KICKED OUT OF THE SHOWERS BY THE YMCA
The Students for Life of America, http://studentsforlife.org/, were abruptly told to leave the Austin, Texas YMCA where they had been permitted to shower at night while they were in Austin for their support of the new abortion bill, at least until pro-abortionists complained about them. Some of the complaints apparently came from some pro-abortion staff members of the YMCA.
The Austin YMCA issued a statement:
Full Text of statement below:
"Statement Regarding Shower Usage at TownLake YMCA
A story was issued by Fox News Radio today about a misunderstanding that occurred between YMCA of Austin staff and a group of students from the organization Students for Life.
In light of discussion surrounding the issue, the YMCA of Austin is seeking to clarify our position on the matter.
As a volunteer-led nonprofit organization, it is not our intention to inject ourselves into this issue, nor do we take a position on this issue.
We strive to create an atmosphere that is welcoming to all, where people of all backgrounds are comfortable.
That’s what we were striving to do in accommodating the Students for Life group who were in need of a place to shower.
Unfortunately, in this instance, it caused the political debate to come into the Y.
If any person or group enters our facilities and creates an atmosphere that is disruptive, we have an obligation to our members and program participants to ask that person or group to leave or to refuse them access.
There are appropriate places in which to conduct a political debate, and that place is down the street at the State Capitol, not at our YMCA.
We are working directly with Students for Life to find a solution that is acceptable to all parties."
In light of discussion surrounding the issue, the YMCA of Austin is seeking to clarify our position on the matter.
As a volunteer-led nonprofit organization, it is not our intention to inject ourselves into this issue, nor do we take a position on this issue.
We strive to create an atmosphere that is welcoming to all, where people of all backgrounds are comfortable.
That’s what we were striving to do in accommodating the Students for Life group who were in need of a place to shower.
Unfortunately, in this instance, it caused the political debate to come into the Y.
If any person or group enters our facilities and creates an atmosphere that is disruptive, we have an obligation to our members and program participants to ask that person or group to leave or to refuse them access.
There are appropriate places in which to conduct a political debate, and that place is down the street at the State Capitol, not at our YMCA.
We are working directly with Students for Life to find a solution that is acceptable to all parties."
CONTACT:
NEIL NICHOLL, YMCA PRESIDENT:
E-mail: neil.nicholl@ymca.net
Telephone: 312-977-0031 (ask for Mr. Nicholl or Deborah Rivers his assistant)
As the YMCA distances itself from its "Christian" roots in its striving to be culturally relevant, what we have now is a so-called non-profit organization catering to people of all faiths and/or no faith. It has been a catalyst for the spread of Hindu yoga and Buddhist mindfulness to adults and children within its facilities. It is a cash cow for paid administrators at headquarters and equally as much at the local level. The YMCA is clearly NOT led by volunteers, as shown below in their IRS Form 990.
See our previous posts:
http://ratherexposethem.blogspot.com/2012/12/yoga-its-occult-hindu-roots-not-for.html.
http://ratherexposethem.blogspot.com/2013/02/yoga-for-kids-growing-but-not-for.html.
http://ratherexposethem.blogspot.com/2013/02/can-yoga-ever-be-christian-or-if-not.html.
http://ratherexposethem.blogspot.com/2013/03/mindful-eating-zen-buddhist-offshoot-of.html.
The top officers of the YMCA are not listed on their national headquarters website http://www.ymca.net/organizational-profile, despite their alleged altruistic and open corporate image of community focus, betterment, and transparency. If the YMCA is open and transparent, why are these officers hiding their phone numbers and e-mail addresses from the public and instructing the customer service representatives to block all complaints and concerns from reaching them?
Neil Nicholl is the AMI 2012 Keynote Speaker in the YouTube video below, describing the benefits, opportunities and responsibilities of "non-profit service", but not before he decries unnamed people with firm, fixed dogmatic beliefs (such as Bible believing pro-life Christians, for example). It would seem to be a charge leveled at those inflexible types who can't get with the collectivist culture of non-profits such as the YMCA.
