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History
History of the National YMCA
Beginnings in London, England
The Young Men’s Christian Association was founded in London, England, on June 6, 1844, in response to unhealthy social conditions arising in the big cities at the end of the Industrial Revolution (roughly 1750 to 1850). Growth of the railroads and centralization of commerce and industry brought many rural young men who needed jobs into cities like London. They worked 10 to 12 hours a day, six days a week. Far from home and family, these young men often lived at the workplace. They slept crowded into rooms over the company’s shop, a location thought to be safer than London’s tenements and streets. Outside the shop things were bad—open sewers, pickpockets, thugs, beggars, drunks, lovers for hire and abandoned children running wild by the thousands.
George Williams, born on a farm in 1821, came to London 20 years later as a sales assistant in a draper’s shop, a forerunner of today’s department store. He and a group of fellow drapers organized the first YMCA to substitute Bible study and prayer for life on the streets. By 1851 there were 24 YMCAs in Great Britain, with a combined membership of 2,700. That same year the Y arrived in North America, first in Montreal and then Boston.
The idea proved popular everywhere. In 1853, the first YMCA for African Americans was founded in Washington, D.C., by Anthony Bowen, a freed slave. The next year the first international convention was held in Paris. At the time there were 397 separate YMCAs in seven nations, with 30,369 members’ total.
The YMCA idea, which began among evangelicals, was unusual because it crossed the rigid lines that separated all the different churches and social classes in England in those days. This openness was a trait that would lead eventually to including in YMCAs all men, women and children, regardless of race, religion or nationality. Also, its target of meeting social need in the community was dear from the start. George Williams was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1894 for his YMCA work and buried in 1905 under the floor of St. Paul’s Cathedral among that nation’s heroes and statesmen. A large stained glass window in Westminster Abbey, complete with a red triangle, is dedicated to YMCAs, to Sir George and to Y work during the First World War
Civil War times
In the United States during the Civil War, Y membership shrunk to one-third its size as members marched off to battle. Fifteen of the remaining Northern YMCAs formed the U.S. Christian Commission to assist the troops and prisoners of war. It was endorsed by President Abraham Lincoln, and its 4,859 volunteers included the American poet Walt Whitman. Among other accomplishments, it gave more than 1 million Bibles to fighting men. It was the beginning of a commitment to working with soldiers and sailors that continues to this day through the Armed Services YMCAs.
Only 59 YMCAs were left by war’s end, but a rapid rebuilding followed, and four years later there were 600 more. The focus was on saving souls, with saloon and street corner preaching, lists of Christian boarding houses, lectures, libraries and meeting halls, most of them in rented quarters.
But seeds of future change were there. In 1866, the influential New York YMCA adopted a fourfold purpose: “The improvement of the spiritual, mental, social and physical condition of young men.”
In those early days, YMCAs were run almost entirely by volunteers. There were a handful of paid staff members before the Civil War who kept the place clean, ran the library and served as corresponding secretaries. But it wasn’t until the 1880s, when YMCAs began putting up buildings in large numbers, that most associations thought they needed someone there full time.
Gyms and swimming pools came in at that time, too, along with big auditoriums and bowling alleys. Hotel-like rooms with bathrooms down the hall, called dormitories or residences, were designed into every new YMCA building, and would continue to be until the late 1950s. Income from rented rooms was a great source of funds for YMCA activities of all kinds. Residences would make a major financial contribution to the movement for the next century.
YMCAs took up boys work and organized summer camps. They set up exercise drills in classes—forerunners of today’s aerobics—using wooden dumbbells, heavy medicine balls and so-called Indian clubs, which resembled graceful, long-necked bowling pins. YMCAs organized college students for social action, literally invented the games of basketball and volleyball and served the special needs of railroad men who had no place to stay when the train reached the end of the line. By the 1890s, the fourfold purpose was transformed into the triangle of spirit, mind and body.
Moody and Mott
Through the influence of nationally known lay evangelists Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899) and John Mott (1865-1955), who dominated the movement in the last half of the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries respectively, the American YMCAs sent workers by the thousands overseas, both as missionary-like YMCA secretaries and as war workers.
The first foreign work secretaries, as they were called, reflected the huge missionary outreach by Christian churches near the turn of the century. But instead of churches, they organized YMCAs that eventually were placed under local control. Both Moody and Mott served for lengthy periods as paid professional staff members of the YMCA movement. Both maintained lifelong connections with it.
The United States entered World War I in April 1917. Mott, on his own, involved the YMCA movement in running the military canteens, called post exchanges today, in the United States and France. YMCAs led fundraising campaigns that raised $235 million for those YMCA operations and other wartime causes, and hired 25,926 Y workers—5,145 of them women—to run the canteens.
It also took on war relief for both refugees and prisoners of war on both sides, and worked to ease the path of African American soldiers returning to the segregated South. Y secretaries from China supervised the Chinese laborers brought to Europe to unload ships, dig trenches and clear the battlefields after the war. Y.C. James Yen, a Yale graduate working with YMCAs in France, developed a simple Chinese alphabet of 100 characters that became a major weapon in wiping out illiteracy in China. Funds left over from war work helped in the 1920s to spur a Y building boom, outreach to small towns and counties, and work with returning black troops and blossoming of YMCA trade schools and colleges.
Buddy, can you spare a dime?
The Great Depression brought dramatic drops in Y income, some as high as 50 percent. A number of associations had taken up direct relief of the poor beginning in 1928, as employment mounted before the stock market crash of 1929. When direct relief was taken over by the federal government in 1933, it released YMCAs and other nonprofits from their welfare tasks.
