Feet on the Street: Parkview Family YMCA

by Teresa Royer
Member Relations Specialist

I sat down with Clint Kugler, Executive Director of the Parkview Family YMCA the other day. As a result of our meeting I had a great history lesson. Allow me to share what I learned – I think you’ll find this very interesting if history is one of your interests:

Travel back to the year 1844 -- in which the industrial revolution was in full swing. A common situation during that period is that young men from the textile industries would go into the cities and get into trouble because they had nothing to occupy their time. Enter, George Williams who started a bible study as an answer to this problem - thus the first YMCA meeting! In addition to addressing the spiritual needs of men – they also addressed the intellectual and physical aspects---mind, body and spirit. The concept was brought to America in 1851 by Thomas Sullivan.

A college was formed to train YMCA Secretaries (now known as Executive Directors) in Springfield Massachusetts. A student named James Naismith was given an assignment to come up with a game to keep the students busy during the winter months. James came up with the game we now know as basketball.

Volleyball was created shortly after for businessmen. Businessmen didn’t want to play a game that was as physically challenging—not to mention it fit in nicely with the lunch hour. The YMCA is credited to creating many other commonly known sports and even some of our holidays – such as Father’s Day.

Clint not only taught me a great history lesson, I also had a paradigm shift in my thinking of the YMCA. The YMCA is not just a gym where people work-out – they help people reach TOTAL health (mind, body and spirit.)

They have a couple of great programs you may be interested in for your businesses such as their Corporate Challenge in which businesses compete against other businesses in games (everything from euchre to basketball.) Who knows, maybe I can get a Chamber team around for their next season as I think this would be a lot of fun, not to mention good for me.

They also offer a corporate membership program in which the YMCA will work with employers in payroll deduction from any of their employees that would like to become fit and healthy through the many, many programs at the YMCA.

If you’re interested in either the Corporate Challenge or the corporate membership program check out the following websites and who knows – if I can get a Chamber team, maybe I’ll see you at the Y – and may the best team win!

Corporate Challenge: http://www.fwymca.org/corp_member.htm, Wendy Spitznagel, 918-2148

Fitness Corporate Challenge: http://fwymca.org/events.htm#CorpChallenge_092009, Casey Wilson, Executive Director Central Branch, 422-6486.

I hope you have a chance to meet Clint as he has a wealth of knowledge and is very passionate about what he does – it’s contagious!