in one envelope) was signed by Carrie Wall (President/CEO) and by Betsy Huebel (Chair of the Board of Directors).
Note that they want to focus on their strengths. I wonder if they consider a Swim Team that has won the state championship for 5 years running a strength?
The second letter came from -- I think -- the person in charge at West (Paul). Note that it is NOT signed either by the President/CEO nor by the Chair of the Board. So I wonder who is driving this decision.
Read through the two letters with a healthy degree of cynicism, knowing that they've relegated the High School swimmers to a 5:15 AM time slot. Then consider the core values of the Y: caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Is it honest to accept a swim family's money in September, knowing that these changes are coming in November, and that their child, rather than swimming at night, will be swimming at 5:15 AM -- if they can get there? That's before buses run. That's before a kid with CDL can drive.
So a family is left with two choices. Get the kid there at 5:15 (and let me tell you, getting my teenager up at 4:45 to be somewhere at 5:15 is on impossible), or quit the team. But because they waited until late November to announce this, a YDC swimmer cannot transfer to, and compete for, a different team. Even if there is room at, say, BAC for a swimmer, USA Swimming rules says the swimmer must compete unattached at USA State in March. So if you cannot find a team with room, a parent must now navigate the process of signing up a swimmer to be unattached at a State-level meet. Or, they can compete for the Y, without practicing.
What a disgraceful set of choices to throw at parents midway through the season. Take my money, and then change every parameter of the service that I have paid for.
My interactions with one of the YMCA Board members leads me to believe that the Board Members were not informed of the scope of these changes. Of course, I don't know that for certain as I am only interpreting an email.
Note that they want to focus on their strengths. I wonder if they consider a Swim Team that has won the state championship for 5 years running a strength?
The second letter came from -- I think -- the person in charge at West (Paul). Note that it is NOT signed either by the President/CEO nor by the Chair of the Board. So I wonder who is driving this decision.
Read through the two letters with a healthy degree of cynicism, knowing that they've relegated the High School swimmers to a 5:15 AM time slot. Then consider the core values of the Y: caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Is it honest to accept a swim family's money in September, knowing that these changes are coming in November, and that their child, rather than swimming at night, will be swimming at 5:15 AM -- if they can get there? That's before buses run. That's before a kid with CDL can drive.
So a family is left with two choices. Get the kid there at 5:15 (and let me tell you, getting my teenager up at 4:45 to be somewhere at 5:15 is on impossible), or quit the team. But because they waited until late November to announce this, a YDC swimmer cannot transfer to, and compete for, a different team. Even if there is room at, say, BAC for a swimmer, USA Swimming rules says the swimmer must compete unattached at USA State in March. So if you cannot find a team with room, a parent must now navigate the process of signing up a swimmer to be unattached at a State-level meet. Or, they can compete for the Y, without practicing.
What a disgraceful set of choices to throw at parents midway through the season. Take my money, and then change every parameter of the service that I have paid for.
My interactions with one of the YMCA Board members leads me to believe that the Board Members were not informed of the scope of these changes. Of course, I don't know that for certain as I am only interpreting an email.
2013: The email
Time to cut to the chase. As we have for the past half-dozen or so years, we once again signed the son up for Swim Team in September. As in the past, practices were set to be 7-9 or 7-9:15. The son doesn't go all that often now that he's in high school, especially as he Captains a fall sport, but he tried to get there once or twice a week. He met, and liked the new coach hired for the West Pool, Sam. He swam at the Starter Meet. He swam at the Turkey meet, both of these are Y Meets and if he wants to go to Y Nats again (doubtful -- it's still in Greensboro), you do have to have a certain amount of Y-sanctioned meets.
Just before the Turkey meet, as the High School Girls started to come back, the West pool was getting full. I suspect that there are never more YMCA Members in the pool as right after the Girls' High School Season (mid-November) and right after the Boys' High School Season (late-February). You can easily have 60+ YMCA Members in the pool at a time! From a pool usage standpoint, that seems to me to be very efficient.
On Monday this week, we received the following bombshell of an email: (Note: No, those letters had not been received by the time I got the email, but they did arrive Monday night). Check out when they want High School swimmers to start practice: 5:15 AM!! A driver on CDL cannot drive before 5 AM.
This email truly did come out of the blue. There has always been tension between the Swim Team and the Y about pool time. But let's remember that swim team members are also Y Members. When the pool is full of YDC Swim Team members, it is also full of YMCA Members.
