The La Porte County Family YMCA gathered a group of people in one of the impressive banquet rooms in Blue Chip Casino, Hotel and Spa Tuesday evening. Prominent community leaders and business heads were there to be part of the special occasion. What was happening, you ask? The La Porte County Family YMCA is looking to expand their programs and outreach into Michigan City. They want to bridge the gap between themselves and the Michigan City community and bring their programs and opportunities to the city. This event was the first step in making that happen.
“This is all about the Y’s Mission,” the La Porte County Family YMCA Administrative Assistant Lisa Bedtelyon said. “It’s about youth development, social responsibility and healthy living. We want the YMCA to be county-wide, so little by little we’ll make our way there.”
The mission of the YMCA is this: To put Christian principals into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
There are three YMCA branches in La Porte County. One is in Long Beach, and the other two are in La Porte. Michigan City is a prominent place in the county and it needs what the YMCA has to offer.
“We really want to expand into Michigan City,” Cindy Berchem, Executive Director and CEO for the La Porte County Family YMCA, said. “This event is a kickoff to tell everyone about what we plan to do for the city and to educate the community about what we do at the YMCA. We are about strengthening communities and brining people together. It’s going to take work from all of the people in this room to make that happen. We’re friendraising tonight. In order to be successful it takes a collaborations and partnerships. And you need friends to be able to do that.”
State Representative Tom Dermody was one of the speakers at the event. He reminisced about his time growing up with the YMCA and adamantly added his encouragement and approval to the Y’s expansion into Michigan City.
“It is such an honor to be here tonight. And I’ll tell you I am truly a YMCA kid…I loved the Y growing up, and I still love it today," Dermody said. "Everything that is good about the La Porte County communities has the Y involved. And I’m excited whenever they are doing something or expanding because when we talk about obesity and education, and then dealing with the lack of parenting, the alternative choice that is always involved is the Y to help give these kids a chance and their future a chance. And so if there is anything that I can ever do for the La Porte County Family YMCA, I’d be honored to do so.”
He then read a Proclamation of the City of Michigan City in the stead of Mayor Ron Meer who was unable to attend that evening. The Proclamation spoke of the benefits and necessity of the YMCA, and deemed that day, Tuesday October 8, 2013 as YMCA Day in Michigan City.
Mark Swistek, Michigan City Chief of Police then spoke. He was very excited and appreciative of the efforts that the YMCA is planning for Michigan City.
“In the last thee years we have consecutively brought down crime in our community, and we’re very proud of that. But to accomplish that mission we have very similar core values and mission to the Y. And those are: to have partnerships and you must be successful to succeed. Everyone here has worked together in our community a better place to live, and the quality of life that the YMCA wants to bring to our community is very important,” Swistek said.
Rick Soria, Vice Chancellor and Dean for the Ivy Tech Michigan City Pejic Campus followed Swistek.
“I’m happy to look around the room and see many of you community leaders stepping up and supporting the initiatives of the YMCA of La Porte and the initiate with bringing services here to Michigan City,” Soria said. “Walking around the room before the event started, I over heard questions; questions like, ‘What is the vision?’ or ‘What is the end result of the task force in Michigan City?’ and I’m here to share with you that the answer is simple: It is to enhance or include YMCA programming and services into the Michigan City community. The La Porte County Family YMCA is a county-wide cause-driven organization, dedicated to improving the quality of life for all by strengthening the community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.”
A video was shown during the event that was created by Vanessa Maher, Marketing Director for the La Porte County Family YMCA. It was a wonderful representation of the three main areas at the YMCA that Soria mentioned: healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility.
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Nolah Nasser-Gertner, one of the members of the 2013 Board of Directors for the YMCA, took to the podium after the video ended.
“As part of the strategic plan, the Board of the La Porte County Family YMCA made the decision that is was time to establish the YMCA’s presence in Michigan City,” Nasser-Gertner said. “It was time for Michigan City to have their Y back. And so through this we have been very quietly here…now we want to not be so quiet. It’s time to make some noise! So in May of this year the Board created the Michigan City YMCA Task Force. And we went to various members of our community and we asked them if they would please join our Task Force. There was absolutely no hesitation on behalf of anyone.”
Nasser-Gertner spoke of the plan that was being implemented and the progress that has been made thus far. A marketing and communication plan was made, meetings with community leaders such as Mayor Ron Meer were had as well as leaders of the local Boys and Girls Clubs, and the local colleges like Purdue North Central and Ivy Tech and local parks. The next step, which is soon to be implemented, is the securing of space in Michigan City for more YMCA programs and services.
Right now there are YMCA programs already offered in Michigan City such as Educare in the local elementary schools, Healthy Living opportunities at the Long Beach Branch of the YMCA, Zumba classes at the La Porte County Convention and Visitors Bureau, financial assistance is available to Michigan City residents through the YMCA, water safety classes are offered at the Pottawattamie Country Club pool, and the YMCA is involved in the MCAS Back to School Rally takes place every year. But that is only the tip of the iceberg as far as the YMCA is concerned.
The YMCA is for everyone, and that includes Michigan City. So let’s all get behind this initiative and bring the Y back to Michigan City. Be an advocate and support the mission that the La Porte County Family YMCA upholds so that more people can be reached and more connections and good changes can be made. Click here to find out more about the La Porte County Family YMCA. And find them on Facebook!
Click here to see more photos from the event!