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Wednesday, January 9, 2013

PAY Swim Team Heading to Maryland for Competition

The team will compete at the university of Maryland on January 11 through the 13.

The following release was submitted by Susan Mostek. The Freedom Valley YMCA at Phoenixville offers an age group competitive swimming program (known as PAY Swimming) focused on producing great kids and outstanding swimmers.  This weekend, January 11 through January 13, the PAY Swim Team will travel to the University of Maryland to compete in Severna Park YMCA (known as SPY) Swimming’s 11th Annual Maryland Winterfest Invitational. “Winterfest is the largest age groups YMCA meet in the country,” said Meet Director Carole Parker. “We have 45 teams coming, and we have 1,531 swimmers. It’s a huge event.” SPY swimming hosts the event in College Park every year and 44 swimmers from PAY Swimming will compete against participants from eight states…

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Freedom Valley/Philly YMCA Merger Passes

A Thursday evening vote approved the joining of the two YMCA regions.

According to a source present at Thursday evening's vote, the proposed merger between the Freedom Valley YMCA and the Philadelphia YMCA passed by a margin of 56 votes.  The merger was announced several weeks ago and members have argued both for and against the merger ever since.  Several members expressed concerns about the speed of the merger and about overcrowding. Members were also unhappy with the voting process, which required everyone who wanted to vote be present at a meeting on Thursday night. Others praised the merger, saying that it could only benefit the organization. YMCA leadership also said it would save money by reducing insurance and supply costs. The leadership of the two YMCAs held a town hall on Monday evening, November …

Friday, November 16, 2012

Freedom Valley Y Leaders Say Merger Opponents are Race-Baiting

An e-mail from the Freedom Valley YMCA's management criticizes a flyer sent to members yesterday.

Freedom Valley YMCA members received an e-mail from the organization late Wednesday afternoon, November 14, regarding a flyer that was reportedly left at the Phoenixville YMCA's information desk listing seven reasons to vote against the merger with the Philadelphia YMCA.  "Not one of the issues addressed in the flyer was factually accurate," the e-mail reads. YMCA leaders have repeatedly asserted that there is a "lot of misinformation" being disseminated regarding the merger. [Editor's note: A copy of the e-mail from the YMCA can be read in the PDF section of this article.] The e-mail goes on, however, to sharply criticize the language in the flyer.  The e-mail reads, "An example of the type of vitriol that is now being strewn follows – …

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the original harry finster1

3:00 am on Sunday, November 18, 2012

once you step off the campus you are in the third world sad comment on your collapsing society   more ›

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

YMCA Leaders Hold Contentious Town Hall

Members and YMCA leaders squared off over the proposed Philadelphia/Freedom Valley YMCA merger.

Board members and YMCA leadership held a town hall at the Spring Valley YMCA on Monday night to discuss the proposed merger between Freedom Valley YMCAs and Philadephia YMCAs.  Freedom Valley's chief volunteer officer Sanford Lipstein started off the meeting by telling the approximately 200 members in attendance that the board hasn't done a very good job of getting information out to the members regarding the merger.  Lipstein gave a presentation on what the merger will and will not mean for the membership.  Lipstein said that there will be no reciprocity for use of the outdoor pools at Freedom Valley's branches, nor will Philadelphia members be allowed to sign up for fitness classes. Freedom Valley members will not be allowed to register …

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E McCann

8:03 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Why would UMLY want to merge with Freedom Valley? They have incredible facilities and programs. They would be more justified worrying about the FV members overrunning their facilities than the unjustified concerns voiced by the FV members. I let my membership lapse. If the merger goes through, I will rejoin. Having the option of classes for my son at Ambler or Audobon makes it easier to justify …   more ›

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Freedom Valley, Philadelphia YMCAs May Merge

A town hall meeting on the merger is scheduled for Monday evening.

A merger is in the works between the Philadelphia Area YMCA and the Freedom Valley YMCA, however, not everyone is pleased about the prospect or the process.  Both YMCA boards have voted to approve the merger and members recently received letters explaining the deal and how members can vote. The Y held a town hall meeting on Nov. 12, at the Spring Valley YMCA on Linfield-Trappe Road in Limerick. The town hall came in advance of the vote, which is scheduled to happen at Chadwick's Restaurant in Audubon on Thursday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. Philadelphia Area YMCA CEO John Flynn told Patch in a phone interview that the merger came about as the two organizations began working more closely together. "We realized that we could be a stronger organization…

George

9:20 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012

The "Y" Ed? Really? Wow. The "Y" stands for Young. The "M" is for Men & the "A" is for Association. I think you mean the "C" as in Christian and the Christian thing to do is to teach people to be responsible providers for themselves and their families. Teaching them the difference between "need" and "want" is another good lesson.   more ›

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