Just before the Turkey meet, as the High School Girls started to come back, the West pool was getting full. I suspect that there are never more YMCA Members in the pool as right after the Girls' High School Season (mid-November) and right after the Boys' High School Season (late-February). You can easily have 60+ YMCA Members in the pool at a time! From a pool usage standpoint, that seems to me to be very efficient.
On Monday this week, we received the following bombshell of an email: (Note: No, those letters had not been received by the time I got the email, but they did arrive Monday night). Check out when they want High School swimmers to start practice: 5:15 AM!! A driver on CDL cannot drive before 5 AM.
This email truly did come out of the blue. There has always been tension between the Swim Team and the Y about pool time. But let's remember that swim team members are also Y Members. When the pool is full of YDC Swim Team members, it is also full of YMCA Members.
| News Title: | New Practice Schedule and Locations |
| News Date: | 11/25/2013 |
| Description: | Greetings,
By now everyone should have received a few letters from the YMCA of Dane County. This email is to give a bit more details on the changes that will be coming to the YMCA and in particular the swim team. The YMCA is looking to create a pool schedule that is more diverse with programs, open swim and adult lap swim. This is part of their new strategy to keep the YMCA of Dane County a great option for children, teens, adults and families. With the new pool schedule more members will be able to enjoy the pool facilities during the popular primetime hours of 4:00pm- 8:00pm. The YMCA of Dane County has asked the swim team to make a few changes to our schedule with the new pool strategy in mind. There is currently a pool that is not being used for swim team out at the Northeast YMCA in Sun Prairie. We will have a few groups from the East YMCA heading to Sun Prairie for practices. This will free up some space at the East YMCA which will be filled by a few West YMCA groups. Coaches will be moving with their groups as best they can. The new schedule and locations are listed below. We will give every effort to make accommodations for families who have swimmers at multiple locations at the same time. We understand the timing of this change is not ideal. That being said, these practice changes will be going into effect on December 9th, 2013. Hopefully this is enough time to arrange car pools and make changes to your schedules. Thank you all in advance for what we know will be a trying few weeks for the swim team. This is a situation that we are confident we can handle as a strong organization built on the fundamentals of the YMCA; Caring, Honestly, Respect and Responsibility. Here is our chance to show the YMCA of Dane County that we can be a part of their solution to build a stronger membership base. West White Group- Monday @ West 6:30-7:30 Wednesday @ West 6:30-7:30 West Red Group- Monday @ East 4-5pm Wednesday @ East 4-5pm Friday @ East 4-5pm West Blue Group- Monday @ East 5-6pm Wednesday @ East 4-5:30pm Friday @ East 4-5:30pm West Bronze Group- Monday @ West 3:45-5:30pm Tuesday Time Change: No Practice Wednesday @ West 3:45-5:30pm Thursday Time Change @ West 3:45-5:30pm Friday @ West 3:45-5:30pm West Silver Group- Monday @ West 3:45-5:30pm Tuesday @ West 3:45-5:30pm Wednesday @ West 3:45-5:30pm Thursday @ West 3:45-5:30pm Friday @ West 3:45-5:30pm West Gold Group- Monday @ West 7:00-9:00pm Tuesday @ West 7:00-9:15pm Wednesday @ West 7:00-9:00pm Thursday @ West 7:00-9:15pm Friday @ West 5:00-6:30pm West High School - Monday Time Change: 5:15am – 7:00 am @ West YMCA Tuesday Time Change: 5:15am – 7:00 am @ West YMCA Wednesday Time Change: 5:15am- 7:00am @West YMCA Thursday Time Change: 5:15am- 7:00am @West YMCA Friday Time Change: 5:15am- 7:00am @West YMCA East White Group - Monday @ East 5:15-6pm Tuesday @ East 4:00-4:45pm Wednesday @ Northeast 4-5pm East Red Group- Monday @ Northeast 4-5pm Wednesday @ Northeast 4-5pm Thursday @ East 5-6pm East Blue Group- Monday @ Northeast 5-6pm Wednesday @ East 4-5pm Thursday @ East 4-5pm East Bronze Group - Monday @ East 4-5:15pm Tuesday @ East 4-6pm Wednesday @ Northeast 5-6:30pm Thursday @ East 4-5pm Friday @ Northeast 4-5pm East Silver Group - Monday @ East 4-5pm Tuesday @ East 4-6pm Wednesday @ East 4-6pm Thursday @ East 4-6pm Friday @ Northeast 4-5:30pm East Gold Group- Monday @ East 7:15-9:15pm Tuesday @ Lafollette 6:30-8:30pm Wednesday @ East 5:30-7:30pm Thursday @ Lafollette 6:30-8:30pm Friday Time Change: 5:45am – 6:45am @ East YMCA East High School- Monday @ East 7:15-9:15pm Tuesday @ Lafollette 6:30-8:30pm Wednesday @ East 5:30pm- 7:30pm Thursday @ Lafollette 6:30pm – 8:30pm Friday Time Change: 5:45am-6:45am @ East YMCA |
Sudden Merger
On September 10, 2010, we got an email from Shane saying that the merger that was planned had in fact happened already. MWY, Lodi and MEYO all merged into one.
