Welcome Back, Y Family!
We'll admit that reopening our
doors and greeting our Y
family brought some tears to our eyes. It was a joy to see familiar faces after 12 weeks. We are thrilled to know that we are now able to add more health and wellness back into your lives.
It's different, of course. We couldn't see your smiles with your masks on and we couldn't greet you with a hug or a handshake.
But we are thankful that we are open again, catching up with you (from 6 feet away), sharing some laughs and helping you regain your strength, flexibility and balance.
We wish we could welcome you to all areas of our Y, just like before. Just know that we are following public health guidelines, reopening slowly and ensuring that we know how to keep everyone as safe as possible. Your Y plans to constantly assess what works and what doesn't and we will adjust accordingly. We appreciate everyone's patience while we find our new normal.
"Since 1992, the YMCA has been a grounding force for me. It was hard not being able to come down here for the last 12 weeks. I hope it never closes again."
--- Mike Paup
Paul Kausch
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a Y member for more than 23 years!
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missed working out so hard to build up a sweat.
Leah Adams did some of the Y's YouTube classes at home but she was excited to workout at the Y where there is more space. She says she feels comfortable with all of the precautions taken by the Y to stay safe during this pandemic--- and she'll be back every day this week.
Michael Reidy says he signed up for Day 1 of the Y's reopening because he needs the strength training. Plus, he's excited about reacquainting himself with friends and staff. "This is my social network," he says. He's reserved workout times every day between today and Saturday.
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John Rapf didn't do many workouts at home so he had to be here on the first day to reorient himself with his workout and the strength machines.
Tony Hernandez says he lost core and upper body strength during the 12-week shutdown. He misses basketball, which is how he would warm up before a workout. He'll be focusing on his strength training now. "Working out at the Y is always so beneficial to me," he says.
"I wanted to get back as soon as I could. I trust the Y to do what needs to be done. I have confidence in the Y and I love how clean everything is and spaced apart the equipment is."
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Y member,
Virginia Newby
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Quinn Vasbinder, a Y member for almost 8 years, says he wants to come to the Y for basketball but he knows it's closed during Phase 1, so he spent the morning weightlifting.
"I've been slacking on my lifting because it is hard to do at home," he says, laughing.
Keri and Leo Swanson: "We couldn't wait to get back. I used to spend 4 days a week playing tennis and my son spent 2 days a week. We missed this and we are enjoying ourselves!"
Meg Schneck says that her body really needed the workout today.
"Physical health and mental health are tied. Being isolated in our homes and getting out of shape affects everything."
Y staff trained virtually and in-person for Phase 1 reopening
For a smooth transition back to the Y for members and staff, Y staff received virtual and in-person training about the new procedures, policies and programs--- as well as updated CPR/First Aid training so that they know how to use a Bag Valve Mask for CPR.
We know you rely on your Y for the most updated safety, health and wellness information so rest assured we've gone above and beyond to prepare for your return!
Before coming to your Y...
Even though your Y is open again, practices and procedures have changed. Please become familiar with the new process before arriving. You'll need to reserve a workout time,
sign an online waiver and code of conduct and bring a mask.
For all of the nitty-gritty details, visit the
Y website.
Your Y still available virtually
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There are still Y Family members who aren't yet comfortable venturing into the Y facility. That's OK because we will continue our live Zoom classes and our YouTube fitness workouts.
Find our class list HERE.
Y Kids' Challenge with UO Men's Golf Coach Casey Martin
Oregon Ducks Men's Head Golf Coach, Casey Martin, has a challenge for Y kids this week! Casey is a
Eugene native,
former NCAA Champion and PGA tour veteran. He was a three-time all Pac-10 and was a member of the UO's NCAA Championship team in 1994. In his professional career, he won a Nike Tour event, tied for 23rd at the U.S. Open and secured a spot on the PGA Tour. Recently, Casey has guided the Oregon Ducks to nine NCAA Championship appearances, including winning the 2016 NCAA title.
Check out the challenge HERE.
This week's challenge is a golf drill to see how many putts you can make as you move farther away from the hole each time. Make your first putt, then move six inches back, make your putt, then continue to see how long you can go!
To enter the challenge, take a picture with your golf putter and let us know how many times you made the putt in the hole! Be sure to tag @EugeneFamilyYMCA and use the hashtag #YKidsChallenge to be considered to win.
It's important to make your post public so we can see it!
Water Watchers grows
As summer is fast approaching, it's important to know about water safety. Your Y is happy to announce that Veneta Community Pool is our latest partner for the Water Watcher program!
The Water Watchers Campaign is a joint program of Eugene Family YMCA, Willamalane Park and Recreation District, City of Eugene Recreation, River Road Park and Recreation District, and Veneta Community Pool to encourage individuals to commit to keeping kids in and around water safe.
The Water Watchers Campaign invites individuals to sign a pledge declaring their commitment to watching children in and around pools and other water bodies and responding in the case of an emergency. Those who pledge agree that they have a responsibility to keep kids safe in and around water.
Learn more about Water Watchers
HERE
and take the pledge
HERE
.
Once you take the pledge, look out for a fun sticker in the mail! Thank you to everyone who pledges to be a Water Watcher.
Catch the Y in the News
Thank you, KEZI News, for highlighting how the Y is adjusting its practices due to coronavirus now that the Y's doors are reopened.
"We want the community to be as safe and healthy as possible," said Director of Health and Wellness Kim Miller. "We jumped on board right away with virtual classes, trying to meet them where they are at. Now that the government is allowing us to reopen and Oregon is starting to come back, we want to do that in a safe and positive way because we know not everything can be done at home."
Thank you
KVAL News
for highlighting the Y's reopening today and spreading the message about new safety protocols for working out in the facility.
"We understand that members are not going to remember all (the rules) so the staff are instructed to kindly explain 'oh remember there's only one person allowed on this pod at a time'," said Beth Casper with Eugene Family YMCA.
Thank you, KVAL, for describing child care during coronavirus.
"Just north of town, the Eugene Family YMCA is in a tough position, too.
It's taken on the role of emergency childcare services, hosting more than 100 kids.
Problem is, it's currently using three schools for extra space to social distance but come this summer it won't have access to the extra room.
"We could have a room that used to have 45 kids in it and now we can only have 10," Holly Kriz-Anderson with the Eugene Family YMCA said.
Leaving the Y in desperate need of more space this summer.
"If we don't have the space, we won't be able to fill the need of the community," she said.
The Y has been reaching out to faith centers hoping to find room."
Thank you, Register-Guard, for reminding people about the Water Watchers pledge with the warm days to come. The Water Watchers pledge reminds adults to keep their eyes on kids in and around water and fit children with Coast Guard approved life jackets. Find the pledge HERE.
Thank you city of Eugene, Willamalane and River Road park and recreation districts, the city of Veneta and your Y's own Sabrina Hershey, Aquatics Director, for encouraging people to
keep water safety at the forefront of our community's mind and remind people how to prevent drownings The Register-Guard's opinion page.
"We know that an absence in kids water safety programming can lead to higher risk of accidents on the water, so we ask the community to join us in raising water safety awareness. We ask parents to pledge to be diligent when their families are near water or on boats. We ask our community to commit to exercising caution around the water and practice good habits including wearing a properly fitted, Coast Guard-approved life jacket when boating.
Together we can continue to reduce tragedies on the water."
