Making an Impact

by Denise Woodin
Rye Y Director of Community Impact & Social Responsibility

How often do we recognize the impact we have on others?


At the Y, we talk about impact a lot. We strive to create programs and activities that will make a difference in our members’ lives. We form partnerships with public officials, parents of school-aged children and business leaders to make a positive impact on our community. Through our actions, our smiles, our engagement with each other, our staff, members and volunteers impact each other in countless ways.

When I think about impact, I often think about an incident that happened to me several years ago. One night, as I was taking the express train from Northern Manhattan downtown, I noticed an unkempt, obviously mentally ill woman pacing the nearly empty car.Standing near the door, I watched her nervously as she circled closer and closer to me, muttering angrily. My anxiety turned to fear as she seemed to glare at me and started talking about killing “the white woman”and stabbing her (me) to death. Was that a knife in her pocket?  With the long stretches between express stops, I couldn’t escape.

A young man and his girlfriend were sitting on one of the benches in the middle of the car, quietly watching me. He motioned for me to come over. Afraid to move, I shook my head. He persisted, silently encouraging me to come over to him. When I did move across the car, he stood up, giving me his seat and placed his body between me and the raging woman. I felt safe. At the next stop, I got off as did the young man and woman.

I can’t think of that story without emotion. That man, wherever he is today, probably has no idea how much of an impact he made on me through his kindness. He could have ignored me, but he didn’t. Most of our stories of impact are not so dramatic. They don’t often involve danger.  However, every thoughtful act, every hug when someone else needs one, every kind word or patient response makes an impact. Like that young man, we may never know how we affect others.

Prior to a recent staff meeting, the Y’s Chief Operating Officer Eileen Barber asked us to write down one way that we had made an impact on a member or colleague in the previous six weeks. At first, it was hard for me to come up with a story. After all, I sit at my computer most of the day. How was I making an impact?  But I, and everyone else on our team came up with a story. And as we read them out loud, it became clear that we all make an impact every day.

You don’t have to work for a non-profit organization to make an impact. You don’t have to be particularly brave or strong or outgoing. We make an impact by paying attention. By being present for others. And through this mindfulness, we can make more of an impact than we’ll ever know.

Looking Forward to Camp

 

Good friends Grace, age 11 and Rosina, age 10 were recently interviewed about the Rye Y’s Discovery Camp.  Grace is returning for her second year at camp; Rosina is looking forward to her first experience with the Rye Y.

 

Q:  Grace, what are you looking forward to at camp?

 

G: Making new friends, the activities and some of the trips.

Q: What were you nervous about when you first started camp last year?

G: I was nervous about being around different people.  Because in past camps, I was around people I knew.

Q: After one week at camp, how did you feel, and why?

G: Awesome!  Because I made a lot of friends.  The activities were really fun.  We played a lot of games and sports that included running and I love playing games like that.

Q: Tell me about the counselors.

G: The counselors were really fun.  I remember that Sanjay would play the guitar during lunchtime and that was fun.  A lot of the kids would crowd around to listen while they ate. 

Q: Rosina, what are you looking forward to?

R: The activities, especially swimming.  And trips.  And maybe, new friends.  And the sports.

Q: Is there anything you’re worried or nervous about?

R: Making new friends, not being alone. [Grace puts her arm around Rosina to assure her. “You have me.”]

Q: What do you think will be the best part of camp?

R: Probably making new friends and spending time with Grace.

Q: Grace, what advice do you have for Rosina?

G: Bring a lot of water and put a lot of ice cubes in it.  When you dive deep in the water, plug your ears because if you don’t they’ll hurt a lot when you come back up.  Cut your hair before summer because you have to wear a swim cap and it doesn’t hurt as much with shorter hair.  On the first day, try to make a lot of friends, because it will be better for the rest of the summer.  The camp is really fun and I think you’ll like the field trips too.

