Family Fun Night at Y Main Facility

This event will be held at the Main YMCA, 3000 Racquet Club Drive, Traverse City. Call Erica at 231-933-YMCA for more information.

Basketball Skills in TC

BASKETBALL SKILLS PROGRAM

GRADES K – 2, 3-5

Well rounded skills program where children learn this popular sport in the context of the YMCA’s four core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Kids should bring a water bottle. Program is held at YMCA Main Facility (just south of S Airport Road). Class meets Wednesday for 6 weeks. This is the only skills program provided in Traverse City.

Registration Deadline: Dec 26

Season: Wednesday, Jan 11 for approximately 6 weeks

Time: Grades K-2 meets 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

 Grades 3-5 meets 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Y Member Fee:  $25

Non-member fee:  $60

Click here to download registration form. Please bring form and fee to the Front Desk, Grand Traverse Bay YMCA, 3000 Racquet Club Drive, Traverse City, MI 49684. More information at 231-933-9622 or www.gtbayymca.org .

Pee Wee Sports - Soccer

Y PEE WEE SPORTS/SOCCER

AGES 3 – 5 YEARS

Pee Wee Sports/Soccer provides a variety of sports - soccer, basketball, and many more. This program is for pre-school kids ages 3 - 5 years. This class will meet weekly for 6 weeks. Parent encouraged being involved and playing as family.

Location:  YMCA Main Facility, 3000 Racquet Club Dr, TC

          (just south of S Airport Road)

Dates/Sessions:  Wed, Jan 11 for approximately 6 weeks

Times:  4:30 - 5:30 pm

Registration Deadline:  Dec 26

Y Member Fee:  $25

Non-member fee:  $60

Click here to download registration form. Please bring form and fee to the Front Desk, Grand Traverse Bay YMCA, 3000 Racquet Club Drive, Traverse City, MI 49684. More information at 231-933-9622 or www.gtbayymca.org .

Girls Basketball League

GIRLS BASKETBALL LEAGUE

GRADES 2, 3, 4, 5

A basketball league where teams are formed generally by school. Games are officiated. All players get a t-shirt. 11 players per team maximum.

Registration Deadline: Dec 30

Season: Saturdays, Jan 14 approximately 6 weeks

Fee: $35 Y Members $70 Non-members

Location: Y Main Facility, 3000 Racquet Club Drive, Traverse City, MI

(just south of S Airport Road)

Clickhere to download registration form. Please bring form and fee to the Front Desk, Grand Traverse Bay YMCA, 3000 Racquet Club Drive, Traverse City, MI 49684. More information at 231-933-9622 or www.gtbayymca.org .

Thanks Traverse City State Bank!

Thanks to Traverse City State Bank for the generosity and support of the New YMCA! Here is a copy of an article to appear in their next customer newsletter. Make your donation to the New Y at www.4good4ever.org or calling 231.935.4066.

Why a New YMCA?

First published in the Grand Traverse Insider.

Concept of new entrance to the New YMCA!

Why a New YMCA?
Dave Eitland, New YMCA Campaign Director

It has been said that anything that happens that changes a culture happens when a small group of people band together to make it happen. Why? Because that is the way it has always been done. The building of the New YMCA to meet critical needs in health, fitness, and aquatics will be built the same way… with a dedicated people making it happen. Here are some thoughts of the over 400 individuals, companies, and foundations who have contributed so far to make the New Y a reality.

“The YMCA is a community asset that has served us well for decades. It is critical that the fund drive for the new facility be completed now.”

Jim and Sue Dutmers

“As a former member of my high school swim team, and an avid water sports person, I have a strong passion for the mission of the YMCA! I learned to swim in a YMCA pool downstate Michigan, and believe that swimming provides positive character skills beyond the health benefits including discipline, self confidence, safety awareness and teamwork. The greater Grand Traverse area needs and will greatly benefit from the addition of a full service YMCA including the new Y pool! The time is right to complete this project – Please join me in supporting the Capital Campaign for the New Y!”

Marc Judge, YMCA Board of Directors Chair

“The new YMCA facility will fill a tremendous need in our community. People of all ages will benefit from the expansion of both the Y’s facilities and programs. We know the Rotary Charities gifts will have a significant impact on the quality of life in our region.”

Marsha Smith, Rotary Charities of Traverse City

“As a kid, I spent countless hours at “the Y” participating in everything from basketball and swim teams to camps and the “Hi-Y” organization.  I know first hand how valuable the Y can be in providing young people a positive environment in which they can grow and thrive.

“Maureen and I believe that the new YMCA is a critically important component of what makes the Grand Traverse area a great place to raise a family.”