"Uploaded on Jan 30, 2012 at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcUaLur0LYY
Neil leads an organization that serves 21 million children and adults at nearly 2,700 YMCAs nationwide. All told, more than 10,000 communities across the country have a Y. The Y is also one of the nation's largest nonprofit employers with approximately 250,000 staff across the country. The Y's staff and volunteers are all committed to strengthening the foundations of our communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, community by community."
It would seem that the more "community focused" the YMCA becomes, the more collectivist its philosophy and mindset all through the ranks, which is clearly and presently at odds with biblical Christianity.
President and CEO
YMCA of the USA
Salary as per IRS Form 990 of 2012: $501,185.(see: http://www.ymca.net/sites/default/files/organizational-profile/form-990-2012.pdf,
page 13; and Schedule J, page 70)
Biography (see also: http://leadership18.org/about/members/ymca-of-the-usa)
Neil Nicoll was hired as president and CEO of YMCA of the USA in May 2006 and is
the 13th person to lead the YMCA movement in the United States. He joined Y-USA
following 14 years as president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Seattle. He previously
was the president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Worcester (Mass.) for 12 years,
executive director of the Prince Georges County branch of the YMCA of Metropolitan
Washington, D.C., for six years and executive director the Dorchester branch of the
YMCA of Greater Boston for three years. Neil got his start in the YMCA movement in
1968 as a program director at the Howard County branch of the YMCA of Greater
Baltimore.
A nationally recognized YMCA leader, Neil was the first chair of the YMCA Activate
America Steering Committee. He served two terms on the Y-USA board (1988-92 and
2004-06) and was chair of the North American Urban Group from 2003-05. He also has
been a strong advocate for the YMCA National Diversity Initiative and the Abundant
Assets Alliance.
He chaired the US-Japan Liaison Committee from 1998-2005 and the Springfield College
YMCA Advisory Council in 1981 and ’82, and was a member of the Association of
Professional Directors Executive Committee from 1987-90.
During his tenure in Seattle, Neil chaired the YMCA of Washington Public Policy
Committee, the Seattle University Nonprofit Executive Master’s Degree Program
Visiting Committee and the Washington Council of Youth Agencies. He also served on
the Mayor’s Citizens’ Advisory Committee for the Family and Education Levy in 2004.
Neil earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Eastern Nazarene College (Quincy,
Mass.) and a master’s degree in education from Springfield College. He also holds an
Executive Management Certificate from Clark University (Worcester, Mass.) and has
attended the Harvard Business School Nonprofit Management Program.
Neil plays golf and reads for pleasure. He and his wife Anita have two grown daughters,
Kimberley and Kerri.
Accomplishments
YMCA of Greater Seattle
Led a $57 million association with 15 branches, 1,700 employees and 10,000
volunteers that served 184,000 people annually.
Increased the association’s financial development capacity. Results included a
$16.5 million capital campaign, at the time the largest ever for a human services agency in the state of Washington; growth to $4.15 million annually from
$600,000 for Partner With Youth Campaign; and an increase in private
contributions to $11 million annually, or 23 percent of revenue.
Completed $41.5 million in capital improvements, debt free.
Helped lead a citywide initiative to establish the asset-development approach as
the benchmark for all community and government organizations that work with
youth.
YMCA of Greater Worcester
Directed a $5.6 million association with four branches.
Guided growth from a $1.8 million operating budget, 130 staff and 24,000 people
served to a $5.6 million operating budget, 310 staff and 38,000 people served.
Raised $8.2 million in capital contributions and averaged 13 percent annual
campaign growth.
Led the effort to hire the first statewide YMCA director of public policy.
YMCA of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.
Directed operations for three branches serving a diverse community of 700,000
people in Prince Georges County, Maryland.
Grew branch membership and participation by 300 percent.
Opened the first full-facility branch in the area.
YMCA of Greater Boston
Managed an inner-city branch in Dorchester that served a low-income, multiracial
community of 150,000 people.
Awards/Recognition
Seven Great YMCAs (YMCA of Greater Seattle), Perspective magazine, 1999
Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Award (YMCA of Greater Seattle, inaugural
recipient), YMCA of the USA, 1997
F. William Stahl Award for Professional Writing, Association of Professional
Directors, 1991
YMCA Person of the Year, Springfield College, 1986
A Study in Management Excellence in Nonprofit Human Services, 1988
Outstanding Young Men of America, 1978
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