Forced to re-evaluate themselves by hard times and by pressure from militant student YMCAs, community YMCAs became aware of social problems as never before and accelerated their partnerships with other social welfare agencies. Programs and mission were reviewed as well. Some results were joint community projects, renewed emphasis on group work and more work through organized classes and lectures. YMCAs were forced to prove to their communities that both character-building agencies and welfare agencies were needed, especially in times of stress.
Between 1929 and 1933, Bible class enrollment fell by 60 percent and residence use was down, but exercise and educational classes were both up, along with vocational training and camping.
A typical Y program of the day was the Leisure Time League in Minneapolis. It drew thousands to that YMCA in 1932 to “unite unemployed young men who desire to maintain their physical and mental vigor and wish to train themselves for greater usefulness and service to themselves and the community,” reported the association. The program offered a wide range of free services such as medical assistance, physical programs, school classes on a dozen subjects and recreation. As conditions improved even slightly, they went back to work. A few were left behind—in most cases, those considered unemployable. The YMCA offered them vocational training.
The idea spread widely and YMCAs discovered they could survive handily if they served a large number of people and had low building payments. In fact, the Chicago Y was able to organize a new South Shore branch in the depths of the Depression.
Wartime challenges
During World War II, the National Council of YMCAs (now the YMCA of the USA) joined with YMCAs around the world to assist prisoners of war in 36 nations. It also helped form the United Service Organization (USO), which ran drop-in centers for service people and sent performers abroad to entertain the troops. YMCAs worked with displaced persons and refugees as well, and sent both workers and money abroad after the war to help rebuild damaged YMCA buildings.
After more than two decades of study and trial YMCA youth secretaries in 1944 agreed to put a national seal of approval on what was already widespread in the movement to focus their energies on four programs that involved work in small groups. They became known as the “four fronts” or “four platforms” of Youth Work: a father-son program called Y-Indian Guides, and three boy’s clubs—Gra-Y for those in grade school, Junior Hi-Y and Hi-Y. (There would eventually be all-female and coed models as well.)
Times of change
At the close of the war, YMCAs had changed. Sixty-two percent were admitting women, and other barriers began to fall one after the other, with families the new emphasis, and all races and religions included at all levels of the organization. The rapidly expanding suburbs drew the YMCAs with them, sometimes abandoning the old residences and downtown buildings that no longer were efficient or necessary.
In 1958, the U.S. and Canadian YMCAs launched Buildings for Brotherhood in which the two nations raised $55 million which was matched by $6 million overseas. The result was 98 Y buildings renovated, improved or built new in 32 countries.
In what could be called the Great Disillusion of 1965-1975, the nation was rocked by turmoil that included the Vietnam War, the forced resignation of a U.S. president, the outbreak of widespread drug abuse among the middle class, assassination of major political leaders, and a loss of confidence in institutions.
The YMCAs, in response, were challenged by National General Secretary James Bunting to change their ways. He said the choice was “either to keep learning or to become 20th-century Pharisees clinging to forms and theories that were once valid expressions of the best that was known, but that today are outdated and irrelevant.”
With national YMCA support and federal aid, new outreach efforts were taken up by community YMCAs in 150 cities. The Ys poured their own money and talent into outreach as well. Outreach programs were not new to the organization, but the size and scope involved were new.
The four-fronts youth programs withered for lack of attention, dying out entirely in many major centers, but holding fast in YMCA camping and in parts of the Midwest and much of the South. When federal aid dried up, money troubles began to reappear, as Ys struggled to keep faith with those they were helping.
An even more insidious problem was in the mix. Long schooled in conciliation, Y people found themselves being confronted aggressively both at home and abroad. It was particularly hard to deal with and discouraging. Beginning in 1970 the fraternal secretaries serving YMCAs overseas were being called home. Some buildings in U.S. cities were shuttered and residences dosed for lack of clientele and insufficient funds for proper maintenance. Y leaders were urged to become more businesslike in both their appearance and their operations, a topic raised by Y boards since the 1920s.
Trends
After 1975, the old physical programming featured by YMCAs for a century began to perk up as interest in healthy lifestyles increased nationwide. By 1980, pressure for up-to-date buildings and equipment brought on a boom in construction that lasted through the decade.
Child care for working parents, an extension of what YMCAs had done informally for years, came with a rush in 1983 and quickly joined health and fitness, camping and residences as a major source of YMCA income.
Character Development and Asset-Based Approach
During the 1980s and ‘90s, the ideas of “values clarification” were slowly replaced by ideas of “character.” The moral upbringing of children had been considered the sole domain of the family, and enabling the child to discover his or her own ethical system was the goal. But by the mid to late ‘80s, this was seen as contributing to a morally bankrupt society, in which there is no notion of virtue (or of vice), just different points of view. The ideas of character development and civic virtues became central, with Bennet’s The Book of Virtues hitting the best-seller lists and organizations such as Character Counts! being born. “Preach what you practice” became as much a part of the ideal of youth development as “practice what you preach,” and “it takes a village” replaced “it’s the family’s job to develop morals.”
The YMCA movement had been involved in character development from the beginning, but in an implicit and practical focus rather than an explicit one. (George Williams stated this perfectly in his response to how he would respond to a young man who said that he had lost his belief in Jesus, by saying that his first act would be to see that the young man had dinner.) The YMCA movement studied the issue and emerged with four “core values”—caring, honesty, respect and responsibility—and promptly began to incorporate these in all programming in an explicit and conscious way.
