PORT TOWNSEND — Named as 2012 begins, Jefferson County YMCA’s new executive director has resolved to strengthen community partnerships and offer complete programs in spite of the poor economy and a loss of funding.
“The Y is the No. 1 provider nationwide in the areas of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility,” said Erica Delma, a YMCA board member who was serving as development director before she was named to the top post this week.
“We look forward to supporting the residents, youth and families of Jefferson County by providing programs that are specifically designed to enhance the livability of our community,” Delma said.
Delma succeeds Jim Funaro, who resigned in September to take a job at Olympic College in Poulsbo.
The YMCA has faced some obstacles, most recently when the city of Port Townsend said it could no longer allocate $108,000 a year for program support.
Delma’s goal is to implement a “sustainable funding model” for the Y to generate enough through grants, user fees and other sources to pay for its programs.
“There are some programs like the Building Futures mentoring program that will never earn any money and will always need to be supported by the other programs,” Delma said.
“I believe we can raise the necessary funds.”
The first step will be a fundraising campaign in March that has a $4,500 goal.
Even though the city is not providing direct support, the YMCA is using its grant writing mechanism to raise funds, Delma said.
Another priority is to re-examine how the YMCA operates in Jefferson County.
“We have always been unique in our receiving direct funds from a government agency since most Ys have a membership model,” she said.
“We have to determine what would work here.”
Some YMCAs charge a yearly fee that provides use of a facility and access to programs for members, while others charge day-use fees or program tuition.
The Jefferson County YMCA is housed in a small office in the lower section of Mountain View School.
It will be moved temporarily this spring because the Port Townsend Library will use that part of the building for temporary quarters while the library is repaired.
Delma’s plan for the YMCA does not depend on facilities.
Her idea is to offer programs in different locations, securing the space that best fits the specific need.
For instance, a person who works for a bank could develop a class about finance that could be conducted on location.
The idea of using community resources is out of necessity but also a preference.
“If we want to teach a computer class, we will look around to find a local computer lab that we could use,” Delma said.
“Even if we had a lot of money to buy computers and the space to build our own lab, we probably wouldn’t do it,” she added.
“If we had the money, I would look for the best place where it could be spent and what we needed most.”
The YMCA has taken up some of the slack from the Port Townsend school’s cutback of athletic programs and will begin a middle school wrestling clinic and instruction about softball and baseball skills, to begin later this month.
Delma said a priority is to offer safe after-school activities for local kids.
Another priority is to expand the board from nine members to 12, and she is recruiting prominent community members who have program and fundraising skills.
Anyone interested in serving on the board or volunteering can phone Delma directly at 360-385-5811.
“With the Y, everything is always half full,” she said.
“There are always a lot of opportunities to serve the community.”
________
Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