Stay Safe in the Water

Vickie Kourtelis, Rye Y Aquatics Director

The Y Aquatics Department is dedicated to making sure that all children learn to swim and learn water safety skills that prevent any injury or drowning in the water. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, fatal drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages one to 14 years old.

With the summer season right around the corner, we would like to share some helpful tips to make sure that you and your families enjoy the summer and practice safe summer fun!

No matter what age or swim ability, children need continuous supervision around the water. Young children especially can drown in less than two inches of water so it is very important that caregivers keep a close eye on them while they are swimming! The smallest distraction is all it takes for a child to become part of a horrible statistic, all too many times we hear stories beginning with, “I was only gone for a minute…”or, “I received a quick phone call and a few seconds later…”

 Please take water safety seriously this summer and feel free to contact us with any questions you may have or any additional support we may be able to provide you with, Vickie@ryeymca.org or call (914)967-6363 ext. 108. Below are some tips that may help you and your family this summer.

CAREGIVERS
-Let kids know that they should contact an adult or a lifeguard if there is an emergency. If you are traveling to a pool or beach, point out the lifeguard to your child before you begin swimming.
- Communication between adults supervising the pool area is key! If you are going to be walking away from the water for a quick second communicate that with other adults so that somebody is supervising the children in the water.
-Review pool rules with your children and make sure they know what to do in case of an emergency. Teach them to remain calm and YELL for HELP if they find themselves struggling in the water or in case they see somebody else struggling. Go over emergency procedures with the children (while in the car driving to the water, eating a snack, applying sunscreen, right before entering the water, etc.)
-Children should NEVER serve as the lifeguard. If they see somebody needs assistance their job should be to FIND help, not jump in and help the person themselves. Distressed swimmers and active drowning victims can become uncontrollable and violent in the water which can lead to drowning or injuring the person helping them.
-Never assume that a child is safe in the pool, even if they are a great swimmer. All kids should be supervised in the water as at any given time something can happen and they may need assistance. Even an experienced swimmer can suffer or worse, drown in the water.
-Practice makes perfect!!! Set aside 10 minutes every other day to do a mini lesson or just a couple of times during the week. Children like to PLAY in outdoor pools, not practice their freestyle, backstroke, etc. If you stay committed to the learning process throughout the summer then they will improve a great deal.
-If at a pool with a diving board make sure to stress to the kids that they can’t jump until the person that jumped before them is at the wall and that there is nobody in their way.
-Practice swimming without goggles for a little bit each day so that they are comfortable swimming without them if there should be an incident when they fall in the water.
-Be at arm’s reach of your child in the water to provide a helping hand as soon as they may need one. Provide your child a life saving floatation device if they are a non swimmer.
-Teach children never to swim alone.
-Learn CPR in case of an emergency, CPR saves lives and the faster you respond to a situation using CPR if needed the more likely a chance of recovery. Only trained CPR professionals should practice this skill. Classes are taught here at the Y!
-Learn rescue skills by participating in an American Red Cross Lifeguard class! Classes are taught here at the Y!
-Enroll your child in swim lessons. The Y’s summer session will begin on June 23rd. Swim class is a great way to reinforce pool rules and have children practice their skills in a learning encouraging setting.
HAVE A POOL AT HOME?
-Never allow your child to swim unsupervised.
-Have 911 posted by the phone so kids remember who to call in case of an emergency!
-Having a pool party? Make sure to assign parents to pool duty, have parents in the water with non swimmers, or hire a lifeguard to come and keep a close watch on the kids.
-Stay away from distracting tasks while supervising your child while they swim. Jump in with them and cool off, play games, or teach them some skills.
-Fence off your pool area and make sure that gates are self closing and self latching, out of children’s reach.
-Remove any toys or objects in the pool at the end of your swim activities as children can fall in by trying to grab them.
-Empty all water out of inflatable pools.
-If your child is having a play date make sure to find out whether they will be doing any water activities. If so, be sure to find
out what kind of supervision there will be in the water no matter what swim ability your child or their friends may have.
-Be sure to swim test children visiting your pool before you allow them to swim. Swim tests should be done with an adult in the water at arm’s reach to provide assistance if needed.
-Make sure to separate the deeper end with a divider in the water so that all kids and adults no if there is a change in depth.

