UPCOMING EVENTS

CHILDCARE CENTER FUN DAYS --  Register for Fun Days at the YMCA child care center during Christmas break, which is December 26 through January 4, 2013.  Fun Days are for students in Kindergarten through Grade 7.  Cost is  $19 for members, and  $20 for non-members.  Call (440) 967-3050 for more information.

YMCA POWER IN PINK/JUNIOR CAVALIERS BASKETBALL LEAGUE --  An all-girls basketball league for girls ages 5-12. A league just for girls where they can learn and play the game at their own pace. Girls will learn dribbling, passing, shooting, offense and defense. Practices are one night a week and games will be played on Saturday mornings. Practices start the week of Jan 7. Fees: $40 for members; $80 for non-members. All participants will receive a ticket to the CAVS game on Sunday, April 7, 2013 (extra tickets will be available for family purchase). Registration deadline is December 28. A $5 late fee will be charged after this date.

ZUMBA -- Zumba is back. Come meet our new instructor Brittany Drost and dance and move to the music and watch the pounds melt away. Classes are held Mondays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. Call the Vermilion Family YMCA for details.

PEE-WEE MINI-BASKETBALL SKILLS CAMP -- A new program to help introduce the first -time basketball players (ages three and four) to the basic skills of basketball. Skills to be taught are dribbling, passing, shooting and teamwork. Camps are held on Tuesday mornings from 10:30 --11:15 a.m. in the  gym. Fees are $20 for members; $40 for non-members.

YMCA/JUNIOR CAVALIERS YOUTH BASKETBALL -- For boys and girls ages 5-12. Participants will learn dribbling, passing, shooting, offense and defense. Practices are one night a week and games will be played on Saturday mornings. Practices start the week of Jan 7 2013. Fees: $40 members; $80 non-members. A $5 credit will be given if you have a Fall 2012 basketball jersey.  All participants will receive a ticket to the Cavs game on Sunday, April 7, 2013 (extra tickets will be available for family purchase). Registration deadline is Dec. 28. A $5 late fee will be charged after this date.

CARDIO/SCULPT  --  Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7 a.m. 

AAU BASKETBALL AT THE Y --  AAU Basketball is coming to the Vermilion Family YMCA.  Open tryouts will be held in February 2013. Sign up today. Teams will play in five tournaments in April and May 2013. Coaches are needed.  Contact Bill at the Vermilion YMCA for more information. Fees: $275 per participant. All money goes to the team for uniforms, practice times and tournament fees. Open to boys and girls grades 5-12.

KIDS-N-MOTION – A new program.  Indoor supervised play time.  Balls, hoops, ribbons and mini circuits will be used to work you child's entire body.  Working with improving strength, coordination, balance, motor skills, hand-eye coordination and overall fitness.  Home schooled welcome.  Ages three and up.  Monday and Wednesday 11:30 a.m. --1:30 p.m.  Cost  $25 for members, $50 for non-members.

Half-hour-$20; Full-hour - $30, package of three one-hour sessions is $75. Call (440) 967-4208 to schedule an appointment.

BIDDY WRESTLING TEAM --  Season began December 11, and continues through April 2013.  Open to students in Kindergarten through Grade 6.  Practices are held from 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.  The team will wrestle against other area youth teams.  Tournament to be held at end of season.  Wrestlers will learn take downs, escapes, counters, pinning combinations and defense.  Costs:  $125 for members; $175 for non-members. Call (440) 967-4208 for more information.

A MESSAGE FROM THE BRANCH DIRECTOR

Greetings and Happy Holidays!

 2012 brought many changes to our YMCA, including the official merger with the YMCA of Greater Cleveland.  This process has been quite an experience for both members and staff.  Thank you for being so patient with us.  With many of the challenges behind us, we look forward to a smooth 2013 as the 14th membership branch of the YMCA of Greater Cleveland.

This past year held many success stories.

Our volunteers raised over $60,000 in scholarship dollars to help ensure that no one is turned away from our YMCA due to an inability to pay.  Many of our donors have their names on banners in our hallways which represent donations of $1,000 or more.  As we look to 2013, our goal is to increase the number of these banners. 

Our programs have also seen a boost.  We serve over 300 kids in our Youth Sports programs, over 100 kids in our child care programs, and over 150 adults in the SilverSneakers™ program.

To add momentum, we are planning some great upcoming youth programs including Power in Pink Girls Basketball, Jr. Cavaliers Basketball League, and a Biddy Wrestling Program for grades K-6.  Make sure to check out our upcoming calendar of events for more information.

Some terrific things are happening at the Vermilion Family YMCA.  We appreciate your commitment to the cause, and wish you a great 2013.

See you soon at the Y!

Tim Goebel

STAFF PROFILE:  GLENDA OWENS – PRESCHOOL TEACHER

We are thankful to have Glenda Owens on our staff team.

She is the lead preschool teacher in the “Jungle Room” in our child care wing.

Glenda has been with the Vermilion Family YMCA since 2010 when she was an assistant in the Toddler Room.  In 2011, she accepted a teacher position, and with the recent merger, she was made a full-time teacher.

Glenda works for the YMCA because she likes helping the children learn and develop socially, physically, and academically.  She likes the curriculum we offer, and especially likes circle time and art time.  She prefers the family atmosphere created in our facility over the more corporate feel in other facilities.

Recently, Glenda was the point person for our Annual Staff Giving Campaign for 2013. 

She did a fantastic job of helping to raise over $2,200 for our scholarship program. 

Glenda stands behind the campaign 100% and has a personal connection with the program. 

Glenda is the mother of five children:  Three of her own, ages 19, 18 and 16, and two step-children ages eight and five.  She is currently engaged to Brent Nimrichter and has a wedding planned for July 2014. 

Tom Riccardi is the newest Advisory Board Member at the Vermilion Family YMCA.

He originally became a Y member to talk with people and socialize.  He also is very fit and loves to workout.  He is a regular in the weight room and can be found there most mornings.  When he first began coming to the Y, he saw what we offer the community.  He then began to volunteer and donate to the Y because he loves giving back. 

As the owner of Homeworks General Contracting (on Liberty Avenue), Riccardi is no stranger to helping the Vermilion community.  He fits in great with our current Advisory Board. He has been in the construction field all his life, and this is a great asset to have in our YMCA.  He has already helped with numerous projects around our building.

Tom is the father of two girls – ages 15 and eight.  We welcome him to our Advisory Board, and thank him for his dedication and service to our YMCA.