From Our Norwich YMCA Executive Director:

Late yesterday afternoon, I received word that YMCA's across the State of New York were not permitted to reopen during the New York State Phase 4 reopening. Many of us were days away from reopening, so we thought.

We attempted to promote that YMCA's were more than a gym and swim facilities and that we should have been considered in one of the earlier phases. Unfortunately, YMCA's were placed in the New York State Phase 4 opening stage. We patiently awaited and prepared. Your YMCA staff worked hard in redesigning your Y, with safety, social distancing, and health and wellness in mind.

Our YMCA carefully planned every aspect of reopening to ensure the lowest risk possible to our staff and community. We have a fifteen person "reopening committee" that encompassed staff, board members, Y members and community representatives. We have been re-training our staff, and preparing to safely welcome our community back. We have purchased months of supplies, worked on new policies, created signage, and have become resourceful and creative in our attempts to survive during a pandemic.

Since the day we closed nearly four months ago, we have not charged or collected membership revenue and or program revenue, other than our Emergency and Essential Childcare programming. Many people have asked how we can operate a childcare program when our facility is closed, and my answer was "we were blessed to be granted permission by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and New York State Department of Health to assist our front line workers with the care of their children".

At this time, I strongly encourage the Governor to reconsider this decision to not include YMCA's in the New York State Phase 4 reopening. In addition, I suggest that he release the guidelines for reopening gyms, fitness centers, recreational facilities and YMCA's and to do so now. If we can not participate in Phase 4 reopening, establish a date and provide the operational standards for us to resume operations. Please do this now so YMCA's can plan accordingly, especially if new standards have to be met. .

YMCA's are complex non-profit organizations who serve their communities in a variety of ways. We can’t simply flip a switch and reopen, that would be irresponsible and unsafe.

YMCA's have been safely running essential services like childcare, food distribution, Shepherding programs and some Y's even provide housing programs during this pandemic. We know how to operate in a manner that minimizes the risk to our staff and community. Since closing our fitness operations in March, our YMCA has renovated portions of our facility, adjusted our cleaning protocols, and physically redesigned our spaces in order to create an environment that exceeds the health and safety best practice guidelines from the CDC and Department of Health. We have participated and worked with our local Chenango County Department of Health and they have been wonderful. Representatives have visited our facility and have reviewed our plans and procedures as we prepared to open and serve our community.

As a non-profit, our local YMCA and YMCA's across New York State play a vital role in the physical health and economic vitality of communities across our State. We were the first Y's to close and we are on schedule to be the last Y's in the Country to reopen. The recent decision directly jeopardizes the economic viability of one of New York State’s largest non-profit organizations and employers, as well as the health and well-being of more than 1.5 million children, families, and seniors who rely on the Y for everything from child care to senior health.

Many not for profits across the State are in survival mode. Your YMCA is no different as 75% of our operating revenue comes from membership and program revenue and we have lost four months of operations to date. We are being fiscally prudent and have been blessed with generous donors and supportive businesses. Your Norwich Family YMCA has been operating for 158 years and we will all get through this challenge together. YMCA's have the resourcefulness, strength, support and fortitude to safely work together, even during a International pandemic.

Once we have a more direct plan, we will update our membership through our Facebook and Website pages.

I look forward to opening our doors soon and personally welcoming you back. You are missed.

Yours in Service, Jamey Mullen
#strongertogether