During the ‘90s, a tremendous change occurred in the field of youth development. Previously, the focus had been on the “deficit model,” in other words, what went wrong with the youth who got into trouble, and how could they be corrected. But the same way that prevention and development of health, rather than just the cure of disease pervaded the medical world, youth workers and academics started to look at what contributes to healthy development and prevents problems—an “assets model.” YMCA of the USA collaborated with Search Institute on studying this issue in depth and coming up with practical results.
The research showed 30 (later increased to 40) developmental assets that positively correlated with pro-social and healthy behaviors in youth, and negatively correlated with anti-social and unhealthy behaviors. The more assets a youth has, the more likely he or she is to behave well, the less likely to engage in risky behaviors. This not only provided a “road map” for YMCAs to follow in creating healthy kids, families and communities, but also was an inherent proof of the effectiveness of youth programs.
It also showed a wider focus than had been thought possible. It doesn’t matter if a program consists of sports, music, a teen center, mentoring or aerobics, or if it’s aimed at reducing teen pregnancy, smoking or crime. If it provides one or more of the developmental assets, it will reduce the overall risk of any kind of negative behavior, and raise the likelihood of positive behavior.
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History of the Hopkinsville/ Christian County YMCA
2009
Board of Directors:
Jennifer Maddux - Chief Volunteer Officer
Darrell Gustafson - Vice Chief Volunteer Officer
Judy Arnold - Secretary
Kerry Fort - Treasurer
Will Bryan
Earl Calhoun
Leslie Carroll
Hill Ferguson
Mitchell Fort
Mike Foster
Matthew Harris
Connie Sue Isom
Eric Lee
Peter Macdonald
Chad McKinney
Bill Munday
Sheila Pound
Patricia Richardson
David Rye
Carolyn Self
Betsy Shelton
Buddy Slaughter
Henry Snorton III
Lee White
Points of Interest from the year:
- Membership units from the end of each month:
* January - 2,134
* February - 2,201
* March - 2,274
* April - 2,306
* May - 2,383
* June - 2,484
* July - 2,497
* August - 2,440
* September - 2,392
* October - 2,356
* November - 2,338
* December - 2,329
- Spring Youth Soccer had 533 participants
- Fall Youth Soccer had 437 participants
- Soccer camp had 35 participants
- Swim Lessons had 154 participants
- Jobs for Life held 8 classes with 71 total participants and 53 graduates
- Outreach programs included Girl Power and Warrior Knights for teenagers
- Outreach also partnered with Hopkinsville Housing Authority to offer tutoring assistance at Martin Luther King Elementary and Means Avenue Baptist Church.
- Summer Camp had 101 children enrolled and averaged 75 children per week.
- Spring NFL Flag Football had 154 participants
- Fall NFL Flag Football had 83 participants
- Spring Cheerleading had 94 participants
- Fall Cheerleading had 79 participants
- T-Ball had 209 participants
- Baseball had 77 participants
- Softball had 53 participants
- A two-week musical camp produced "Pirates of Penzance" Musical with 28 cast members and three performances
- Art, Drum, and Guitar Lessons had 91 total participants
- Dance and Gymnastics (through Image Dance) had 110 participants
- Ballroom Dancing had 23 participants
- Archery had 47 participants
- Two Men's 3-on-3 Basketball Leagues were held with 6 teams in the Open Division and 8 teams in the Men's over-35 Division.
- Fall Volleyball co-ed League had 10 teams
- The Angel Tree program provided gifts for 164 children at Christmas
- Healthy Kid's Day had 513 children attend
- Our first annual "Trot for the Troops" 5K, 10K, and 1 Mile Fun Run had 125 participants
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2008
Board of Directors:
Bill Munday - Chief Volunteer Officer
Jennifer Maddux - Vice Chief Volunteer Officer
Kerry Fort - Treasurer
Henrietta Kemp - Secretary
Judy Arnold
Will Bryan
Earl Calhoun
Leslie Carroll
Doug Colburn
Mike Foster
Darrell Gustafson
Matthew Harris
Connie Sue Isom
Eric Lee
Sarah Newman
Sheila Pound
David Rye
Rev. Wayne Sayre
Carolyn Self
Betsy Shelton
Rev. Buddy Slaughter
Henry Snorton
Lee White
Points of Interest from the year
- Membership units from the end of each month:
* January - 1,928
* February - 1,964
* March - 2,003
* April - 2,032
* May - 2,150
* June - 2,212
* July - 2,215
* August - 2,171
* September - 2,133
* October - 2,101
* November - 2,083
* December - 2,115
- Youth Spring Soccer: 647 participants
- Youth Fall Soccer: 475 participants
- Swim Lessons: 117 participants
- Outreach held tutoring at Martin Luther King Elementary, the Boys and Girls Club and Means Avenue Baptist Church
- Outreach held "Girl Power" and "Warrior Knights" for teenage girls and boys.
