An Orokawa Y member named Betsy recently posted the following message in the “Comments” section of our website. The message underscores the critical need for all Y associates to be caring, engaged and knowledgeable in the work we do.  In this specific case, Betsy is a Y member who has had the good fortune of encountering the wonderful Julie Gleeson along her journey to a healthier future.   Betsy’s note speaks volumes about both Julie Gleeson and about the tremendous importance of recognizing, respecting and responding to the varying health and social needs of all our members and participants.

Location: Orokawa Y

Baltimore County

Comments: “I want to let whoever is listening know what a terrific trainer Julie Gleeson is. I am an older, obese woman, and she provides encouragement to me which has resulted in my increasing in strength and even losing a little body fat! Most of all, she has the skill and talent of being patient AND persistent in pushing me forward. Her skill and knowledge in different kinds of exercises keeps it interesting. I would recommend her very highly.”

As we continuously work to improve as an organization and as the population we serve ages, it’s increasingly important that we work together to become even more sensitive to the various life stages of the health seekers who look to the Y as the place their needs will be understood and sensitively addressed.

As a reminder, our two mission strategies related to Healthy Living make this focus very clear:

• The Y will collaborate with like-minded partners in the region to promote a healthy lifestyle, with a focus on helping people achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

• The Y will define Healthy Living to be more than fitness and nutrition and create experiences that impact all the dimensions of well-being, wherever people engage with the Y.

We do this all because of people like Betsy, and we are able to do this because of people like Julie.

All the best,

John

John K. Hoey
President & CEO
The Y in Central Maryland