HEADING TO THE BEACH?
-Make sure to wear sunscreen. Wear hats, drink plenty of water, and don’t forget to reapply sunscreen regularly!
-Keep cool when you can.
-Practice the buddy system. Nobody is allowed by the water without their buddy.
-Point out the lifeguard so the child knows who to approach in case of an emergency.
-Do not allow children to swim in large waves.
-Teach kids that if they are caught in a rip current or undertow they should swim parallel to the shore or tread water and yell for HELP.

These are just a few tips to help create a safe environment for you and your families this summer. Again, we urge you to remain focused on water safety this summer. Keeping an eye on your children or making sure they are properly supervised is extremely important to providing a safe and fun environment for all.

ENJOY, STAY COOL, AND BE SAFE!

My First Camp Experience

By Hillary Southard
Rye Y Camp, Teen and Family Director

At one time in my life I had purple Keds with large white polka dots on them.  I wore them every day and everywhere.  They were my favorite shoes.  They were also my only shoes, but of course to a five year-old, that automatically makes them favorite.  Growing up in California, we had the Sierra Nevada mountain range within a few hours of our home.  One summer we packed our bags, I put my polka dots shoes on, and we drove a few hours to a place my parents referred to as “camp”.  I had been told about camp before.  They said it was a fun place…I could go swimming…make new friends…play games.

As we drove nearly a mile into the sky, wrapping around what seemed like endless mountains and drop-offs surrounded by the tallest trees I have ever seen, I could feel my ears popping, and I began to become hesitant about this thing they called camp.  The closer we got, the more excited my parents got, the more nervous I became.  What if I didn’t make any friends or all-of-a-sudden forgot how to swim?!

I remember looking at my shoes as my feet dangled off the end of the car seat and began to count the number of white polka dots on them.  I already knew how many were there, but I felt like I needed to count them again.  We rounded the last corner, pulled up to the entrance, rolled down our windows and a group of teenagers I had never seen before, all wearing the same bright orange shirt, came running over to my window and they were so happy to see me!  They started singing a song with MY name in it and clapping and dancing.  Immediately I felt like a star and that this was MY camp and that my shoes and I are going to be just fine.

Our Favorite Leadership Quotes

The Association of YMCA Professionals recently sent an e-blast titled “10 Quotes on Leadership." This got some of our staff members thinking about our favorite leadership quotes, which we’re happy to share below.

Chief Operating Officer Eileen Barber offered two quotes by Eleanor Roosevelt:

“You can often change your circumstances by changing your attitude.”

“A mature person is one who does not think only in absolutes, who is able to be objective even when deeply stirred emotionally, who has learned that there is both good and bad in all people and in all things, and who walks humbly and deals charitably with the circumstances of life, knowing that in this world no one is all knowing and therefore all of us need both love and charity.”

Laura Tiedge, Senior Director of Healthy Living, loves a good quote—her e-mail signature includes the line “I dwell in possibility” by Emily Dickinson, after all—and sent several of her favorites. For sheer poetry, you can’t beat this quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, best known as the author of “The Little Prince":

 "If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea." 

Not surprisingly, Fitness Center Director Ann Ivan submitted a quote from Arthur Ashe that’s fitting for leaders and health seekers: "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."

Kathy O’Brien, the Y’s Gymnastics Director offered this quote from Oprah: "Leadership is about empathy. It is about having the ability to relate and to connect with people for the purpose of inspiring and empowering their lives."

Yanique Powell, our School Age Childcare Director, likes a quote from business leader Jack Welch: “"Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others."

Denise Woodin, the Y’s Director of Community Impact and Social Responsibility, reached back in history for this inspirational quote by John Quincy Adams: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

What’s your favorite leadership quote?