Ralph Cerny

“When I was a child growing up in Saginaw, the Y had a wonderful community pool that enabled learning to swim and a competitive swim league.  This was among the only public facilities for teaching swimming and water activities.  In Traverse City we have lots of places to swim, but lots of children don’t know how.  The Grand Traverse Y has for years been the primary supplier of organized recreational activities and teaching of recreational skills (think soccer and kinder-kicker, think gymnastics, tennis, lacrosse just to name a few).

“In this community of limit-less facilities and lots of competitive options for recreational interests, an aquatic center at the new Y will combine exquisite programming expertise with a much needed place to learn.  Let’s all pitch in to help the Grand Traverse region acquire this wonderful dream combination.”

William Northway

“From an early age, taking swim lessons at a Detroit “Y” Center and as a cabin counselor at summer camps, to coaching my sons’ soccer teams and playing in an adult tennis program, the Y has been an important part of my life.  I am a strong supporter of the Y program for its emphasis on healthy, character-building programs for the entire family. 

“And I am excited about the completion of the capital campaign that will give this community an exceptional multi-purpose facility for the benefit of kids and families.  Through a very generous pledge, we have an opportunity to bring this project to reality NOW.  Please join me in making it happen.”

Bruce Falconer

“The New Y represents the most critical resource for children, youth, seniors and families in our region and creates tremendous opportunities for health and wellness.”

Dr. Phil Ellis, Community Foundation

The New Y Capital Campaign has an incredible opportunity. If the campaign can raise the balance of multi-year pledges and gifts to reach the campaign goal, an anonymous donor will contribute $2 million to complete the campaign and allow the Y to begin building in early 2012. If we do not raise the funds by December 31, 2011, the donor will withdraw his pledge. More than any other time, your pledge or donation is vital to build the New Y. On-line donations and pledges are accepted at www.4good4ever.org . Consult the YMCA website at www.gtbayymca.org for more information about the New Y.

Dave Eitland is the Campaign Director for the New Y Campaign. He can be reached at 231-933-9622 or dave@gtbayymca.org .

YMCA Contract Tennis Sign-up

Contract Tennis Time

Winter: Week of Jan 2 - Week of Apr 23, 2012 (17 weeks)

Registration Deadline: Dec 9

Click here for registration form.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA

This Thanksgiving, the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA gives thanks for…


…the 1,029 individuals (400 families) who have asked us for help through our “No One Denied” scholarship assistance program this year. It’s difficult to ask for help, but by doing so they’ve made their lives better and have strengthened their families and communities.

…the 229 donors who have thus far this year contributed more than $160,000 to “Invest in Youth” so that we can offer that scholarship assistance.

…the 60 families at our Early Childhood Education Center, where we teach our Christian values to tomorrow’s leaders.

… the 465 donors who have contributed more than $9.2 million to our New Y campaign. We are especially thankful for local support from the Oleson Foundation, Dave and Beth Howard, the Art and Mary Schmuckal Family Foundation, Richard and Diana Milock, and Rotary Charities who supported us early in our campaign, kept up that support in mid-campaign, and have now stretched to help us reach the finish line.

…our dedicated staff who have made programs like Y Tennis, Y Gymnastics, Y Camp, YMCA Pop Warner Football, Y Basketball, Y Child Care and all 65 YMCA programs top notch champion-building programs.

… our $2 million anonymous challenge donor, and to Meijer, the Towsley Foundation, Traverse City Swim Club, Casey Cowell, Hank and Sue Johnson, Tom’s Food Markets, Bill Marsh Auto Group, Paul and Barb Bandrowski, Jim Munson, Robert and Pauline Young, Munson Medical Center, Robert T. Hughes Fund, Pat and Leslee Heintz, and Bishop & Heintz, and so many more contributors who have demonstrated their trust in the Y.

…359 volunteers, who last year donated 28,349 hours of their time to help Y Kids, especially our New Y Campaign Steering committee volunteers led by Henry Peet and our board volunteers led by Marc Judge. We're thankful also for our past presidents and past staff and volunteers who got us to where we are today.

Happy thanksgiving to all of you from the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA!

FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

FOR HEALTHY LIVING

FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Tom Van Deinse, CEO
Grand Traverse Bay YMCA
3000 Racquet Club Drive
Traverse City, MI 49684

YMCA GYMNASTS SWEEP OPENER

The YMCA Level 7 and Level 8 girls gymnastics teams captured top spots at the Judge’s Cup season opener in Ypsilanti last weekend.

