It's hard to quantify the value of the Y's work. What is the value of meeting a friend, sticking with a fun exercise routine or feeling like you belong in the community?
These are priceless in a time when isolation, obesity, chronic disease and depression are affecting too many of our family and community members.
In light of these trends, your Y is creating more connections and support systems year after year. Last year, we served over 18,000 people throughout Lane County. The same year, your Y saw an average of over 21,000 facility visits a month.
In order to ensure everyone can participate in our programs, with the help of so many wonderful donors, your Y awarded $464,675 in financial assistance to 3,035 individuals in
2019.
Thank you for helping us make an incredible impact--- even if we can't always define it within a number!
Reaching Out to Preteens for Fun, Social Connections
The Y's second Middle School Madness night was a tremendous success!
Not only do these nights offer an exclusive opportunity for middle schoolers to experience the Y on their own, but they also make lasting connections to combat serious issues threatening our preteens.
According to the 2019 Oregon Healthy Teens Survey, there is a mental health crisis among Oregon youth. Recent statistics show that 23 percent of Lane County 8th graders seriously considered attempting suicide.
Thankfully,
strong connections to family and community are proven protective factors.
The Y's Middle School Madness is a safe opportunity for kids throughout the area to meet friends, play games, be active and feel like they belong. It is a clear declaration that adults in their community care.
Mark your calendars: the next Middle School Madness night is Saturday, March 14 from 8 to 10:45 p.m.
100-Mile Swim Challenge
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Your Y's first-ever 100-mile swim challenge is meant to motivate and encourage a year-long investment in water workouts. Why?
Swimming is incredible for your health!
Swimming laps can engage up to 48 muscles at once, reduce the strain on joints, increase lung capacity, improve mental health and condition the heart.
There's still time to sign up for the 100-mile swim challenge! Members track their laps, yards or miles swam and those who reach 100 miles by Jan. 15, 2021 earn a sweatshirt!
Who: YMCA members
What: Swim 100 miles!
Dates: From now until January 15, 2021.
How: Members will keep track of their individual mileage on the pool deck and results will be recorded
Register: Through March 15 at the Welcome Center.
Cost: $35 one-time fee. Successful completion of the challenge earns you a 100-Mile Swim sweatshirt!
Kids Night In Gives Parents Night Out!
Your Y knows that parents need a night to themselves sometimes! On Friday, let your kiddos enjoy a night of games, movies, crafts and snacks, while you celebrate Valentine's Day or Oregon's birthday!
What: Parents' Night Out
Date: Friday, Feb. 14
Time: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Age: 2.5 years to 5th grade
Cost: $25 for each kid
Time for Annual Y Group Senior Fitness Tests
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As we age, it is important to know what our bodies can and can't handle with different exercises. Your Y is hosting two Group Senior Fitness Tests. The fitness test will include chair stands, arm curls, lower/upper body flexibility and a 6-minute walk. Completion of these tests will give you an excellent indicator of your functional strength, endurance and flexibility.
Who: Must be 60+ years old
Date: Tuesday, February 25 and Wednesday, March 4
Time: 10 a.m.
Where: Tennis Center
Cost: FREE for YMCA members, $15 for community members
Note: Wear comfortable clothes and walking/athletic shoes. These spaces can be cold so dress in layers.
Maintaining an Old Y Facility Takes Patience and Time
Your Y's old building needs extra care and attention as it continues to age. This time, the focus is on carpets.
The Beck Center and lobby carpets will be cleaned on Wednesday, March 4 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Please note that the Beck Center will not be used and the lobby will be mostly blocked off during this time.
Locker room carpets will be cleaned on Thursday, February 20 at 10 p.m. This will take 5 hours and will not affect members since it will be completed before the Y opens the next morning.
Thank you for your patience as we continue to maintain our 1955 building, which has seen 65 years of plentiful use!
Improve Your Posture and Core Strength
Do you want to make steps toward better posture and improved core strength? Designed by physical therapist Robin Detmer, MPT, this class helps build balance and resilience in your body, mind and spirit. You will focus on alignment and breath while working the deepest core muscles with exercises from yoga, Pilates, Egoscue and physical therapy. The class ends with a 10-minute guided meditation before returning to standing to integrate the work into a better posture.
What: Body Awareness and Alignment Speciality Class
Date: Sunday, March 8
Time: 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.
Cost: $15 members / $17 community members
Where: Meading Room at the Y
Note: Bring a yoga mat
Register: At the Welcome Center and online
Strengthen Your Mind with Ukulele or Guitar Lessons
Learning new skills is music to our ears! Playing a musical instrument uses both sides of the brain, which not only strengthens memory but also enhances verbal memory, spatial reasoning and spatial skills. David Ouellette will be teaching several drop-in classes: Beginner Ukulele, Intermediate Ukulele and Beginner Guitar this winter for Y members to learn the basics of playing chords and simple songs. David has over 50 years of experience teaching ukulele and guitar and has loved sharing his skills with our Y family!
