Tennessee Y Fires Employees Over NooseCLEVELAND, TN -- Earlier this week, the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga’s Cleveland (TN) branch fired three employees who were involved with leaving two nooses at its facility. ... Y Campaign Nets 8 Billion StepsBy: By Jennipher Shaver Washington, Dc More than 1,500 YMCAs participated in the YMCA of the USA's America on the Move Week with the YMCA in September. Ys across the country... YMCA Activates Americans to Take 8 Billion StepsWASHINGTON, DC -- More than 1,500 YMCAs participated in the YMCA of the USA’s America On the Move Week with the YMCA, Sept. 22-29. Ys across the country motivated 1.3 million people to take 8 billion steps during the week. The campaign, in partnership with the America On the Move Foundation, aims to educate and motivate people to make two small daily changes: add 2,000 steps and eat 100 fewer calories. ... Keynotes Draw Crowds at Club Industry 2007CHICAGO -- More than 500 attendees filled the room on Oct. 11 for the presentation of Club Industry's Fitness Business Pro's Lifetime Achievement Award to Alan G. Schwartz, chairman of the board of TCA Holdings, and the keynote address given by Laila Ali, world boxing champion and daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali.... Locker Thief at YWCA Uses Borrowed HammerWHITE PLAINS, NY -- A 34-year-old man allegedly borrowed a hammer from a lifeguard at the YWCA of White Plains, NY, and used it to break into three of the YW’s lockers, taking cash and personal items on Sept. 11, according to The Journal News (NY). ... New North Georgia YMCA Denied Tax-Exempt StatusFORT OGLETHORPE, GA -- The North Georgia YMCA in Fort Oglethorpe, GA, will have to pay property taxes on the 4.5 acres slated for its new facility, according to The Catoosa County (GA) News. ... Arizona Y Fires Employees Over Unattended ToddlerGOODYEAR, AZ -- Several Southwest Valley Regional YMCA child care employees were fired after a 1-year-old boy was left unattended in the Y’s child care center. The boy’s mother found her son soaked in what she believes was toilet water, according to a report by Phoenix TV station KPHO. ... YMCA’s America on the Move Week ContinuesWASHINGTON, DC -- More than 1,500 YMCAs nationwide this week are participating in America On the Move Week with the YMCA. The campaign, which is a partnership of the America On the Move Foundation and the YMCA of the USA, was created to educate and motivate people to make two small daily changes -- taking 2,000 more steps and eating 100 fewer calories -- which research shows can prevent the average annual weight gain of one to two pounds per year. ... South Dakota Y Bookkeeper Charged with Theft and ForgeryBy: By Jennipher Shaver LEAD, SD -- A former bookkeeper at the Northern Hills Family YMCA in Lead, SD, was sentenced to seven years in a state penitentiary for grand theft and forgery. The bookkeeper, Shelley Stevenson of Rapid City, SD, allegedly issued paychecks to herself, her daughters and her husband and increased her wages by $3.80 an hour without approval of the Y board. ... Ys Increase Programming to Address Obesity in Adults and ChildrenCHICAGO -- YMCAs across the country have increased programs to address weight gain and obesity among youth and adults, according to a report by the YMCA of the USA that studied changes in programming from 2005 to 2006. ... JCC Receptionist Allegedly Stole Members’ Credit Card NumbersEAST HILLS, NY -- After a six-month investigation, a Nassau County (NY) district attorney alleges that a 22-year-old former receptionist at the Sid Jacobsen Jewish Community Center in East Hills, NY, stole the credit card information of 18 JCC members and racked up more than $15,000 in bills from high-end department stores over the course of three months. If convicted, Elizabeth Young faces a maximum of seven years in prison. ... Minimum Wage Increase and Higher Energy Costs Affect Erie YERIE, PA -- The new Pennsylvania minimum wage and higher energy costs are affecting the YMCA of Greater Erie (PA). In fact, due to the increased expenses, the Y will no longer offer free swimming lessons to its members starting this fall, local Erie, PA, television station WHPTV reported. On July 1, Pennsylvania's minimum wage rose from $6.25 to $7.15. ... Des Moines Y Broadens Family Membership DefinitionDES MOINES -- The Greater Des Moines YMCA will sign a conciliatory agreement with Sandi and M Patton-Imani to broaden the Y’s definition of family to include cohabiting adults, according to the Des Moines Register. However, a representative from the Y told Club Industry's Fitness Business Pro that, as of Aug. 10, no agreement had been signed. ... West