Patricia Davis led all competitors with a 37.325 all around score at Level 7 by taking first place gold medals on bars, beam, and floor, while placing second on vault. Twin sister Amy Davis turned in a 36.625 performance for a second place all around silver medal, while Francie Flores and Rachel Ovalle captured third and fourth place all around. Flores recorded a team high 9.375 vault to claim the gold medal on that event.

At Level 8, Annie Gerstner won the all around award by taking the gold medal on bars, beam, and floor while placing second to teammate Kendra Benak on vault. Benak collected the all around silver medal by placing second to Gerstner on bars, beam, and floor.

Jade Turner’s second place bars routine helped catapult her to third place all around at Level 6, followed closely by Kayla Brady’s fourth place all around performance. Darby Drake placed fourth on vault and Annemarie Jenkins placed fifth on beam to round out the YMCA’s Level 6 team scoring.

Summer Bennetts took home a gold medal for her beam routine in her first Level 5 meet, and added a third place medal for floor and a fifth place medal for bars. Ryan Zrimec also competed for the Y team at Level 5, placing fifth on beam and seventh on floor.

The next meet for the YMCA gymnasts is Grand Rapids’ On the Grand Invitational, December 2 - 4.

For more information on Y Gymnastics or any of the over 65 programs, click on our website at http://www.gtbayymca.org/ .

Thanksgiving Day Closed & School's Out Program

The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA will be closed on Thursday, November 24, 2011 for the Thanksgiving Holiday. The Y will reopen at 6:00 am on Friday morning.

The Y offers a School’s Out Fun Club on days when schools in the TCAPS area are not in session (half days, full days, some holidays, and even cancellations like snow days!).

Our trained staff  keeps your child busy and having fun with games, crafts, sports, and outside play. We provide an afternoon snack but ask that each child brings a pack lunch, water bottle, and appropriate clothing for our outside experiences.

School’s Out Program will be held for a half day on Wednesday, November 23, at its main facility. Full day School’s Out program (6:30 am – 6:00 pm) will be held on Friday, November 25, and Monday, November 28.

Contact Erica Wilson, Y School Age Program Supervisor, at 933-9622. A Program guide is available for download at www.gtbayymca.org . Watch for our daily updates to Facebook and Twitter.

The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA is for youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

Rotary Charities Commits $1 million to New Y

ROTARY CHARITIES COMMITS $1 MILLION TO NEW YMCA BUILDING PROJECT

Concept drawing of new entrance to YMCA

Today the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA is one step closer to realizing the dream of a new YMCA. In a special board meeting this morning, the Rotary Charities Board voted to add $425,000 dollars to their past grants, bringing Charities’ total commitment to $1 million for this project.

The additional gift answers the challenge of an anonymous donor who has committed $2 million if the YMCA can raise the final $4 million by December 31, 2011. If successful, this will accomplish their $12 million, multiyear capital campaign to build a new Y in Traverse City. 

Bob Portenga, chairperson of the Rotary Charities’ board, noted “this facility is clearly needed in our community. Having a YMCA that can service area families and youth is critical to the quality of life in our region.  Our YMCA impacts thousands of area youth and people of all ages, providing quality programs from sports and recreation, to daycare.  We challenge other individuals, Rotarians, businesses and foundations to join us in meeting this lofty goal.”

Multi-year pledges and gifts can be made to the New Y Capital Campaign through the Community Foundation on-line at www.4good4ever.org or calling 231-935-4066. More information about the New Y Campaign can be found at www.gtbayymca.org or calling the Front Desk at the Y at 231-933-9622.


+++

NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM

The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA

CONTACT: Tom Van Deinse, CEO, tvd@gtbayymca.org , 231-933-9622 or Dave Eitland, New Y Campaign Director, dave@gtbayymca.org, 231-933-9622

Can you Invest in Youth?

Thank you to the TC Record Eagle for their donated ad!

Click here to download a donation form and mail it to:

Invest in Youth

Grand Traverse Bay YMCA

3000 Racquet Club Drive

Traverse City MI 49684

or call 231.933-9622 for more information

YMCA 2011-2012 Women’s Winter Basketball League

What:     YMCA Women’s League Basketball

Cost:      $425.00 team sponsor fee plus $25.00 per player fee

When:    Week of December 11, 2011 to March 2012

Where:   Sunday evenings in TC area gyms

Registration Deadline: December 2, 2011

Format: Round robin league format.

Registration may be started by completing the form below and returning it along with $425.00 team fee to the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA 3000 Racquet Club Dr. Traverse City, MI 49684. Click here for form

Call Barb Beckett 231-933-9622 for more information.