- Outreach programs served over 153 youth
- Jobs For Life was established--a job skills class for the under-employed or un-employed. The program had 6 classes, 53 participants, and 29 graduates
- Summer Camp had 100 children enrolled and averaged 74 children per week
- NFL Flag Football had 160 participants
- Cheerleading had 86 participants
- Football Camp had 35 participants
- Soccer Camp had 40 participants
- T-Ball had 168 participants
- Baseball had 74 participants
- Softball had 78 participants
- A two week musical camp for "Seussical Jr." was hosted by the YMCA and the Pennyroyal Arts Council--three performances were held at the Alhambra Theater
- Art had 15 participants
- Image Dance and Gymnastics had 220 participants
- Guitar had 17 participants
- Tae Kwon Do had 58 participants
- Ballroom Dancing had 17 participants
- Archery had 24 participants in July and 46 in December
- 3 on 3 Basketball League had 9 teams in the Open Division and 6 teams in the Over 35 Division
- Volleyball League had 8 teams in the spring and 7 in the fall
- Healthy Kid's Day had 413 children
- The YMCA held other special events such as a 10K, 5K, 1 Mile Run, Family Movie Nights, and fitness competitions for members
- A Prayer Breakfast was held for Easter
- The 13th Annual Prayer Gathering occured in the fall featuring Lisa Harper and Kim Hill
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2007
Board of Directors:
Betsy Shelton - Chief Volunteer Officer
Kerry Fort - Treasurer
Henrietta Kemp - Secretary
Will Bryan
Earl Calhoun
Doug Colburn
Julie Davis
Dr. Karen Dougherty
Darrell Gustafson
Lori Harper
Matthew Harris
Connie Sue Isom
Gary Latham
Eric Lee
Ruth Lynch
Byron Macias
Jennifer Maddux
Bill Munday
Sarah Newman
Sheila Pound
Rev. Wayne Sayre
Carolyn Self
Henry Snorton
John Tilley
Points of Interest from this Year
- Membership Units at the end of each month:
* January - 1,894
* February - 1,980
* March - 2,037
* April - 2,045
* May - 2,049
* June - 2,094
* July - 2,085
* August - 2,052
* September - 1,992
* October - 1,951
* November - 1,909
* December - 1,876
- 654 children played spring soccer
- 575 children played fall soccer
- Summer Camp had 87 children enrolled and averaged 71 per week
- Outreach programs are offered at MLK Elementary, Boys and Girls Club and Means Avenue Baptist Church. Girls Night Out established with the Juvenile Justice Center, along with male "Warrior Knights". After school and summer programs average 80 children per week.
- 167 children learn to swim at the Y
- 154 boys play NFL Flag Football
- 152 boys and girls play T-Ball
- 54 Girls play softball
- 73 boys play baseball
- The musical "Honk! Jr." is performed at New Work Fellowship with 33 "cast" members
- Art classes are taught to 26 children
- 128 participate in dance and gymnastics offered through Image School of Dance
- 15 enjoy music classes
- Tae Kwon Do is offered to 46 youth
- Ballroom Dancing is held for the first time with 24 adults
- Archery class held in July (21 participants) and December (47 participants)
- Mens Open Basketball has 9 teams
- Mens Basketball "Over 50" Division has 4 teams
- Seven teams play in Adult Volleyball League
- Healthy Kids Day event held
- 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run held
- Family movie night "Facing the Giants" conducted in gym
- 12th Annual Prayer Gathering featuring Eva Self held at YMCA
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2006
Board of Directors:
Gary Latham – Chief Volunteer Officer
Henrietta Kemp - Secretary
Kerry Fort – Treasurer
Sam Brown
Fred May
Earl Calhoun
Bill Munday
Doug Colburn
Sarah Newman
Julie Davis
John Peck
Dr. Karen Dougherty
Sheila Pound
Darrell Gustafson
Rev. Wayne Sayre
Lori Harper
Carolyn Self
Ron Hickland
Betsy Shelton
Ruth Lynch
Henry Snorton
Byron Macias
John Tilley
Jennifer Maddux
Points of Interest from this Year
- Membership Units at the end of each month:
* January - 1,682
* February - 1,717
* March - 1,768
* April - 1,795
* May - 1,838
* June - 1,917
* July - 1,898
* August - 1,867
* September - 1,849
* October - 1,839
* November - 1,826
* December - 1,831
- The track and aerobics room opens January 4, 2006
- February 1, 2006 – 10 Years of Service to Hopkinsville-Christian County!
- The first Challenge House is located on Central and Broad Street close to
Walnut Street Stadium
- Men’s “3 on 3” Basketball League begins
- Donation for playground given to Y
- Gymnastics program begins with 73 participants
- Spring Soccer has 640 children
- Fall Soccer has 580 children
- Summer Camp has 100 children enrolled and averaged 62 children per week
- Outreach programs are offerd at Highland Elementary, the Boys and Girls Club, and Means Avenue Baptist Church. New teen programs called "Girl Power" and "Warrior Knights" begins in the facility
- Swim lessons are taught to 128 children
- NFL Flag Football has 144 boys
- T-Ball has 134 boys and girls
- Softball has 72 girls
- Baseball has 76 boys
- YMCA and Pennyrile Arts Council hosts a two week musical camp with 30 students. "Dear, Edwina" was the musical which was performed at the Alhambra
- Archery had two sessions with 54 youth in both classes
- Men's 3 on 3 Basketball League was held with 9 teams
- Two Adult Volleyball Leagues were conducted with 9 teams
- Healthy Kids Day was offered
- 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run was held around YMCA property and HCA school
- Strong Kids Golf Tournament was held at Novadell
- YMCA introduces new “arts” programs - Guitar, Piano, Drum, Art classes, and KinderMusic
- 11th Annual Prayer Breakfast held at YMCA
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2005
Board of Directors
Regina Bibbs – Chief Volunteer Officer
Gary Latham - Vice Chief Volunteer Officer
Kaye Munday - Secretary
Sam Brown – Treasurer
Earl Calhoun
Byron Macias
Doug Colburn
Fred May
Julie Davis
Nami Nahid
Dr. Karen Dougherty
Theresa Nichol
Kerry Fort
John Peck
Darrell Gustafson
Rev. Wayne Sayre
Lori Harper
Karen Shields
Ron Hickland
Carolyn Self
Henrietta Kemp
Ron Sydnor
Ruth Lynch
John Tilley
Points of Interest from this Year
- Membership units at the end of each month:
* January - 1,467
* February - 1,493
* March - 1,528
* April - 1,537
* May - 1,580
* June - 1,626
* July - 1,639
* August - 1,632
* September - 1,602
* October - 1,596
* November - 1,594
* December - 1,615
- Bids to finance Phase II project are distributed and Heritage Banks receives the loan
- Bids to construct the facility are released and PWR Construction is selected
- The YMCA obtains a low interest Bond through County Fiscal Court
- Construction begins on Phase II
- YMCA conducts first annual golf tournament at The Links at Novadell
- YMCA conducts second annual Hawaiian Luau 5K Run
- Pool Frog, Mushroom, Slide, and Umbrellas are purchased for outdoor pool
- YMCA and Arts Council produce second children’s musical, “The Music Man, Jr.”
