SEQUIM — A face lift for the facility and changes for personnel continue at a fast pace at the YMCA of Sequim.
Administration with the Olympic Peninsula YMCA, which has taken over management of the facility at 610 N. Fifth Ave. — once known as the Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center — has announced that Kurt Turner has signed on as the soon-to-open center’s branch manager.
Turner has 10 years of experience in YMCAs in Texas and most recently as the membership director of the Southwest Family YMCA in Austin, where he worked for more than four years.
“The YMCA facility in Sequim seems primed to serve an expanding and exciting community,” he said.
“With my knowledge and understanding gained from previous YMCA employment, I know I can provide the leadership, direction and atmosphere the Sequim YMCA needs to thrive.”
Len Borchers, CEO of the Olympic Peninsula YMCA, said Turner started as a lifeguard for the Y and worked his way up to aquatics coordinator, then aquatics director, programs director and lastly membership director.
“We believe Kurt has the skill set that will help make the YMCA of Sequim successful,” Borchers said.
“He is excited about coming to the peninsula and looks forward to meeting as many future YMCA members as possible in the next few months.”
Following Turner’s hiring, the YMCA of Sequim held a job fair on Aug. 2-3, with the Wednesday session open from 1:30-5:30 p.m.
YMCA staff said they are looking to hire 50-60 people with three full-time, on-site staff already hired.
About 20 people applied at Tuesday’s event.
Listings include play care aide, personal trainer, wellness center coach, fitness instructor, health and well-being instructor, lifeguards, member services representatives and custodian.
For more information, visit www.olympicpeninsulaymca.org/join-our-team.
As of Aug. 2, YMCA staff said the Sequim YMCA’s community campaign, Because Life Is a Community Sport, had raised about $125,000 of its $150,000 goal.
“I’m really excited for the amount of support from the community,” Turner said. “They can’t wait to come through the door. The fact that (the club) raised $125,000 in a month’s time shows their excitement.”
The campaign, which was launched June 21, helps fund building repairs, new program equipment, offer youth programming and provide membership assistance so as not to turn away those unable to pay.
“Ideally, we want reach the goal by the time we open,” Turner said.
To contribute to the campaign, contact the YMCA at 360-452-9244 or Sequim YMCA advisory board member Gary Huff at glhuff2@olypen.com or 360-582-0993, or visit www.olympicpeninsulaymca.org.
Gina Caliendo, Olympic Peninsula YMCA marketing and communications specialist, said the Sequim facility is on track to open in October but a specific date isn’t set.
The facility will participate with the YMCA of the Olympic Peninsula’s Walk, Ride and Roll event on Oct. 1, bringing clubs’ members from the YMCA of Port Angeles to the Sequim YMCA using the Olympic Discovery Trail.
This month, flooring will be installed, siding in the pool area replaced, the front desk and children’s area redesigned and more staff will be hired, Caliendo said.
She said the last of the letters, about 820 total, were sent out to former Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center pass holders asking them if they want to put their SARC membership fees toward a YMCA membership, if they wanted a refund or to donate it to the facility.
The YMCA of Sequim utilizes the former SARC building that closed last October.
In total, former pass holders are owed about $104,000, but about 10 percent of the donors have opted to donate so far, Turner said.
Caliendo said the pool’s air handler tentatively is slated for installation this November.
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Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach him atmnash@sequimgazette.com.
Terry Ward, publisher of the Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum, serves on the Olympic Peninsula YMCA board of directors.