This happened after tryouts, and after people joined the Y Teams. Hard luck to you if you wanted to be on a small-ish team, the decision was made apparently with no input from Swim Families. I can appreciate the need to merger (I think, for example, that Wisconsin Counties should merge to save money -- what purpose is served by having both a Kenosha and a Racine County? Why couldn't Dane and Rock Counties merge? But I digress), but I'm not certain this merger was as seamless as it could have been. It seemed very very rushed to me.
As a result of this, Shane was "promoted" to Regional Swim Team Director, which took him off the Deck. So a superb coach was gone. From his email announcing the merger:
Communication will be one of the keys to making this a success merger a success. I plan to keep everyone updated and informed of all new information through emails and our team website.
Although this merger was not well communicated beforehand -- the style, in my opinion, of the new CEO of the Y, I thought Shane did a great job of keeping in touch with all of the West parents, in addition to learning all the new swimmers. But I missed seeing him on Deck at West Practices, even though his replacement coaches were excellent. And it seemed like he was, increasingly, doing Swim Team paperwork rather than coaching.
I will also note that Families did an excellent job of stepping up to volunteer at meets they previously did not have to work at. (At least the families I hung around with).
This happened after tryouts, and after people joined the Y Teams. Hard luck to you if you wanted to be on a small-ish team, the decision was made apparently with no input from Swim Families. I can appreciate the need to merger (I think, for example, that Wisconsin Counties should merge to save money -- what purpose is served by having both a Kenosha and a Racine County? Why couldn't Dane and Rock Counties merge? But I digress), but I'm not certain this merger was as seamless as it could have been. It seemed very very rushed to me.
As a result of this, Shane was "promoted" to Regional Swim Team Director, which took him off the Deck. So a superb coach was gone. From his email announcing the merger:
Communication will be one of the keys to making this a success merger a success. I plan to keep everyone updated and informed of all new information through emails and our team website.
Although this merger was not well communicated beforehand -- the style, in my opinion, of the new CEO of the Y, I thought Shane did a great job of keeping in touch with all of the West parents, in addition to learning all the new swimmers. But I missed seeing him on Deck at West Practices, even though his replacement coaches were excellent. And it seemed like he was, increasingly, doing Swim Team paperwork rather than coaching.
I will also note that Families did an excellent job of stepping up to volunteer at meets they previously did not have to work at. (At least the families I hung around with).
Enter Carrie Wall
In 2009, the Director of the YMCA of Dane County retired. Carrie Wall was hired as his replacement. There's still a Channel 15 Newsblurb on this event that is linkable.
I will pull out a quote from Carrie in that link: Now, more than ever, we need to partner with schools and other organizations to assure those that need us most have access to programs and services that develop our youth, strengthen our families and support all to reach their healthy lifestyle goals.
I will posit that having a strong (and competitive) swim team would help achieve those goals.
Per the news blurb above, Carrie Wall took over in early 2010.
I was kinda curious if I'd saved the announcement of her arrival in my email (Did I get one? I don't know), so I went back into my emails to check. No. But in the email from Coach Shane Ryan at the beginning of the 2010-2011 season, she was mentioned:
I do have some very exciting news to share with everyone because a lot has happened over the summer. The YMCA of Dane County has decided to merge and "centralize" the swim team programs. The decision to centralize was made by the new CEO/ President of the YDC Carrie Wall and also through the support of the YDC Branch Executives. Currently, the Madison West and Lodi teams have combined into one team. In the future we are planning on all teams within the YMCA of Dane County to become one team, but for right now West and Lodi are one. We decided that centralization would be in the best interest of all of the YMCA of Dane County Swimming Programs so we could combine resources, create consistency between programs, offer more opportunity to interested swimmers and to help strengthen our program overall. Our new team name is the YMCA of Dane County Waves. We will be changing our name for YMCA and USA Swimming purposes and our new club code and team abbreviation will be YDC. Please refer to the team as the Waves or YMCA of Dane County Waves.