- Housing Authority program - 155 children per week
- Summer Camp - 80 children per week
- Spring and Fall Soccer- 1,058 children playing
- NFL Flag football - 116 players
- T-Ball - 138 players
- Girl’s softball - 64 players
- Boy’s baseball - 41 players
- Archery - 45 students
- Art classes begin with 33 students
- Girls Dance Classes begin with 44 students
- Soccer Camp with 66 participants
- Aida Vega is hired as Outreach Director
- 99&1 Outreach Program continues; Jesus Tabernacle and YMCA offer week long Vacation Bible School on Durrett Avenue and Means Avenue Baptist Church
- Kevin Meacham is hired as Sports Director
- Wally Bryan proposes the idea of a “Challenge House” for Hopkinsville.
An abandoned home is renovated and a missionary is placed in the home
to conduct bible studies, GED classes, parenting, financial classes, etc.
- Phase II 90% complete in December
- Tanya Crevier, world renowned ball handler and motivational speaker,
performs at our gym dedication on December 13, 2005
- The basketball gym and free weight room open on December 19, 2005
- 10th Annual Prayer Breakfast held at YMCA
- Eagle Scouts complete Outdoor Chapel
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2004
Board of Directors
Kerry Fort – Chief Volunteer Officer
Regina Bibbs – Vice Chief Volunteer Officer
Pam Quitter – Secretary
Sam Brown – Treasurer
Earl Calhoun
Alma Moss
Doug Colburn
Kaye Munday
Dr. Karen Dougherty
Nami Nahid
Lori Harper
Theresa Nichol
Henrietta Kemp
John Peck
Donnie Langhi
Rev. Wayne Sayre
Gary Latham
Karen Shields
Ruth Lynch
Carolyn Self
Fred May
John Tilley
Tommy Morris
Dr. Rao Velaga
Points of Interest from this Year
- Membership units at the end of each month:
* January - 1,415
* February - 1,475
* March - 1,471
* April - 1,480
* May - 1,511
* June - 1,572
* July - 1,579
* August - 1,551
* September - 1,490
* October - 1,476
* November - 1,455
* December - 1,439
- The Feasibility Study results stated that 85% of those surveyed thought the YMCA was meeting the needs of the community and that the proposed expansion was important and well received. The study indicated we could raise between $700,000 - $1,500,000. A motion was passed to set a fund raising campaign goal of $1,200,000 for the Phase II Campaign
- On February 14, 2004, David Jones, Architect, presents plans for basketball gym,
aerobic room, and expanded track. It is also decided to add Kid’s Corner expansion and an Art Room.
- Albert Sisk and Andrew Self are named Campaign Co-Chairs
- Phase II Campaign Dates were April 20 – June 21, 2004 which lasted only 60 days!
- $800,000 is raised in 63 days with the Board of Directors contributing half that amount. This is significant due to other capital campaigns happening in the community
- $884,000 is raised by August 25, 2004
- YMCA /Arts Council collaborate on first children’s musical “Fiddler on the Roof, Jr.”
- YMCA conducts first Hawaiian Luau 5K Run
- Christian County Public School Systems assumes before/after school program from the YMCA
- Housing Authority program - 112 children per week
- Means Avenue Baptist Church basement was converted into a recreation room which averaged 130 children per week
- Summer Camp - 145 children per week
- Spring and Fall Soccer - 956 children playing
- NFL Flag football - 52 players
- T-Ball - 155 players
- Girl’s softball - 42 players
- Boy’s baseball - 39 players
- Archery - 42 students
- Art classes begin with 39 students
- Girls Dance Classes begin with 44 students
- Wally Bryan and YMCA agree to collaborate with 99&1 Outreach Program. Wally Bryan moves into Durrett Avenue apartment on June 1, 2004
- Connie Hulsymeyer is hired as Wellness Director
- 9th Annual Prayer Breakfast held at YMCA
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2003
Board of Directors
Fred May - Chief Volunteer Officer
Pam Quitter – Secretary
Sam Brown - Treasurer
Regina Bibbs
Tommy Morris
Doug Colburn
Alma Moss
Diane Croney-Turner
Kaye Munday
John Davis
Theresa Nichol
Dr. Karen Dougherty
John Peck
Darrell Gustafson
Rev. Wayne Sayre
Lori Harper
Karen Shields
Henrietta Kemp
John Tilley
Donnie Langhi
Dr. Rao Velaga
Gary Latham
Hol White
Ruth Lynch
Points of Interest from this Year
- Membership units at the end of each month:
* January - 1,132
* February - 1,249
* March - 1,312
* April - 1,347
* May - 1,457
* June - 1,523
* July - 1,574
* August - 1,552
* September - 1,517
* October - 1,456
* November - 1,385
* December - 1,368
- On February 19, 2003 discussion at a Budget/Finance Committee centered on
developing Phase II Capital Campaign to build a basketball gym, expanded
aerobics room and additional childcare space.
