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If nothing else, the YMCA of Virginia’s Blue Ridge has a serious public relations problem with regards to our local branch, the Rockbridge Area YMCA. Two actions the YVBR has taken this year has left us and many Rockbridge area citizens wondering if our local Y has lost all vestiges of control of our local Y’s operations.
Back in early January, the YVBR suddenly fired the much-beloved executive director of the Rockbridge Area YMCA, Bobbie Wagner, who, from all accounts that we have heard, had done a magnificent job in guiding our local Y’s operations since 2016. Wagner, incidentally, was hired shortly after our local Y became affiliated with the YVBR. No reason has ever been given publicly for Wagner’s abrupt dismissal, but the firing left a lot of hurt feelings in our community.
Four months later, after our local Y’s advisory board had been in talks with the YVBR board to sever ties, the YVBR board abruptly dismissed our local Y’s advisory board and proclaimed, per a purported directive from the national Y, that our local Y cannot go its own way.
Divorce is apparently not permissible in the world of the Y. What the Y has joined together, let no one pull asunder. When our local Y merged with the YVBR in 2016, we doubt anyone contemplated the thought of the marriage being anything but a happy one. Blissful newlyweds generally tend to perish any thoughts to the contrary.
But here we are, seven years later, stuck in an unhappy marriage. Absent any semblance of trust between the partners, we’re not sure what can be done to save the marriage. The national Y and the YVBR may be able to dictate that our local Y can’t go its own way while still being affiliated with the Y. Members of the local Y, however, cannot be compelled to remain in an organization that eschews local autonomy.
While divorce might not be permissible, the fissure, if it isn’t repaired, is likely to lead to a lot of legal questions that will have to be answered. Does money raised here for the purpose of making capital improvements here go to the corporate office? Which side has been subsidizing the other? There appears to be much disagreement between the folks at the local level and those in the corporate office over which side was sending the other more money. As these matters get hashed out, will the Y’s services continue to be offered locally, without interruption? Will disenchantment with the Y’s corporate and national offices cause local members to leave? What happens if membership plummets?
Yes, the YVBR has a very big PR problem here in the Rockbridge area. We suggest a joint public meeting of representatives of both sides to sort out this mess. The only way to save the local Y is to allow local input into its operations. Both sides need to be given an opportunity to air their differences in an open forum.
The YMCA has long been a wonderful organization that, according to its mission, puts “Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. … Guided by our core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility, the Y is dedicated to giving people of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life the opportunity to reach their full potential with dignity.”
The Rockbridge Area YMCA has been an exemplar of this mission and these core values since it was established here 20 years ago. Our hope is that it will be around to grow and prosper for many years to come. Transparency and openness to public input would go a long way toward resolving the YVBR’s PR difficulties and saving the Rockbridge Area YMCA.