So, out with MWY and in with YDC.
I will pull out a quote from Carrie in that link: Now, more than ever, we need to partner with schools and other organizations to assure those that need us most have access to programs and services that develop our youth, strengthen our families and support all to reach their healthy lifestyle goals.
I will posit that having a strong (and competitive) swim team would help achieve those goals.
Per the news blurb above, Carrie Wall took over in early 2010.
I was kinda curious if I'd saved the announcement of her arrival in my email (Did I get one? I don't know), so I went back into my emails to check. No. But in the email from Coach Shane Ryan at the beginning of the 2010-2011 season, she was mentioned:
I do have some very exciting news to share with everyone because a lot has happened over the summer. The YMCA of Dane County has decided to merge and "centralize" the swim team programs. The decision to centralize was made by the new CEO/ President of the YDC Carrie Wall and also through the support of the YDC Branch Executives. Currently, the Madison West and Lodi teams have combined into one team. In the future we are planning on all teams within the YMCA of Dane County to become one team, but for right now West and Lodi are one. We decided that centralization would be in the best interest of all of the YMCA of Dane County Swimming Programs so we could combine resources, create consistency between programs, offer more opportunity to interested swimmers and to help strengthen our program overall. Our new team name is the YMCA of Dane County Waves. We will be changing our name for YMCA and USA Swimming purposes and our new club code and team abbreviation will be YDC. Please refer to the team as the Waves or YMCA of Dane County Waves.
So, out with MWY and in with YDC.
Background
I think I should start by writing down the West YMCA's mission statement :
The mission of the YMCA of Dane County, Inc., is to respond to needs of families through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
The National YMCA's core values number four: Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility.
Our family became members of the Y in -- I think -- 2007. We joined in Shane Ryan's second year as a coach there (at the Madison West Y -- MWY -- this was before the merger; More on that later), and we joined for one reason: The son was joining the swim team there. He has been a member of the Y ever since.
Shane Ryan is an excellent coach. He was nominated as the YMCA Coach of the Year in 2010, he was invited to speak at the USA Swimming Age Group Coaches' Summit in 2011, and the YDC Team won 5 straight state titles (Short Course) under his leadership. My son has thrived under Shane's tutelage (and under the tutelage of the other fine coaches at the Y: Michael Hanson, Michael Rudie, Jimmy Graves and Sam Davy). He has represented the YMCA of Dane County well at local, State, and National Meets.
For most of my son's time at the Y, I've been a USA-certified Stroke/Turn judge. I've been to almost every meet the team has sponsored, working to ensure a fair and equitable meet for the swimmers. The Y team also has 4 or 5 Y- and USA-certified Starter/Refs, and a couple Admin Refs. These are all volunteers helping the team as needed. I only mention this to point out there is no shortage of parent volunteers to make sure meets run.
The mission of the YMCA of Dane County, Inc., is to respond to needs of families through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
The National YMCA's core values number four: Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility.
Our family became members of the Y in -- I think -- 2007. We joined in Shane Ryan's second year as a coach there (at the Madison West Y -- MWY -- this was before the merger; More on that later), and we joined for one reason: The son was joining the swim team there. He has been a member of the Y ever since.
Shane Ryan is an excellent coach. He was nominated as the YMCA Coach of the Year in 2010, he was invited to speak at the USA Swimming Age Group Coaches' Summit in 2011, and the YDC Team won 5 straight state titles (Short Course) under his leadership. My son has thrived under Shane's tutelage (and under the tutelage of the other fine coaches at the Y: Michael Hanson, Michael Rudie, Jimmy Graves and Sam Davy). He has represented the YMCA of Dane County well at local, State, and National Meets.
For most of my son's time at the Y, I've been a USA-certified Stroke/Turn judge. I've been to almost every meet the team has sponsored, working to ensure a fair and equitable meet for the swimmers. The Y team also has 4 or 5 Y- and USA-certified Starter/Refs, and a couple Admin Refs. These are all volunteers helping the team as needed. I only mention this to point out there is no shortage of parent volunteers to make sure meets run.
Why
The Dane County Y Swim Team has won the Y State Championship for the past 3? 4? years. My son, a YMCA member, has thrived under it. This week the upper-level management has decided to throw all that hard work away. This is my little blog documenting how the YMCA Management, headed by Carrie Wall, has antagonized an entire bunch of YMCA Members (and potential donors). The opinions and views here are my own. Some of the facts are everyone's.
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