- Two tennis courts are donated in honor of Mr. Arthur Anderson
- On May 5, 2003 in a Building Committee meeting, it was decided that the
basketball gym would be 6,800 square feet, and the aerobics room would
be 3,200 square feet with the room having the capability to be divided into
two rooms.
- A Feasibility Study is conducted with Jeff Jowdy from Lighthouse Counsel
to see how much money the Y can raise for Phase II Capital Campaign
- Ed Budias joins YMCA staff as Business Manager
- First Healthy Kids Day and Family Luau events occur
- Fun Company After school program - 375 children per week
- Housing Authority program - 120 children per week
- Summer Camp - 150 children per week
- Spring and Fall Soccer - 1,060 children playing
- NFL Flag football - 52 players
- T-Ball - 152 4&5 year olds
- Girl’s softball - 39 players
- Archery began with 20 students
- 8th Annual Prayer Breakfast held at YMCA
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2002
Board of Directors
Albert Sisk - Chief Volunteer Officer
Fred May – Vice Chief Volunteer Officer
Theresa Nichol – Secretary
Kerry Fort - Treasurer
Regina Bibbs
Linda Ledford
Steve Bourne
Ruth Lynch
Sam Brown
Kaye Munday
Diane Croney-Turner
John Peck
John Davis
Pam Quitter
Darrell Gustafson
Karen Shields
Lori Harper
Kim Stevenson
Rodney Johnson
John Tilley
Donnie Langhi
Dr. Rao Velaga
Gary Latham
Hol White
Points of Interest from this Year
- On January 4, 2002, the building was 50% complete, plumbing 95% complete,
masonry 50% and roof curbs were finished
- Jane McInnis and Suzie Wolf select the facility color scheme
- Charter Members begin using the YMCA on April 24 with May 1, 2002 as the
official opening day for all other individuals who join after Charter deadline
- Kristen Stewart, an employee since 1999, is hired as Membership Director
- On February 27, 2002, the YMCA had 320 charter memberships with a goal of
700 by the opening of the facility
- Membership units at the end of Charter Campaign - 386
- YMCA Building opened on May 1, 2002!
- Membership units at the end of May - 480
- Membership units at the end of June - 691
- Membership units at the end of July - 821
- Membership units at the end of September - 1,027
- Membership units at the end of December - 1,072
- AREA Bank (BB&T) donates desks and office storage cabinets to all management staff
- Fun Company After school program 385 children per week
- Housing Authority program 12 children per week
- Summer Camp - 120 children per week
- Spring and Fall Soccer - 1,040 children playing
- NFL Flag football - 50 players
- T-Ball - 195 players
- Girl’s softball begins with 40 players
- 7th Annual Prayer Breakfast held at YMCA
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2001
Board of Directors
Jane McInnis - Chief Volunteer Officer
Albert Sisk – Vice Chief Volunteer Officer
Linda Ledford – Secretary
Kerry Fort - Treasurer
Logan Askew
John Davis
Kevin Atwood
Ron Gager
Regina Bibbs
Darrell Gustafson
Steve Bourne
Fred May
Cornelia Belle
Kaye Munday
Sam Brown
Theresa Nichol
Breck Cayce
John Peck
Andrew Cooper
Andrew Self
Diane Croney-Turner
Karen Shields
Bob Cope
Hol White
Points of Interest from this Year
- Albert Sisk agrees to chair the Building Committee.
- YMCA Offices located at 800 South Main Street courtesy of AREA Bank
- PWR Construction is hired to build the new YMCA facility
- On February 1, 2001, during a Capital Campaign meeting consisting of
Logan Askew, Darrell Gustafson, Breck Cayce, Jane McInnis, Andrew Self,
Albert Sisk, and Paul Watts, It was decided to build the “core” of the facility
which included wellness center, aerobics room, locker area, childcare areas,
offices, and chapel. The basketball gym and outdoor pool would be left out.
After discussion, Darrell Gustafson felt we needed a “wow” factor and the outdoor pool was needed. The group agreed and the outdoor pool became a reality.
- Rogers Group agrees to donate the paving for parking in March 2001
- Groundbreaking Ceremony was held on April 26, 2001
- Site work begins in April 2001
- On June 29, 2001, the Building Committee decides to hire Aqua Construction from Memphis to build the outdoor pool.