David's lessons will be held in the Y's Fun Club. The classes are small, with hands-on instruction that will allow you to learn by doing and have a lot of practice. The cost is $10 per class, however if you plan on coming to a lot of the classes, talk to David about a discount.
Monday Daytime Classes
Drop-in Beginner Ukulele: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Intermediate/On-going Ukulele: 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Cost: $10 per class
February 24, March 2, 9, 16
Monday Evening Classes
Drop-in Beginner Ukulele: 7 to 7:40 p.m.
Intermediate/On-going Ukulele: 7:45 to 8:25 p.m.
Cost: $10 per class
February 17, 24, March 2, 9, 16
Wednesday Evening Classes
Drop-in Beginner Guitar: 7 to 7:40 p.m.
Intermediate/On-going Guitar: 7:45 to 8:25 p.m.
Cost: $10 per class
February 12, 19, 26, March 4, 11, 18
Come Sweat with Someone You Love!
Bootcamp Instructor Kim Miller invites you to Bootcamp class to experience the Heart Breaker Circuit with someone you love.
Put your heart to the test and challenge your partner or a friend to do the workout alongside you.
What: Heart Breaker Circuit in Bootcamp class
Date: Thursday, Feb. 13
Time: 12:05 to 12:55 p.m.
Where: Movement Center
Continue to Develop Your Pickleball Skills at the Y
Adults looking to build their pickleball skills can sign up for group pickleball lessons based on their level.
Adult beginners who have basic playing experience can
develop proper form and habits while improving their stroke technique, strategies and court positioning. Intermediates can work on strategy, shot placement, drills and movement on the court.
What: Pickleball group lessons
Days: Tuesdays & Thursdays
Dates: Feb. 18 to 27 (4 lessons)
Time: 7:15 to 8:30 p.m.
Cost: $45/Members
$55/Community Members
Chris Miller Joins the Y's Capital Campaign Cabinet
Your Y welcomes Chris Miller as the newest volunteer member of the 14-member Capital Campaign Cabinet.
The Y's Cabinet is a special group of volunteers that work hand-in-hand with the Y's Board and staff on achieving fundraising successes that are aligned with the philanthropic and donor priorities in Lane County.
Miller graduated from Sheldon High School and attended the University of Oregon, playing quarterback for the Ducks, before being drafted into the NFL. He played for the Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Rams and the Denver Broncos before retiring and returning to Eugene.
Miller extends his love of the game to young athletes-coaching football for South Eugene High School, Marist Catholic High School and Churchill High School.
Sabrina Parsons, chair of the Y's Capital Campaign Cabinet, said she is looking forward to working with such a locally invested community member.
"Chris brings a passion for our community and for the development of healthy opportunities for kids and adults to participate in," Parsons said. "It is a pleasure to welcome him aboard and to utilize his insights."
Miller cites the Y's afterschool enrichment programming and comprehensive
health and wellness initiatives, such as chronic disease prevention and older
adult classes, as reasons why the Y is so critical in the community.
"I lost a good friend, Wade Wilson, to complications from diabetes last
summer," said Miller about his Atlanta Falcons teammate. "I am a huge
proponent of the Y's work to prevent diabetes and keep people healthy and
strong and living longer, fuller lives. The Y casts its net wide and serves so many people throughout their entire lives and through difficult times. Our community benefits greatly by having such a strong Y!"
Bike Rodeo Partnership Teaches Y Kids Life Skills
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Your Y is proud to partner with Eugene-Springfield Safe Routes to School to teach Y kids bike safety and rules. Throughout the school year, Y afterschool kiddos learn how to ride bikes, follow the rules of the road and practice safe bike handling.
The kids always have a blast in a safe environment weaving in and out of an obstacle course and practicing stop-and-go with the flow of traffic. For some kids, this is their first time riding a bike!
The Y Takes Security Seriously
Your Y cares about the security of every person who walks through our doors. With this in mind, there will soon be a requirement for all day pass users and guests who are NOT members to provide a photo ID upon entering the main Y facility.
Visitors wanting to enter past the secure doors, will be run through a new rapid check security screening system called Raptor. This platform is also being adopted by the 4J School District and is already in use at various YMCAs throughout the country.
These changes will be phased in over time to ensure that every visitor is aware of it and knows what to expect next time they come to the Y.
Vote for the Y for Community Awards
It's time again for the Register Guard Readers' Choice Awards! Last year your Y had the honor of being voted "Best Day Care" by our community. These awards are an amazing way to recognize individuals and organizations for their hard work and great service. We hope you remember your Y as you vote between March 2 and 22!