Cook YMCA’s Purchase PostponedOAK PARK, IL -- The West Cook YMCA’s purchase of 7.7 acres in Forest Park, IL, for $4.3 million was recently postponed. According to the West Cook YMCA’s Web site, the Y hopes to create a $19 million, 65,000-square-foot facility that will include two indoor swimming pools, an indoor track, basketball and volleyball courts, multipurpose meeting rooms for dance and fitness classes, a cardio and weight training center for adults, and a family activity center with interactive equipment and educational materials for youth and families. ... Mukilteo YMCA Breaks Ground on ExpansionEVERETT, WA -- More than 500 people celebrated as the Mukilteo Family YMCA, a branch of the YMCA of Snohomish County in Mukilteo, WA, broke ground July 11 on its 14,000-square-foot expansion. ... JCC Maccabi Games to Celebrate 25th AnniversaryNEW YORK -- Nearly 5,000 coaches and Jewish athletes from across the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Israel, the United Kingdom and Venezuela will convene at three sites in August to take part in the 25th anniversary JCC Maccabi Games, an Olympic-style athletic competition. Host communities include Houston (Aug. 5-10), Baltimore (Aug. 5-9) and Orange County, CA (Aug. 12-17). ... Scam Involves YMCA's Name, Could Affect Fund-raisingSOUTHINGTON, CT -- Two teens used YMCA fund-raising as a ruse in a scam and could face fraud charges if caught, according to WFSB 3, a television station in Hartford, CT. ... New Jersey Governor Signs Sales Tax Exemption BillTRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine signed a bill today that would exempt the initiation fees, membership fees and dues charged by nonprofit health and fitness clubs from the state’s 7 percent sales tax. ... Lesbian Couple Ready to Take Des Moines Y to CourtDES MOINES, IA -- Nearly five years after a Des Moines lesbian couple’s YMCA family membership was revoked and a city human rights commission ruled that the membership policy could be illegal, the issue is back in the news. The couple recently picked up support from a Des Moines city councilwoman who said the controversy could jeopardize a $102,000 YMCA grant scheduled to be awarded next month, according to the Des Moines Register. ... YMCA of Greater St. Louis Receives $250,000 in Tax Credits for ExpansionST. LOUIS -- The YMCA of Greater St. Louis will use $250,000 in Neighborhood Assistance Program tax credits approved by the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) to expand its Four Rivers Area Family Facility in Washington, MO. ... Y Activates Fort Wayne KidsFORT WAYNE, IN -- The YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne in Indiana and other local organizations helped begin Activate Fort Wayne, a new initiative financed by a $10,000 grant from the national YMCA to fight childhood obesity, according to The Journal Gazette. The Y, Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, IN, and the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department will help teach 10,000 local kids about nutrition and exercise through free programs this summer. ... Fundraising Campaign Begins for Oklahoma YENID, OK -- The Denny Price Family YMCA in Enid, OK, began a fundraising campaign to finance a renovation to expand the cardio and weightlifting areas as well as the development of a teen fitness area, along with new construction of a nursery and administrative offices, according to The Enid News & Eagle. ... Nearby Centers, Discount Programs Encourage ParticipationEAGAN, MN – According to a study by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, people who use fitness center discount programs are more likely to live close to a fitness center (63.3 percent of those surveyed live within two miles of a participating fitness center), and nearly half of fitness discount users (43 percent surveyed) say they joined a fitness center because of the discount.... Idaho Y Buys For-Profit Fitness CenterTWIN FALLS, ID – In a deal announced Monday, the YMCA of Twin Falls (ID) will purchase Twin Falls Fitness Center under the condition that the Y continues to operate it as a fitness center, The Times-News reported.... GA YMCA Hosts Soldier Send-Off PartyHINESVILLE, GA -- The Liberty County/Armed Services Branch YMCA in Liberty Hinesville, GA, hosted a send-off party for local soldiers who have been called back to Iraq. The soldiers, part of the Third Infantry Division's First Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, spent time with their families playing games and activities that the Y had organized for the adults and children, according to a report by WTOC-TV. ... |
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