Y School's Out Fun Club

Click here for registration form and information

New Y Fitness Schedule

Click here for the current Grand Traverse Bay YMCA Fitness Class Schedule.

Most fitness classes free to members. Call for a membership at 231-933-9622 or www.gtbayymca.org 

Y Youth Basketball League Schedule

Click here for the schedule for the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA Youth Basketball League Schedule for this session.

Call Rob at 231-933-9622 or our website at www.gtbayymca.org for more information.

The Y is for Youth Development.

Thanks to our New Y Donors

Thanks to the over 400 donors who have contributed to the New YMCA. Here is a concept drawing for the new front entrance of the facility. Click here for current donor list.

To make an on-line donation - Click here.

To read about our $2 million Challenge Pledge - Click here.

Call Dave at 231-933-9622 or e-mail at dave@gtbayymca.org with your questions.

Only you can help build this New YMCA!

Picture Gallery for Jensen Tennis Event

Here is the public link for the Facebook gallery showing about 50 pictures of the Jensen Brothers Tennis Exhibition on Sunday, November 6, 2011 at the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA.

Jensen Facebook Public Gallery .

Fun had by all!  Thanks to all of the volunteers who helped to make it happen!

Adult Tennis Clinic participants

Y School's Out Program

When TCAPS is not in session, the YMCA has a School's Out Program for kids to come and be with others. Here are the kids gathered this morning. Next School's Out will be held on November 25.  Watch for information on Christmas Camp!

Also happening at the Y today are fitness classes, education of preschoolers, gymnastics, pickleball, tennis lessons and leagues, sports skills programs, volunteers raising money for the New YMCA and Invest in Youth and much more. Check out the web site at www.gtbayymca.org  or call 933-9622 for more information.

Few Tickets left for Jensen Event for Sunday

As of Thursday, 11/3/2011 @ 7:00 pm

ONLY 7 ADULT TICKETS REMAINING FOR THE JENSEN TENNIS EXHIBITION THIS WEEKEND (Sunday, November 6)! For the benefit of the New YMCA Tennis Center


ONLY 31 Youth tickets remain!

The Youth Clinic is SOLD OUT!

ONLY 3 tickets remain for the adult clinic!

Hurry in to the Y to get your tickets before we're sold out, or call 933-9622 to purchase tickets by credit card. You won't want to miss this event!

Thanks to our sponsors:

ESPN 1310 AM, the Paul & Barb Bandrowski Family, Jones Center for Pain Management, the Tom & Laura Danz Family, the Jim & Kirsten Pappas Family, the Lundmark Family, the Jack & Stefee Roberts Family, Traverse Bay Family Magazine, the Van Deinse Family, David & Leslie Heimburger, Lou Anne Ford, Coldwell Banker Schmidt, Jim Fowler, USPTA, Seung Ni Tae Kwon Do Academy, Cooley Construction.

Thanks to Jill Jones for heading up the "Our Serve" tennis support committee, and for a great job of sponsor sales! Thanks also to all the "Our Serve" committee members!

Thanks to Julie Friley for a great job at ticket sales!

Thanks to everyone for supporting Y tennis and the New Y project!

Tom Van Deinse
CEO
Grand Traverse Bay YMCA

Teen Dance on Sat Nov 5 at Y

Y TEEN DANCE SATURDAY NOV 5

Listen to your favorite music, dance the night away, or challenge some friends to a game of basketball and use the Y facilities! The Teen Dances at the YMCA provides a fun, safe place for teens to hang out and just be themselves. The dance is open to grades 6 – 8. Invite 5 friends!

The next Teen Dance will be on Saturday, November 5, from 7-10 pm. Admission is $8/per non-member and free to YMCA members. The price includes pizza. ID, proper dress, and conduct required.

The dance is at the YMCA Main Facility at 3000 Racquet Club Drive in Traverse City, just off South Airport Road behind Logan’s Landing office complex.

Adult volunteers always needed. Parents are welcome to chaperone.

For more information on any of the Y Teen programs, contact Erica Wilson at wilsonerica2@gmail.com or call the Y at 231-933-9622.

The Y is for youth development.

Why should I Invest in Youth?

Click here to Download a donation form and mail to: Grand Traverse Bay YMCA, 3000 Racquet Club Drive, Traverse City, MI 49684.

More information at 231-933-9622 or http://www.gtbayymca.org/annual.php .

New Fitness Schedule

Click here for the updated fitness schedule at the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA. Call 231-933-9622 or http://www.gtbayymca.org/ for more information.

Record Eagle Cheers Editoral

Part of the Aquatic Center at the New Y

Lap swimming, fitness, learning to swim, competition