- Membership issues such as joining fees, membership rates, hours of operation and official name was determined (Hopkinsville-Christian County YMCA, Gary H. Latham Family Center)
- On September 26, 2001, the estimated cost for the building is set at $3,150,338
- AREA Bank (BB&T), FirstStar (US Bank), and Hopkinsville Federal (Heritage Bank) approve a construction loan for $2,295,000 with all three banks participating in the loan
- Foundation work begins with first pouring on August 30, 2001
- On October 10, 2001, the Building Committee decides to purchase a Geothermal
System for the facility
- Fun Company After school program - 365 children per week
- Housing Authority program - 120 children per week
- Summer Camp - 120 children per week
- Spring and Fall Soccer - 1,166 players
- NFL Flag football kicked off with 49 players
- T-Ball - 280 players
- 6th Annual Prayer Breakfast held at First United Methodist Church
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2000
Board of Directors
Bob Cope - Chief Volunteer Officer
Jane McInnis – Vice Chief Volunteer Officer
Linda Ledford – Secretary
Kerry Fort - Treasurer
Logan Askew
Darrell Gustafson
Kevin Atwood
Wendell Lynch
Regina Bibbs
Kaye Munday
Steve Bourne
Theresa Nichol
Cornelia Belle
Frank Pierce
Breck Cayce
Andrew Self
Andrew Cooper
Karen Shields
Diane Croney-Turner
Albert Sisk
John Davis
Mickey Toms
Ron Gager
Hol White
Points of Interest from this Year
- On January 3, 2000, the YMCA had received $1,700,920 in pledges for the
Capital Campaign
- Logan Askew announced that Gary and Yvonne Latham agree to donate $500,000 to the Capital Campaign
- Jennie Stuart Medical Center decides against building a rehab center on by-pass Jennie Stuart Medical Center decides to postpone all construction and offers a $500,000 donation to the YMCA for the purchase of land and construction
- The YMCA Board of Directors accepts the Jennie Stuart donation and begins looking for a suitable location to build. Consideration was given to land owned by Dr. Bill Wadlington, the old Wal Mart building, the Convention Center, Tiebreaker Park, Pardue Lane, and property off Pyle Lane
- David Jones is selected as Architect for the project
- On September 27, 2000, the Board of Directors approved the purchase of 7 acres of land on by-pass. Dr. Bill Wadlington donates 15 acres of property to the YMCA.
- Gary Adams is hired as Sports Director
- Fun Company (before/after school childcare) - 365 children per week
- Housing Authority program - 145 children per week
- Summer Camp - 140 children per week
- Spring and Fall Soccer - 1,159 children playing
- Middle School Church Basketball at St. John UMC - 62 players
- T-Ball - 149 children
- 5th Annual Prayer Breakfast held at First United Methodist Church
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1999
Board of Directors
Andrew Self – Chief Volunteer Officer
Bob Cope– Vice Chief Volunteer Officer
Linda Ledford – Secretary
Kerry Fort - Treasurer
Logan Askew
Jane McInnis
Logan Askew
Wendell Lynch
Kevin Atwood
Jane McInnis
Cornelia Belle
Terry Peeples
Regina Bibbs
Frank Pierce
Steve Bourne
Dr. Don Perkins
Breck Cayce
Sue Ropski
Andrew Cooper
Karen Shields
Bob Cope
Albert Sisk
John Davis
Mickey Toms
Ron Gager
Hol White
Darrell Gustafson
* Board Members rotated off in mid-year resulting in additional names above the twenty four slots per year
Points of Interest from this Year
- The work continues on the Capital Campaign and Jennie Stuart collaboration.
- Jennie Stuart Medical Center and St. Thomas Hospital partnership is scaled back due to financial set backs at St. Thomas
- YMCA Board considers building options with Jennie Stuart on property between
Lafayette Road and Eagle Way By-Pass
- The Capital Campaign had $1,192,818 pledged as of September 22, 1999.
- Fun Company After school program - 265 children per week
- Housing Authority programming - 34 children per week
- Summer Camp - 125 children per week
- Middle School Church Basketball League at St. John United Methodist Church
with 62 players
- Spring and Fall Soccer - 940 children playing
- T-Ball - 128 children
- 4th Annual Prayer Breakfast held at First United Methodist Church
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1998
Board of Directors
Breck Cayce – Chief Volunteer Officer
Andrew Self– Vice Chief Volunteer Officer
Linda Ledford – Secretary
Kerry Fort - Treasurer
Logan Askew
Jane McInnis
Kevin Atwood
Austin Moss
Steve Bourne
Terry Peeples
Cornelia Belle
Frank Pierce
Ronnie Catlett
Dr. Don Perkins
Bob Cope
John Rittenhouse
John Davis
Sue Ropski
Phil Dunn
Albert Sisk
Carmichael Fels
John Smith
Ron Gager
Rev. C.E. Timberlake
Mark Gardner
Mickey Toms
Darrell Gustafson
Janet Victor
Cary Hayes
Ben Waide
Liz Isele
Hol White
Wendell Lynch
* Board Members rotated off in mid-year resulting in additional names above the
twenty four slots per year
Points of Interest from this Year
- In 1998, the YMCA embarked on a Capital Campaign to build a YMCA facility.
A Steering Committee was formed and included the following community leaders.
Logan Askew, Co-Chair Darrell Gustafson, Co-Chair
Duard Thurman, Honorary Co-Chair Pollard White, Honorary Co-Chair
Breck Cayce Bob Cope
Jane McInnis Andrew Self
Albert Sisk
- Jerold Panas, Linzy, and Partners are officially hired to begin developing a Capital Campaign fund raising strategy.
- Jerold Panas, Linzy and Partners bring in a consultant, Jim Pfannenstiel, to conduct a Feasibility Study to determine whom to contact and to determine the financial goal for the campaign.
- Mr. Pfannenstiel presents the results of the Feasibility Study and recommends a
$1.5 million capital campaign. In addition, he recommends Logan Askew and Darrell Gustafson as Co-Chairs of the Campaign.