Learning to Breathe

Denise Woodin
Director of Social Responsibility & Community Impact

I’m standing in the shallow end of Brookside pool wearing large red rubber fins on my feet and goggles that cast everything in yellow haze.  I’ve just swum a lap under the watch of Viwat Sakulrat, the Y’s Aquatics Coordinator, who is assessing my stroke and the way I breathe with each turn of my head.  Or rather the way I don’t breathe.  Getting the breath thing down seems to be the key to better swimming.

When I came to the Y almost a year ago, I took group exercise classes that were fun, but put a strain on my bad back.  I tried pedaling my way to health on the recumbent bike in the fitness center but for some reason, that didn’t stick.  I sweated through one Spin class, and alas, didn’t become hooked like some of my colleagues had.  Like the siren songs of legend though, the pool kept calling.

I learned to swim as a child and was lucky to have an indoor pool at both my middle and high school campuses.  Though I was never a particularly strong or serious swimmer, I was competent enough, swimming in lakes on family camping trips and at the town pool in summer. When my daughter was a toddler, I took her to a swim class at the White Plains YWCA.  Now, we playfully splash in the deep end of our village pool and occasionally swim laps together.

My first thought when I walked into the Rye Y’s lobby last March was “oh wow!  Look at that great pool!”  My second thought was “wow, everyone who walks through our doors—staff, members, volunteers, the UPS guy— will see me in my bathing suit.”  I’m over that. 

Since the New Year, I’ve been trying to swim twice a week. And fairly quickly, I stopped caring who sees me in my bathing suit.  It feels too right to slip into the pool and just swim to worry about spectators.   And here’s my theory:  I can’t see a thing without my glasses.  So, if I can’t see them, they can’t see me.

A few months ago, I read in our program guide that members can take advantage of a free 15-minute swim assessment.  I didn’t know what I was doing wrong, but I knew it must be something.  I was slowly building endurance, but I still tired after one or two laps of freestyle, resorting to breast, side and back stroke to keep going.  Viwat showed me how to focus on my breathing.  In 15 minutes, I began to feel a difference.  I’m still trying to get into the rhythm, trying to remember when to breathe and trying to get away from my desk twice a week.  But I’m on my way to being a stronger swimmer, once stroke at a time.

To schedule a free member stroke assessment, contact Vickie Kourtelis at vickiekourtelis@ryeymca.org.

Becoming a Spinner

Lisa Tidball
Rye Y Director of Communications

Spinning classes have always intimidated me. Why do they keep the lights off? Why does everyone look so serious? I figured you had to already be an accomplished cyclist to take a class. Plus, I didn’t know how to set up a spin bike or if there were unwritten rules I should know.

Finally, I decided to try the Y’s new Wednesday class at 12:15pm. The small class was welcoming and Rosemary, the instructor, showed me how to set up my bike.

I told myself that I would commit to just one class. At first, I felt unnatural and contorted on the bike. Afterwards, my body ached all over and I figured I would need a heavy duty cushion to tolerate the seat again. Yet I didn’t find the class as difficult as I expected. I discovered that I could pedal at my own pace, create my own “hills.” I could choose how much to turn up or down the dial. Surprisingly, constantly standing up and sitting back down on the seat didn’t bother my arthritic knees.

So I tried another class and then another. Now I am a regular in the Wednesday class and find that my hills are getting a bit steeper and my pace faster. My body feels great during and after the class (without a seat cushion).

As a distracted, uncoordinated exerciser, I love that I can lose myself in my thoughts and not worry about tripping. Sometimes I even close my eyes. All I have to do is move my legs around and around – no simultaneous arm movements or double kicks – just variations of the same movement over and over. And it is an amazing workout!

If you’ve ever thought about spinning but were afraid to take the plunge, put on your sneakers and comfortable clothes and join me. You may just find a new passion!

Rye Y Spinning Schedule