- A reception at First City Bank on May 21 was held to “tell the Y story” and to announce the Campaign kick off
- The YMCA becomes a United Way agency
- The YMCA begins talks with St. Thomas hospital for possible funding of facility
in conjunction with Jennie Stuart Medical Center
- Suzie Wolf is hired as Program Director to direct Fun Company (before/after school childcare), Housing Authority Pryme Tyme program, and Summer Camp
- Fun Company begins with 140 participants per week at Holiday Park, Millbrooke, Sinking Fork, and Pembroke
- Hopkinsville Housing Authority after school program, sports, and summer camp
averaged 78 participants
- Summer Camp - 80 participants per week
- Started spring soccer season in addition to fall season 860 combined
- Aerobic classes begin at First United Methodist Church
- T-Ball League with 4 & 5 year olds begins at St. John United Methodist Church
- Middle School Church Basketball league begins at St. John United Methodist
- 3rd Annual Prayer Breakfast held at First United Methodist Church
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1997
Board of Directors
Logan Askew – Chief Volunteer Officer
Breck Cayce – Vice Chief Volunteer Officer
Andrew Self – Secretary
Kerry Fort - Treasurer
Steve Bourne
Austin Moss
Ronnie Catlett
Terry Peeples
Bob Cope
Frank Pierce
Phil Dunn
Dr. Don Perkins
Carmichael Fels
John Rittenhouse
Mark Gardner
John Smith
Cary Hayes
Rev. C.E. Timberlake
Liz Isele
Janet Victor
Linda Ledford
Ben Waide
Wendell Lynch
Hol White
Points of Interest from this Year
- The Hopkinsville YMCA receives official charter on November 8, 1997 from YMCA of the USA
- Talks between Jennie Stuart Medical Center and YMCA continue concerning
collaboration with YMCA facility being attached to future hospital
- YMCA staff and volunteers begin planning a strategy to build a facility. YMCA of
USA recommends a Market Study be completed before a campaign is assembled. The Winfield Group from Atlanta, Georgia is selected to conduct a Market Study.
- Breck Cayce and Paul Watts meet with Dr. Bill Wadlington in Nashville concerning future land opportunities
- Paul Watts is named Executive Director
- A meeting with Jerry Panas of Jerold Panas, Linzy, and Partners, a professional
fundraising firm, was held
- Paul Watts attends CEO Training in Chicago, Illinois at YMCA of USA home office
- Negotiations for before/after school childcare begins with Millbrooke and Holiday Park
- Instructional soccer camps for children conducted at First Baptist Church
- Physically and mentally challenged tennis program with Christian County High
School continues
- Began collaboration with Hopkinsville Housing Authority by holding a summer
camp with 40 participants and softball league with 60 participants
- First summer camp conducted at Hopkinsville Middle School with 75 participants
- Fall soccer increased to 450 players
- 2nd Annual Prayer Breakfast held at First United Methodist Church
- Results from Winfield Group Market Study were presented to the Board of Directors on October 16, 1997. The report confirmed that a YMCA would be well received and supported by the community. The firm recommended that Phase I have a 25,000 square foot facility.
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1996
Original Charter Committee
Logan Askew
Phil Dunn
Cary Hayes
Liz Isele
Frank Pierce
Eldridge Rogers
Rev. C.E. Timberlake
Janet Victor
Board of Directors
Logan Askew – Chief Volunteer Officer
Breck Cayce – Vice Chief Volunteer Officer
Andrew Self – Secretary
Kerry Fort - Treasurer
Phillip Brooks Patricia Morris
Ronnie Catlett
Austin Moss
Bob Cope
Frank Pierce
Phil Dunn
Dr. Don Perkins
Carmichael Fels
John Rittenhouse
Mark Gardner
John Smith
Cary Hayes
Sidney Smithson
Liz Isele
Rev. C.E. Timberlake
Sherry Jeffers
Janet Victor
Linda Ledford
Ben Waide
The YMCA of Middle Tennessee employed Paul Watts and Mark Pyle in fall of 1991. In the fall of 1995, Mark and Paul began talking about establishing a YMCA in Hopkinsville. Mark contacted Wally Bryan who was the Mayor of Hopkinsville to see if there was interest in bringing a YMCA to the community. Several attempts to establish a Y in the past failed to produce any results but there was promise due to the determination of Wally Bryan. Mark and Paul traveled to Hopkinsville several weekends and met with interested community members to see what type of commitment was available. An agreement was reached with Mark and Paul that if private donations were collected in the amount of $80,000 then the City of Hopkinsville would match the amount. When the campaign
proved successful, Mark and Paul decided to accept the challenge. Both families moved to Hopkinsville in January 1996 and began full-time work on February 1, 1996.
Points of Interest from this Year
- YMCA offices were located in Nations Bank downtown
- By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation were established
- Monthly reports were provided to Local Development Corporation for accountability
- Progress was made in establishing YMCA Charter
- Summer Olympics Reading Program held at Public Library with 52 children
- Summer field trips and college tours were conducted
- YMCA took control of fall soccer by invitation of Pat Givens. The first season had 370 participants compared to 175 children the previous year
- After school tennis program with Hopkinsville Middle School began
- Physically and mentally challenged tennis program with Christian County High
School begins
- Sites such as the old Wal-Mart building and Nautilus were considered for a
temporary YMCA facility
- Representatives from Jennie Stuart Medical Center and YMCA flew to
Hattiesburg, Mississippi to tour their Hospital/YMCA collaboration
- Conducted first Annual Prayer Breakfast at First United Methodist Church
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